This is a tutorial for how to create the half-in, half-out style of card using the Tonic Verso Die Sets. I have used the Decorative Holly Wreath Set but this would work for any of the Verso Die Sets, following the same steps. I will show how you can create card with the free edge either inner-most(below left) or outer-most (below right).
I will give all the measurements to create either a 14.8 cm x 14.8 cm square card or an A5 portrait card, but I will also demonstrate what measurements you need to create this style with any size card and/or die. At the bottom of this post, you'll find a printable PDF file of these instructions.
Starting with the A4 Portrait Card with Half-Cut Out Circle
Step 1 - Score the card
First of all, you need to measure the largest outer edge from the Verso die range that you are going to use. I've used the Decorative Holly Wreath, which measures 14cm wide, but you could use any shape/style of Verso Dies for this. Next score your card in half as you would for any card you were making.
Now, the next thing you are going to do is to create two small score lines in the front half of your card. To work out how long these score lines need to be either eye-ball it and mark your card with a pencil - or be anal like me and calculate it. So you need to take your card width (in this case 21 cm) and subtract the width of the die (in this case 14cm) giving an answer of 7 cm, then divide this number by 2, giving a measurement of 3.5cm.
At 7.4cm along the top (longer) edge, score your card down from the top by 3.5cm, then move your score tool to the bottom edge, and score up by 3.5cm.
Step 2 - Cut the Free Edge
I have marked all these score lines in pencil (below), you don't need to do this, but it helps you to see where they are for following this tutorial.
So, you can see below, I've scored the card in half (as you would normally) and then a quarter of the way in, I've scored from the top and bottom by 3.5cm.
Now take your Verso die (both outer and inner) and line it up centrally between the score lines and hold in place using low-tack tape.
For this style card, the "free" edge is going to be on the first quarter of the card. I will show you the alternative to this in the next card below, but for this card style, these are the instructions for how you need to place your card on your die-cutter. You need to place your card onto your cutting mat so that ONLY the first quarter of the card (to those short score lines) sits on the cutting mat (the rest of the card is hanging loose off the cutting mat). Then place your base plate over the top and, holding very firmly so that nothing slips, feed this through your die-cutting machine.
Step 3 - Cut the rest of the Card
Once you've done this, carefully move the cardstock up the cutting mat so that it is all on the cutting mat. Don't worry if the detail is not fully cut at this stage as we are going to do another cut pass. Carefully remove the outer cutting edge only (leaving the detail die in place, unmoved). At this point, you can add further layers of the detail verso dies (but not their outer outline cutting dies). Tack in place with low tack tape. Cover with the base mat and pass through your die cutting machine.
Top Tip - if like me, you use all the dies, you may find it takes several runs through the die cutter to cut all the detail. If the inner rings are still proving difficult after a couple of passes, very carefully remove the outer verso detail die, and run it back through the die cutter, all the detail on the smaller dies should now cut.
Remove the dies, fold and burnish the score lines with a bone folder, and hey presto - a half cut card.
Now for the Square Easel Card with Half-Cut Out Circle
Step 1 - Measure, Cut and Score the card
First of all, you need to measure the medium outer edge from the Verso die range that you are going to use. I've used the medium Decorative Holly Wreath, which measures 10cm wide, but you could use any shape/style of Verso Dies for this.
Take a sheet of A4 and trim it to 14.8cm deep. Then score it in half, then again at 7.4cm along the top (longer) edge, score your card twice more but this time down from the top by 2.4cm, then move your score tool to the bottom edge, and score up by 2.4cm. Again, I've marked this in pencil so that you can see but you do not need to do this.
(NB the maths for this one is your card width (in this case 14.8 cm), subtract the width of the die (in this case 10cm) giving an answer of 4.8 cm, then divide this number by 2, giving a measurement of 2.4cm.)
Step 2 - Cut the Free Edge
Now take your Verso die (both outer and inner) and line it up centrally between the score lines and hold in place using low-tack tape. For this style card, the "free" edge is going to be on the second quarter of the card and for this card style, you need to place your card onto your cutting mat so that the first quarter of the card (to those short score lines) sits OFF the cutting mat (the rest of the card is on the cutting mat). Then place your base plate over the top and, holding very firmly so that nothing slips, feed this through your die-cutting machine.
