Partial Die Cutting

Today, I made a card for two challenges: Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix Challenge - Ink Blending, and Mod Squad Challenge - Just Snowflakes.

I started by ink blending with Gina K. Designs inks: Blue Lagoon, Blue Raspberry, Blue Denim, and In the Navy. Then I stamped the snowflakes with VersaMark ink and heat embossed them with silver embossing powder. I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark ink and heat embossed it in white. The snowflakes and sentiment are from the Gina K. Designs Sparkling Snowflake stamp set. 

I was inspired by Jennifer McGuire and did some partial die cutting along the two edges. I taped the coordinating dies onto the snowflakes on one edge and ran it through my die cutting machine with only part of the die under the cutting plate. The first time, I put the wrong part in, but luckily it just left an impression and didn't cut all the way through! So, I had to do the same thing on the other side.

Once I had both sides cut, I used a craft knife and a ruler to cut in between the snowflakes and to the edges of the side. I added the panel to a white card base and the card was finished. I thought of adding some embellishments, but I felt that there was enough sparkle with the silver embossing powder.