Cuttlebug Cupboard - Sheena Douglass stamps

One of my favourite crafters is Sheena Douglass - I like her experimental and fun approach to crafting, her sharing of tips and techniques and encouragement to mess about with the products.  And, then, of course there are her stamps!

Having just received one of her stamp plates, Lavender - this was what I came up with.....

Materials used:

8" x 4" Black card

CB folder D'vine Swirls

Scoreboard

Stamps: Lavender - Creative Express

Promarkers

Glue, Ribbon

Black  and Clear Embossing Power

I started  by debossing one edge of the card with the D'Vine Swirls, then finished the pattern with a few scoreboard lines.  On the other edge I stamped one of the images with a clear Ink-it-up pad and embossed with black powder. 

Next the stamped image  - coloured with Promarkers, and then triple embossed.

I wanted the mat to make the image stand out - so as well as mounting on 3D pads, I added an irregular amount of Prit stick glue to the edges of the mat and then black embossing powder. 

You can see the results you get with this method.  I also did this on the edge of the base card.

My finished card.....

Lavender Blue.....can you remember the rest of the lyrics?  I tell you tomorrow.

Messing about was fun - thanks Sheena!

Cuttlebug - Embossing Folders

Embossing folders can be used in different ways - you can emboss a mat and layer on your card, or you can emboss direct on to your card.  This is the method that I favour.  To get more use out of your folders you could try this......

This picture show the positioning of the folder.  Doing it this way enables you to get the folder right up to the centre fold - the card and folder are then past through the Bug. 

This is a card made using this method.  Thinking of you and sympathy cards are already difficult.  You want to say something, but not go over the top.  Simplicity is my answer! 

Folder: Swiss Dots
Image:  Chris Dark - Bluebells - partial coloured
Distress Ink:  Weathered Wood

This next card is again made using the same method with the same image coloured differently, but a different folder.

The folder is D'vine Swirls - a great around folder for any occasion.  But, here again you can ring the changes

Here is the embossed pattern that is mostly used.

 This is the debossed pattern which I have used for a different look.

Not all folders can be used sideways on your cards, some patterns like leaves, birds or hearts would be going the wrong way!  You can, however, use folders from the bottom, but this does mean having to cut the joint, but it can be retape!  The small 2" x 2" folders are more useful if separated (check out one of my anniversary cards on the Labels sidebar: Love and Marriage) - but warning retape them after use or you could lose the pieces!

Have a good day....

Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangles - Christmas

Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangles as the name suggests, are slightly bigger than other dies. This means with the largest die you can easily created a base 4" x 6 card with a shaped edge for interest.

For my card No 17 I used
3 Spellbinder Mega Curvered Rectangles
Star folder from Crafts-too-U
Spellbinder Shapeabiilitie small Christmas Tree
Stamps, various inks
Ribbon, and other bits and pieces.


Having cut my base card to a landscape fold, I placed the whole of the card inside the folder
and debossed the pattern. You will see that this give texture to the inside of the card, and the debossing makes adding a sentiment label easier to adhere. The front of the card has another size die, which was cut out of paper and mounted on card for strength.

Then I played with my new stamps and a few inks and added some detail. This blending technique is new to me - it's not perfect yet, but with time and practise I should improve, AND I love doing it and also quite like my blue fingers! When I'd finished playing, I added a blue metalic dusting of Perfect Pearls and a silver tail to the stars, but unfortunately the camera doesn't capture the sheen!
I'm not sure if this daily posting of Christmas cards for a month was a good idea - yes, I'm getting my cards done, but the days seem to be whizzing by even faster than usual!!!

Cuttlebug, Nestabilites, Borderabilities - Christmas 14

My Cuttlebug, Embossing Folders, Nestabilities, Borderabilities all have contributed to making this card

I used:
6" x 6" White Linen card
Crafts-too-you Snowflake folder
Borderabilities -Spade die
Nestabilites - Mega Rectangle
Dark blue paper, ink, various stamps
Ribbon, gem and stickles

Using the card as a tent fold - debossed the pattern so that it overlaps the centre fold, which you can then finish off with a scored line. This give a decorative edge to the inside of the card.

Stamping always gives me the jitters....
especially when I try to be clever! You will see that I have only die cut part of the Mega Rectangle Nestabilitie. The edges I chalked and added stickles in parts.
Now I stamped a border on the plain paper, and attached to the card leaving the top edge open to make a flap for the die cut to slot into. A dark blue wide ribbon covers the join.

Taking the ribbon over to the inside, (along with the now embossed pattern showing) the card is nicely decorated with the addition of a star.

The card was completed by sticking 2 Spades Borders together, one in blue the other in silver mirror board. You can see this technique here. All I needed then was a sprig of holly!
I like to ring the changes and try something different. This turned out well and I felt pleased to have combined different techniques, folders and dies. I buy must have's, but don't use - I think you'll know what I mean!

