Gap Cards - 2026 June Class #2

 

Today I've made some "gap" cards using materials from the Homemade Sweetness designer series paper.  Gap cards are cut so there is a gap in the middle of the card front - which is then bridged in some way to hold the card together.  The two cards you see above demonstrate two different ways of bridging the gap.  Instructions are in this video (and in the post below).  Scroll to the end of this post (or watch to the end of the video) to see additional examples of this type of card.

Card #1: Die Cut Gap

 

Cutting Dies used:  "Happy Birthday" words & shadow cutting dies from Wanted to Say die set.  

NOTE: Unfortunately, these dies have been discontinued, but if you don't have them, don't despair!  The instructions below assume you are using these dies, but, the die you choose does not have to be a sentiment.  It DOES need to be more than 1 1/2" tall over most of its width in order to bridge the gap.  If you don't have a sentiment that fits this criteria, you could die cut a shape - perhaps an oval or a rectangle that will bridge the gap well - and stamp your sentiment on that shape.

Card Base: Create your card base using a piece of Basic White cardstock that is 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  

1. Score it in half (at 4 1/4") as normal and crease well with your bone folder.  
2. THEN, cut card FRONT off at 1 1/2" from the score line and set the card base aside.  
3. From the remaining piece, cut again at 1 1/2" to create a piece that is 1 1/2" x 5 1/2".  Set this with your card base.  
4. Set remaining piece aside for creating your sentiment.

Cardstock (Misty Moonlight): start with piece that is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

1. With cardstock in portrait position, cut at 1 1/4" - twice.  This gives two pieces that are 1 1/4" x 5 1/2" - set remaining piece aside for creating sentiment.
2. Trim cut pieces to 5 1/4" leaving you with two pieces that are 1 1/4" x 5 1/4".  Set these with your card base. 

DSP (Homemade Sweetness designer series paper): Start with a piece that is 4" x 6".

1. With paper in landscape position, cut 1" off.  Set this strip aside for the inside of your card, leaving a piece that is 4" x 5".
2. Rotate remaining piece to portrait position and cut at 1".  Cut again at 1" giving you two pieces that are 1" x 5".  Place your cut pieces with your card base and set the remaining piece aside for use in decorating your card if you wish.

Sentiment: ("Happy Birthday" words & shadow cutting dies from Wanted to Say die set.)

1. Cut shadow from the Misty Moonlight (blue) piece you set aside for the sentiment using the shadow Happy Birthday die.
2. Cut "Happy Birthday" from the white piece you set aside for the sentiment (NOT the additional white piece!) using the word die.  NOTE - your piece will NOT be wide enough to get the whole sentiment cut in one go.  First, move the die so that "Birthday" is fully on your piece by one edge & die cut that.  Then move the die so "Happy" is fully on the remaining piece and die cut that.
3. Glue white words to blue mat. 
4. Die cut shadow from Thick Basic White cardstock and set aside.

Putting it together:

1. Using pieces set with card base, glue DSP strips to blue cardstock strips.
2. Glue prepared strips to card base - one to the 1 1/2" piece of card front that is still attached to the card base, and the other to the additional 1 1/2" piece of white cardstock that was cut for the card base.
3. With card base in landscape position and attached card front strip at the top, lay detached piece at the bottom and align carefully.
4. Center your sentiment in place over the gap so you can see how it will look - then glue in place adding JUST A LITTLE glue ONLY to a narrow part of the top and bottom of your sentiment.  MAKE SURE your previously detached piece is still aligned with the bottom of the card, your  sentiment is centered, and no glue has transferred to the inside of your card.  
5. Apply glue to the FRONT of the white shadow and add to the inside of the card for additional stability.  
6. Glue DSP you set aside for the inside of your card so that it is centered behind your sentiment. 
7. Set aside while you prepare the finishing touches.

Finishing Touches: (using Misty Moonlight & sliver ribbon that is about 6" long - and leftover DSP if you wish)

1. Tie a half knot in the ribbon and hold it together with a Mini Glue Dot.  Trim ends.
2. Add ribbon to your card front using another glue dot. 
3. If you wish, you can fussy cut ladybugs from the back of the DSP and add them to your card. 

Card #2: Acetate Gap Card

Dies Used: Everyday Arches, Stylish Shapes 

Stamps Used: Made with Sweetness, sentiment stamp from my stash.  Note, I would have preferred to use the stamp that says "You're the Sweetest" from the Filled with Sweetness stamp set (but I don't have it).  This would have meant using a different die from Stylish Shapes - or if I had the Filled with Sweetness bundle, I could have used a die from that set to cut my sentiment.

