Half-in, Half-Out Cut Verso Card Tutorial

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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Autumnal House Mouse Big Apple-tite

Autumn is my favourite season. I know that the Summer is fab but I just love Autumn, the colours, the leaves, the Harvest!  This time last year, I was lucky enough to be visiting the wonderful Autumn colours in New England, so this is my homage to the arrival of Autumn!

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Joanna Sheen House Mouse
Tools: Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Se, Gothic Border, Tim Holtz Paper Distresser  Grand Calibur
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads
Paper & Card: My Mind's Eye, Parchment, mulberry paper, Satin Elegance
Embellishments: Raffia, String, Baker's Twine, Sheer Ribbon, Buttons, Skeleton Leaves

Do you recognise the die set that I've used as a mat for the main focal image?   Yes, it's the Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Set.  Previously I've cut the top die from vellum and laid it over a pattern card, this time, I've cut the filigree layer in patterned card and layered it over a semi-translucent textured mulberry paper.

Plus, you'd never know that there is a tag in the centre of this die set, my focal image hides it completely, those clever, versatile Verso dies!

Do you find it difficult to shabby things up?  I know I do!  However, I've been playing with my Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Paper Distresser and had a good go at distressing all my edges, before inking them up with Tea Stain Distress Ink.  I think I like the effect, what do you think?

You can also see the edge I've punched with my Simplicity Gothic Border Punch - I think it works great on men's cards.



This card is also my Design Inspiration over an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge of us Dies and Punches.  So, the "Oldies" that are over 6 months old on this card are:
My Mind's Eye Card ● Buttons ● Twine ● Raffia ● String ● Ink Pads ● Elegance Satin Stamping card ● Promarker Pens ● Skeleton Leaves ● Mulberry Paper

Here's one last look....

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Cards for Men - String It Up

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Deck the Halls Christmas Door Hanger!

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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Tonic Studios Verso Christmas Die Sets Wreath Rings Sneak Peek 1!

Jingle Bells! - Santa's Elves at Tonic Studios Towers have been very busy, would you like a sneak peek? It's their new Verso Christmas Die Sets which are unbelievably gorgeous!    Doesn't it combine so well with my Christmas Wreath stamp?

Card Recipe:
Stamps: Crafter's Companion
Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Anna Griffin Pigment Ink Pad
Paper & Card: Anna Griffin, textured card, Satin Elegance
Tools: Tonic Studios Decorative Wreath Die Set, Regency Swirls Embossalicious Embossing Folder,  Grand Calibur
Embellishments: Microbeads, satin ribbon, jingle bell,  acrylic flowers, rhinestone crystals, glitter, metal corners

To start this card, I stamped my Christmas wreath image twice onto stamping card and coloured both images with Promarker pens.  Then I cut out one image using scissors for the outer image and a craft knife to remove the centre. I accented this layer with red glitter, tiny red rhinestone crystals and gold ribbon bow from Anna Griffin double satin ribbon.

I cannot even begin to describe how wonderfully versatile this new Christmas Verso Die Sets are.  To start with they create beautiful wreaths (and I love a wreath on a card) which you can choose to either inset into your card, or have as a topper, as the outer ring cuts separately.  This is my first card, and I used the Wreath Rings Set. 

 I cut the outer wreath with the centre removed but I could have chosen to keep the centre in place, as this is an entirely separate die.  I had also covered my paper with a double sided sticky sheet, which can be tricky with an intricate die but wasn't with Tonic quality (I did do a double pass and twisted the die cut around for the second pass, just to be sure).  I then covered the wreath in tiny microbeads - the effect is so textural and quite stunning.

The little lacey corners are another die in this set, which I've chopped into 2 to make a decorative feature.

You can just about see here where I embossed the gold mat with my Embossalicious Regency Swirls Embossing Folder - I love the larger 8" size of this folder and it perfectly complements the Anna Griffin patterned papers that I used. You can see the embossing a little bit more on the picture below.

Here's one last look:

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Crafter's Companion - Embossing (Embossalicious Regency Swirls)
Craft-room challenge - Trees or Leaves
CountryView Crafts - Layers
Deep Ocean - Goodbye Summer
I ♥ ProMarkers - 3 Different Shapes
Joanna Sheen - Ribbons
Paper Playtime - Use Three Different Papers
Pile it On - Tic Tac Toe (metal, image, bling)

 I love to know who's visited my blog, so why not leave a comment and tell me what you think of this card, it would be much appreciated!

