This Christmas card was inspired by combining three different card challenge blogs this week:
Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #132 whose theme was "Be There or Be Squared" requiring the use of square elements and a stamp older than one year (mine is from 2004, so that makes it 16 years old!). https://www.retrorubberchallengeblog...be-square.html
All three challenges led me to incorporate interesting design elements I wouldn't have thought of without their inspiration!!!
I REALLY focused on squares this time! The card itself is 5"x5", the green matting is 3.75"x3.75", the red matting is 2-5/8"x 2-5/8", and the white stamped panel is 2-1/8"x 2-1/8" !!!
The one thing I wanted to do was make sure each element had definition around their edges. So I used the Stampin' Up! (SU) stitched squares, circles, and even for the green layer, for which I didn't have a square die, I used a stitched rectangle, and ran the cardstock thru my Big Shot twice so that I could die cut off the end of the rectangle to get a stitched square!
The card base was a little tricky since I didn't want to add another layer to my card that would increase the postage needed to mail it. So I used the largest stitched rectangle die, and used it to emboss the top and the bottom of the front by running it thru the Big Shot once for each end. This was accomplished by using the die with a a rubber embossing pad in my Big Shot. To ensure all my card elements had extra definition, after I die cut them with the stitched dies, I similarly ran them all back thru my Big Shot with the dies facing down on a rubber impression pad instead of a cutting plate.
I'm very pleased how the card turned out,,, even the banners at the bottom of the circle were embossed so they have very sharp 3D type of definition! I am rating the difficulty of this card as a "3" out of a possible "5" simply because of all the multiple runs thru the die cutting machine, and the need to switch out plates and change the "sandwich" each time to create the embossed stitching and edges. Whoever gets this next Christmas will really be surprised how much detail there is in all the card elements!
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2020 GMT Views: 438
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Paper: SU Whisper White Thick Cardstock, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Recollections Gold Metallic
Paper Size: 5"x5"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic G43 YG03, R27
Accessories: Sizzix Tim Holtz Seasons Greetings Die, SU Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, SU Rectangle Stitched Framelits Dies, SU Banner Framelits Die, Big Shot, Sizzix Impressions Pad, Tombow Multi Liquid Glue