Hi, today another question to answer.....

Quite some time again I posted this picture from a post showing how to use magnetic mats to create a border frame straight onto your card.....

Pat Morgan has asked me about how I made the little flowers.  I wish I could say I made them because they would look real cute, but NO they are actually very small toppers from a kit I purchased from QVC many moons ago! 

As you can see they look insignificant used alone - but with a bit of layering, wire, beads and my Nestie squares....not too bad! 

IF, you should NOT have a magnetic mat, you can still emboss dies in this way with your Bug.

The Sandwich is

A / tan mat / card / die cut side down / possibly shim(s) / 2 B plates

             TIPS : try without shim first to test pressure

            secure your die/dies in place with a low tack tape

For other sandwich recipes on embossing (or die cutting) - you can check out the appropriate page at the top of any post. 

Tippy Thursday - using Nestabilities to emboss a frame

First of all I want to thank you all for your lovely supportive comments that I have received over the last few weeks.  That you  find the Cupboard interesting and informative was my objective and to think that it is makes my work very satisfying and also rewarding.  So, my thanks everyone as I've said many times - the Cupboard would be a lonely place without you!

I also have PeeJay to thank for letting me know that I have lost a day! No wonder the draw for the Spellbinders Bunny Hop was closed on Tuesday - I have lost this plot completely - but I have been able to leave comments today on nunutoolies.blogspot.com/ and embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/.but don't leave it too long!

On Tippy Thursday I try to answer any questions I have received over the week.  Yesterday I received a comment from Rita asking how I had done something - it also baffled me for awhile until I realised that the post referred to a tutorial way back in April last year.  I called  the tutorial Double Embossing......

and the effect was achieved with a magnetic mat and a tan embossing mat.  The link to the tutorial is here.

As it happens, I have just completed a Chocolate Baroque DT sample with the same type of double embossing only on the JT machine WITHOUT a magnetic mat.  As yet it's under wraps, but I will try to do a post tomorrow if possible to show you how you can do this should you not have a magnetic mat.

Cuttlebug - Using Magnetic Mats with Spellbinder Dies

Magnet mats are in the news....I have illustrated them before, but in view of their popularity thought I would show concise instructions on how to emboss a shape onto the front of your card using the magnet mat.

These are examples of what you can achieve.

To get this effect you will need:
Die(s)
Tan embossing mat
Magnetic mat
Good quality cardstock (hammer, leather embosses well - with a thin card the dies may cut instead of embossing).

This is your card - centre scored - with right side of the card facing upwards.

On the back of the card

 

place the magnetic mat with the die is position. The die has to be cut side up or it will cut the magnetic mat.

NB: You will find that it is better to have the correct size mat for the card size.  This make positioning the dies easier and more accurate.

Now bring the front side of the card over

encasing the magnetic mat in the card.

The Tan Mat sits on top

NB: It is important that you only use the Mat Tan for this process.  The tan mat stops the die cutting  an aperture.

Now you can make your sandwich:

A PLATE / B PLATE / CARD ENCASING DIES ON MAGNETIC MAT / TAN MAT / B PLATE

This is the effect of embossing with one die

with two dies

With a few little touches you can make a simple stylish card.

The magnetic mat is very useful for this embossing technique, and if you are making wedding invites where you want the embossing in the same place on every card,it is definitely a time saver.

Hope you like this idea of getting more out of your dies.

NB: If you are looking for a tan mat - check out the shop on my side bar.

Nestabilities : Emboss a double frame on your card

Hi, This week I have been tackling embossing a double frame onto a card front. I say tackling because I've found this a puzzle! Which way do the dies go? Which side of the card? The Sandwich? Stopping the dies moving? For a simple exercise - a lot of questions!

With the help of my blogging buddy Chrissie, this is what I finally decided was a good technique to achieving this.

How do you get your square in the centre of the magnetic mat? My mat is the size of a C5 card ( 6 x 4) so I measured the position and draw round the largest die with a permentant pen.








Place the mat on the A Plate. Position the dies



Make the full sandwich:

A Plate, Magnetic Mat, Dies cut side up, CARD with the outside face down, Tan Mat, 2 B Plates.

The tricky bit is getting the card to stay where you want it! If you don't you get a wonky square! You could use low tack tape to hold the card in place or post it's. I found that placing the magnetic mat on the A plate first enabled me to set up the dies easily within the drawn lines on the magnetic mat. Then because the mat was the same size as my card, I could place the card in exactly the right position.

Chrissie uses a slightly different method this is what she says:

"I fold the card then place it right side up on the b plate. On top of this, on what will be the back of the card, I place my magnetic mat and then the nestie or embossing die, cutting side uppermost. I then fold over the card, place the tan mat on top of that, then the second B plate and roll through the cuttlebug. The magnetic sheet helps to ensure that the die doesn't shift on its way through the bug and also acts as a shim the aid the embossing."

This card was made by Chrissie.
It's simplicity makes it stunning! If you need inspiration - you now know where to visit.
Thanks Chrissie.

Now you have two methods of acheiving the same result. Slightly different in the sandwich, but they both work!

If you have another way of doing this.... please let me know.