This is card No.14....nearly half way!!!! See ya tomorrow.

Emboss and Deboss with your Wizard Dies - Tippy Thursday

Did you know that you can deboss with Wizard dies as well as emboss?

If you would like to know how to emboss straight on to your card you can check how to do this here

I have been playing around with my Squares and these are the results that I acheived.
I have photed the dies as you would place on your card to emboss or deboss a pattern


Deboss - both dies used with the cut side up










Emboss - both dies used with the cut side down









Deboss and Emboss - using the outer die cut side up and the inner die cut side down







Emboss and Deboss - using the outer die cut side down and the inner cut side up













Results using one die cut up and the other cut down you get an emboss and deboss pattern







Using both dies cut up or cut down you get either a emboss or deboss pattern









The Sandwich I used is slightly different - BUT THIS WORKS IN MY BUG

A Plate/ B Plate/ TAN mat/ Card/ Die (face up or down)/ Shim/ B Plate

If the die (dies) is face up in the sandwich - the shim actually saves cutting into the B Plate!!!

Interesting! I'm sorry about the poor quality of the pictures - I thought that coloured card would show up better - it didn't - but I think you will be able to see the results of my experiment by clicking on the picture. For a clean, simple, but at the same decorative card, this way of using your Wizard dies could be very useful. You could either stamp the centre panel, or add decoupage, or a sentiment, or an embellishment of flowers etc....lots of choices. Hope you'll try it and let me know how you get on.

Spellbinders Butterfly Nestabilities

For my new Spellbinders Butterfly Nestabilities, I have to thank Liz from Making a Lasting Impression for sponsoring this project. I can highly recommend her as a very reliable and efficient supplier. In this day and age, it's good to find someone like her to buy from.

For this project you need a 4" x 4" card and various paper butterfly shapes. Position the largest butterfly die on the cardstock as shown taking care not to cut the centre fold. Stick the patterned paper to
the card front and inside front.








Open the card and emboss the back inside. You will need a Tan embossing mat to do this, or an embossing pen. If you are looking for a tan mat, which is the only one to use in the Cuttlebug - you can purchase these in a special 6" x 6" size at Making a Lasting Impression. What an appropriate name since the tan mat certainly does make a deep lasting impression!



On the front of the card I have used the small butterfly to make an aperture.






My finished card with a bit of wire, chalking and stamping.
I think these Butterfly dies would make lovely novelty cards for any occasion, or gift tags or for a journalling and embellishments on a scrapbook page.















I enjoyed making this card so much that I started again! This time I cover a 5 x 5 card with one of my treasured papers and and cut a number of different sized butterflies.





After sticking the large butterfly onto card I debossed with the Divine Swirls folder and cut out a small butterfly aperture and inserted a small gold butterfly for contrast.



Assembling the card was a crafting pleasure. A bit of wire, a few gems, chalk and a bit of cutting and glueing ... and I had this.....






I think my butterfly dies are going to be used a lot!!!

Hope you like these cards and feel tempted to try them. Happy Cuttling,

Debossed D'vine Swirls Folder and Nestabilities

In this week's tutorial I have used the D'vine Swirl Folder and Heart Nesties to make a Wedding Day Card. These two were made for each other! So what else could I possibly use?

Materials used: A4 sheet of White Linen cardstock
Folder: D'vine Swirls
2 Heart Nestie Dies
Harmony Alphabet
Flowers, ribbon and beads

I first printed the words on A4 card - cut the card to 28 cms x 14 cms - scored a centre line and folded. I also scored lines just above the words.

The front of the card - the scored lines give a good edge to line the folder up to, and they just look like they should be there to finish off the pattern.

To make the card a little different, I've used the debossing method by using the folder on the reverse side. Position the folder just above the scored line. This is a brill folder because you can use it from the top, bottom or sideways, which is the way I have used it and the pattern looks right each way. The Cuttlebug logo is now underneath.

Run through the Bug - Sandwich : A/ B/ Card in folder but not wrapped round/ B
Your base card now looks like this - after I had added another line.

Next for the embellishment - Cut 2 different size hearts
Sandwich: A/ B/ card/ Die -cut side down/ C
Now to emboss these
Sandwich: A/ Die (cut edge up) with card inside/ Tan Mat and Shims (you know how many your machine will need)/ 2 B plates

Run through the Bug

Leave the card inside when you have embossed - turn over and with a scoring pen run round the edge again.

and here you will see why I do this. The embossed edge is now super defined!


To finish my card I have made initials with my Harmony Alphabet and made a flower embellishment with added beads and ribbon

t
The topper for my card

and my finished card.
I love the D'vine swirls folder and when you deboss the pattern it gives a completely different look. I'm not sure whether I like it embossed or debossed best -How about you?
Hope you'll come a cuttling with me next week.