Step 3 - Cut the rest of the Card
Once you've done this, carefully move the cardstock down the cutting mat so that now all of it is on the cutting mat. Don't worry if the detail is not fully cut at this stage as we are going to do another cut pass. Carefully remove the outer cutting edge only (leaving the detail die in place, unmoved). At this point, you can add further layers of the detail verso dies (but not their outer outline cutting dies). Tack in place with low tack tape. Cover with the base mat and pass through your die cutting machine.
Remove the dies, fold and burnish the score lines with a bone folder, and hey presto - a half cut easel card.
Please do let me know if this tutorial has been useful, or if you need any clarification on my description or any of the steps.
Here's a PDF version of this Half-In, Half Out Cut Verso Card Tutorial
Enjoy your dies and have a great weekend!
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Deck The Halls! - which is exactly what I've done when I made this decorative Christmas door hanger! It features the new Verso Christmas Holly Wreath and Christmas Sentiments Die Sets, along with a fair bit of fussy folding (more on that later)!
Project Recipe:
Tools: Tonic Studios Holly Wreath Die Set, Tonic Studios Christmas Sentiments Die Set 1, Grand Calibur, Corner Rounder, Kushgrip Art Knife, Tonic Craft Tacky Glue
Mediums: Double-sided adhesive sheets, Versmark Inkpad, Shabby Blue Frantage
Paper & Card: DCWV
Embellishments: glitter, metal snowflake charms
I the hanger base is a piece of thin cardboard (either from a cereal packet or, as in my case, the bit if cardboard that you get in clothes for posting when they are bought online). This was cut to size (25cm x 10.5cm) and the tag shape created by cutting off the corners at the top (3.5cm down and 2 cm in on each side) and using my 10mm Tonic Studios corner rounder at the bottom. I then spread Craft Tacky glue thinly over the tag and adhered a patterned paper to one side, retrimmed the resptective corners, then repeated for the other side. I "hid" the cardboard sandwich by then going around the raw edges with a promarker pen. Finally, I cut the hole to create the door hanger using the smallest circle in the Tonic Studios Verso Holly Wreath Die Set - it was the perfect size!
Now, I'm not going to lie, the next step was fiddly! To make the wreath decoration, you will need to cut 2 medium wreaths, 2 small wreaths and a small circle from cardstock (about 250gsm, and the wreaths need their centres whole). Fold and score each wreath to create 8 even segments. Make a small hole in the centre and then cut up one of the score lines to the centre on each wreath. Now score and fold in the centre of alternating segments (these will create your peak folds). On the smaller wreath, you will now be cursing me, as this is very fiddly - but the effect is lovely! All you need to ensure is that for each pair of same sized wreaths, that you start this extra scoring clockwise on one and anti-clockwise on the other (so the folded segments are not in the same place). On the medium wreaths, pinch up your peaks and apply a small amount of tacky glue to hold in place. Adhere the two halves of the medium wreath to the small circle. For the smaller wreath, apply a small amount of tacky glue to the back and then carefully arrange over the medium wreath. I used a pair of tweezers to help me manipulate the folded wreaths into place. Decorate the centre with a brad, gem, or (in my case) a bling-y button! Accent the decoration with flitters of glitter.
The Deck the Halls message came from Tonic Studios Christmas Sentiments die set 1, which I then heat embossed with Shabby Blue Frantage, as it provides a lovely textured and dimensional finish. I also frantaged some metal snowflake charms and attached them with glue. Finally, I used a sheet of double-sided adhesive on an off-cut of white cardstock to cut out a small holly wreath (with the centre cut out too). I then covered the cut-out in iridescent glitter and adhered it to the hanger hole.
It's always good to know that I'm not just chatting to myself, so please do leave me a message if you've liked this post!
Here's one last look at this Christmas Door Hanger which I'm entering into the following challenges
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