St. Patrick's Day Card Ideas for 2021

 I LOVE making cards for St. Patrick's Day! It feels like the first hint of Spring before diving into those Easter projects because everything is lush, green and bright, with talk of "luck" and good fortune and a rainbow that ends with a pot of gold! 

You can check out the YouTube Tutorial (for all 3 cards!) here: 

https://youtu.be/VeCBkmM5PGI

There are many different reasons to celebrate St. Patrick's Day regardless if you have any Irish blood in those veins. This holiday means different things to different people. There are those who care more about the religious aspect which is how I raised. I have Irish ancestry as well, but I chose to go the "fun" and "festive" route for today's card projects. 

I stuck to traditional themes (Greens, Gold, rainbows, shamrocks and Leprechaun Hats)! I don't think I have ever appreciated the bright, primary colors as much as I do now that I have a 5 year-old. It's amazing how much our kids influence our art as we dig into project after project with them during this virtual schooling phase. Pre-Connor, I went for the softer, subtle and more neutral tones but St. Patrick's Day cards turn up the volume on vibrant colors so I decided to try my hand at watercolor and the Brights ink refills, specifically: Poppy Parade, Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Granny Apple Green, Pacific Point and Gorgeous Grape.

There actually 10 shades in the Brights Collection but only 6
are pictured since those were the colors used for the rainbow

Love the pop of color! Had to google rainbows to get the order right!

Sequins for Everything were used to create the gold coins!

I purchased the Aqua Painters awhile back and I knew they had been replaced by the "Water Painters" but I didn't purchase the new ones so you are seeing the "discontinued" aqua painter in the tutorial and my apologies about that but, just know, with the Water Painters you get (3) and each is a different brush size which is so nice to have that variety!

I was nervous about watercolor but I did end up loving the results and it was much easier than I thought. I did have to practice a few times before I achieved the color saturation that I wanted but that's part of the crafty journey. I'll definitely use this technique more in the future.

For watercoloring with the Water or Aqua Painters (just depending on what you have in your craft stash) be sure to use the watercolor paper. It doesn't work on regular cardstock. 

I wanted to show an alternative way to use the Heartfelt Bundle: the stamp set and the heart punch, for another holiday - this one - by turning the hearts into a three leaf clover a.k.a. SHAMROCK! I'm certainly not the first crafter to use hearts for shamrocks but if its good enough for a pre-schooler it's good enough for me!!!!!! 

The Rainbow Glimmer Paper felt perfect for these cards whether it was as a layer or a card base. I actually ran out of it before I finished my YouTube video, ha! Best laid plans. I should always order more than I do. I tend to order conservatively when I know how much I use specialty papers. Let me know in the comments if you do the same!

For the "Top Hat" card, I also wanted to try an alternative idea using the "All Dressed Up" Dies. The design for the dies is to create these super cute purse or backpack treat bags. I have used these dies probably the most of any treat bag die since I've been a demonstrator. I have multiple videos featuring them so I guess it makes sense I would turn that purse die into a hat! It was the buckle that first sparked the idea. Such a cool and easy card and the Gold Foil makes that buckle! 

I highly recommend the Fine Tip Glue Pen if you choose to purchase (or already own) the Word Wish Dies. The Wish for Everything Stamp Set and Word Wish dies cover so many bases for holidays they are well worth the investment AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT SALE-A-BRATION!!!! It's still going on until 2/28/2021! With any purchase of $50 or $100 you earn FREE product! I definitely recommend products like these two when Stampin' Up! has a special offer like Sale-a-Bration! If you've been thinking about it now is the time!

I also wanted to share this GREEN color chart when I was trying to decide what colors to use on my cards. My clear favorites were Granny Apple Green, Garden Green and Shaded Spruce. I was happy with how each card turned out but you have a great variety to work with.

I included the Stampin' Blends color chart even though it was intended for a different project, it's still giving plenty of ideas for the green shades in Stampin' Up's color collections.

I really try not to show discontinued or retired products once they are no longer available but I made an exception here because Christmas was not that long ago and you may still have this beautiful, shiny, festive green foil sheet still on hand. If you, may I just say they make VERY COOL shamrocks! Just wanted to mention that in case you have green foil in your collection. 

Have fun making your cards and have a very safe and Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

PRODUCTS USED TODAY: Heartfelt Bundle: http://www.stampinup.com/products/heartfelt-bundle-(en)?demoid=2212777

All Dressed Up Dies: http://www.stampinup.com/products/all-dressed-up-dies?demoid=2212777

Word Wish Dies: http://www.stampinup.com/products/dies-word-wishes-(en)?demoid=2212777

A Wish For Everything Stamp Set: http://www.stampinup.com/products/stamp-set-cling-a-wish-for-everything?demoid=2212777

Brights Collection Classic Stampin' Ink Refills: http://www.stampinup.com/products/classic-stampin-ink-refills-brights?demoid=2212777

Sequins for Everything: http://www.stampinup.com/products/sequins-for-everything?demoid=2212777

Water Painters: http://www.stampinup.com/products/water-painters?demoid=2212777 (NOTE: Aqua Painter I used Discontinued)

2 Inch Circle Punch: http://www.stampinup.com/products/punch-circle-2-(5-1-cm)?demoid=2212777

Rainbow Glimmer Paper: http://www.stampinup.com/products/rainbow-glimmer-paper?demoid=2212777

Watercolor Paper: http://www.stampinup.com/products/paper-watercolor-fluid-100?demoid=2212777

Pattern Play Stamp Set: http://www.stampinup.com/products/pattern-play-photopolymer-stamp-set-(en)?demoid=2212777

Basic Black Cardstock: http://www.stampinup.com/products/cardstock-8-1-2-x-11-basic-black?demoid=2212777

Shaded Spruce Cardstock:http://www.stampinup.com/products/cardstock-8-1-2-x-11-shaded-spruce?demoid=2212777

Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad: http://www.stampinup.com/products/classic-stampin-pad-shaded-spruce?demoid=2212777

Garden Green Cardstock: http://www.stampinup.com/products/cardstock-8-1-2-x-11-garden-green?demoid=2212777

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad: http://www.stampinup.com/products/classic-stampin-pad-garden-green?demoid=2212777

Granny Apple Green Classic Stampin' Pad: http://www.stampinup.com/products/classic-stampin-pad-granny-apple-green?demoid=2212777

True Love Designer Series Paper: http://www.stampinup.com/products/true-love-designer-series-paper?demoid=2212777

Gold Foil Sheets: http://www.stampinup.com/products/foil-sheets-gold?demoid=2212777

Banners Pick a Punch: http://www.stampinup.com/products/banners-pick-a-punch?demoid=2212777

TOOLS USED:

Take Your Pick Tool: http://www.stampinup.com/products/take-your-pick?demoid=2212777

Stampin' Cut and Emboss Machine (full size): http://www.stampinup.com/products/stampin-cut-emboss-machine?demoid=2212777

Paper Trimmer: http://www.stampinup.com/products/paper-trimmer?demoid=2212777

Tear and Tape Adhesive: http://www.stampinup.com/products/adhesive-tear-tape?demoid=2212777

Stampin' Seal: http://www.stampinup.com/products/stampin-seal?demoid=2212777

Stampin' Dimensionals: http://www.stampinup.com/products/stampin-dimensionals?demoid=2212777

Fine Tip Glue Pen: http://www.stampinup.com/products/glue-pen-fine-tip?demoid=2212777