Inlay Technique - Cat Cards By Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

I mentioned in my last tutorial that I love making cards with what I’ve dubbed ‘Inlay Technique.’ Like inlaid wood, the surface is smooth - kind of like a puzzle with the pieces glued in place.

This time, I reached for iridescent paints, black cardstock, and cat face shapes from Laurel Burch’s ‘Tribal Cats’ die set. Here’s the recipe so you can make your own versions:

1. Cut two pieces of black speckled (shown) or solid black, navy, brown, or forest green cardstock to 3.75” x 5”. (To make a big batch of cards, cut cardstock in pairs.)

2. Choose 3 or more iridescent paints and cover most of the dark-colored cardstock with strokes of the paints. Overlap. When dry, add a bit more color.

3. Die cut two cat faces from each of the painted rectangles. Switch the faces so the two from one rectangle fit into the spaces in the other rectangle. Working from the back, use one-sided tape to secure the inlaid pieces in place.

4. Using double-sided tape, adhere the rectangle to a top-fold A2 card base made from coordinating patterned cardstock.

5. Add cat’s eye stickers for eyes and silver or gold fine line stickers for whiskers. Refer to photos for placement. Alternatively, draw the eyes and make your own whiskers from thin strips of adhesive backed metallic cardstock.

Option: Instead of working in pairs, make a big batch of backgrounds, die cut the cat faces; mix and match among the pieces!

Supplies:

• Tribal Cats dies by Laurel Burch (Stampendous)
• Dark color cardstock
• Iridescent paints
• Paint brush
• One-sided tape
• Double-sided adhesive tape
• 7mm cat’s eye stickers in yellow and green (www.lasioux.com)
• Silver border line stickers