4 Groovy Interactive Cards featuring the Dancin’ Christmas Collection

Hi there my Spellbiners’ friends, Welcome back to the Spellbiners Blog! My name is Jaycee Gaspar and I’m a full-time scientist and part-time content creator and card maker. Today, I’m sharing simple inspiration and projects featuring the Dancin’ Christmas Collection. This collection features four dancing groups, a paired sentiment stamp set, and embossing folder. This group is sure to keep you crafting, but your recipients will be amazed by how clever your Dancin’ Christmas cards are.

I used three techniques to make these interactive cards: ink blending, color blocking, and shiny embellishing. Ink blending gives dimension to otherwise solid hues of cardstock. Color blocking helps define clear palettes in your cards; the focus of your cards is the fun and interactive swinging motion. Finally, shiny elements add to the interactive element of these cards and give your recipient another gift to enjoy!

For my first card, I used the Dancin’ Gingerbread Etched Dies.  I coordinated clothes in the pair of cookies and tried to keep my color palettes simple.  I started with a neutral tan cardstock for the base of the cookies.  Then using a variety of inks and an ink blending tool, I gently shaded the cookie's edges just as if they were baked.  I made sure to add shading to the scarf, dress, bow, and cap.  I achieved this with a mix of warm gray inks to preserve the white piping but also add a little depth to the clothes and accessories.  I assembled the pair of gingerbread cookies on top of the Monoline Stars Embossing Folder.  I finished this card with a Dancin’ Christmas Sentiments banner and an array of white and silver splatters.  I felt like this added more sugary sweetness to this card.

To maintain the edible theme from the previous card, I used the Dancin’ Figgy Pudding Etched Dies.  I followed similar steps to achieve that perfectly baked cardstock.  I started with the same neutral tan base but added deeper values of ink to crisp the pudding.  Instead of leaving the custard layer white, I also added creamy shading with a mix of brown inks.  I used the same warm grey palette to shade the arms, mittens, legs, boots, and scarf in this die set.  I added a little white pigment ink to the Monoline Stars Embossing Folder to highlight the Dancin’ Figgy Pudding image.  Then finally I added an array of splatter from the same previously mentioned white and silver watercolors.  I wanted this to feel like powdered sugar on a decorative platter.

Up next is the Dancin’ Penguin Etched Dies.  I made a pair of ice skaters by cutting each element in the etched die set twice.  I love how easily these two penguins filled an A2-sized card front.  There was not a lot of shading to add to this card, since the penguins are already black.  However, I did add a little warm grey ink blended shadows to the edges of the red sweaters, scarf, ice skates, and cap.  For a fun shiny highlight, I cut the star ornament from gold mirror cardstock.  I found an icy blue cardstock to emboss with the Monoline Stars Embossing Folder.  Then I added even more metallic silver splatters to give the effect of heavy snow.

For my final card, I used the Dancin’ & Giftin’ Mouse Etched Dies.  I went for a jewel-toned palette to coordinate with the gray mouse.  I have a very limited colored cardstock collection, so to make the exact hue I wanted, I used a mix of inks to deepen the cardstock.  For example, I used grey ink to tone down the bright pink ears, paw, and tail.  After shading all the elements of this card, I made the large gift stand out with metallic gold splatters.  Then after assembling these dies on top of a navy Monoline Stars embossed panel, I finished this card with silver splatter and a gold heat embossed sentiment from Dancin’ Christmas Sentiments.

Other Supplies

Altenew-Mini Ink Blending Brushes; Altenew-Antique Gold Sequins; Altenew-Metallic Watercolor 14 Pan Set Huge thanks to the Spellbinders team for letting me share these four interactive cards with you all!  I hope that you check out the other ‘Dancin’’ Series on the Spellbinders Paper Arts store.  There are many other occasions to add these interactive dancing elements to your next card project!  You can find more of my card projects on YouTube, Instagram (@jaycee.gaspar), and at my blog. I hope to see you all again very soon!