1996 Topps was an interesting year. A nice simple card design with a standard white border but with a couple subtle twists. Topps had done the inset picture on the front of the card a couple times before but what they decided to do was strange in 1996. The echoed the exact same picture in the name bar. It was a colored picture and was in a box that had a gradient with the name. The inset picture was of course a face closeup but I don’t really know that it added much to the card design.
Other than than a really standard year. Square picture, no strange curves or lines other than the name/picture box. Just a team logo in the corner of the card, it isn’t spelled out and the players position isn’t even on the front of the card. It was a bit difficult to re-create. Getting the gradient over the inset picture proved challenging but no too bad. It really isn’t all that interesting of year for Topps. I remember buying an absolute crap-load of the packs though.
Once again I think Goose Joak did a better re-creation than me. He did a Brad Hawpe card for 1996 Topps that he nailed.
A Hair Off Square 
I think you did a heck of a job. I hope to try my hand at ’96 Topps sometime soon.