Using 2 dies makes a great embossed frame on textured cardstock. Then to finish the card you simply cut another of the smaller squares in a patterned paper, emboss the edge with an embossing pen and glue in place. A small embellisment, a stamped image or just a sentiment is all you need to complete a simple but classie card. Ideal for that difficult card, when you want to show you care, but don't want to go OTT!











Less is more - I'm sure you will agree!

I have updated the details and illustrations of the new dies currently being introduced - check out the last post to see them all. If you are interested in the Pendant and Border dies introduce about a month ago, my supplier (see side bar) has some of these in stock.

Partial Cuttlebug Embossing - Part 2

Well, I'm overwhelmed at the response to my partial embossing technique and would like to thank you all for your support and encourangement. I also apologize for being late with this posting owing to being unwell yesterday, hopefully with only jet lag!

So on we go with the second part of this tutorial.......

You will need
6x4 card
Stylized folder
The larger MFP (modifying folder pad)- see Part 1)

Place card in folder with MFP over the pattern and emboss as before

Your finished embossed card will look like this- If you want to see how I finished my card - pop over to ikki's corner - link on the side bar.
Having completed the embossing process of the 6 x 4 card, I going to take this idea on further and use the technique on a square card.

I used a 5.1/2 square card. Place the folder at the edge of your open card with the MFP positioned over the folder pattern and emboss . Keep hold of the MFP until the roller engages.

Now with the card open - place the folder towards the middle of the card lining up the pattern to the edge of the previous embossing. Unfortunately, although this piccy shows the folder in the right position - the folder SHOULD BE UPSIDE DOWN - CUTTLEBUG LOGO AT THE BOTTOM - (as we have done before) so you get the right pattern in the right place! It's that jet lag again (that's my excuse anyway).

Place the small portion MFP over the folder pattern and emboss as usual, taking care to hold the MFP in place until it engages the roller.

Unfortunately, as you will see there is a small area where the pattern does not work out, but ... you can touch this up with a ball embossing pen.

To finished the card, I have lightly chalked the pattern so you can see it more clearly and added a simple nestie flower to cover the little inperfection.....what inperfection!!?? I also added a few gems - don't know why because they were not necessary and I don't like them, but I do like the scored lines - they finish the card off nicely.

You now have four patterns that you can create from the one folder - not bad for 4 quid($6)

I love a bargain!

Hope you enjoy this project, as always your views will be of great interest to me and I look forward to hearing from you all.

Happy Cuttling, I'll be back next week with something new - TFL and come back soon.

Double embossing with your Cuttlebug

Today's tutorial looks at double embossing. My template method of embossing makes this possible using any folder, either the border folders or your A2 folders.

If you are of an inquisitive nature, you can scroll down and take a peek! But, otherwise this tutorial illustrates making a distressed card that I made for a challenge. Whether you choose to distress or not, the method for double embossing is the same, so.....

To make this card you will need
Cardstock to make a 6" x 4" card
Patterned paper for mat and flower - Handmade paper is best it's strong and takes manhandling Panel of plain card 4" x 3.1/2" (I used Core c/s so I could sand)
A2 Distressed Stripes Folder
A2 Texture Folder
Wide flower border from Frills Border set and template from last week
A template the fits the narrower borders of the frills set
Ink pad for flower petals,mat and card - I used TM Distress ink
Usual crafting tools

You are now ready to begin:


Card stock.
Make a 6 x 4 card and ink the edges

Preparing the mat.
Place patterned paper in A2 Texture folder and emboss, rub over with ink pad. Tear and ink edges top and bottom. Add to card.


Embossing panel

Place panel into border folder at an angle. Using template, emboss pattern three times. Tear and ink the edges top and bottom to match your base mat. Sand or not.

Your panel will look like this after sanding the cardstock

NOW for the double embossing
Place your panel in the Distressed Stripes folder at an angle so that the lines can be embossed between the border pattern. Again I have used a template, BUT this one is not as wide - it was made to fit three of the other patterns in the Frills Border set. You could use the same template you used to create the flower pattern, but I wanted a contrast of stripe widths.

You will not need to use the 2nd B Plate - the template will do that for you.

Finished panel when it had been sanded

Making the flower
Select A2 folder. I used the Texture. On the same patterned paper as you used for base mat - cut three circles with Nesties. (alternatively, you could cut freehand shapes). Place circles in folder and emboss. Cut and shape petals, curl edges, crumble paper, whatever, and ink edges. Remember you are after a distressed effect.

Your finished flower when attached to panel ready to be added to your card



and your finished card

As you will now be discovering, your Cuttlebug folders are more versatile than you first thought. You can use any folder to make a border by using a template. Next week I will use a shaped template for a completely different look, so I hope you'll drop by next Monday to see what's in the Cupboard - your views and comments on this week's tutorial will be appreciated and will assist me in finding out what peeps need to help them cuttle!

So, Keeeep Cuttling and I'll see you next week.






PS Forgot to add: If you are visiting from DC and do not have a blog, or google account - you can leave a comment by using the Anonymous box on the comments page, and please add your name and DC after your comment so I know you have visited. Thanks