Friday 25 October 2019

Rudolph Days - October 2019

And it's another Rudolph Days challenge over at ScrappyMo's - where did the past month disappear to then? Time certainly flies these days.

Here's my offering:
I used:

- 5" x 5" square black card blank, ordered from Amazon UK and made by Craft UK Limited

- then cut an aperture in the front of the card using Clarity's 'Christmas Santa Aperture' die

- then backed the aperture with a piece of white card which was covered on one side with medium weight double sided adhesive sticky film (made by Woodware) which I place facing the front - once I removed that second layer of protective film and also protected it with the peeled of piece of waxed paper whilst I was working

- then cut the die once again, from SU's 'Real Red' card stock this time

- popped seven of the red pieces in place, as shown on the above card

- then sprinkled iridescent glitter (cheap and from a local shop but Glamour Dust would work well) over the aperture, whisking away the excess with an Avon blusher brush (bought solely for the purpose of crafting)

- next I backed the inside front panel of the card with a very slightly smaller piece of black card to neaten up the inside - using red line tape for a secure fix

- finally, added the sentiment strips using another Clarity product - wonderful stickers from the 'Clarity Christmas & Celebrations' set

- finished - or was I?

Nope, I'll never learn - I made 12 all the same and almost lost the will to live.
One of the trickiest cards to 'batch bake' for sure!

Wish you could see the sparkle, but when I turned the card to catch the light I lost the sentiment printing, sigh.

A little tip, once you add the red insert die cuts, try to 'nudge' the black outlines against the red insert to avoid a bit of white showing. A little point but worth trying to remember - she says, too late! And anyhow, who uses a magnifying glass to check out their Christmas cards?!

Edit: Thanks to Kath for a great idea - when adding inset die cut pieces to a white background with the image outline part in black - just run a black pen around the inside of the aperture you're going to fill! 

By the way, this is a direct result of seeing a blog post very recently (literally a couple of days after our Cornwall holiday) on Barbara Gray's Clarity Stamps blog - she has lots of photos of the process, which will probably make more sense than all my words.

I have to say though, I did have some issues with the die itself - Santa's face has a lot of little pieces that should drop out as waste - they did but only after I added extra shims to that part of the die and even poked a bit with a craft knife, in addition to the metal shim I was already using anyhow.

It didn't matter on the red die cuts, as the outer part of the die cut fine and the pieces I wanted to use were also bigger of course - although I still needed the metal shim for my Cuttlebug.

Just a little warning if you do decide to dive in - but not enough to put you off as it's such a fun and rather funky die.I suspect that my Cuttlebug might be a tad out in the calibration to be honest.

I got the die and the sentiments stickers on a special Clarity Stamps offer BTW. 8 A5 sheets four are black on white and four are white on black. And, half of them are for Christmas and the others are for general use - bargain!

I think they might well last me for the rest of my days :).

Merry Christmas - it's looming whether we like it or not!






26 comments:

  1. Fab die and gorgeous card. Can see why you made 12. I envy your perseverance. I tried 10 once but only made it to 4!! Batch baking is not my thing, unless it's cookies!!! Hugz

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  2. It's beautiful. Whoever receives these better not even pitch them. Kudos for making so many. It was a lot of work. People will love them. [Bunny]`

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  3. Well done for persevering with a dozen of these super Santa cards. You've way more patience than me!

    Happy Rudolph Day!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  4. A fabulous card Di - love the Santa. If I'm inlaying dies with a black border onto a white background, I run a black Promarker around the inside of the shape before inlaying the little pieces - that way if there is a little gap it matches the outline!
    Kath x

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  5. Now that must have been character building Di, especially doing 12 of them!! A great result though.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  6. A great Clarity make and such dedication to batch make with the fiddly work involved with putting the red bits into place - all too easy to lose small bits I find and that is frustrating.

