Category Archives: Tutorials

Using a Wreath Builder Template WITHOUT a Stamp Positioner

Posted in Tutorials by

Using a Wreath Builder Template WITHOUT a Stamp Positioner

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Making wreaths is easy with a template from Gina K Designs.  (HERE is a video showing how to use this tool.)

While it is easiest to use a wreath builder template with a stamp positioner (like the MISTI), it is possible to create wreaths and other circular patterns without one and still achieve the same result.  Anything that has (2) raised sides at a 90 degree angle (like a shoe box top, a cookie sheet, a frame, a Stamp-a-ma-jig, etc.) and a large, rectangular acrylic (or wood) block will work.

Here’s how to do it using a photo box lid:

  1. Place your template in the corner of the box top.  (Once in place, the template cannot move.  Use tape to secure in place if desired.)  Place your card panel in the template in the square orientation (not diagonal/diamond orientation) to begin.  Place your first stamp on the card panel as desired.  (Place the stamp closer to the edge for a larger wreath or closer to the center for a smaller wreath.)

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2.  With your acrylic block squared/wedged in the corner of the box top, carefully lower the block to pick up the stamp.  It is important to keep the two sides of the block touching/wedged in the corner/two sides of the lid.

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3.  Remove the acrylic block with the stamp, and ink it up as desired.

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4.  With your acrylic block and inked stamp squared/wedged in the corner of the box top, carefully lower the block onto the card panel to stamp the image.  (Again, it is important to keep the two sides of the block touching/wedged in the corner/two sides of the lid as it was when you first picked up the stamp.)

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5.  Lift/remove the block. Rotate the card panel into the next position on the template.  (It’s now in the diamond orientation.)

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6.  Ink up the stamp again, and repeat the stamping.

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7.  Continue rotating the panel (now in the square orientation) and stamping the image…

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…until you’ve done it 8 times in each of the positions on the template.

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8.  Remove the stamp from the block, add another stamp, and continue adding images to your panel as desired.  (Always start in square orientation when adding another stamp.)

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As I said, it is easier to use a stamp positioner, but if you don’t have one, you can still create beautiful wreaths with a wreath builder template.

(The stamps used to create the wreath on the card above are from the “Wildflower Garden” stamp set from Altenew.)

Thanks for checking out my tutorial.

 

Safari Birthday Box Card with Tutorial

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Creative Folds, Tutorials by

Safari Birthday Box Card with Tutorial

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I really like box cards because they have so much dimension for displaying, but they fold flat for mailing.  They are even better when you have adorable images to work with!  (I’ve included a tutorial at the end of this post for creating the box card base.)

The stamp set is called “Safari Friends” and was included (a free gift) in the April 2017 issue of Papercraft Essentials magazine (issue 145).  (I was lucky enough to find this set on ebay.)

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I created cut files for the images with my Silhouette electronic die cutting machine, stamped them with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored them with Bic Alcohol Markers.  I also used a few colored pencils for the boy’s and girl’s skin.

The patterned paper I used to decorate the box is from a digital set called “Zoo Visit” by Scrapbook Gems and was purchased on Etsy.  There is room on the back for a stamped or handwritten message.

This card is 5 x 7 inches when folded flat and easily fits in a regular envelope for mailing.

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This card was a lot of fun to make!

If interested in seeing how to make a box card… Continue reading →

CAS Embossed Birthday Wishes – 4 variations

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Tutorials by

CAS Embossed Birthday Wishes – 4 variations

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I have so many embossing folders and rarely think to use them.  And if I do, I find myself using the same few.  I chose one I had not yet used (the Cuttlebug “Happy Birthday” folder by Provocraft) and thought I’d play around with some different techniques I have been wanting to try.

Double Embossing

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It’s hard to see the shimmer in the photo above, but for this first one, the background was heat embossed with Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder as well as dry embossed.  I used a brayer to apply versamark ink to the front side of the embossing folder, inserted white card stock in the folder, and ran it through my Cuttlebug.  I then covered the panel with the embossing powder and heated it.

This angle shows the sparkle a little better:

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The greeting was cut with dies from the Spellbinders “Birthday Wishes” set (#661868) and Gina K Passionate Pink card stock.  (I saw this technique HERE on YouTube.)

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Partial Embossing

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This partially embossed sample is similar to my “Scripty Balloon Birthday Card” which I made earlier this year.  I used my score board to separate my greeting from the embossed side of the panel.  (HERE is a video showing how to do this technique.)

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Inlay Technique

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Inlay is a technique where one “inserts pieces of contrasting, often coloured materials into depressions in a base object to form ornament or pictures,” (from Oxford Companion to the Decorative Arts).  For this sample, I used small embossed panels in the openings of a die cut frame.  The frame die was unmarked.  The greeting stamp was from the “Massive Messages” set by Gina K Designs and was stamped with GK Passionate Pink ink.  I embossed the background panel with the embossing folder as well.

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Faux Pressed Flower Technique

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The layout of this fourth one is similar to that of the first sample, but the technique used is different.  For this one, I did the “Faux Pressed Flower” technique I saw on YouTube.  Basically, you adhere your die cut (usually a flower; I used a greeting) to a piece of card stock.  Then, you place it in an embossing folder and run it through your die cutting/embossing machine.  It creates cool texture on the die cut and makes it look like it is part of the card stock it is stuck to.  I used the “Retro Triangles” embossing folder by mpress.  (Any embossing folder with a small, detailed pattern will work for this technique.)  After my greeting panel was embossed, I cut it to size with a die from the Spellbinders “ATC” set (#S3-208).

