Make an Acetate Holilday Card with a Snowman

Acetate Holiday Card, Front View

Acetate cards are all the rage this Holiday season, at least among paper crafters, card makers and scrapbookers. And no wonder. This transparent surface allows us to create some delightful effects.

The Holiday Snowman card is no exception. Closed, you see the paper and the stamped sentiment underneath.

card open with room showing through

Open, you see through to the surroundings.  In the picture to the left, the background of the room shows through the acetate.

Supply List

Strip of acetate 8 1/4 inches by 3 3/4 inches
Medium blue card stock
Dark blue card stock
Light blue card stock
Blue scrapbook paper, perhaps with a wintery pattern
Snowman Stamp
Small Snowflakes Stamp
Sentiment Stamp (this one reads "let it snow"
White Opaque solvent ink
Black solvent ink
Blue solvent ink
Bone folder (optional)
Sponge Dabber (optional)
Adhesive or tape

Tip #1: Solvent Ink

Solvent ink is a requirement for stamping on acetate. Inks such as pigment inks or dye inks will not dry on this surface. Solvent inks are made to dry on metallic or other slippery surfaces. Stazon Ink is possibly the best known brand name. Since the ink is a solvent, you will need a special solvent cleaner for your stamps.

Tip #2: Stamping on Acetate

Acetate can be a tricky surface to stamp on. Because it is slippery, the stamp can easily move on the surface, creating  a blurred look. Stamp with care to avoid this happening. If possible, hold the acetate in place firmly with one hand, while stamping with the other. After stamping, lift the stamp directly upwards taking care not to let the stamp slide on the surface.

Tip #2: Complimentary Colors of Card Stock

Basil, if available, is a good choice of card stock. This company has many shades of card stock designed to work together in a monotone colored project.

Instructions for Assembling the Acetate Holiday Card

Medium Blue Card Stock on Back

1. First, fold the acetate in half, forming a card. For best results,makethefold with a bone folder. Acetate can be stiff and using this tool helps get a good crease.

2. Cut a rectangle of medium blue card stock. Make this slightly smaller than the back surface of the card. Using tape or adhesive, tape this medium blue card stock to the BACK of the acetate card. Refer to the picture to the right.



3. Using the black solvent ink, stamp the snowman on FRONT of the acetate card. Position it as shown in the pictures. It should be off center, somewhat to the right edge of the card and high enough up from the bottom to allow the two levels of "snow" to show.

Sentiment

4.  Cut a rectangle of blue scrapbook paper. This will go inside the card, covering up the medium blue card stock that is on the back. If desired, cut the blue scrapbook paper slightly smaller than the medium blue card stock. This will give a darker border around the edges of inside portion, which is an attractive look.

5. Using blue ink, stamp the sentiment on the inside. Solvent ink is not necessary for this, since you are stamping on paper. However, you will probably want to use the same color that you are using for the outside snowflakes, so it makes sense to use the same ink.

Inside view, showing band of dark blue snow

6. Cut a strip of dark blue card stock. Make it long enough to go along the bottom of the inside left page. Cut it about two inches high, then tear along one edge to obtain a jagged look resembling a snow bank. Position it as shown on the INSIDE of the card's left page and attach.

For best results, run the tape or blue along the bottom of the card stock and leave the sides and top unglued. This prevents the glue from showing through to the front.

front of card showing light blue snow

7. Cut a similar sized strip of light blue card stock. Tear along one edge, making this strip of paper shorter in height then you made the dark blue.

Glue or tape this strip to the front of the acetate card, positioning it as shown. Avoid making it so high that it covers the snowman stamp, but allowing a little overlap can be attractive. The light blue snow conceals the adhesive used to affix the dark blue snow on the inside flap.

8.Using the opaque solvent ink and a sponge dabber, dab over the snowman, giving him a white covering. Dab white around the  edges of the acetate as well. Refer to the picture to the left.

9. Using small snowflake stamps and blue solvent ink, stamp a few snowflakes randomly on the front of the acetate card.

And that's it!  Your card is completed, ready to sendto a lucky recipient.

Recommended Links

For additional video tutorials and text tutorials of Holiday projects and other scrapbooking and paper craft projects, please visit Video Tutorials by Scrapping by Design