Using your small dies - Nestabilities, Marianne

My posts this week are  thinking about using the dies and folders you have stashed away.  By thinking out of the box, you will be able to take your stash out of the box and use them!
 
Take for example the smallest dies that you get in sets......do you ever use them?    If you do great, please share your ideas with me.  If not, here are a few ideas of mine.....

On this card I used the Create a flake 2# die (1# being the smallest) to make aperture card.  The small Christmas tree can be used in the same way.

These leaf and swirl dies from Mariane made nice embellishments

but  the leaf also will also make  interesting border

and with flower dies again from Marianne...another type aperture card

and the cut-outs I used to embellish inside the card

The smallest die in the Nestie Heart set makes what I call charms

the butterfly die does the same job and you can add numbers or initials for whatever occasion

Just a few ideas from some of my favourite cards.

You will find tutorials for all of these cards and more by looking at the Labels Section on the sidebar "Using small dies".

Crealies Creatives

Introducing you to Crealies - Creative flower dies......

These dies are now being stock at Graphicus, the range covers flowers, shapes and leaves.  On receiving  my No.10 die, I just had to have a go at cutting them.  I was impressed!  They cut at least 3 layers of decorative paper in one go.  Using different papers this would give you 3 very interesting flowers!  I also tried a heavyweight hammer cardstock - result - a clean cut with only one passing through the Bug.  The shapes are unusual designs and can be layered either on top of each other, or alternated as I had shown in the piccy.

The dies are very thin, and the Bug sandwich is the same as for Nestabilities:  A / C / die / card / B.

Nestabilities - Squares, Snowflakes and Crfts 2 U folder

My tutorial today is based on Nestie Squares and finding a different look.

To make this card you will need:
A4 Cardstock: Cream Hammer
Decorative paper
Nestabilities: 2 large classic squares (size 4 & 5)
                    2 Create a Snowflake dies

Crafts 2 U: Snowflake embossing folder
Gems, ribbon

Base Card:  cut a 6" strip from the A4 cardstock and centre crease.  Place the embossing folder to the centre crease and emboss.  With scoreboard create two lines to finish the pattern.  I have debossed the folder so that the inside of the card is more interesting.

Place the smalliest snowflake die in centre of the plain panel (low tack tape will help hold it in place) and cut out.  Reposition and make two further cuts. Save the cutouts.

 

Cut a strip of DP and add to the inside of your card.

The embellishment:

Cut l square from the largest die in a matching cardstock to your decorative paper.

Cut l Cream square from the smaller - you can cut this from the strip left over from making the base card. 

Cut another of the small squares from the decorative paper used on the inside of the card. 

From the cream square - cut out the snowflake and add the decorative paper behind, then layer on coloured cardstock....

You will see I have used one of the cutouts from the base card and a red gem in the centre of the snowflake.

With a red gem added to the centre of the small snowflake cutouts your card will look like this.....   

As I said yesterday, an easie peasie card, but classy.  AND, a great way of using those leftover bits of decorative paper that you just cannot bring yourself to throw away!

Hope you like this one.   If you use the design and blog it, I would apprecaited you linking back to the cupboard - I started the Cuttlebug Cupboard to share my experience and knowledge with you - please help me to share it with others by spread the word.

                                                                           

Marianne Dies

I have just been watching C&C this morning and the are selling Marianne dies.  I have some of these and this is a peek at a card I have recently made for EI where I used a couple of these dies

As they say the dies do cut and the shapes are lovely, but their prices are high.  If you are interested pop over to see if Liz at Make a Lasting Impression has any, if not email her and see if new stock is arriving soon - the prices are much, much better and with free P&P you can't go wrong. 

Sorry I can't show you all of my card - will asap, but the papers are from the Artylicious CD Essence of Nature and the stamp from Crafty Individuals.

Artylicious - Nestabilities - Marianne Creatables

Printing my own paper background is a new venture for me, but since I now have the Artylicious CD : Essence of Nature, today was playtime

This CD has a beautiful collection of designs,   this one called Windsong....

The butterfly is one of the Marianne Design Creatables cut in a patterned vellum and a patterned paper.

and I love the inserts you can print - althougth I might have got a bit carried away with inking!

I finished my card with a Nestabilies small plain and scalloped oval with a PC generated sentiment. With a few added swirls and a quick inking round the edge, who would think that this was just white copy paper.

The font is:  Amaze - size  18

I've received a number of queries about  fonts and printing sentiments and this is something I'm working on. 

Hope you're having a good Sunday, here in North Staffs the rain has stopped AT LAST! It's defo been one of those days when you can craft and forget about those gardening jobs waiting out there.  All in all it's been a good weekend, Dave's health is much improved - his body seems to be fighting the infection now and the DN's have been wonderfully helpful calling in daily to do his dressing.   I'm crossing my fingers and toes that the coming week be even better!  Thanks for dropping by.

                                      

Elusive Images and Halloween Stamps

Halloween!  Time for some fun crafting! 

