Paper Seedlings: MANY SNOWFLAKES

Recently I was going through some stuff. Yes, stuff. And I came across a handful of cards I'd created and never posted to my blog. I decided that they were still relevant, even if some of the product has retired. So, periodically I am going to include them in blog posts. You will probably never even know the difference, that they were from awhile ago. I hope you enjoy and benefit from them!

The technique used to make the gigantic snowflake on this 4 3/4" square card is called Reverse Masking. Using this technique, a creator is able to get results with a real wow factor.

A closeup of the snowflake and all its imperfections:

Here's a tutorial on how to make a card similar to this one, and to teach you how to do the Reverse Masking Technique. Have fun!

SUPPLIES:

White cardstock

Pacific Point cardstock

Silver Glimmer Paper

Retired snowflake stamps (I used a variety of stamps)

Pacific Point ink

Die Cutting/Embossing Machine

Snowflake dies

Layering Circles Dies (page 172, Annual Catalog)

Stampin' Dimensionals

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold a 9 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of Pacific Point cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Make a template from a 5" x 5" piece of copy paper using a large snowflake outline die. Dispose of the snowflake itself, or save it for another project. Center the square piece that you die cut from copy paper over a 4 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of white cardstock. Tape the edges securely.

Starting with one of the larger, more open snowflake stamps, stamp randomly withint the snowflake shape in Pacific Point ink. Fill in some more spots with another open snowflake. Once these are distributed nicely, take a smaller snowflake stamp and finish filling in the space, leaving little bits of white showing. Be extra careful on the tips of the snowflakes. If you don't have stamping filling in those tips, the finished product will look spotty in those places.

You can pick up a few of the taped edges and peek underneath to check on your snowflake-producing progress. If you need a bit more stamping, simply press the tape back in place, and finish up.

Once you are happy with your reverse masked snowflake (made from MANY snowflakes!), adhere this to the card base.

Using the Layering Circles dies, choose one that measures about 1 3/4" across and cut a Pacific Point circle. With a die about 1 3/8" across, make a white circle. Adhere these circles together.

Using a snowflake die, cut a snowflake from silver Glimmer Paper. Using tiny drops of glue, adhere the sparkly snowflake to the center of the adhered circles. Attach this with a Stampin' Dimensional over a part of the large snowflake.

This card could be used for any winter occasion. If you wish, use Pacific Point ink to stamp a tiny sentiment in the lower right corner of the card, or else, inside the card.

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Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance, and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun. Care for those around you. Look past your differences. Their dreams are no less than yours, their choices in life no more easily made. And give. Give in any way you can, of whatever you possess. To give is to love. To withhold is to wither. Care less for your harvest than for how it is shared, and your life will have meaning. And your heart will have peace.

- Kent Nerburn, from "Letters to My Son" -