Have you ever made multiple card designs? And, did you know that it doesn’t have to be BORING?

I am back with another Same But Different set of cards and today I am sharing 10 Hacks to Create UNIQUE Multiple Cards and I have a video walking you through the techniques.

Would you like to see today’s cards? And (hint) if you scroll further, you may even see a BONUS design…

You can watch the video here or in HD on YouTube right HERE.

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This post contains affiliate links (which means that I will receive a small portion of the sale at no extra cost to you). I truly appreciate your support of our card adventures together!

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#whyMULTIPLES?

Good question. There are many reasons why you would want to create multiple cards in one sitting. Including

• It’s a great use of your time! Supplies are already out and you have taken the time to plan designs, why not challenge yourself to make a few at once. And following the simple tips I give you below, there is no need to recreate the same card over and over… BORING!
• You may need to build your stash. For me, typically I need to add more men’s cards, birthday and sympathy cards to my stash.
• What a great way to stretch a supply, you have bought it so you may as well use it!
• Multiples are a fabulous way to create ‘bulk’ cards if you create for a market, shop or social group. Or perhaps just want to make gift card sets for your family and friends.
• Also, challenging yourself to create multiples may just help you out of a crafty slump.

But you’ve never made multiples, so where do you start…

Tip #1 – Choose

Choose a supply that you LOVE, or maybe it’s a new one that you haven’t used yet (wink) or something that you have some ideas for that you can ‘stretch’ into different designs.

Today, I chose to use the beautiful Fresh Picked Anemones die set. It is new to me, so I was excited to try it and see what I could create. I’ve seen a lot of cards made using this set but most designs stayed true to the packaging, and I had some ideas to change it up.

Tip #2 – Gather

Gather the supplies that you need. I was using a floral die set, therefore I needed some cardstock in a variety of floral colours. But say, you chose a stamp set, then you would need to gather ink, cardstock and your favourite colouring medium (remember to keep it simple).

BONUS IDEA: Instead of solid cardstock colours I could have changed up the design and ink blended my own cardstock or even used design paper instead.

Tip #3 – Plan

You really need to start with a ‘rough’ idea of what you want from the crafting session. It doesn’t have to be complicated and you can certainly adapt along the way.

My rough plan was to make a total of 5 clean and simple cards. This gave me an idea of ‘how many’ flowers and leaves I thought I might need before I started die cutting.

PRO TIP: I always like to make a few extra flowers (or colour a few more images) than I think I need because I hate to have to come back and make them ‘again’ later in the crafting session. And, you can always save them for another day, or make an extra card.

Tip #4 – Batch

This is something I do throughout the whole process. I create in batches because it saves time and it’s easier to complete crafting in sections. Such as, I will do all of the die cutting at once, assemble die cuts, stamping, colouring and card assembly.

PRO TIP: To speed up die cutting I cut multiple images in one pass of the die cut plate (game changer).

Tip #5 – Limit

Limit your colour palette. This makes such a difference when creating multiples, you don’t have to rethink or redesign each card colour combination. This makes the creative process much smoother and less stressful.

***Don’t know which colours to use? Choose a favourite, CASE a friend, or head to Social Media such as Pinterest to be inspired. I have a WHOLE page of card inspiration which I am happy for you to use right HERE.

Tip #6 – Sentiments

Choose just one sentiment set for all the designs, this will also speed up the decision process and flow a similar look throughout the designs. Make sure to choose one that will suit a variety of occasions.

PRO TIP: Stamp out multiple sentiments at once, having the coordinating dies for them will also make it easier as well as speed up assembly.

Tip #7 – Design

I like to pre plan the designs once I have all of the elements created. I lay out the card bases and roughly assemble the images where I think they will look the best.

Remember that you can always change this along the way if needed. Also, try not to overthink this part, I have found that my original plans are the ones I come back to after shifting paper around card fronts for hours, so now I try to just work from the ‘original’ plan instead lol.

Do you struggle with design ideas? I would love you to be inspired by the basic design layouts I have used here! Or, if you find it easier to use a sketch, all of today’s cards are created using my FREE Basic Sketch Templates which you can sign up for by clicking here

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Tip #8 – Customize

You can make your designs as ‘fancy’ or clean and simple as you like. Obviously, simple designs will come together more quickly, but sometimes it’s worth spending that little extra time exploring an idea or design, especially when you know it is for someone special who will appreciate it.

Tip #9 – Add Details

It’s always nice to be able to add that little something special to your design. It’s what makes it yours. Are you someone who likes dimension, a splash of colour, or how about a little sparkle. This is when you can really take a clean and simple design to the next level.

**I had a little card mishap with this design which is why I have added a sweet little bird, I hope you don’t mind. ps. you can blame my husband, I did lol.

Tip #10 – Alter Images

You may have noticed that in today’s cards I have done a little surgery to the leaves to make them suit my projects. Look at the images you are using, is there a different way that it can be used?

I considered using the centre of these flowers as flowers themselves… but in the end, I loved those big cupped blooms so I didn’t … this time. If you are using a stamped image, what about using only a portion of the image, or don’t actually colour it, or ‘no-line’ colour it, you can really change up how something looks and still have fun in the process.

#BONUS CARD

And yes, I had some ‘left-over’ flowers and this is what I designed based on one of my sketches. And Guess What? This is actually my favourite card today!

BONUS TIP: Adding embellishments can be traumatizing (maybe not for you, but definitely for me, it can take hours) I have a rule to add them in odd numbers in a visual triangle. AND I did batch them all at once at the end of the crafty session too!

Do you have a favourite, and are you going to try creating some multiples, I’d love to know? Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for spending your time with me today, sending crafty hugs your way!

I use affiliate links which means that I will receive a small portion of the sale at no extra cost to you).
I truly appreciate your support of my card adventures!

Other Supplies:
Cardstock: Concord & 9th – Pink Lemonade | Sweet Pea | Sorbet | Aqua Sky | Avocado | Lemongrass | Peacock | Black. Altenew – Apple Red

Affiliate links are used

Neenah Solar 110 SSS | AUZ	Neenah Solar 80 SSS | AUZ	Concord & 9th – Cardstock SSS | AUZ	Fresh Picked Anemones SSS | OTH | SB
Classic Greetings Bundle ALT	Classic Greetings ALT | SSS	Classic Greetings Die ALT | SSS	Tufted Elegance 3D ALT | SSS
A2 Layers Die SSS | AUZ	Ornate Nesting Die ALT | SSS	Garden Tweets Die SSS | AUZ | OTH	Nocturne SSS | AUZ
Crystal Mix Gems SSS | SB	AUZZ Pokie Tool AUZ	Tweezers ALT | SSS	Scissors SSS | AUZ
Bone Folder Altenew ALT | SSS | AUZ	Perfect Align Tool AUZ	Mini Score Board SSS | AUZ	MISTI SSS | AUZ
Chuckie (pressure) Tool OTH	Mini MISTI SSS | AUZ	Paper Trimmer SSS	Bigshot SSS
Gemini Junior SSS	Gemini Double Cutting Plates SSS | AUZ	Turntable AMZ	Thin Foam Squares SSS | AUZ
Satin Masking Tape ALT | SSS | AUZ	Bearly Art Glue SSS | AUZ	Foam Tape ALT | SSS | AUZ