August Technique Challenge

Three Ways to Add Dimension to Your Cards

Without Using Adhesive Foam Tape or Pop Dots

Most of us typically reach for adhesive foam tape or pop dots when we want to add dimension or depth to our cards. But this month we are going to look at three alternative techniques for giving our cards depth and that special look that pops.

1. Stacking Die-Cuts From Chipboard Under Your Stamped Image

The first method we’ll talk about is stacking die cuts. It’s simply die cutting multiple pieces of the same image or word, then gluing them atop one another to create height on your card. In the example below I used thin chipboard, but you can use multiple layers of regular cardstock for less depth.

Photo of die-cut house images with their matching chipboard backings.

 

Photo of finished product using three chipboard layers behind the orange house. Click HERE for details on how the card was made.

 

 2. Stamp on Craft Foam, Cut It Out, then Heat to Shrink

    to the Size You Want

I’ve used this technique when I have a stamped image I want to shrink in size a bit to make it proportional to other stamped images in my design. The 2mm thick foam is best - while Puffy Foam used for embroidery is the BEST. But you don't HAVE to shrink your stamped image, you can just attach it to your card as is. This is especially useful if you have a large stamped image that you want to raise above the card surface. A solid foam backing helps making it through the mail without crushing.

In this sample, I had a wagon stamp that was WAY too small to accommodate the Stampin’ Up  “Party Pandas” stamp. So I stamped the bear onto white craft foam using Stazon black ink, hand cut him out, then used my heat tool to shrink him until he was small enough to fit in the wagon – about 70% of his original size.

The panda on the left is of my heat shrunken panda stamped on craft foam. The shape on the right is original “Party Panda”stamp (clear-mount) from Stampin’ Up! .

This photo shows the final card using the shrunken panda bear fitting perfectly into his little red wagon. Please click HERE for detailed description on how this card was created.

 3. Overlapping/Layering Card Elements

This third method to create dimension or “depth” involves simply overlapping the card elements so that some are “behind” the others. Layering also directs the eye to the focal point of your card.

A card by Tina Rappe shows how just “hanging” the wreath on a fence, and gluing, just at the top, gives SUPER dimension. 

 

Here, the flowers and leaves were not all completely glued to the card front. Depth was created by leaving some of the petals loose, and overlapping the flowers. Click HERE for details on how this card was made.

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For our TSOT Technique Challenge this month, use one (or more!) of these three methods to create a unique card that has dimension and “pop”.

Melanie

Dawn

Heather

Dianne