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Subtle Spots & Stripes

Spots and Stripes is the theme for this fortnight's challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, and we're sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps.  As I've done a couple of quite bold spots and stripes cards over the summer, I really wanted to do a more subtle interpretation of the theme this time around.  What do you think, can you "spot" the spots and stripes?

There's more great inspiration by the Design Team, so have a good rifle through all your old stash (you need to use at least one element that is over 6 months old on this challenge) and, if you mention it in your post, you could win a fab prize by Bugaboo Stamps - so come and join in!
Card Recipe:

Stamp: Stamps Happen Glorious

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, Memento London Fog Ink Pad

Paper & Card: Bo Bunny, Prima, Pearlescent, Vellum
Tools: Tonic Studios - Elegant Vines Square Die, Petal Pairs, Grand Calibur

Embellishments: Lace, ribbon, crystals, creative expressions pearl swirls

So the spots are on the background to the Tag as well as in the handmade flowers (using my Tonic Petal Pairs punches set 5).







There is a stripe pattern to the background paper on the tag but I also echoed the stripes by embellishing the background mat with strips of ribbon and lace woven with ribbon.  I used a pro-marker pen to custom colour the 3mm satin ribbon that I used to thread through the lace. 


Ever since I've had my Tonic Studios Elegant Vine Square Die Set, I wanted to recreate an effect that I've done previously with my Cameo Silhouette, that is; to create an ethereal vellum cut out layer.  Very pleased with how it worked here and much quicker than carefully peeling a similar design off a sticky cameo cutting mat!

I stamped the dress image onto coloured paper, but then coloured over parts of the image with pro-marker pens.  Finally, I added some pearl embellishments, a pretty swirl flourish by Creative Expressions and some pearl strands that come from a florists supplies outlet.

My oldies in this card are the stamp, ink, promarkers, brad, gems and pearls. However, in order to join in the challenge of an Oldie But A Goodie all you need to do is use one item from your stash that's over 6 months old. Hope to see you over at the challenge.

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Dressed in Roses and Butterflies

Embossing is the theme for this fortnight's challenge over at an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge, and we're sponsored by Rick St Dennis.  There's some fabulous inspiration by the Design Team, so have a good rifle through all your old stash (you need to use at least one element that is over 6 months old on this challenge and, if you mention it in your post, you could win a fab prize by Rick St Dennis) and come and join in! I've used both hot and dry embossing techniques on this Dressed In Roses & Butterflies card for a teenage girl.

Card Recipe:

Stamp: Hampton Art Stamps Dressed in Roses

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens, ColorBox Cat's Eye Fluid Chalk Ink, Versamark, Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink Purple, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist

Paper & Card: Bo Bunny, Pearlescent, Stardream, Elegance Satin
Tools: Tonic Studios - Gothic Die Set - Butterfly Border Punch - Maria Butterfly Die, Grand Calibur, Embossalicious Flower Power Embossing Folder, Heat Gun, Cameo Silhouette

Embellishments: Bo Bunny ribbon, crystals, mulberry flowers, glitter, clear embossing powder

Again, quite a lot of detail on this card.  For example, I've used heat embossing and dry embossing and a combination of both.

To start with, I stamped the Dressed in Roses stamp on stamping card and a mat for of patterned Bo Bunny paper using Encore Ultimate Metallic Ink in purple.  This is such a lush and vibrant ink pad, but to allow me to colour over with ProMarkers, I used clear embossing powder over the stamped image and then heat set it.  A quick spritz of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist provided a pretty sheen to the final image.

I trimmed the background mat to size then ran it through an 8x8 Embossalicious Flower Power Embossing Folder.  To enhance the dry embossing against the busy pattern, I rubbed over the raised embossed pattern with a versmark ink pad and applied clear embossing powder before heat setting.  This gives a really textured finish to the background.  

You can see on this picture where I've scattered tiny glittered butterflies as accents all over the card.  This is actually the "waste" from my Butterfly Border punch (although I punched this from offcuts of glittered stardream card just for this project).


To keep with the Butterfly theme (what teenage girl doesn't like both Butterflies and Dresses?), I die cut a butterfly and flower image using the Tonic Studio's Maria Butterfly Beautiful Die, which I then accented with glitter and more scattered, tiny butterflies.

The sentiment was computer generated and then die cut with my Gothic Square Die Set. I created my cardstock mats for these by scanning the die-cut shapes into my Cameo Silhouette, then traced them and offset them.  It's so easy to create perfectly sized mats this way.

Here's one more look at this summary teenage birthday card.

The "oldies" I've used on my card include my stamp, design papers, cardstock, ink, pens, embossing powders, glitter and ribbon.  However, in order to join in the challenge of an Oldie But A Goodie all you need to do is use one item from your stash that's over 6 months old. Hope to see you over at the challenge.

