Ideas for using Border Embossing Folders and Dies

In your Cuttlebug, or any other die cutting/embossing machine, there are two ways of making a border - embossing and die cutting.

Embossed Borders.

You can achieve an embossed border on your artwork with a large or small embossing folder, or a border embossing folder.

Folders are available from many stockists and the main manufacturers are:
Provocraft - Cuttlebug
Crafts2U
Sixxiz
Creative Expressions
Crafty Concept 4.25" x 5.75"
Docraft -  Textured Fades Embossing Folders emboss  select areas appear perfectly faded and distressed. 
NB: I have not tried Crafty Concept or Docraft folders  - but told they work


How to use border folders successfully:  try this link it will answer all your questions.

If you do not have any border folders, you can still create a border by using a large or small embossing folder and then complete the pattern by scoring a line(s) on your scoreboard.
either top and bottom or centre!  Link for the centre panel

or by using a small folder and embossing the pattern a number of times

You will also find examples of other embossed borders by checking out the sidebar "Embossed Borders Folders" or "Borders".

When you need a simple card for a difficult occasion, borders will help you achieve a stylish look without going over the top!

Border Dies

Spellbinders border dies that match their Pendant Dies are called Borderabilities.  There are also border dies called Pierceabilities.  Both types are sold in packs of 2.  One makes a border by cutting on both sides, the other only cuts on one side  so it can be used for cutting a fancy edge, or an extended border.  The borders can also be embossed using a tan mat.  You will find the sandwich for this in the "Glossary".

 This is a "Spades Borderabilitie" double edged die - cut once 

on this card I cut  the die twice, embossed both, then interchanged the cut out bits - this link will take you to the full tutorial

  This is the other Spades die in the set.   I have used it to create an embossed fold back edge.

This is a Pierceabilitie die, used to edge a card and then embossed and pierced.

Using just the edge

Using the die to make an extended border and fancy edge

Using the die for layering

and lastly a combination of an  border embossing folder and a pierceabilitie border die

This is a Joy Craft border die - useful for embellishing a border!

and another border from Joy Craft coloured with Perfect Pearls

You will find  the tutorials relating to these illustrations by visiting the "Border" sections on the sidebar. I find that the border folders and dies are often purchased, but little used which is a pity because they are soooo useful!  I hope I have given you some inspiration on how you can use them.

Back tomorrow with ....????



Marianne Creatables

Hi, and a very warm welcome to my blog.  Today is what my husband calls "Manic Monday" - yes, he often finds me surrounded by bit of this and bobs of that - in a "shall I" or "shall I not" mood.  Today was no exception...but I finally made up my mind and so.....

this is the Marianne Creatables frame that I showed you last week.    After printing a PC generated greeting on white card, I offset the frame and ran through the Bug. 

                                                   

In case you are having difficulties with intricate dies sticking to the frame, this is a photo of what remained after cutting, and tapping the frame against my metal waste bin. This serves two purposes, removes the bits and saved hoovering!   No problems whatsoever after I'd rubbed a wax candle over the die and buffed it up.  Not sure how long the wax coating will last...but for the time being...it cutting fine!

Off setting the sentiment allows space for a flower decoration.

The base card is embossed with a Daisy folder from Joy Too You , and the lovely paper is from Artylicious Echoes of Italy. If you like decorative papers, there is a special offer of papers this week of buy one A4 pack (£4.99) and get one 6 x 6 pack for £1 (usually £3.99) - enter promotional code ARTYPPACK at checkout. Unfortunately, the photo is......bad to say the least....and in no way shows up the paper, so it's back to the camera.   As I said  "Manic Monday"  reigns!

Back later with another photo!  PS: a bit better!

Joy Crafts - Crafts Too You - Elusive Images

Remember this....it was  my post on Monday illustrating my diamond Joy Crafts die and the Christmas Greetings folder from Crafts 2U. 

Well I added a Mince Pie.....coloured with Promarkers

Then I added a few more......embossed in gold .....sat them on a border of green

added another gold border.....and now there are......

 

six!

  

Oh, joy  - mince pies one of the goodies that come with Christmas! 

This little stamp is, of course, from Elusive Images, and I have others from the set to show you...soon.

Hope you are all having a good day.   

                   

Crafts too You - Joy Craft

I have been playing with my C2U Christmas Greetings folder again.

I found that it embossed on various weights of cardstock successfully.  I also embossed on thin paper and this was okay (see red above), but I would suggest putting a piece of scrap paper over your paper to avoid risking the fibres breaking.  It is possible to cut out the greetings, and if the size is to big.....you can cut them down and replace the lines using your scoreboard - I did this on the gold tag above.

Now I had a gold tag - what to do with it?  Well I found in the cupboard (as  you do) sometimes (ah ah) a die that I'd just had to buy and never used....

it's from Joy Crafts.

Some of the dies on the market although lovely, are a bit fiddly to stick on your project, so I use the same method I use for cutting alphabets

and stick double sided tape on the back of my card before cutting.

