A Very Large Retirement Card

I generally dislike making very large cards as it can be difficult to fill in the space. This retirement card is 12 x 12" and is the largest that I'm usually willing to go.


I got the idea for this card from Laura's amazing card here:


I continue to swoon over her card!!

Here is a close-up of the focal point, which still doesn't do my dimensional paper-piecing much justice.  ;)

I stamped the couch at least times for this project. Once on the Spellbinders die-cut (love!), once again on scrap to cut out the cushions/arms/feet to pop up over top and twice to cut out masks.

I masked the couch while I tried to airbrush a Copic background but my luck with my airbrush is hit-or-miss. I think I just keep choosing colors that are too light to notice. When that wasn't successful, I switched to misting, even though the only aqua-ish mist I had was Turquoise Blue, a touch too bright for my card.

I created the giant demi-medallion with a strip of 5.5 x 24" cardstock. I used foam to ink the exterior edge with white and then used my scoreboard to score every inch on one side and the alternating inches on the other side (if that makes sense).

The stitching around the top exterior of the card is just a fun stitch on my sewing machine. The bottom sentiment is heat-embossed.

I'm submitting this into Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday: A La Carte. The technique I used was selective inking on the "time to relax."

Thanks for stopping by!


{Supplies--all Papertrey Ink unless noted}
  • Cardstock: peach and aqua (Cricut cardstock by Provocraft), Stamper's Select White and Melon Berry
  • Stamps: On My Couch, Tiny Tags, Think Big Favorites 5
  • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Melon Berry, Aqua Mist and Fresh Snow
  • Dies: Picot Edge Circles (Spellbinders), Tiny Tags
  • Other Tools: Turquoise Blue Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), lace (dollar store), sewing machine/thread, white embroidery floss, Big Bite/eyelet (We R Memory Keepers)

6 comments:

Sabrina said...

I loved all those cards too! They were all fantastic! You did a wonderful job in using Laura's card for inspiration. This turned out great! Lots of room for the many signitures...

Karen B. said...

Wow, that's one big beautiful card! Great job!

Unknown said...

Beautiful card! Love the fan you created for the background! ;o)

carol (krillsister) said...

Very pretty card. I love the couch with that theme of retirement. Very creative.
the semi medallion is very striking.

Suzanne Russell said...

Such a perfect card for retirement! I never thought of making such a HUGE card but this is precious! The image and sentiment are just right. I can see the airbrushing, too!

Tracey McNeely said...

Excellent retirement card and your focal point is fabulous. Happy New Year.