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  7. This is such a gorgeous card l just love all that you have done to create it Di and can image it being tricky with the dies used but you nailed it and done a batch well done you xx

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  8. I is gorgeous Di! Beautifully done. I had to smile at your comment about losing the will. Ever since making party invites for my parent-in-law's golden wedding I have refused to do more than three of anything

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  9. I love this funky Santa Di, and you did a great job putting a batch together as this technique is definitely a bit fiddly, but it pops beautifully with the black card and I love the word strips to finish, and actually you can see the iridescent glow from the glitter. x

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  10. Hi Di this is a gorgeous Christmas card. I love it. Have a great weekend. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  11. FAB card, love the graphic Santa image - but batch making that many? I'm not surprised you were losing the will to live. I made five CAS Christmas cards with the aid of my trusty MISTI and I was losing the will, after just five! You must have more patience than me!

    Happy Friday

    Kathyk

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  12. That is really striking. What a great idea to combine glittering and inlaid die cuts like that.

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  13. Hi Di, a wonderful card, I love the design and all the glitter. I hope you are well, Kate x

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  14. This looks great Di but Erm doesn’t a bakers dozen have 13 in it. Went to a Workshop yesterday where we made 6 cards up. Paying for Iit dearly today with my shoulder. Brought mine home to finish off at leisure. Huh did
    I just open my mouth and say that!! Emailing you laters.Hugs
    Me.

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  15. Love this card, totally different and with lots of lovely glitter.

    Kath x

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  16. Fabulous inlay and such great effect with all that glitter!!! Gorgeous and unusual card, very impressive!! I don't know how you made to do 12 as it!!! A lot of hard work, surely!! I'm not be able to make batch cards, I loss my mojo at the second one! :D LOL
    Hugs

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  17. Fab card and what a lot of patience to inset all those pieces ! Love all tht glitter

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  18. Wonderful Santa design and I love all the sparkle.

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  19. Those sentiment sheets sound fabulous! Sometimes you only have so much room to fit in a sentiment so these would also be very handy in that situation!

    Your card is lovely. Twelve is a grand number to make. Easy for me to say I know...but you have lots in your finished cards basket now and it soon will be the season.

    Great card, Di.

    Thanks for taking part in the October Rudolph Days
    Challenge.

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  20. Hi Di,
    Happy Rudolf Days.
    That beautiful card sounds like a lot of work but so worth it.
    Love the gorgeous glittery Santa.
    Fab black card blank too that is very unusual.
    Suoer sentiment as well.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  21. OMG hun, what an absolute stunner of a CAS card and i'm loving all the glitter too, well done for making 12 of them, was Dudley covered in glitter too ;-) ?, with my DT hat on, thanks for joining us at Rudolph Days Challenge this month, Luv Sam x

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  22. Wow, you made 12 of these using die cut inlay technique, that is so fiddly but worth it, your card looks great. Funny how there is always something you are not happy with. For me there is something that isn't quite right on every card I make xx

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  23. Hi Di - Gail here - thanks for stopping by my blog today and leaving a lovely comment and inviting me to join your challenge -- I am taking you up on that offer and will check out the challenge and add it to my spreadsheet and blog challenge listings as well - your Rudolph card is scrumptious! I always like to see a Santa and this one is delightful to view - you did a great make here - and goodness you make 12!!! You go girl! I wish you a peaceful and happy crafting week! Blessings, Gail Ilikepaper - blog spot!

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  24. Gotta get a post written so I can enter a Christmas card I made for the Altenew class. Still need that blog writing genie--haha! This is so cute & love all the sparkle, Di!

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  25. Gorgeous card, Di. It might not surprise you that I have the Groovi version of this die. Grin xoxo

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  26. This is a very cool card Di! I love the glittery sparkle in the white areas. I can imagine making that many was a challenge, but you rose to the occasion beautifully Di. A lot of work, but so worth it. I don't know where time goes, but it sure goes by quickly doesn't it?! My mind is still in Sept. lol But gotta get it on track as Christmas is literally just around the corner! Hugs, Brenda

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