Floating Element

Create a Floating Element On Your Cards Like Magic!

Isn’t it amazing how the circle on this card seems to be floating above the card front? When I first saw this technique, I knew I would have lots of fun with it. Once you know the “trick” you will be creating a floating element on many of your cards for that “WOW” effect.

Here’s What You Need To Start

• Clear acetate Window Sheet
• Three colors of card stock scrap strips (varied widths, approximately between 3/8″ and 1/2″ – but no need to measure) I used Cajun Craze, Pumpkin Pie and Bumblebee for an autumn feel.
• Large Die Cut shape with clean edges (no stitching)
• White or Vanilla Cardstock for base and Early Espresso or Basic Black card stock for die cut image
• Sentiment stamp
• Early Espresso or Black Memento Ink
• Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine
• Strong Adhesives (not glue)

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Arrange your strips on your piece of acetate leaving a slight gap between each one. Adhere them with strong adhesive such as Stampin’ Seal, Stampin’ Seal+, or Tear Tape. Do not use liquid glue, as it smears easily on the Window Sheet. You might like to work on a Silicone Craft Sheet so that your adhesive doesn’t get on your work surface and make it sticky. All glue and adhesives will not stick to this Craft Sheet and can be easy rubbed off!

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Trim the excess card stock from the edges of the Window Sheet. Because these are probably sticky, cut through the edge of the acetate so your scissors or trimmer doesn’t get adhesive on it. Next, die cut out your shape with the Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine.

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Prepare your card base by stamping a simple sentiment. Here, the Thank You came from the Nature’s Harvest stamp set. You can stamp directly on the card base. I suggest using Thick White or Vanilla Card Stock cut at 8-1/2″ x 11″, scored at 4-1/4″. Or you can add another layer of matching card stock at 5-1/4″ x 4″ to your card base, as I did here.

Die cut an image to overlay onto your striped floating element. I used a die from the Harvest die set (Coordinates with the Nature’s Harvest stamp set) cut in Early Espresso card stock. Now you are ready to adhere it all to your card front! But to make it a floating element, you must do this next step.

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To make your element appear to float, add Foam Adhesive Strips to EVERY strip of colored card stock. You want even support under the entire shape. You do not want any of it to sag, as this will ruin the floating effect and will look sloppy. These foam strips are 1/8″ x 9″, so they are thin enough to fit under your card stock strips and be hidden. Simply cut the length to fit. Just an FYI – do not use these Foam Strips on the same piece with Foam Dimensionals – they are not the same thickness! The strips are thicker.

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Adhere your die cut image to your stripped shape and trim accordingly. Put all the pieces of your card together and be ready to WOW your friends! Below is another card I made with the scrap rectangle piece I had after die cutting the circle.

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The card below shows the same concept just in different colors and die cut image. I then used the scrap from cutting the circle on the next card (but not floating – the sides were too thin to add foam strips) and added the butterfly in the center. Always try to find ways to use your “leftovers!”

Which of these cards is your favorite? Please leave a comment below. I hope you are encouraged to try this technique as well. It is lots of fun and uses some of your card stock scraps. You can see the video tutorial below. Enjoy!