Elizabeth Craft Designs

Shimmer Sheetz Sweater Cards
By Judi Kauffman

The minute I saw the newly-released ‘Sweater’ die set from the Joset Designs collection I envisioned it in school colors as a letter sweater or with the graduation year in large numbers. I pictured a fancy sweater for holiday parties with lots of bling. And I knew I wanted to keep going with topiary tree cards like the Gingerbread Man Topiary Tree Cards posted here on the blog on August 14, 2016.

The die set also includes a reindeer and snowflake for winter and holiday sweaters, as well as the charming coat hanger die. It’s so versatile! Just imagine cardstock ski sweaters with stamped patterns across the front or sweaters cut from soft, fuzzy felt. And how about making some for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, as gift tags for friends who knit, with ‘#1’ on the front to celebrate someone’s achievements? There are so many possibilities…

The three cards above show my first three ideas. Instead of giving detailed instructions, please use the images and my design strategies and tips to create your own customized Shimmer Sheetz Sweater Cards for any occasion.

DESIGN STRATEGIES & TIPS

*If you’re new to die cutting Shimmer Sheetz, review Els van de Burgt’s video TUTORIAL. A metal adaptor plate or Big Shot machine with a Precision Base Plate is required for this technique. Add Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet to the back of the Shimmer Sheetz before die cutting or use pieces of Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape to secure the sweater on the card front.

*The alphabet stickers I chose for ‘YOU’VE GOT BLING’ didn’t include an apostrophe so I made one with a single petal cut from the largest Glitter Flower peel-off used on the sleeves  and yoke of the sweater. The sweater is Purple Iridescent Shimmer Sheetz. I mixed Glitter Dots, Glitter Flowers, and adhesive-backed gems for the ‘bling’. 

*To anchor the Silver Metallic Shimmer Sheetz hanger onto the card front, pierce 2 holes and use a needle to pull metallic braid through the holes; tie a small bow. Notice the tiny Glitter Dots along the raglan sleeve seam line. They’re the smallest size on the sheet of peel-offs.

*Tone down the sparkle on the Emerald Gemstone Shimmer Sheetz topiary tree sweater by lightly sanding BEFORE adding the leaves die cut from Light Green Velvet Adhesive Sheet as shown below. This card measures over 9″ and is sized for a #10 business envelope. (I did not sand the other two sweaters because I liked them shiny and sparkly. They are A2 size.) Refer back to the project instructions on August 14, 2016 for a complete how-to for Topiary Tree Cards.

*The contrasting numbers, neckline piece, cuffs at the sleeves and bottom of the school sweater are die cut from Blue Velvet Adhesive Sheet, providing a soft matte contrast to the sparkly Yellow Iridescent Shimmer Sheetz sweater.

*Your cards can be any size, as long as the sweater fits.

*Add some embellishments, printed stickers, layers of patterned papers and/or solid color cardstock, and your fun and easy card will be ready to mail!

*The supply list below covers materials used for all three cards.

SUPPLIES

Elizabeth Craft Designs –

Shimmer Sheetz in colors of choice

  (Shown: Peridot Gemstone, Silver Metallic, Purple and Yellow Iridescent)

Joset Designs ‘ Winter Sweater’ die set

Els van de Burgt Studio ‘Leafy Branch’ die

Els van de Burgt Studio ‘Numbers & More 2’ die set

Susan’s Garden Club ‘Garden Notes – Potted’ die

Velvet Adhesive Sheets in Blue and Light Green

Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheets and Tape

Glitter Dots peel-offs in Pink/Silver

Glitter Flowers peel-offs in Pink/Silver

Through the Lens Metal series 6 x 6 cardstock (background layer, school sweater card)

Other –

Solid color cardstock in assorted colors

Fine ribbon and cord for ‘Bling’ and ‘Topiary Tree’ cards

Needle to pierce cardstock and to pull cord through cardstock for ‘Bling’ card

Coffee stir stick for topiary tree card

Faceted adhesive-backed gems in Purple, 3 sizes for ‘Bling’ card

Lightweight cork sheet for flower pot

Assorted printed stickers, alphabet stickers, and plaid paper from Graphic 45