Nestabilities - Make more use of your dies

Nestabilities are so useful, but do you get as much use out of them as you could? 

Today I will show you what was in the black box (sorry it's a day late, but travelling home was delay).

This is how I made my card

using a pierceabilities die (but not embossing or piercing the pattern) I cut my base card and two layers.

from the top layer - cut out the butterfly shape to reveal the under layer, and  from heat embossing acetate cut a second shape which I stamped over and embossed in gold.

assembled with an ribbon and sentiment. 

Now for the inside of my card - which is the surprise element.....

cut 2 layers of paper

Cut 3  Nesties circle (emboss 2) and fold as shown.  You could use squares and get the same effect.

Join together

Cut a number of butterflies and fold. I used a double sided DP and heat embossing acetate.  This works really well and adds a bit of glitz! 

assembled  your card will look like this!  If you need more info on this  pop-up design check out this tutorial that I did last year.

Sometimes you forget just what dies you have, and since they are expensive why not use them more - on this card I have use three different ones to give interest and texture.  The reason I didn't show it previously was because I enter the card  in a Spellbinder GDT call, but unfortunately it was not good enough!    I think I overlooked the fact that although I designed this pop up card  last year, and despite updating the idea with the 3D butterflies, so many crafters have copied it, that it probably seem mudane and ordinary!   Still you live and learn!!  There'll be another time!!!

Cuttlebug Folder, Square Nestabilities and Pierceabilitie Border

Well I'm back, but still not trouble free. I have got a new monitor, in fact two monitors, and they are both 19" wide screen. This is the problem, when you adjust the screen to make the pictures look normal, the screen (although bigger than my old 17"), shrinks down to a 15". Back to the catalogues!! and back to the shop with the other two!!! My photography is not the best, but it is better than whats showing on the new screen.   Your pictures look out of proportion. Can anyone tell me if this is always the case????

I have managed in between messing about to make a card!

My first of the year for you to ponder on.

To make the card;
6" x 6" White Linen Card
patterned paper
Nestabilitie Square
Pierceabilitie Scalloped Border
Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Folder
Stamped image,sentiments, ribbon, flowers

First emboss your base card.  Any folder would be okay if you can emboss the pattern twice and make the pattern match up because this is a larger card than the folder.  The HB folders works, as does Swiss Dots, Distressed strips, Traffic Jam, and a few others. Crafts-for-you folders Star, Daisy and Snowflake also work.  When buying new folders, this is something to bear in mind so you get more mileage from your folders.

The next task was to cut a scalloped edge to the base card.  To do this, work from the back side of the card so that the embossing doesn't show on the front.  This border was not intended to be used this way, but again it makes more use of your die.  Next to match the bottom of the card, I have cut a scalloped border for the top edge. 

If you fold this and carry over to the back of the card you have a nice front edge and also detail on the back of your card.  Ribbon, flower and sentiment finish the job of nicely.

The image for my card is a Penny Black - I love these little Hedgies!  The image sits well in a Nestie square, and the embossing has been done with an embossing pen (my Top Tip for 2009).

Cut 2 more squares of the same size and emboss the edges.

I layered the squares to give an interesting corner.

And, here is the finished card.

Today is very cold and snowy, with more bad weather forecast for the North Staffordshire area.  This summery card cheered me with thoughts of better things to come, because for sure I will not be sitting out today!  As the sentiment says "Have a Great Day and Enjoy yourself".

Cuttlebug - 2009 Top Tip No. 3 - Make a Pop-up Card with Nestabilities

I just had to add this to my Top Tips List as No.3....Hope you agree?

From my Tutorial in July 2009:

"I have been playing around with my large scalloped circles and discovered that I could make a pop-up card really easily.

This is the method I used. Cut 3 circles.

Fold as illustration - 2 one way and 1 the other and crease well.

Open out and join together so you have this shape










On the inside card crease fold - line up the centre fold of the pop-up
and tape the outer circles to the card

Hey Presto....you have made a pop-up card - I just added butterflies to complete the look.




I decorated the front with 3 butterfly dies embossed with the CB Textile and Swiss Dots folders. The cardstock was embossed with the Frills Flower Border on the front and back and the edges cut with a scalloped Pierceabilitie die."

This card not only uses Nestabilitie dies, but also Butterfly shapeabilities and a Pierceabilitie border die.  My motto is "If you have them - use them".  Are you using yours????

