Beyond the Obvious: Using Inlay Die Shapes
I did it again. My new release order from Concord & 9th’s February release arrived. I got to work to make a project using the Empire Inlay Card Front Die and got distracted by the pieces that fell out of it after die cutting. I completed a card using these pieces before the card I intended. (That will be the next post.)
I had plans to make a card using that Empire Inlay Die, and cut out Wildberry, Grasshopper and Lemongrass cardstock with it.
I started looking at the frames it created, trying to decide which frame color to use for which inlay colors, changed my mind about what I was doing, and then noticed the shapes the die left behind. (My creative process often flows like that. Where it goes isn’t always what was originally intended!)
I started a line of the corner/angle shapes from that die, and decided they had a good energy on the Rainforest cardstock. I didn’t want the background to be plain, but knew it didn’t need color - with the bold color of my die cuts - so I used the piercing die from the (also new) Primrose Garden dies, just to add some texture. It also added some good organic shapes, which is an important balance for the angular geometric shapes of the die cuts.
For dimensional interest, I stacked and glued some of the die cuts. I also took care with my arrangement to be sure the Wildberry was spaced out for balance, but I didn’t want it to be too perfectly patterned. I considered the same balance with the shapes and angles of the ends.
While I was gluing them onto the card panel, I wanted to be sure they were straight so I did use my small t-square ruler to double-check that things were in line. (I usually tend to just eyeball things like this, but I knew it would look less crisp if the line got wonky and the points didn’t line up.)
To finish off the card, I added a pop of bright white with a layered die cut sentiment from the Everyday Expressions Dies. As with the background, the friendly curves of this provide good balance for the strong and saturated color of the angles.
Now I need to finish that other card…
Thank you for visiting! I hope you get some time to create something soon.
Links are below if you’re interested in any of the products I used.
Supply list*:
(Listed by company, with links to Simon Says Stamp)
Concord & 9th -
Empire Inlay Card Front Die
Primrose Garden Die Set
Everyday Expressions Dies
cardstock: Wildberry, Lemongrass, Grasshopper, Rainforest, White
Gina K Designs -
Simon Says Stamp -
*Affiliate links have been used with no cost difference for you.