Hi everyone! If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you’ll know I’ve been making cards for decades. You might also think that after all this time there are some mistakes I wouldn’t make anymore. Sadly, that isn’t the case. Today’s card is a perfect example of a mistake that could have been avoided.
As you know, I usually recommend stamping, colouring and die-cutting everything you think you’ll need before assembling your card. In fact, I always suggest making extra pieces so you can play around with the layout before committing. Once you’re happy with the design, then you go ahead and adhere everything. It makes perfect sense, right? So why didn’t I follow my own advice with this card?
For this design, I knew the spacing had to be just right. The large Happy Dad’s Day die cut (from Lawn Fawn) takes up a good portion of the card, and I also wanted to stamp the “You Are the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)” sentiment from the You Goat This stamp set (also by Lawn Fawn). I didn’t want any of the goats covering the sentiment, so after creating my ink-blended background, I roughly positioned a few pieces before adhering the large die cut.
Next, I stamped and white heat-embossed the sentiment (I really should have used a stamping platform so it would have been perfectly straight), then popped up the hay bale and two goats with foam adhesive. I remember thinking how pleased I was that everything fit.
Then I took a proper look at the finished layout. That’s when I realised everything was just… a little off. The spacing wasn’t as balanced as I’d imagined, and because I’d already adhered the die cut and goats in place, there wasn’t much I could do about it. Oh well!
I tried to fix the card by stamping and colouring a few extra images and adding them into the scene to help balance the design. Is it perfect? No. But I still think it’s a fun Father’s Day card!
If you’re wondering why I’m making Father’s Day cards now, Father’s Day in Australia falls on 6 September this year, so this is the first Father’s Day card I’ve made for the season. I have a few more ideas I’d like to try… and hopefully the spacing will improve with each one!
Here’s the card…
Do you adhere everything as you go, or do you wait until you’re happy with the overall design before gluing anything down?
I usually wait until the very end, and even then I sometimes still end up with a wonky layout. But I’ve learned that giving yourself the chance to move things around first makes those little design mishaps far less likely.
Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Supplies
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