Adding Custom Color to Looking Glass Dies

Looking Glass die sets are invaluable tools for creating intricate, layered scenes easily. The new Looking Glass Nativity set is perfect for creating the classic Christmas nativity on your holiday cards. Although the dies can be used most simply with plain cardstock colors to create beautiful scenes, enhancing several of the die-cut layers with ink will create unique and custom designs.

To make today’s card, I started by die-cutting each of the three layers of the Looking Glass Nativity set from square pieces of cardstock. For the stable layer, I die cut pieces from Dove White, Woodland, and Lapis cardstock so that I could inlay the background pieces. I used my favorite blending brushes to ink the Lapis sky piece with Blue Hawaii and Purple Galaxy inks and to ink the Dove White stable interior piece with Lemon Drop ink. After placing these inked pieces around the Woodland stable, I secured them in position with tape on the back. Then, I added some small, white stars with acrylic paint using the tip of my tweezers. I also added an inked yellow halo with Precision Glue.

Next, I die cut the star layer from white cardstock. Again, using blending brushes, I colored the star with Lemon Drop ink and the palm trees with Green Apple and Root Beer inks, masking the sections of the trees for each color. I cut the final layer, the Magi and camel, from Sand cardstock. I aligned the three layers on top of each other and secured them with glue at the edges.

To create the cover panel, I die cut a square window, slightly larger than the nativity scene, into a trimmed panel of Lapis cardstock with a Square Infinity Die. After applying a hint of Blue Hawaii and Purple Galaxy ink to the top of the panel, I stamped several stars from the Holiday Sparkles set with Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink across the panel to create a subtle background. I secured the nativity scene behind the window and then added the completed panel, with foam tape, to a white card base that I had layered with a panel of Canary cardstock.

For the card’s sentiment, I used the Christmas Words Fancy Die set to cut the word “Noel” three times from white cardstock. I inked one of the die cut words with Lemon Drop ink and then glued the three pieces on top of each other to create a dimensional sentiment. I also added a small sentiment banner that I stamped and white embossed from the Holiday Peg Dolls set on Woodland cardstock. To finish the card, I added a pair of Sunset Enamel Dots for some shine.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope your week is wonderful and crafty!

Click on products to shop:

DF075 Looking Glass Nativity (E) |...
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DF092 Christmas Words Fancy Die (D) |...
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DI713 Square Infinity Dies (H) | Hero...
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CM637 Holiday Sparkles | Hero Arts
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CM640 Holiday Peg Dolls | Hero Arts
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AF429 Blue Hawaii Reactive Ink | Hero...
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AF464 Purple Galaxy Reactive Ink |...
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AF425 Green Apple Reactive Ink | Hero...
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AF463 Root Beer Reactive Ink | Hero Arts
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AF419 Clear Embossing & Watermark Ink...
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PS327 Hero Hues Premium Cardstock...
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PS320 Hero Hues Premium Cardstock...
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PS334 Hero Hues Premium Cardstock...
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PS306 Hero Hues Premium Cardstock...
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PS325 Hero Hues Dove white | Hero Arts
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PW110 White Embossing Powder | Hero Arts
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CH328 Sunset Hero Hues Enamel Dots |...
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MI003 Ink Blending Brushes | Hero Arts
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HT204 Hero Tools Reverse Grip...
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GW102 Precision Glue XL | Hero Arts
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  • Frances Sheegog

    What an excellent idea!! I LOVE the Looking Glass dies and this is a beautiful way to use them. I appreciate the fact you can use all the image layers while minimizing the amount of bulk. So lovely!! Thank you for sharing!!

  • Carol McDavid

    I have been wanting to make a Xmas card with a religious theme for years, thanks for the beautiful inspiration. Made this card today and it turned out beautifully. 59 more to go!