I have to say that I have never made any Halloween cards before, but when presented with the stamps from Elusive Images celebrating this time of year, I was hooked!  What fun - soooo creative - they allow your imagination to soar with the bats, grow with the  pumpkins, candles light your way through the cobwebs to the spooky houses and much more..... you can check out the designs available from this Elusive Images link.

The Design Team has been busy making cards and today we have a blog hop for you.  Why not join us and see our work and on the way you may find some candy ?  Feeling interested; feeling lucky - pop over to the Elusive Team Blog (link on my side bar) you will see all the DT blogs listed for easy assess.

This is the card that I made for the Blog Hop - it's not my spookiest, but I thought this would look good in the Cupboard as although it's a halloween theme, the layout is adaptable to other occasions and the techniques useful to you.

Materials used:

A4 Black linen and Bronze pearlised cardstock

Stamps: Elusive Images

Nestabilities: Squares Classic Large and Big Scalloped Large

Marianne Creatables : Swirls

Inkpads: Black, Clear Perfect Medium

Bronze Embossing Powder

Glue

Scoreboard

Method:

Fold A4 card in half to make a landscape card - emboss 2 score lines along the top edge

Die cut:  2 Black  and 2 Bronze squares  (I used the 2"die)

Emboss the edges with an embossing pen  or tan mat.  ( I like this finished, but it is not necessary )

Make a frame from the 2 Bronze squares using a scalloped die - save the cut-outs

Make the same  frame from 1 on the Black squares - save the cut-out

Stamp the cut-outs black on bronze/bronze on black using clear Perfect Medium inkpad, cover with embossing powder and heat.

Fit the cut-outs into the appropriate squares.  Decide where you would like to position the squares, and add another 2 scores lines underneath.

On a rectangle piece of card, stamp the sentiment with clear Perfect Medium inkpad, over with embossing powder and heat. 

On the edges of the rectangle - with a prit stick glue (or similiar)  run round the edges in a thick  irregular pattern, cover with brozne embossing powder and heat. 

Die cut swirls from the Bronze card and assemble on card with the sentiment tag. 

Hope you have a go a this, it sounds lengthy when reading the instructions, but it's a design that all can use whether you are a beginner or an advance crafter.  If you don't have the dies - you could use a punch.  I'd love to see your work,  if you leave me a comment I'll come over and visit. 

NOW, my Design Teamies have some great cards to show you and I wonder where that candy will be????? 

To be in with a chance to win, here's what you will need to do:
1. Become a follower of The Elusive Images Design Team Blog and all the DTmember blogs
2. Leave a comment on my blog and all the teamies blogs.

The winners will be chosen by Random Org at the close of the Blog Hop on Friday September 17th and the winner will be announced after 5.00 p.m.

Come and enjoy some ghouly fun with us! 

          

Marianne Creatables - Make a border

Last week I showed you a border made with a small leaf die from one of the Marianne Creatables die sets, obtainable from my supplier Make a Lasting Impression (see link on side bar).

     Here is my 2" x 6" Border

Now I have a 2" x 8" Border

 

to add to my finished card....

Materials Used:

  Cardstock: Bottle Green, Sage Green Linen

Decorative Paper:  Artylicious CD - Essence of Nature - Misty Dawn

Marianne Creatable Leaf Die

Provocraft Vintage Corner dies

Sentiment, ribbon, scoreboard from stash

From a small die - a big  8 x 6 card!

  Since the paper is a beautiful tree design it fits in nicely with the die shapes

 and gives  the effect of falling leaves!

  Autumn approaches - just where has the summer gone?

                                                                        
PS: I will be back tomorrow with news of how the Cupboard will be changing, hope you will be able to join me and let me have your views.  Thanks.

Tippy Thursday - Making borders

Tippy Thursday again, and today I'm looking at using those little dies that tend to get overlooked!

This die is my most recent purchase.

It's from the Marianne Creatables range and consists of 3 dies.  The fancy scalloped rectangle and 2 leaves.  Stating the obvious - the leaves can be used as leaves, but is there something else you can do with them?

How about making a border......

I make my own cards and have lots of strips of card left over like this...

Using the Bug sandwich:  A  /  B  / card  /  die cut down  /  C

(All of the die cutting tips I give can be adapted to your own machine, but because I only have experience of  the Bug, and feel I don't need tell you what recipe to use, because you will know!  BUT, if you do need help - just ask).

 

From a peice of card 6" x 2" you will have 4 leaves and the die cut strip...now

I have added two scored lines to the top and bottom of the strip, then when placed over a decorative paper...you have a nice little border, which can be adjusted in length to suit your project.

 AND, you still have 4 leaves to use!

Time restraints have not allowed me to finish my card....hopefully later I will be able to get it finished!! 

Hope you like this idea of using your smaller dies....don't leave them at the back of the Cupboard....get them out and make full use of your of all your dies!

                                                                         

Fold Back Card - with part shaped cut out

Well, I have lost C& C Spellbinders pick of the week - wonder where it went? 

