I have been wanting to use this A-DORABLE Concord & 9th Hugs stamp set and coordinating Hugs die for quite some time now, but you all must have loved it as much as I did and scooped it up ... it had been out-of-stock in the store for a while! As soon as it came back in stock, I whipped up this sweet card (click on any photo for a larger view):
It is a tri-fold card that locks together in front using the die cut "hugs" word!! Here's what it looks like open:
Here are the steps to create it:
(All bold supplies are linked below in the supply section):
*The dimensions I will give you create a finished card measuring 3-3/4 inches wide x 5-1/2 inches tall, made from a standard piece of 8-1/2 x 11-inch cardstock (although I trimmed my card down to be 4-3/4 tall). Many thanks to Jennifer McGuire, who figured out these dimensions!
**There is a very helpful video on the Hugs die product page in Ellen's store, which details how to create a standard 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" card made from a 12-inch piece of cardstock. You can find the video at the bottom of this page.
1. Cut a card base 5-1/2 inches tall x 11 inches wide. I used 110 Lb. Neenah Solar White because I knew I wanted to do some ink blending on the front involving water, so I wanted the base to be as sturdy as possible.
Note: While the heavier cardstock held up to my technique very well, if I weren't doing this type of technique I would probably use a regular 80'ish Lb. cardstock, to make it a little easier to fold.
2. Next, cut a piece of scrap cardstock that is 7-1/2 inches wide x at least 5-1/2 inches tall to use as a spacer (again, many thanks to Jennifer for these dimensions!):
Place the spacer cardstock on top of your card base, centered. Place the "hu" half of the die along the left side of your card base, leaving just a little space to the left of the die. Make sure the die's cutting blade is butted up against the spacer. Then position the "gs" half of the die along the right side of the spacer. Adjust the dies accordingly, so they are evenly space top to bottom and on the card front. Temporarily tape in place and run through your die cut machine. If you don't have an 11-inch wide die cutting machine like the Big Shot Plus or extended platform, just run each side of the die through your machine separately (two passes).
With the adorable bear positioned on my cardfront, I thought he would look better and less like he were floating in space if the card were a little shorter, so I trimmed off 3/4-inch from the bottom. That measurement was based solely on the fact that was as much of the card I could get into my trimmer before the "hu" hit an edge (and I didn't trust myself to try and hold the heavyweight card at straight enough of an angle, up off the cutting ledge and get a straight cut)! This made my card 4-3/4" tall.
3. Next, score 1-7/8" from the "hu" side of the card -- I do this in my Trimmer's cutting channel, using a Teflon Bone Folder (and evidently I technically use my Trimmer upside down!).
Then fold the right "hu" side inward:
And bend the left "gs" side of the card inward:
Match up the slit at the top of the "g" with the slit at the bottom of the "u":
Push the pieces together until they "lock":
Then slowly press the left side of the card down onto your work surface, to flatten out the card and create the crease on the left side of the card:
Crease the left side of the card with your Teflon Bone Folder:
4. Next, I got inky! Using a 1-inch Round Ink Blending Tool with Tumbled Glass Distress ink at the top and Broken China Distress Ink at the bottom, I created a gradient ombre effect on the cardfronts. Mask off the back of the card, to keep it pristine white. I didn't worry about masking off the "hugs" word, since I knew I would be covering it up later with additional cardstock.
Then spray a little water onto your hand and flick/drop/drip it onto the blended Distress Inks (I never get tired of that cool watery effect!):
5. Next, I stamped the adorable Hugs bear with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto X-Press It Blending Card and colored him/her with these Copic Sketch Markers: 1-Base coat E41, 2-shade with E42, 3-shadows with E43 and E44 (also nose); ears R11:
Isn't she the sweetest?!! I cut her out and adhered her to the left side of the cardfront. I grounded her by creating a shadow under her feet with Copic BG45 and BG57:
Here's a look at the card fully open ... tons of space for stamping or writing your personalized sentiment, message, or even a gift card!
6. To finish the card, I cut another "hugs" word from Galvanized (silver) Metallic cardstock and adhered it over the original "hugs" word. I stamped the "enclosed" word (also from the Hugs stamp set) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then added a few 6mm and 4mm Clear Pretty Pink Posh sequins:
Now isn't that the sweetest way to send a big bear hug through the mail?!! Happy weekend!
~ Sharon