Dino-mite Swing Card: A Roaring Good Time That’s Full of Charm!

Made by Alice Hedgeman
Alice has designed a delightful and interactive swing card for the Creative Inker Team Swap, drawing inspiration from Connie Stewart. Using the Darling Dinos stamp set and Perennial Postage dies, she showcases the whimsical charm of prehistoric creatures in a fun and engaging layout.

A Bold and Playful Design

Alice’s card features a Calypso Coral cardstock base, layered with Basic White cardstock for a striking contrast. The adorable dinosaurs and details are stamped in Gorgeous Grape, Pecan Pie, Garden Green, and Boho Blue, while a retired sentiment in Calypso Coral ties the design together.

For other swaps, Alice explored different color variations, including Lemon Lime Twist and Crushed Curry, ensuring the ink matched the cardstock for a cohesive look. She shared similar designs with fellow team members as part of the swap, spreading creativity and inspiration.

The Swing Card Technique

A swing card is an interactive design where a portion of the card flips or swings when opened, revealing a hidden element or an alternate design. This technique involves strategic cutting, scoring, and layering to create movement.

How It Works:

• Strategic Cutting and Scoring: Pre-cut and scored sections act as hinges, allowing the swinging portion to rotate upon opening.
• Kinetic Mechanism: A combination of mountain and valley folds ensures smooth movement.
• Layering: Decorative elements or die-cut shapes enhance the dynamic effect as the card unfolds.

This clever mechanism blends precision cutting with creative engineering, making it a standout piece of card-making artistry.

Card Layout

• Base Layer: A sturdy red cardstock forms the main structure, providing a bold contrast.
• Cut-Out Window: A rectangular window allows part of the inner card to be visible.
• Inner Card: A white, scalloped-edged card sits inside, adding texture.
• Illustrations:
  • A dinosaur on the right side extends through the window, creating a dimensional effect.
  • Grass, rocks, and blue puddles on the left enhance the scene.

Mechanics & Interaction

• Stamped Footprints: Small red footprints guide the eye towards the window, adding a storytelling element.
• Tactile Elements: The scalloped edge and layered cardstock create texture for a more interactive feel.
• Movement & Depth: The partially extended dinosaur adds dimension.
• Contrast & Focus: The red base contrasts sharply with the white inner card for visual clarity.

This card integrates both visual and tactile elements, making it an exciting piece for those who appreciate layered textures. Thinking about modifying designs for accessibility? Embossed or raised textures could make it even more engaging!

Inside the Card

The inside features a playful dinosaur-themed design, framed with red postage stamp-like borders.

• Left Panel: Fun sentiment—“You’re T-RRRIFIC!” in red.
• Right Panel: “Hope your birthday is DINO-mite!” alongside a charming hand-drawn purple dinosaur.

Materials & Tools Needed

Cardstock & Paper

• Basic White cardstock (for stamping)
• Calypso Coral cardstock (for base card)
• Additional cardstock variations for swaps:
  • Lemon Lime Twist
  • Crushed Curry

Stamps & Dies

• Darling Dinos stamp set
• Retired Ice Cream Swirl stamp set (for sentiment)
• Perennial Postage dies

Inks

• Gorgeous Grape
• Pecan Pie
• Garden Green
• Boho Blue (retired color)
• Calypso Coral (for sentiment)

Tools

• Bone Folder (for crisp folds)
• Stampin’ Up! Cut & Emboss Machine (for die-cutting)
• Multipurpose Glue (for assembling layers)

Creative Inspiration

Alice’s swing card is a fantastic example of how interactive elements elevate a design, making it both visually appealing and fun to engage with!

Want to try this technique? I own the Darling Dinos stamp set and Perennial Postage dies—so I could recreate this card with fun variations, maybe even experimenting with circle swing mechanisms or layered matting for added depth! Contact me to discuss a custom-made option.

Would you modify this design with ink blending, embossing, or texture layering? Let’s keep the creativity flowing! 🚀