Isn't it great when different craft products in your stash go together, almost as though you had plannned it?
Card Recipe:
Tools: Spellbinders Labels 18 Diet Set , Tonic Studios Birds on a Branch, Birdhouse Die, Layering Rectangles and Layering Circles, Grand Calibur
Paper and Card: Hunkydory, Stardream Pearlescent Card
Embellishments: mulberry flowers, May Arts ribbon
As you will have noticed, I do like a lot of layers on my card! For this card, I wanted to use a Hunkydory card toppers and cardstock set that I had in my stash, as the pink/purple colours were a favourite of the card recipient. The focal topper came in the set, and although I don't have an exact shape match in my dies, I was unabashed. Spellbinders Labels 18 echoed the shape of the topper and it shows perfectly that you do not need to have an exact match to still create a harmonious arrangement on your card.
I've also mixed and matched patterned cardstock and papers with coordinating plains and pearlescents.
I carried on the theme of the card with my die cut accent - a bird house cut from the same pink stardream card as my card base, mounted onto a pre-embossed strip of Hunkydory Adorable Scorable card. I then used sprigs from the Birds on a Branch die set to create some final accents, picking up from the embossed foliage pattern on the card stock. These tucked behind the mulberry flower and floral organza ribbon as I often think a card is not finished if it doesn't have flowers and ribbon, I get kind of twitchy if I make a card without them!
Hope you all have a great a weekend and happy crafting!
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This is a useful tutorial on how to get more out of your Square Dies by extending them to cut rectangles.
With this method, you can extend the length or the width, but not both!
At the end of the project, you will find a downloadable PDF of these instructions.
You will need some:
Square dies (eg Tonic Layering Squares)
Die cutting machine (eg Grand Calibur)
Cardstock
Step 1
Measure the outer edge of your square die. In my example (excuse the slight blurriness of the first photo), my outer edge measures 9.8cm and I know that this cuts a 9.3x9.3cm square. I know need to cut a piece of card that's length is exactly 9.8cm+the extra length I want to acheive. So if I want a rectangle that is 2cm longer ie 11.3cmx9.3cm, I need to cut a piece of card that is exactly 9.8cm+2cm = 11.8cm. The width doesn't matter as long as it is a bit wider than the die.
Step 2
Butt the edge of the die to the bottom edge of your piece of card and tape into place. Place this on the cutting plate so that the other end of the die comes off the end of mat (below left). Cut and then emboss this piece (below middle). You will now have a piece of card cut along thrtee sides (below right).
Step 3
Remove the card from the die, and re-allign the die flush to the opposite end of the cardstock. Manoeuvre the die so that the cut edges slot into place (this can be a little fiddly but you will feel it when it gets seated correctly, and I find it helps if you trim off the outer flaps). Tape into place, making sure the it is now the end that has already been die cut that is off the edge of the cutting mat. Cut and emboss again.
You should now have a perfectly die cut and embossed rectangle.
You can download a pdf of these instructions here.
Please do let me know if you have found this helpful, I love to read your feedback.
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