Clarity’s Blog Tutorial: How to Create a Sampler Card

Hello hello! Grace here.

Happy Sunday! It’s been quite the week eh? I hope you’re all doing well.
I am very happy to be in a new space. It’s SO brilliant here. Still, lots to do BUT it’s coming together! And we couldn’t be happier over here.

We’re ending the week in a lovely way too, here at Clarity! Our good friend Jane Telford has another brilliant project to share with us. Lucky lucky!

I always love a crafty virtual hang with the very talented Telford! I’ll hand you over to the pro…



For this blog project, I thought I would show you what I do to kick start my mojo! 

I occasionally get stuck for ideas, like so many of us. If that happens, I find that doing a sampler card can really help you wake up to what is actually on the plates. You begin to see all of the little assets on each plate… that then can inspire you to see all the possibilities within the plates, so it’s a great way to start. 

A sampler card has lots of little sections that could be taken in isolation for a smaller topper or together it makes a larger card.  

I decided that I wanted to use Linda Williams’ In the Garden Groovi plates. I really couldn’t decide on which one I was going to pick as they are all so lovely and full of great images. Perfect for a sampler design. The grid plate mate is also my best friend when doing this type of card… for the edge and for the connector bits. 

You can put anything in the sections, just look at the plates you have and get creating!

Here’s what I did…

Ingredients 

Linda’s In the Garden Complete A5 Groovi Collection (GRO-LW-41570-A5)
Grid Plate Mate (GRO-CO-41706-08)
A4 Straight Basic Grid (GRO-GG-40528-17)
Calligraphy Plate Mate (GRO-MA-40517-08)
Distress Oxide Ink – Squeezed Lemonade
Distress Oxide Ink – Kitsch Flamingo
Distress Oxide Ink – Mowed Lawn
Distress Oxide Ink – Tumbled Glass                           
Perga Liner Pencils (PER-CO-70063-XX)
Plain A4 Parchment (GRO-AC-40024-XX)
8×8 card blank (ACC-CA-30620-88)
4 white brads (PER-AC-70269-XX)
Pergamano Embossing Mat Excellent (PER-AC-70075-XX)
Pergamano 1mm ball tool (PER-TO-70012-XX)
Pergamano 1.5mm ball tool (PER-TO-70004-XX)
Pergamano 3mm ball tool (PER-TO-70005-XX)
Pergamano Shader embossing tool (PER-TO-70003-XX)
Pergamano 1 needle bold perforating tool (PER-TO-70028-XX)
Pergamano 2 needle bold perforating tool (PER-TO-70279-XX)
Piece of designer paper Brighton Rock (ACC-CA-30440-88)
Low tack tape (ACC-AD-30109-XX)

Method

1. Using plain A4 parchment, make a square frame using the grid plate mate. The pictures show how to use the lines on the plate to keep everything straight and square. I embossed the outer line even though I would eventually cut it away once the design was finished.

2. Turn your parchment over and line up on the straight grid. Using pins to help you hold it in place once you have it aligned, perforate around the embossed dots using the 1 needle bold.

3. Start to choose the images you want in the sections. I embossed the umbrella and then used the grid plate to emboss the shape around it.

4. Align the lines into the border you want, then emboss this.

5. When embossing the words, I centered the bottom part of the sentiment and embossed that. I then centered the top part and embossed that too. You don’t have to just have it as it is on the plate.
Use the grid plate mate to emboss the divider line.

6. Use the grid plate to make another section and then emboss the geese into that part.

7. Rotate the parchment to do the next two sections. This adds interest and also gives a better feel that it is a sampler.

8. Add a grid pattern from the grid plate mate as a point of interest. I only embossed this section but you could perforate it too, if you wanted.

9. Add the final images to the last section and your design is complete.

10. Add white work to parts of your design. I used a shader tool for the bunting.

11. Add colour to the design with Perga liners. I used a combination of A and B pencils as this gave me a larger range of colours. A dry blending nib will smooth out the A pencils on the parchment.

 I then added a little embossing to the ducks’ chests and wings.

12. Using low tack tape on the back of the parchment, mask off the frame and sections of the sampler and brush oxide inks over one section at a time. Let it dry for a minute before relocating the masking tape to another section. Try not to have two sections touching each other of the same colour.

13. When the ink is dry, turn the parchment over and perforate on the front in the umbrella sections using the 2 needle bold.

Reperforate in the outside frame. The picot cut the waste leaving the outer edge until last.

14. Cut a piece of designer paper to 17cm x 17cm.

15. Attach the parchment on it using brads. Mount on to an 8×8 card blank.

Ta da!!!


