Eclipse cards are a fun way of adding a hidden or disguised bit of dimension to your cards, whether it’s a basic shape or a sentiment. This technique is also referred to as Spotlight die-cutting, and can involve in-laid die-cutting too to give a more advanced quality. The basis of the technique is to die-cut a shape or word out of the card, add more layers of cardstock behind that (to build dimension) then to add the original die-cut back on top, or it can be stamping two pieces of card the same, and cutting the sentiment/shape from one and lining up the pattern with the other. Both versions give that kind of camouflaged technique.

The technique can be achieved with background stamps or multiple stamps too depending on the look you want. For the simplest cards I’ve created an all over background with Distress Oxides and solid stamps, then simply cut out a basic shape and added a rainbow of card behind it to give the dimension. For the intermediate technique I’ve done the pattern matching version, where you stamp the same pattern on two pieces of cardstock (either using different coloured inks, or different colours of cardstock) die-cut the shape/word from one piece and then co-ordinate the pattern with the other piece. Then finally for the more advanced technique, I’ve added in-laid die-cutting. Start with your main panel with your focal image (either one or multiple images) then die-cut your word/shape from that, and add other die-cuts behind to give dimension, but replace any land-locked areas, then use the coloured die-cut on the top so the pattern is seamless.

There are so many variations for this technique, so next time you’re making a one layer card, or you’ve stamped a background pattern, or even created an inky background, have a play and see if this style of card will work. I think the hidden sentiments are especially effective and can be quite baffling to figure out how they were made the first time you see them.

1

Chose a rainbow of Distress Oxide Ink and a different stamp for each colour too

2

Ink up your stamps and create an overall background twisting and turning the stamps to fit in, and changing colours as you work down the panel

3

Squish out a little of each of the inks you stamped with, add a little water and splatter them onto the background with a paintbrush. This just breaks up the harsh white background

4

Die-cut the circles from the upper third of the panel, then die-cut five more of the same circle from coloured cardstock to co-ordinate with the inkpads

5

Stack them up behind the original circle, stacking them up to add dimension. Adhere the stamped panel with the aperture in it onto the card front

6

Adhere the stacked die-cuts onto the stamped panel, lining it up with the aperture. Add a mixture of stamped and die-cuts sentiments onto the circle topper to finish – you will see the rainbow effect