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After my aunt passed away a year and a half ago, I was fortunate enough to receive all of the stuff from her “Cuttlebug Station” from her craft room.  The “Birthday Wishes” die set and “Happy Birthday” embossing folder were hers, and I really enjoyed using tools that she had also used.  Recently, I spent a fun afternoon searching online for the names of all the unmarked dies and embossing folders from her stash which led me to tons of card samples and tutorials that I am anxious to try.  She continues to inspire me even though she is no longer here!

Thanks for checking out my card projects!

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Fall Leaves Center Easel Card (and a word on Movers & Shapers Dies)

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Creative Folds, Tools & Products I like, Tutorials by

Fall Leaves Center Easel Card (and a word on Movers & Shapers Dies)

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I had shared a center easel card (along with a template for how to create one) a while back.  I decided to try another one with fall themed paper and embellishments.

The patterned paper is called “Fall Leaves” (#676908) from the Paper Studio.  Heavy weight ivory and kraft card stock was also used.

To create the leaf embellishments for the center of the card, I used my Uchida Corru-Gator paper crimper to add some texture to the leaf cut from the kraft card stock, some American Crafts paper backed burlap for additional texture, a piece of ivory ribbon, and a piece of gold cord.  Since I was cutting burlap (in addition to the plain card stock), I thought I’d get a cleaner cut using a steel rule die instead of a wafer thin die so I used one of the Sizzix “Movers & Shapers Mini Tattered Leaves” dies by Tim Holtz.

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A word on Movers & Shapers dies:  The small insert dies (like these leaves) can not be used by themselves in a standard die cutting machine with standard plates.  They were designed to cut shapes from the larger Movers & Shapers base dies (steel rule dies), and as a result, are not the proper thickness to be used alone.  If you don’t have a base die that accommodates the insert die, they now sell a Movers & Shapers Shuttle which is a 6 inch wide magnetic plate that is the correct thickness for these Mover’s & Shapers dies.  (This shuttle was designed to be used specifically with these insert dies and in the Sizzix Big Kick machine; I am not sure if it fits in other machines, like the Cuttlebug, because I do not own one of these plates.  I used one of my base dies to cut the leaves for this project.)

Below is a photo of one of the base dies called Postage Stamp Frame.  It could be used alone to cut the postage stamp shape.  (The little magnetic square in the center is removable and does not actually cut anything but is used to make it easier to release the die cut from the die after cutting.  Don’t throw it away; it is not trash!  It keeps the paper a little higher than the die itself, and without it, the die cut may get wedged inside the die and is hard to get out.)

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In this next photo, I replaced the little square with one of the magnetic leaf insert dies.  Now, the leaf is cut along with the postage stamp frame.

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So, in order to use these insert dies, you either need one of the available base dies  or the shuttle adapter.  Personally, it makes more sense to me to purchase a base die because then you have an additional die in your collection.  The shuttle adapter has no other use than to be a carrier for the small insert dies.  Plus, if you choose a base die that is narrow enough, you can use other die cutting machines.  The die above, for example, fits in the Cuttlebug.  Just a thought….

Thanks for checking out my card project!

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Goose Scene with Multi-Layer Stamping

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Father's Day, Get Well/Sympathy, Tutorials by

Goose Scene with Multi-Layer Stamping

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I’ve done multi-layer stamping before, but it has always been with three panels layered (and centered) one on top of the other.  I thought I’d try a more horizontal “scene” approach with this one.  (My scene layout was inspired by this card.)

HERE’S one I had done before…

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To do multi-layered stamping:

1.  Cut the panels you plan to layer and on which you plan to stamp.  (The sizes don’t matter; make them fit your design!)

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2.   Layer and temporarily adhere the panels as desired.  (Use removable adhesive behind the panels so it does not interfere with your stamping.)  For the goose sample above, I used two white rectangles – one positioned horizontally and the other smaller one positioned vertically and centered on the first.  (For the older sample, I used three white rectangles layered and centered from smallest to largest.)  Do not add the mats at this point; you are just layering the panels on which you will be stamping.

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3.   Simply stamp your images onto the layered panels making sure that some of the image(s) go over the border(s) so parts of the image(s) are on two (or more of the layers).  You may notice that the images don’t stamp really close to the borders of the overlapping card stock and leave a little gap.  That’s because the thickness of the card stock is preventing the stamp from making contact with the neighboring card stock.  That’s fine; these “gaps” will be covered with the mats.

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(At this point, add color if desired.  You want the color to flow across the panels just as the stamping does.  I did not add any color here in this quick tutorial but did in my finished card project.)

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4.   Once all the stamping (and coloring/inking/shading if desired) is complete, separate the stamped panels, mat each one, and re-attach them by layering them the same way they were originally stamped.  Make sure to line up the images as best you can so it looks like they continue past the mats.

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Play around with different sizes and positions for your layered panels for a variety of card layouts!

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To add the color to my images, I loosely sponged ink over and around the areas with a foam blending tool.  I just wanted a hint of color and was not going for a neatly colored scene.

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I used Recollections white, black and kraft card stock along with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink and Memento Tuxedo Black, Desert Sand, Bamboo Leaves, and Summer Sky inks.  I spritzed ink over the panels with a Walnut Stain distress marker and a Tim Holtz marker spritzer tool.  The embossing folder is Multi Stripes by Darice.  Stamps were from the Stampin’ Up “Wetlands” set (retired?).

Thanks for checking out my card project!

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