Card Base: Create your card base using a piece of Basic White cardstock that is 4 1/4" x 11".  

1. Score it in half at 5 1/2", and crease well with your bone folder.  
2. THEN, cut card FRONT off at 1 1/4" from the score line and set the card base aside.  
3. From the remaining piece, cut again at 1 1/4" to create a piece that is 1 1/4" x 4 1/4".  Set this with your card base.  
4. Set remaining piece aside to use later.

Acetate: I used acetate from packaging from something I purchased.  This is sturdier than normal craft acetate and works really well for this purpose - and it's free!  Cut a piece that is 3 1/2" x 4 1/4" and set with your card base.

Red Cardstock (Strawberry Slush): Cut an arched piece using a die from Everyday Arches - starting with the smallest die count to #4 and use that die. Set with card base. 

White Cardstock (Basic White): 

1. Using the piece you set aside from the card base, and the 3rd arch die (counting again from the smallest die), cut two arched shapes side by side, leaving room to cut banner piece.  
2. Cut banner piece using die from Stylish Shapes (smallest of the long banners).  
3. Cut one more arched shape using that same die and an additional piece of white cardstock (that is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  
4. Set all die cut pieces with your card base.
5. Using stamps from Made with Sweetness, stamp at least three sets of strawberries on your remaining white cardstock.  Note that these are two-step stamps - the berries themselves and the leaves. Stamp the berries using Strawberry Slush ink, and the leaves using Granny Apple Green ink. 
6. IF NEEDED because of a gap when you stamped, you can join the leaves to the berries by using a marker. 
7. While you have the Strawberry Slush ink out, ink the edges of two of the white arched pieces and the die cut banner piece.  Set them aside to dry.
8. Fussy cut your strawberries - two groups of 3, and the rest as singles.  Set aside for later.     

DSP (Homemade Sweetness designer series paper): Start with a piece that is 4" x 6".

1. With paper in landscape position, cut at 4 1/4".  Set aside piece you cut off, leaving a piece that is 4" x 4 1/4".
2. Rotate remaining piece to portrait position and cut at 1 1/4".  Cut again at 1 1/4" giving you two pieces that are 1 1/4" x 4 1/4".  Place your cut pieces with your card base and set the remaining piece aside.

Sentiment & Focal: 

1. Using black ink, stamp "for someone sweet" (from Just for You set from my stash) in center of die cut banner piece.  Set aside.
2. Fussy cut both jars of "Strawberry Preserves" from the DSP.  Glue one near the bottom of one of the red-edged white arches to create your focal - but don't glue the second one! 

Putting it together:  NOTE: I recommend using Tombow's Multipurpose Liquid Glue for any pieces that you're gluing directly to the acetate - but use it sparingly!  

1. Using the pieces you cut for the card base, arrange card base with fold at the top and disconnected piece aligned at the bottom.  
2. Set acetate piece on top so it joins the two.  You should have about 1/4" of the acetate overlapping each piece of the card front, and the sides should be flush.  Glue in place, keeping glue well toward the edge of the acetate, and away from the edge of the cardstock.
3. Glue DSP strips to the top and bottom of your card, covering the white cardstock and aligning it carefully so it won't be seen from the inside.  This hides where you glued the acetate.
4. Lay out your sentiment and focal on this to clarify placement.  The top edge of the bottom piece of the card should fall at the half-way point of the sentiment, and the arched piece just above this.  Glue the arched focal piece to the card front, keeping glue well away from the edges. 
5. Glue the second red-edged white arch to the back of the acetate to hide the glue.  Make sure you line it up exactly so it looks good from the front!
6. Add the sentiment with Mini Stampin' Dimensionals right along the bottom of the sentiment (ONLY - so they won't show on the inside). 

Finishing Touches:

1. Open card and glue remaining strawberry jam piece to the inside arched piece so it will be right-side up when the card is open. 
2. Wrap the twine around the top part of the card and tie a bow.
3. Glue remaining white arch to the red arch, centering it.
4. Glue matted arch to the inside of the card, lining it up so it is right behind the arches on the acetate.  This is where your message will go.
5. Glue a scattering of strawberries to the front of the card, and add a couple of them inside if you wish. 

Here's what the finished inside of the card looks like: 

 And here are a couple more examples of each card: