How-To: Partial Die-Cutting To Extend Your Square Dies

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – How-To: Partial Die-Cutting To Extend Your Square Dies

Couple of weeks ago I posted on my blog this lovely card and I had an enormous response, and questions on how I turned a square from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies into the rectangle.

I hoped to post it earlier but as always life got in the way. But finally, I got around to show you how I did it. The technique is called partial die-cutting.

By no means, I didn’t invent this technique. It’s been around for a long time and is usually used to create pop-up elements or intricate borders.

To create a rectangle I took a piece of cardstock and my square die. I’ve used Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies, but you can use any thin square dies for this technique.

anna-stampin-cave-extending-your-stitched-shapes-framelits-dies-1

I placed the die, with the cutting edge down, on a piece of cardstock. I set the top plate of my cutting sandwich so that is only partially over the die. The portion that is under the top plate is the part that will get cut out. I run it through the Big Shot.

anna-stampin-cave-extending-your-stitched-shapes-framelits-dies-2

Now I lined up my die with this partially die-cut piece. It’s not difficult at all, as cutting edge of the die slip right into the grove.

anna-stampin-cave-extending-your-stitched-shapes-framelits-dies-3

And again I placed the top plate so that it’s only partially over the die. Just this time my partially die-cut piece and is on the side that won’t be cut. I run it through the Big Shot.

anna-stampin-cave-extending-your-stitched-shapes-framelits-dies-4

And voila, you have a stitched rectangle! But as I mentioned before you can use any thin square dies for this technique.

I hope you liked my short ‘how to’ post and that you’ll use this technique to stretch your dies.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

Faux Watercolour For GDP#072 Case The Designer Challenge

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – Faux Watercolour For GDP#072 Case The Designer Challenge

gdp072

Hello and welcome everyone! Today I’m back with my entry for Global Design Project. This week’s challenge is ‘CASE the Designer’ – we are casing extremely talented Krista Frattin.

If you’re not sure what ‘CASE’ stands for, at least in crafty world, here are few decipherings: Copy And Selectively Edit or Copy And Share Everything. Generally speaking, it means that you take inspiration from someone else’s project, like colours, layout, stamp set used, etc, and add your own twist to it.

I really loved this simple layout and toned palette with a little pop of colour, so this is what I ‘borrowed’ from Krista’s card. But I’ve decided to use a new stamp set from Stampin’ Up! Spring Summer Catalogue called Special Reason.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-special-reason-stamp-set-watercolour-with-masking

Faux Watercolour Special Reason card dimensions:

  • Very Vanilla cardstock: 11-6/8″ x 4-1/8″ scored in half at 5-7/8″ (29.7 x 10.5 cm scored in half at 14.8 cm)
  • Sahara Sand cardstock: 4″x 5-6/8″(10,2 x 14,5 cm)
  • Water Colour Paper: 2″ x 3″ (briefly as it will be die-cut later)
  • Flirty Flaming Ruched Ribbon: length 6″ approx
  • Very Vanilla Lace Trim: length 6″ approx

I began with dry embossing Sahara Sand panel with a Festive embossing folder. I love this design as it’s really versatile. For my card, I’ve used de-bossed side. I added Flirty Flamingo Ruched ribbon to the panel, briefly in the middle, and secure it at the back with snail adhesive. Next, I added Very Vanilla Lace Trim on top of it, slightly overlapping both ribbons so Flirty Flamingo was peeking from underneath the lace. I adhered my panel to the card base with liquid adhesive and red-lined tape where the ribbons were for extra security.

To create my focal point I’ve used few great techniques: watercolour, faux watercolour, rock’n’roll, masking and partial die-cutting.

anna-stampin-cave-special-reason-stamp-set-by-stampin-up

I started with stamping my flower onto watercolour paper. I loaded my stamp with Blushing Bride Ink and then ‘rocking’ my stamp I added Flirty Flamingo only on the edges of the stamp – that’s rock’n’roll technique, super easy hey? Once I stamped the image, I took an aqua painter and started blending both colours on each petal creating a faux watercolour effect. I also added Flirty Flamingo ink to the centre of the flower. I build up the colour (but I let it dry completely between layers) by adding more Flirty Flamingo to the top of each petal and blending it down with an aqua painter.

Next, I created a mask. I stamped the same flower onto a post-it note and fussy cut it. I stuck it to my watercolour flower (first, make sure it’s dry) and using Stamp-a-ma-jig I stamped two leaves in Sahara Sand, one below, and one on the side of my flower. Using same faux watercolour technique I blended the ink on my leaves, being careful not to lose subtle veins detail. I also created a leaf mask and added another leaf at the bottom of the flower.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-special-reason-stamp-set-watercolour

Not taking off the masks, and with help of Stamp-a-ma-jig again, I stamped another flower. This time I only used Blushing Bride ink for a softer shade. But still added a hint of Flirty Flamingo ink to the edges of petals while blending them with water.

Before die-cutting my piece, I decided to add a little bit of shading beneath my composition. Nothing fancy, just a subtle watercolour wash with Sahara Sand ink and aqua painter. I love how it added an extra dimension to my piece.

To die-cut my watercolour panel I’ve used a second smallest square (1-5/8″) from Stitched Shapes Thinlits Dies. But this is a rectangle, you say. Yes, I know, but I extended my die using partial die cutting technique (if you want to know how to do it, please leave me a comment below). The final piece measure 1-5/8″ x 2-5/8″ (4.2 x 6.7 cm).

I assembled my watercolour panel using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

anna-stampin-cave-stampin-up-special-reason-stamp-set

I really like how this card turned out. No need for extra embellishments, it’s beautiful as it is. I hope you like it too, and that I inspired you to try some of the techniques I showed, especially mess-free, faux watercolour.

I really want to encourage you to check the Global Design Project challenge blog. They have a new challenge every week with various themes and extremely talented Design Team – they will simply blow your mind with their creativity! Just click on their logo below to visit the website

gdp_blog_header

As always, if you wish to purchase any of the products I have used, simply click the images below to go directly to my online shop.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day,

 

Special Reason Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Special Reason Wood-Mount Stamp Set
[142899]
£25.00

Special Reason Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Special Reason Clear-Mount Stamp Set
[142902]
£18.00

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies

Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies
[145372]
£27.00

Festive Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Festive Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
[141471]
£7.75

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock

Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock
[106550]
£8.25

Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock

Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock
[121695]
£7.25

Watercolor Paper

Watercolor Paper
[122959]
£4.50

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin’ Pad
[141397]
£6.00

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Pad

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin’ Pad
[131172]
£6.00

Sahara Sand Classic Stampin' Pad

Sahara Sand Classic Stampin’ Pad
[126976]
£6.00

Aqua Painters

Aqua Painters
[103954]
£15.50

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig
[101049]
£11.00

Very Vanilla 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Lace Trim

Very Vanilla 1/2″ (1.3 Cm) Lace Trim
[141672]
£6.50

Flirty Flamingo 3/8" (1 Cm) Ruched Ribbon

Flirty Flamingo 3/8″ (1 Cm) Ruched Ribbon
[141426]
£7.25

Liquid Multipurpose Glue

Liquid Multipurpose Glue
[110755]
£3.75

SNAIL Permanent Adhesive

SNAIL Permanent Adhesive
[104332]
£6.25

Stampin' Dimensionals

Stampin’ Dimensionals
[104430]
£3.75

Stampin' Trimmer

Stampin’ Trimmer
[129722]
£27.00

Big Shot

Big Shot
[143263]
£99.00

The Creative Flow Blog Hop – Cookie Cutter Peek-A-Boo Baby Cards

Anna’ Stampin’ Cave – The Creative Flow Blog Hop – Cookie Cutter Peek-A-Boo Baby Cards

the-creative-flow-header

Thank you for joining us on our Creative Flow Blog Hop. Each month we are set a challenge to creatively stretch our imaginations. To hop along, please use the buttons at the bottom of the post to keep hopping.

For this month we’ve been set a challenge to use any carry-over holiday-themed stamps to create a non-Christmassy project.

stampin-up-carry-over-stamp-sets

I knew straight away I wanted to use Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set to create some super cute baby cards.

anna-stampin-cave-cookie-cutter-peek-a-boo-baby-card

I chose rather traditional baby colours: pink and blue. For the pink, I’ve used beautiful dusty Blushing Bride, and Pool Party seemed just perfect for a baby boy card.

anna-stampin-cave-cookie-cutter-peek-a-boo-baby-card-baby-girl

Peek-A-Boo Baby Girl card dimensions:

  • Blushing Bride cardstock: 8-1/4″ x 5-7/8″ scored in half at 4-1/8″ (21 x 14.8 cm scored in half at 10.5 cm)
  • Whisper White cardstock: 4-3/8″ x 3-5/8″ (11.1 x 9.2 cm)
  • Blushing Bride Designer Series Paper from Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack: 4-2/8″ x 3-1/2″ (10.7 x 8.8 cm)
  • Scraps of Whisper White and White Vellum cardstock for die-cutting and sentiment
  • Whisper White Organza Ribbon: approx 6″

First, I stamped the little bear from Cookie Cutter Christmas Stamp Set, in Blushing Bride, onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock. For the little face, I’ve used Basic Black Archival Ink Pad. I die-cut the bear image using the second largest oval from Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies. I also die-cut the same size stitched oval shape from White Vellum. Next, I stamped ‘peek-a-boo’ sentiment from Suite Sayings Stamp Set, also in Blushing Bride, on a strip of Whisper White, and cut it into a banner. A baby card can’t go without a little bling so I added a tiny rhinestone to the sentiment banner.

To add some interest (and cuteness) to the card base, I pull out long forgotten Hearts & Stars Decorative Masks. For the girly card, I’ve used hearts stencil. First, I thought to add some sparkle through the stencil, but at the end, I decided for tone on tone effect and sponged hearts with Blushing Bride Ink.

anna-stampin-cave-cookie-cutter-peek-a-boo-baby-card-pool-party

Peek-A-Boo Baby Boy card dimensions:

  • Whisper White cardstock: 8-1/4″ x 5-7/8″ scored in half at 4-1/8″ (21 x 14.8 cm scored in half at 10.5 cm)
  • Pool Party cardstock: 4-3/8″ x 3-5/8″ (11.1 x 9.2 cm)
  • Pool Party Designer Series Paper from Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack: 4-2/8″ x 3-1/2″ (10.7 x 8.8 cm)
  • Scraps of Whisper White and White Vellum cardstock for die-cutting and sentiment
  • Whisper White Organza Ribbon: approx 6″

This card was made similarly to the baby girl one. The only significant change, except colour combo obviously,  was that I stamped the bear and his ears separately as I planned to punch the bear using Cookie Cutter Bilder Punch. 

It turned out that the bear has a slightly wider ‘body’ than the other images from this stamp set and you can’t punch it without losing a little bit of his chubby shape.

At the end, I had to fussy-cut the bear but it’s quite a straightforward process. I punched out his ears and using snail adhesive I glued his ears behind his head and next I glued the bear flat onto the stitched oval shape.

Assembling these cards was pretty easy. First I adhered DSP panels to the cardstock. I added the ribbon at the bottom of my panels. I secured it at the back of the panels using snail adhesive and glued it to the card base.

Next step was to assemble my little bears. I glued the ovals with bears to the vellum ovals, offsetting them slightly. I adhered them to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals for some extra dimension. Sentiments are adhered using Stampin’ Dimensionals too.

anna-stampin-cave-cookie-cutter-peek-a-boo-baby-cards

I truly hope you like my cute ‘peek-a-boo’ baby cards. They are not only adorable but also very easy to recreate.

Now, be sure to hop along and see more inspiring projects. Your next stop is lovely and talented Heidi.

Thank you for stopping by and have a blessed day

the-creative-flow-previous-button the-creative-flow-next-button