If you saw the show, Sheena Douglas from Creative Expressions made a card with a fold back front with a part cut label 4 shape.  If you liked this card I have a tutorial here of a card that I made in February that will show you how to do it. 

Thanks for dropping by, hope you have found something of interest.

                                                              

Crafts Too You embossing folders

Hi, today is the 26th July and in 6 months time it will all be over!  Yes, I'm talking Christmas.  As a rule I never start making Chrissy cards before October, but since I showed you the new folders from Crafts Too You last week, and some many readers showed an interest I thought I'd better put my festive hat on!

This is the 5" x 5" Crafts 2U Dots embossed on to a 6" x 6" card, and you cannot see the join!

This is one of the sections of the Crafts 2U Christmas Greetings - there are 6 in all.

They emboss well - this is on a glimmer card.

My first CC card for 2l10

All I've added is a Snowflake made with a Nestabilitie Create a Flake die. 

Very simple, easy to do in a hurry, but nevertheless .... you tell me?

This is a very quick post, just as my card.  Yesterday I was out all day playing bowls, sad to say our County lost to a better Dudley & District side, happy to say I managed to win my own game.  Time is flying and I'm really busy preparing something special !?!?!?   Tell you soon.....

Today is my mates Chrissie's birthday, so pop over and send her your best wishes as she has not been feeling well.   Happy Birthday Chris, hope you have a great day!

  

Craft Too you and Joy Craft Butterfly dies

Hi again, two in one day!  Think this is a first!!

Here are my new butterfly dies: 

The large blue die is by Marianne Designs - Creatables
The pink set of three are by Joy Crafts

I have cut and embossed the JC dies using a printed vellum.  You need to place a piece of scrap paper over the vellem as this give a crisp cut.  After embossing, I left the cut in the die and rubbed an ink pad over to show off the design.  The dies all have a  different pattern and you can see the sizes now they are cut.

This is the Marianne die.  Much bigger!  When cutting this die, I again used  vellum, but instead of scrap paper I used a DP, so getting 2 flutterbys!  Layered this is how they look.     I have been told that some of the Wizard machines don't like it, but the Bug (well my Bug) does!  I love this lacey look  - you could use it to make an aperture card and place a patterned paper inside in the same way as my tutorial card on Monday.  Think I'll have to have a go at this!  Edit:  Tried this - it didn't work, but I managed to do something with the cut out.  (See above post).

The sandwich :  A / C / die cut side up / vellum and DP / B

Enjoy your day.

Cuttlebug and Joy Crafts Daisies

Monday morning and back to work - well that's not really a true statement because I can't call crafting work - I should have used the words 'back to playing' instead!  Oh, goodie - I have missed my craftroom and my crafting mates in blogland - so hello all and thanks for your welcome home messages - it really is nice to be back and do you like this idea using your scoreboard to create a base card.....

Materials used:
A4 sheet of white linen cardstock
Scoreboard
Daisy dies from Joy Crafts
Provocraft Alphabet - Harmony
DP
Tag, ribbon, pearls

Take your A4 sheet and cut off a lengthwise strip of 62mm or 2.1/2" then with your scorebord make a centre fold on the A4 line. You now have a square card that measure 5.13/16"

Now you score two lines - on my EaziScore I used lines Box 2 and 4

Then scored again to make this effect 

Place card back on scoreboard and pencil mark centre on line 4 (or A4 Gate)

Now an apology - I forgot to take a picture of the front of the card!!!  BUT, this is how the card ended up.....I made an aperture card using the largest die from a set of Daisies dies from Joy Crafts. I placed the first die in the centre - you could guess but I used the pencil line as above - this made spacing the cuts much easier.  Then all I needed to do was to adhere my DP to the inside front, and.....

My finished card personalised with my bowling team mate's name using the Provocraft Harmony Alphabet.

I was left with 3 daisies!?!?!?!  Now, I don't like to waste anything, so.....I scored lines on the petals

made a tag, added the daisies and a number.....

and with another sheet of DP decorated the inside of my card.

Since Maria was not too keen on the idea of being 40 I thought this was a better idea than placing the numbers on the front!  However, I did tell her that there were worse things than being 40 - it could be her 50th!  As the saying goes .... "It not the years it's what you put into them that important!"  Happy Birthday Maria - have a great day today!

I have found that the Joy Craft dies cut with easy on my Cuttlebug and have not heard of any problems from my readers.  This company's dies are available from my supplier Liz (link on the sidebar) and this week (18th July to 25th) she is offering free postage on UK orders.

I told you this idea was adapable - you could use any of your small dies to create an aperture card.  I have used butterflies, squares, even Christmas trees - I'm sure you will tell me of others!  I will expand this idea soon because I think I know a way of using up even more leftovers and we all have these! 

Right back to my workdesk, it should be in a fine old mess by Wednesday for WOYWW - perhaps with something a bit unexpected?????   Enjoy your day!