Grace here! I looooooove this card. I’ve got a soft spot for these sampler cards. The options are endless really. Thank you so much, Jane, for this work of art! It’s a framer.
Talking of samplers, did you see the 2 new embossed grid pattern grid samplers designed by Josie Davidson that Paul launched on The Pergamano show on The Craft Store on Thursday?

Another fantastic way to create backgrounds, infills, samplers and so much more. Available HERE

‘After the storm comes a rainbow’. Sounds about right <3

Don’t forget, we have put all of the previous Groovi Sunday projects in one place over on the Clarity website HERE

Lotsa love, Grace & Jane xo

Clarity – The Home of Art, Craft and Well-Being.

14 thoughts on “Clarity’s Blog Tutorial: How to Create a Sampler Card

  • 18th April 2021 at 12:39 pm
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    Hi Grace do loooove Josie’s artwork
    Ordered the new plates and they’ve been dispatched already , amazing work by the clarity team
    Glad your move went ok enjoy your new home
    Take care

    Reply
  • 18th April 2021 at 12:45 pm
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    Hi Grace, just popped in to see what was happening in between doing the ironing, not my favourite job !!
    Like the patchwork card idea so will give it ago. A good idea to put all the projects together under blog tutorials – just checked it out & got a few reminders as well – so many ideas & not enough hours in the day. No time to go out shopping or go to the pub !!
    Plan to do some crafty bits & pieces this afternoon & tomorrow so I am organised for up coming birthdays that seem to be so far away then suddenly they are here. I ordered the new sampler plates so look forward to them coming but must go & order the butterflies for the Moment of Clarity on Friday. I missed Fridays SHAC shack live as we were trying to finish renovating a garden shed for our daughter so had to watch on catch up – could see comments during the day from my friends about ordering butterflies so knew something interesting was happening !!
    Have a good week – probably you will still be unpacking but never the less it will be exciting to be in new surroundings

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  • 18th April 2021 at 1:09 pm
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    I love this sampler card, Jane and it’s a design that I shall be using this week for a friend who’s having a tough time at the moment.
    Thank you so much for sharing the process with us xx

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  • 18th April 2021 at 1:40 pm
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    Love, love this. Feel inspired 🥳.Thanks Jane and thank you too Grace xx

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  • 18th April 2021 at 1:52 pm
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    Thank Jane for the card.
    Grace glad your move went smoothly and you like your new home.

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  • 18th April 2021 at 2:11 pm
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    Another smashing Groovi Sunday, thanks Jane.
    Lovely and sunny here, warm enough to not wear a jacket outside.
    Just got back from having my second vaccination. Told to take it easy for the next couple of hours. Good excuse to spend the rest of the day crafting. Hubby is cooking so there is nothing for me to worry about (except the washing up !!! )
    Have a good day.

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  • 18th April 2021 at 3:36 pm
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    Hi Grace!
    What a lovely card this is!
    Looking forward to take my stuff out and start with a parchment card.
    But have to do first other things before crafting.
    Take care and stay save!
    Lots of love, Trijntje Huppel

    Reply
  • 18th April 2021 at 4:10 pm
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    Great inspiration Jane. Beautiful work as always. Wishing you well Grace. Happy Sunday to all. Xx🥰⚘

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  • 18th April 2021 at 4:22 pm
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    Glad the move went well Grace and thanks for the inspiration Jane – I love the sampler idea so will have a go. Ordered the sampler grid plates on Thursday and notification on Friday that they’ve been sent so they might be here tomorrow – wow! What fantastic service from Clarity Towers – as always. Love these blog tutorials and looking forward to the Shac-Shac this week.

    Reply
  • 18th April 2021 at 4:26 pm
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    Oh wow this is a stunning card. I just love the step by step it is very helpful. I am so pleased that you like your new apartment Grace. Have a good week. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  • 18th April 2021 at 5:56 pm
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    Love! Love! Love! Especialy as this is easily adaptable if you do not have all the plates. really must find time to give this a go.

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  • 18th April 2021 at 7:50 pm
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    Hi Grace, Wow Jane, this sampler is stunning, stunning, stunning, I adore every part of it, thank you so much for your instructional tutorial. This is amazing !!
    Love from Patricia xx

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  • 18th April 2021 at 9:44 pm
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    Glad you are beginning to get settled into your new flat. Happy days. What a fantastic card by Jane. I love that idea. Great for those of us who struggle to create scenes! Hxx

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  • 19th April 2021 at 5:21 am
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    Thank you Grace and Jane great example and explained well love it Joy xx

    Reply

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