Light Up Arcade Machine

 

Hello friends! Today is release day for some really cute new goodies by Trinity Stamps.  I fell in love with the new Arcade Machine Builder Set and the 8 Bit Birthday Stamp Set.  This set brings up memories of when my husband and I were first married and how we would spend a couple of hours at the arcade every Sunday before we went grocery shopping for the week and if we could afford it, may a pizza from our favorite pizza place.

To start this card, I wanted to have a subtle background for the base of my machine.  I used the Starfield Letterpress Stamping Die along with a teal-colored foil.  

Once I have that foiled, I will start laying out the die pieces that will create my machine.  I am using a few different colors of cardstock to create some increased depth on the machine. 

For the hot pink cardstock, it put some wide adhesive on the back of the paper.  Doing this will really help me with getting those super skinny trim pieces and lettering on the machine without struggling to not make a horrible mess with liquid glue.

To create the frame for the machine screen, I used the two pieces with a little temporary tape to create it. 

I have added adhesive to the back of the gray cardstock because I will be using it to cut out some really tiny pieces that will create the joysticks and the doors at the bottom of the machine. 

When I am using die sets that have a number of teeny tiny pieces, I usually make sure that my cardstock has an adhesive sheet behind it.  I also have a small strip of Teflon Heat Resistant Sheet to place them on.  I find this extremely helpful when I have to use the same die several times with different colors of cardstock.  I just pick my little pieces out of the die and place them on the sheet.  They stay put and release easily when I need to permanently place them.  I am going to use this sheet to hold all my little pieces until I need them.  It is also helpful if you are going to do a little ink shading on them.

As with most pieces I die cut, I dust my edges with a little ink to help define them and give them a little dimension.  I have done that on all the larger pieces.

Now I have cut a piece of cardstock to 3” x 5.5” for the base of my machine.  Once the whole machine is assembled it is almost 5.75 inches tall, which makes it perfect for a slimline card. 

I will start at the bottom of the machine and start building up to make sure everything is nicely aligned.  I will also start to add the hot pink trim and lettering as I go.  I will hold off on the little instrument panel until I have completed the machine.

 

As I am moving up the machine, I will use the screen die to cut out an opening for the shaker element of my card. 

The instrument panel is the last piece that I will work on.  I used my Pickup Stick to help me with the placement.  I don’t press anything down until I have all the pieces where I want them and balanced as best I can.

To really “plus” up this card, I am using some twinkle lights from Pearblossom Press which you can also purchase from Trinity.  To make my Arcade sign sparkle, I poked three hole in it space across the top. 

Next, I used regular tape to place my light in the little openings and to hold the little wires down the side of the card.  I also taped the light panel where I wanted it at the center bottom of the machine.

To create the push button at the bottom of the machine, I used the Slide and Spin Die Set to cut out my pieces from scrap cardstock.  I also stamped the word “push” on the button so the recipient know what to do. 

For the machine screen, I used the screen die to cut a piece of very dark cardstock.  Using the 8-Bit Birthday Stamp Set, I heat embossed the sentiment using white embossing powder. 

Since this is a mini slimline card, I have a piece of black cardstock cut to 3.5” x 6”.  I use my machine to help me place where I want my screen place on the card since it is the background on my shaker element. 

After I put a piece of acetate over the screen opening, I used 3mm black foam tape to not only create my shaker well and light panel area but to support the rest of the machine. 

Since I didn’t create my shaker well on the actual design base, I carefully sprinkled my shaker bits on the center of the screen.  This is a little more tricky way to build a shaker card, but with the lights, it made more sense to me to do it this way. 

To finish up the front of this card, I will carefully place and center my machine on the 3.5” x 6.0” piece of black cardstock.

To create my actual card base, I cut a piece of black cardstock at 7.0” x 6” and scored it at 3.5” on the 7.0” side. 

For the inside sentiment, I used the 8-Bit Stamps set again to stamp it on a piece of white cardstock cut to 3.0” x 5.5”. I centered and glued it to the inside of my card base.

To completely finish my card, I glued it to the card base. 

Wow!!!! What a fun card don’t you think????  This one may have to go to my youngest son who still has a warm place in his heart for these retro arcade machines.

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Thank you so much for spending time with me today.  I have a YouTube process video up on my channel if you would like to follow along.  I have it linked down below.

Sandy