                        

Another tip:  If you are having problems removing the cut from the die you can use wax paper when cutting, or I have found this works okay and that is to rub a candle over the die, then with a cloth buff (perhaps polish is a better word) the die. 

I thought to fancy up my greeting (and to echo another element on the card) I'd combine the two and.....

this is how they look together. 

At this point this is all I can reveal....it's part of a card for EIDT....the rest will follow shortly.

I'm finding this DT business very inspiring at a time when I needed something to stimulate my mojo, and although it seems that I'm not posting ideas for you, I'm actually doing a lot of interesting crafting working on new stamps soon to be launched.  As you know I've always liked EI stamps, but the new ones are pushing me out of my comfort zone and I'm loving it and can't wait to share them with you.  

Back soon, enjoy your day!

Cuttlebug Cupboard - Spellbinder Mega Rectangles

Today's tutorial is based on the Spellbinder's Mega Rectangles,  I actually did this way back in January, and somehow forgot to post it!  But, better later than never.

As with all the label dies, the difference between the sizes means that layering is more difficult.  If you like wide borders, you are okay - but what if you like to have narrow borders?  My friend, Andrea explained this to me, but it was only by playing that I cottoned on.   Cool Andrea! This is how you do it.

With the same die, cut 2 shapes  The die-cut with the image is then embossed.  You can use the TAN mat or an embossing tool to run round the edge whilst the die-cut in still in the die.   Following the line of the embossing, cut off the embossing.

and when fixed together.....you have a narrow border!  An alternative way would be to cut and emboss round the image as usual, then draw round the die and cut with scissors.  I have tried both ways and found that by cutting the edge off of the inner shape it was less noticeable if the cut was not exact! 

The next part of my card was to cut another die-cut - this time I used a border from the Joy Crafts range. These dies are smaller than the Spellbinders, but have their uses in your craft box.  Having cut the die, I inked and dusted with Metallic Perfect Pearls which is perfect for a grunge look!

Next some simple matting and layering, which I actually find not so simple to get square!

and my finished card......

The image is a digital download from Sketching Stamper which I love!  It's big and bold and beautiful!!

Hope you like this idea and will find a use for it in your crafting.  Thanks Andrea for your help.

I recently made this decorative jar to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of  WOYWW and have been asked how I did it, so.......

It started life as a very plain plastic jar that was given to me as a freebie.

What I did:  Using two coats of Alcohol Inks in Pitch Black, Mushroom and Raspberry I inked the jar.  Unfortunately AI doesn't like to be photographed!  Shame because the finish is great giving a rich and luxurious colouring.

I cut 2 bands with a Joy Craft border die and stuck them to the jar with difficulty using just about every glue I had.  And, in the end with very sticky fingers I managed it!  AND, more importantly, they have remained stuck!!  

Next a Label 4 die cut from gold mirri card and coloured with AI. 

The flower looked daft stuck on the lid, so not to be thwarted I glued them to the bottom where there was a convenient dimple.  All I needed then were some metal flowers and a dragonfly dusted with glitter glue and pearl drops to complete my to piece to celebrate Julia's amazingly successful WOYWW.  Thanks Julia for all your work over the past year - it's been fun!

What will I do with my little jar?!?!?!  Originally I thought I'd fill it with the names of all the WOYWWers on week 52, but now it's standing on its lid, I'm going to fill it with sand and it will become a ...... pretty paperweight!

PS: If you are wondering what WOYWW is all about - you will find a link on my sidebar.

Make a fold-back edge card - part 2

As promised earlier, I have my finished card to show. 

The stamp I used for making this embellishment is from Rubber Stampede and is called Solidago Sprig.  Not sure what the technique is called, but I stamped the main sprig and two shadow sprigs onto a background I'd created by misting water onto distress inks.  It  looked ready for the bin until the magic of embossing powder brought it to life.  This technique has me hooked!   

If you have not read my earlier post on how to make the base card, you will find it below.  However, since one of my friends has accused me of being naught for tempting her to buy more stash - I will add that you can make this card with a border punch if you don't have a borderabilitie die. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Spellbinder Borderabilities - make an edged fold back card

Today I have a new idea that I hope you'll like and find useful.  I have made an edged fold back card - don't know how else to describe it! 

This technique will allow you to use all the embossing folders on a 5.1/2" square card with no worries about matching the pattern. 

What I used:  CB Swiss Dots and Spades borderabilities

What I did:

With the die taped to the inside front - run through the Bug

Next you emboss the die pattern  -  Save the cut out bits!!!!!

use the embossing folder from the centre fold

emboss three lines from the inside of the card

fold back the edge

from the inside your card will look like this

Cut a patterned paper with the same die - save the bits!!!

Place masking tape over the back of the fold

now you can add the cut out bits from the DP

add the DP to the inside of your card and also the cut out bits from the front card

and you are finished......

This has been a long tutorial - I have tried to let the pictures do the talking, but if anything is not clear - please leave me a comment.  If you try it - I would appreciate you linking back to the Cupboard - help me spread the wonders of the Bug!

Drop by later and I will show you my finished card.