Still The Melody Lingers On

Isn’t it funny how the memory works. Whether it’s particular foods, smells, sights or sounds, they can all be triggers. One of the most common for me is music. My regular followers will know that the Christmas colours of red, gold and green are always accompanied (in my head) by the song “Karma Chameleon” by Culture Club. Today the song that’s on repeat is “Congratulations” by Cliff Richard (yes I’m that old). So it made perfect sense to pull out the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder for this card project.

CONGRATULATIONS

I actually started this project to get one last use from the retiring Christmas Trimmings Dies. I particularly wanted to use the stars, and somehow rejected the larger solid and detailed ones in favour of the smallest one in the set. So I cut a few from scraps of copper card from the Brushed Metallic Cardstock pack.

Then the stars led to the search for a “congratulations” sentiment. In the end I chose one from the Peaceful Moments Stamp Set. Then using Early Espresso ink I stamped it onto a 5/8″ x 2-5/8″ strip of Very Vanilla Card.

Next mounted the sentiment onto a 3/4″ x 2-3/4″ piece of Early Espresso Card using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). Then I glued the layers onto a 1″ x 3″ strip of the same copper Brushed Metallic Cardstock.

For my card base I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and scored some Thick Very Vanilla Card. After folding it along the scored line I sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Then I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card and glued it on the inside back of the card base.

MELODY BACKGROUND

Now I was ready to create the background layer using the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder.

I wanted a bold contrast with the Very Vanilla and Early Espresso colour-scheme and chose Coastal Cabana Card. I cut the card to 2-3/4″ x 5-1/2″, placed it inside the embossing folder, then ran it through the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine.

With that done I needed just one last piece, a 1/8″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Early Espresso Card, and I was ready to put it all together.

I started by using liquid glue to fix the embossed piece to the card front, up against the crease. Then I glued the thin strip of Early Espresso Card against the right-hand edge of the embossed layer. Over the top of this I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to add the layered sentiment.

That just left the little pile of die-cut stars… I glued one to the centre of the flap of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope. Another was glued to the centre top of the Very Vanilla layer already fixed inside the card base. Finally I added a column of three stars in the top right corner on the front of the card and I was done.

One of the things I particularly love about the Merry Melody 3D Embossing Folder is that it’s a 6″ x 6″ folder. This means that I can have the embossing right across a card whether it’s in portrait (like today) or landscape orientation. I’m really pleased that it was carried over from the July to December Mini Catalogue and into the 2022/2023 Annual Catalogue. What do you think?