Back tomorrow (hopefully PC permitting - it's being very naughty at the moment) with Tip No. 2

Cuttlebug, Pierceabilitie Border and Nellie Snellen Frame

Hi, Today's card (24) is one I have enjoyed making. Why? Well I've been saying all week, inspiration has been lacking from my card head! But, when I received a set of Nellie Snellen Frames from my supplier, I wanted to use them....immediately....this is what my head led me to....

What I used on the card front:
Nellie Snellen Rectangle Frame
Crafts-too-you Snowflake folder
Hero Arts - Collage Season's greeting
Bits and Bobs

What I did:
I first embossed the base card - carrying the pattern over to the back, which I finished off with 2 score lines. I like this finish - it looks professional. 

Having stamped and cut down the image, I had a go at the over-lapping technique.  This was my first attempt and it was a bit tricky, but it turned out okay.  If you would like to see how this is done -
Rachel Jakes will show you

For the inside of the card I used:
Spellbinder Pierceabilities Die

With these dies you can adjust the width of your border. So having cut one, I then cut another slightly bigger to create a different coloured edge.  Then I had to cut another to hide a mark !!!!!   Our secret!  The debossed pattern gives added interest.

If you would like to view these new folders from NS you can do so by clicking on the side bar link to Liz, at Making a Lasting Impression.

See you tomorrow....


PS: Message to Kate (unable to contact you direct you have left no address)
Question: What is a paper shim. Answer: A piece of scrap paper placed over the paper being embossed so that the embossing does not cut into the paper.

Spellbinders Wizard Butterfly Dies

I love working with dark textured cardstock - ideal for that difficult man card!

I started with a tent fold 5.1/2" square card and with my Spellbinders Pierceabilities - Butterfly Die (attached with low tack tape to hold the stencil) cut, embossed and pierce the bottom edge of the card. Depending on the thickness of the card you may have to run this through a couple of times.

For the top border I used a CB Frills border folder and a MFP.

By embossing both the front and back of your cardstock you get a great start to your inside!!!


Your base card now looks like this









Now for my embellishment. Spellbinders Butterfly Dies.
The set consists of 3 dies.


Using silver mirror card embossed with the CB Happy Birthday folder, cut the two smallest dies as shown. I found it impossible to get a decent piccy as you will see!






With the largest and middle make a frame.


Fix the middle die to the card.



Add a 3d pad to the smallest butterfly - place on top. Raise the large butterfly frame with double 3D pads to give a tunnel effect.


My finished card. With using the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder I don't need to add a sentiment.

Hope you like this one - your comments or views are always welcome and much appreciated. Thanks for dropping by - hope you'll come back on Tippy Thursday.

Spellbinders Piercerabilities

Although I enjoyed so much making my wedding cards with the Nestie Heart dies, I felt it was time to move on and try something completely different - Piercerabilities.

I purchased these dies along with some plain squares from Make a Lasting Impression. You will find a link on the side bar. I can only say that my dealings with this company have been very satisfactory. They are quick, efficient, and reliable - and in this day and age - what more can you ask for?

To make my card I used Co-ordinations cardstock (140 cms square), and the scalloped die cut.

Place your die carefully on the edge of the front card and run through the bug. Then do the same on the back edge. It is better to do this twice because of the thickness, with a thinner card you might get away with it, BUT remember the golden rule - NEVER FORCE.




Sandwich: A. B. Card. Die cut face down. C (This may be different to the way you do it - but I have found that this way makes it easier to see where to place the die and I have had no problems with plates bending or breaking)

Now you can emboss the front edge. If you have not done this
before - check here

Having embossed - place the stencil on the front edge and using a soft pad and piercing pen, follow the pattern.


This is the pattern when embossed and pierced.





I have chosen to use a beautiful paper that I have been hording since last September. Today was the day to cut it......always hard.....I have cut a piece to fit the front card and scalloped both edges. I like to fold over the top of the card for a neat edge and thought why not scallop this too. If you carefully line up the paper scalloped edge to the card scallop you can achieve a diamond effect between the two - Looks good!
I also used my new square die cuts for matting and laying.



My embellishment when finished



My finished card

Using the pierceabilitie dies give a great border effect. You could also use them to make a border ribbon, or just to scallop the edges. I have yet to try scalloping three edges, but I will! It must to possible!!! Will let you know when I get it right. Thanks for dropping by, if you feel like leaving a comment - please do.