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Watch the Birdy

Hello, this week's card uses the gorgeous Watch the Birdy range of stamps, dies and paper from Tonic Studios.  I love it when I can get stamps to co-ordinate with a die range, as I really enjoy using both types of crafting.

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Tonic Studios Birds on a  Branch (Set 2)
Colouring Mediums: Encore Metallic, Versamark, Promarker Pens, embossing powder
Paper & Card: Birds on a Branch 8” Paper Pack, Glitter Card, Elegance Satin
Tools: Tonic Studios: Birds on a Branch Bird Cage Die; Elegant Vine Oval, Window Basket Die, Grand Calibur
Embellishments: May Arts Ribbon, pearls, crystals, mulberry flowers

My main image is from Tonic Studios Birds on a  Branch (Set 2) Stamp, stamped with Encore Metallic Purple Ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder, then coloured with Promarkers.

I then used the co-ordinating Bird Cage Die, which I cut from glitter card stock.












I'm getting a bit obsessed with heat embossing at the moment, so I used Versmark ink and clear embossing powder over the Elegant Vine scroll background, to give it a lovely glossy finish and texture.  I also heat-embossed the decoupaged bird cage and the printed branch at the top of the patterned paper.

I made the little pearl charms using head pins and glass beads.  Here's one last look.

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend

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Anna Griffin Hanoka Koi Card

Hello all, I'm a little bit late in posting my design team piece for an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge as last week I had to post sneak peeks of the new Tonic Christmas Dies, but hey ho, better late than never, and I did have my card ready in time to be posted onto the Oldie But A Goodie Blog.  The latest challenge is Boys/Male Cards and runs until Monday 19th August. So dust out your old stash (you need to use at least one thing on your project that is over 6 months old - one of the reasons I absolutely love this challenge blog).

Card Recipe:

Focal Image: Anna Griffin Hanoka Die Cuts

Colouring Mediums: Promarker Pens

Paper & Card: Anna Griffin, Stardream
Tools: Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page, Spellbinders, Grand Calibur, corner rounder

Embellishments: double satin ribbon, Chinese charms, brad

To make this card, I used a Martha Stewart punch around the page kit to cut the base in black stardream card.  I thought that the cane-style pattern went perfectly with the Chinese-themed Anna Griffin Hanoka papers and die cuts.  I also punched out some long strips of stone coloured pearlescent cardstock, which I used to edge the larger spellbinders Labels 1  mat.  To make these straight strips curve around the corners, I just snipped into them with scissors.

I made the lucky coin charms by attaching double satin ribbon to some coin charms that I had in my stash, and used a jump ring to make the fish charm which I then attached with a brad.

I made this card for my Uncle's 75th birthday, he keeps Koi Carp, so this Hanoka range by Anna Griffin was perfect for his card.  And as everything used on this card was from my stash and over 6 months old, it was perfect for an Oldie But A Goodie Challenge - Boys/Male card.
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Extending the Tonic Studios Christmas Cracker Die

When Tonic Studios launched their Christmas Cracker Dies, I had several questions on whether it was possible to make the crackers slightly bigger, so I've photographed a step-by-step tutorial on how I've extended the die to make a longer cracker.  First here's the finished project, which also uses the Christmas Star Box Die.


So how did I extend the die?  Well, it involves letting the part of the die that you don't want to cut hang off the end of the cutting mat.  So first of all, I line up the die at the base of a sheet of A4 cardstock, positioned with low tack tape and then placed onto the cutting mat so that the top third of the die hangs off the edge of the mat.  As you can see, I've used a Grand Calibur but you can also do this with a Big Shot machine, you would just need to trim the card width before starting.  As a picture paints a thousand words, take a look at the photos I've taken of this stage below.

Once you've run through the die cutter, you then need to position the die again for a second cut.  Move the cut cardstock up and off the edge of the cutting mat and align the die over the centre section.  Tape in place to make sure that the die doesn't move.  

Again, the pictures to the left should make it clearer as to how I did this.

If you want a really long cracker, at this second step, you'd actually move the die right to the bottom card, making sure that you keep the edges lined up.  You would then need to use your craft knife to cut out the middle section.







So here you can see, by doing this, I've created twice the width of the middle section compared to a standard cut.

I then assembled the cracker in the normal way.

Here's one last look at how I decorated the finished cracker.  Pop over to my blogpost Vintage Lace Christmas Cracker Place Setting, to see how I did this decoration.

You can also download a PDF of this Extending the Tonic Studios Christmas Cracker Die Tutorial.

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