Nestabilities and Frames

Nestablities make the most super frames to highlight an image.

I made this card for a love theme challenge.
The image is stamped on white card in red ink and then cut out and mounted on a Nestie label embossed with the D'vine Swirls folder. Next, I stamped the image again in black stazon on acetate and cut a second label. Using two inks gives a great effect, but you do have to take care matching the two images.

Now you need a frame. If you have not done this before, you will find instructions here.

To finish the card all that is needed is to attached all layers, add your roses, ribbon and gems and you have a very stylish embellishment.

I wanted to make the embellishment the main feature, so to the Charcoal Glimmer cardstock I just added score lines to frame the frame!
I think this say "LOVE", don't you?

Cuttlebug - Nestabilitie Dies - Aperture Cards

Use your Cuttlebug, a Nestabilitie Die and make your own Aperture card.

You will remember this cute little image from my last tutorial on cutting, embossing and stencilling. This week I have found a use for my image to make the card that little bit different in the way of an Aperture Card.

You will need: 6 x 4 card blank, an oval Nestie the same size as the cut image.
Place die on card front - I have offset the position. Tape in place with a low tack tape or Post-its and run through the Cuttlebug.
Sandwich: A; B; Card with Die; C The result - with a nicely embossed edge! You could just leave the card like this, but I thought I would see what else you could do.
These are the materials I used:
A patterned paper cut smaller than the card with rounded corners. An acetate oval slightly larger than the image.

Tape the patterned paper to the inside front of the card - do use a very low tack tape or it will stick! I know this from experience, it is so annoying and frustrating when it happens!

Now place the oval you used for the front of the card inside the cut and again tape in place. Do this with care or you will mess up your first cut!!!! Use the same sandwich as before.
After running through the Bug you have now cut a perfectly positioned oval on your pattern paper. After placing the acetate oval over the aperture and securing in position you can then adhere the pattern paper and add your image to complete the surprise inside of the card.

To finished the outside of the card I just needed to round the corners with a punch and add a matching ribbon

I just love this Penny Black image kindly given to me by my Cuttlebug Mate Barbara and although the card is simple in design it looks classy.
Thanks for dropping by. I look forward to hearing from you as to how you found this week's tutorial. Have a good week, I'll be back mid week with something.....?!?!?!?

PS: Karen reminded me, that if you don't use the acetate for the window, you could cut the card and the paper at the same time. Thanks Karen - I'm always open to comments and ideas. x

An anniversary card

How brill to be celebrating your 65th Wedding Anniversary. I made this card for a friend's parents, and it was a pleasure to do! I can only add my very best wishes to an amazing couple.

I think the Cuttlebug does a fanastic job of simple, elegant cards. Add a few bits and pieces in the way of wire, beads, flowers and numbers from the Olivia alphabet and wow....you can create this....

Cutting and Embossing with Nestabilities

Nestabilities are without doubt a very useful tool for the crafter. You can use them for matting and layering, for tags, for making embellishments and shaped cards. Last week I covered embossing straight onto the front of a card, this week's tutorial is cutting and embossing to make a tag. I have used Nestie Label One, but the method works with any shape or size of die.

You will need
Nestie shape
Tan embossing mat
Stamp and card
Plates A: 2B's: C: 1 or 2 shims and Bug

First stamp your sentiment or image
Place the Nestie over the image with the cut side down
Make Sandwich: A: B: card with die cut side down: C

run through the Bug

Remove C and B plates and flip the cut image over to lay on the A plate. DO NOT REMOVE THE CUT IMAGE FROM THE DIE. The die will now have the cut side up on the A plate


Now you are ready to emboss the image

Sandwich A: Die cut side up with image inside the die: tan embossing mat: 1 or 2 shims (if unsure about how many - TEST): 2 B plates Embossed image
Finished tag - to define the edges I have used distress ink and added gems
and the card that I was making

My Nesties triumph again! I hope you'll find the instructions for cutting and embossing useful. Thanks for dropping by. See you next week.

