Wednesday 14 November 2018

Less is More - Challenge #384 - Metallics

Not much time to join in with challenges these days, but the latest LIM challenge where the theme is 'Metallics' really called to me - particularly as I had a two part set of dies I wanted to use to boost my Christmas card target - which is now up to 106.

I made four cards, switching the gold and copper around so there are two of each exactly the same in the set of four:
I used:

- 5'5" x 4.25" white card blank, tent style

- layers of gold and copper Xcut adhesive metal effect sheets for the borders. To add these it's easier to just peel off a little bit of the backing down one short side and line it up on the card blank before going the whole hog and peeling off the rest. tI helps with alignment of course and if you gently smooth as you peel off the rest it lies nice and flat

- then I die cut a white panel using a die from the Lil' Inkers 'Stitched Rectangles' set of dies

- then dug out snippets of the same adhesive gold and copper sheets (I never throw even the teeniest piece of these away - just store them in the packet with the rest of the sheets) and die cut the sentiment

- for the sentiment I used the 'shadow' set of two dies which I've been itching to use, made by Pink and Main called 'Merry Christmas' - and cut one from a snippet of gold and the other from a snippet of copper

- layered the die cuts together and then popped them onto the stitched white panel

- **and before going any further, to make sure the sentiment was well 'bonded' I ran the whole white panel through the Cuttlebug using embossing plates and an unopened embossing folder

- glued the white panel onto the card front and added three sequins - one large copper one and two smaller gold ones

** I really do recommend this step with your die cutting/embossing machine if you feel there's any chance of the self adhesive sheet coming adrift at all - plus, it really does make the wording look as if it's been foiled almost into the matching shadow background!

Happy dance here at having made four more Christmas cards. And, I also have this same set of Pink and Main dies in the Playground Toybox - lined up ready for the Christmas/New Year bumper draw. More about that nearer the time, grin.

This past few days have been doing inserts for the fairly large number of Christmas cards which hadn't been totally finished off as I went - naughty me! Having said that, so long as they aren't left right until the last minute it's much easier to set up a little production line and do them in batches of all the same size. Print, trim, fold, stick insert in place, add envelope, pop in cello bag (a bit wasteful I know but much easier when sorting out which card to send to who - plus I check the thickness using a letter gauge and write on the cello bag if it's a S (small) or L(large) letter stamp that's needed. OCD strikes again!!






18 comments:

  1. I love the gold and the copper. I rarely get to see the copper color in cards and I think it's so pretty. [Bunny]```

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  2. Wow you are super organised Di, I love your copper and gold creations, and that's a great tip! Xxx

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  3. A lovely card and the metallic foil adds that special touch. You're very organised with your cards too!
    Kath x

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  4. Loving the metallic look and your tips along the way are so useful to remember.

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  5. I missed a few cards and now I am admiring them. I like this one because it's CAS and also very festive in one. Great job!
    Lia xx

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  6. Wow that's a lovely shiny Christmas card. Perfect for the challenge too.

    Congrats on getting 4 more made despite the furball's interruptions!

    I was a bit shocked when I looked inside my box of Christmas cards earlier this week, to find I'd made just 5 . . . yes, I did say FIVE! Oops! Could've sworn I'd made more than that earlier in the year . . . but no, I looked and counted again, and it still made 5! Guess who's been busy batch making ever since!? That'll teach me to ignore Rudolph Day each month!

    STOP laughing!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  7. Youv'e been taking lessons ffrom The Doc I see!! The foil sheets look good. Not used mine much except when I made the two tone panel. That's a hefty number of cards ?Miss. Must admit that is partly why I wanted to do Beccy's challenge this yr in order to force me into making at least another 31 cards. Oft to get the bits of shrubbery outta me hair from where I had to crawl through the bush seeings as how me key dun work anymore! Hugs Me.

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  8. This is so lovely and shiny with the copper and gold and a really large sentiment to take centre stage on a card Di and the mats and layers and the pretty sequins finish it beautifully. A great card for batch making too. I still have some more Christmas cards to make so must get on with those. x

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  9. Di, it's gorgeous and would fit our latest challenge at House of Cards perfectly (http://houseofcardschallenge.blogspot.com)
    Hugs,
    Em xoxo

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  10. Thanks so much for the tricks! Your CAS looks gorgeous with gold and copper!!

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  11. What a lovely card, Di. Wish my gold and copper paper was self adhesive. But I will try to CASE your card anyway with what I have. Thanks for the inspiration. Hugs to you and Dudley! :-)

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  12. Simply super and WTG on making four too,less to make for Christmas now ... especially as it gets close to writing them rather than making them!

    How are you and the furbaby getting along?

    Kathyk

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  13. Gorgeous card and the die looks so elegant cut in the metallic.
    Up to 106 says you gloating..... and don't talk to me about inserts 'cos I'd forgot all about those until you said xx

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  14. Ooh a metallic beauty! Love it and you have made so many Christmas cards - I am well behind! Sorry I am behind with my commenting! Hugs my friend xxxxxxcc

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  15. OMG, 106 cards !! Love the combination of gold and copper together to form the sentiment. A beautiful CAS take on our challenge. Thanks so much for sharing and for playing along at Less is More.

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  16. Aw Di this is amazing l just love it enjoy your week x

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  17. Lovely design with the two combined metallic tones. And 106 cards!!! You're on fire, lady! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Less is More, Anita x

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