I’m not sure that I’ve ever created a card that didn’t include stamping. I have definitely put together kits that didn’t require stamping, but I’m not sure that I’ve designed a card on my own without stamping. Oh wait, I take that back. I have definitely made a bunch of cards that had a diecut greeting with patterned paper and no stamping, so forget what I said. 😜Maybe this is the first time I created a card using ink without stamping? I’m not even sure of that…
This current sketch challenge on the Global Design Project blog was the inspiration for my card design. I typically do matted layers and did that here. You may notice that the space around the blue layer is a bit larger than I usually do. I had planned on having a Misty Moonlight mat but it just faded into the distressed edges of the blue layer you see here, so I scrapped it. I had also thought about having a stamped greeting in the circle, but I pivoted to diecut a piece of the Beary Christmas paper instead because it’s just soooo cute!
Here are the measurements if you want to re-create my card design:
- Basic White Thick: 4 1/4″ x 11″, scored at 5 1/2″
- Balmy Blue: 3 7/8″ x 5 1/8″
- Silver & Gold Adhesive Backed Glimmer: 1/8″ x 6″ (4 pieces)
- Beary Christmas DSP: 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
- Basic White: 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
I have a few tips on how I created my card that may not be totally obvious:
- I adhered the patterned paper to the piece of Basic White before diecutting to give the paper a little more stiffness. I did this to give it strength as it’s popped up and could get squashed easily in the spaces between the dimensionals.
- I lightly distressed the Balmy Blue cardstock with Balmy Blue ink before using the stencil.
- I started with Boho Blue ink with the stencil and filled all of the snowflakes with that ink.
- Then I used the Misty Moonlight ink on the outside spokes of the largest snowflakes in the stencil.
- I removed the stencil, and then used the Boho Blue ink first and then the Misty Moonlight ink to blend from the corners toward the center. I left the center alone so that it would be a lighter focal point.
- I added Wink of Stella in the center and points of the large snowflakes and in the center of the smaller snowflakes. It is hard to see in the photo but it adds some nice subtle shimmer.