Cuttlebug folders and no lines!

I have received a number of pm's about how I managed to acheive the image of two champ glasses without any lines in my last tutorial.

I'm afraid I assumed all had read the first post I did in January "How to use your border folders in your bug". Sorry! If you check out the side bar under labels you will find it there. This tutorial was based on the longer border sets, the image in question was from the small wedding folder but the method is the same. I could never manage to emboss these folders without lines until I made a small pad (which I now call a MFP - see glossary) which is slightly smaller than the folder itself. Now it works a treat! Why not try it yourself if you are having problems with lines, but first, please read the original post. Before you use a MFP you need to understand the sandwich. Hope this helps.

Embossing with Nestabilities Shapes

Hi, I'm back again with another idea for you to try. This week I'm embossing with a Nestie frame.

You will need:
Cardstock to make a 6 x 4 card
Nestie shape or label - I have used a scalloped oval, but any shape (scalloped or plain) can be used
Tan embossing mat
Low tack tape or a black magnetic mat
Plates A and 2 B's (possibly a shim) and, of course your bug

First tape your frame cut side down to the front of your card - use a very low tack tape otherwise it will stick and soil your card . Alternatively, you could use a black magnetic mat, you will probably not need a shim.
Now make your sandwich:

Using tape

A plate - tan embossing mat - card opened flat with Nestie shape on top taped - shim (you know your machine - always take care - less is better and build up) - 2 B plates.

Using magnetic mat

A plate - tan embossing mat - card opened flat with Nestie shape on top held by magnetic mat -2 B plates

Run through the bug.

Taking care to remove the tape - this is the impression you will have made - You will also see that I have a second impression on this picture - this is because I forgot to take the right picture!!! Sorry.

NB If you want to double emboss - this looks good with the plain shapes

Sandwich: A plate - Turn the middle over - 2 B plates - run through the bug a second time.
The folder that I used to make the middle impression is one of the set of 4 wedding folders. I have wondered many times how to make more use of these small folders as you are limited because of the way they are jointed. SO, I cut it at the joint!!! I'm not suggesting you do this - it was something I wanted to try!
Having cut the folder, I placed the top half where I wanted the impression to be

At this point you need help to get the folder lined up - nothing sophisticatedated - you can use a window or a table light.

As you can see, it is possible to line up the image perfectly - making the folder much more adaptable. You can always join the folder back together with tape!
The finished card to celebrate a 65th Wedding Anniversary for my friend's parents.
I hope you find this method of embossing useful - Don't worry if you make a mistake (as I did) when embossing your frame - you will just have suceeded in making an aperture card! the bit left will always make a topper. Clever eh!! and no -one will know unless you tell.

Have a great cuttlebug week, please let me know if this works for you or if you have any probs. Thanks for popping in.

Cuttlebug Challenge #25

This week's challenge over on CC is for a layout and is being run along with a challenge called Shortcuts. This is part of the post over on CC:

"Sheetload is owned by Alicia the creator of Shortcuts. If you have not seen sheetload I suggest you run not walk to sheetload and download your free copy.

What is sheetload?
quite simply if you are a busy crafter, shortcuts helps you create tons of cards base on a scheme and few sheets.." you need to look into this - it is interesting and you will find all the details over on CC along with the layout.

This is my card:


I used the D'vine Swirls and Stylized Flower Folders along with my MFP to acheive the topper.

I found this a very challenging challenge - but I'm pleased with the end result so it was worth the time and effort. Now for a lay down in a dark room to rest my brain!!! Thanks Cuttlebug Challenges.

Cuttlebug folder and MFP - Sympathy Card

On my tutorial here I mentioned that this design would make a very suitable 'sympathy / thinking of you' card. Sad to say, within hours of saying this, I was told some very sad news and wanted to show I cared and was thinking of their loss but without going OTT or anything. I'm sure you will know what I mean by this! This is the card I made and I thought it was worth sharing with you.

The words were printed on the PC ; score board for the lines down the centre fold and corner

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