When I’m making cards I used to get really stressed about symmetry. Everything had to be evenly spaced, centred and straight. It took me a long time to realise that actually many of the cards I admired didn’t have those characteristics. I found that having groups of three was pleasing to the eye, and sometimes putting elements towards a corner looked good too. Now I tell my classes, if you’re stressing over getting a layer straight, don’t, simply put it at an angle. If it’s going to be crooked make it a design feature!

SNOWFLAKE SPLENDOR

I created this project as part of my World Cardmaking Day personal challenge. I set myself the task of designing and creating from scratch 24 cards in 24 hours, and this was number 9.

The project started with the gorgeous paper from the Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack. I loved the combination of blues in this design and I wanted to make a feature of it.

Oddly I started with the ‘extra’ details, first cutting a piece of the DSP 2-1/4″ x 6″. Next using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I attached it to the flap of a Whisper White Medium Envelope. Then I trimmed the DSP with Paper Snips using the edge of the flap as a guide.

My next thought was the inside of the card. I always like to add a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer to give the card a more finished look. As I had decided on a Whisper White Card base I opted for a Whisper White liner. To decorate it I first cut a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of the DSP and glued that down the right-hand edge. Then I added a 1/8″ x 5-1/4″ strip of Misty Moonlight card along the left-hand edge of the DSP.

Then I remembered I needed to actually make my card base. So using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored some Thick Whisper White Card. I folded the card along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Then I glued the completed liner layer on the inside of the card.

EASY ANGLED LAYER

While playing with the ‘extras’ I’d had time to think about the front of the card. In fact I began quite predictably by cutting a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of the DSP. Then I mounted it to a 4-1/8″ x 5-3/8″ layer of Misty Moonlight Card. My original thought was to simply fix this piece to the front of the card base and add a sentiment on top. Instead I decided to make the layer more of a feature.

First I needed to stamp the “Snowflake wishes…” sentiment from the Snowflake Wishes Stamp Set. For this I used Misty Moonlight ink and I stamped it directly onto the card front in the bottom right corner. With that done I could see how much room I had for my angled layer.

There’s no special formula when I do an angled layer. I start by holding the assembled piece across the front of the card and move it until I like how it looks. Then keeping everything in place I flip the card and layer over and then, following the edge of the card base, draw pencil lines on the back of the angled layer. Then I cut along the pencil lines to get the piece I need.

Having cut the layers I then fixed them to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals. I wasn’t quite finished though as I wanted to add a bit of sparkle to the design. For this I pulled out some Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper and the So Many Snowflakes Dies.

Before cutting the snowflakes I remembered to attach some Adhesive Sheet to the back of the Glimmer Paper. Then after die-cutting them I removed the backing and fixed the snowflakes to the front of the card. With that my project was finally complete.

There were a few steps to making this project but I absolutely love how it turned out. I can’t decide whether it’s the colour scheme, or the angled layer. Maybe it’s the combination of the two. You should give it a try and see what you think.

For an example of a card with a quite different angled layer see my blog post Bringing back Butterfly Gala.

PRODUCT LIST

UPDATED 2021 – Sadly the following products have now retired and are no longer available from Stampin’ Up!

• Snowflake Splendor Designer Series Paper
• Balmy Blue Glimmer Paper