The House That Stamps Built; Project of the week: 8-3-15

Hello stampers!  It’s my week for The House that Stamps Built project of the week!  Today I’d like to bring you some tips and techniques for ways to create frames using your dies.

For this project the supplies I used are:

• Spellbinders Label Die #4 – you may use any die you wish
• Die Cutting Machine, any
• Pattern Paper
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Repeat Impressions Stamps of your choice, I used: Happiness 5806-H

Spellbinders Label #4

Framing your project  using dies will help your project pop.  One of the easiest ways to create a frame with your dies is to dry emboss it.  So many of us forget that a majority of our dies can be embossed to create a beautiful yet subtle frame around it.

To accomplish this, after you have cut out your die, turn it over onto your cutting machine platform, then put a rubber mat over the top and run it through again.  You normally have to change your platform because the rubber matt is thick, but that’s easy enough.

Another way to create a frame with your dies is with ink.  After you cut out your image, keep it in the die.  Using a distress tool, lightly apply ink in circles around the edges.  My favorite color to use is Antique Linen Distress Ink but this happens to be Simon Says Stamp Fog ink.

Once you remove the die you have a perfect white edge around your image that gives great definition.

The next way to create a frame was born out of frustration at wanting a frame smaller than the next available sized die.  To solve this, choose your pattern paper and turn it over onto the back side. 

Then trace the image with pencil around the outside edge of the die.

Once you’ve traced the die on the backside of your paper, fussy cut it out. If you want the frame wider, then cut along the outside of the frame line.  If you prefer it more narrow, fussy cut along the inside of your line.

Here is the example of cutting on the outside of the pencil line.

Another way to create a frame is by using two dies at once.  This can be done with any of your dies to create a thin frame that is great to use for shaker cards, popped up, or just to highlight your image.  For the first example, I used the die I cut my image with and the next larger one.  In this example I put the tape on the cutting blade side but it doesn’t really matter.

Here is the frame cut out.

Here is the frame nested on the sentiment.  To adhere this you can either pop it up or normally I turn it over and scotch tape it to the image for an inlayed look.

The next way to use this technique is by using the die you cut your sentiment out with and the one smaller instead of the one larger.  It’s too small for my image, but would be a nice look popped up if your image was a better fit.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed my tips and techniques for creating a few different types of frames using your dies. We’d love it if you joined us in our weekly challenge here at The House That Stamps Built for a chance to win a $25.00 gift certificate.

I’ll leave you with my final project using Repeat Impressions “Happiness 5806-H” using distress ink and fussy cut pattern paper frames. The die I used to cut out the background is Simon Says Stamp and the rectangle panel across the card is a My Favorite Things die.

I wish you a wonderful rest of the week and hope I’ll see some of your frames soon!

The Crafty Nurse

 

Cards in Envy – Birthday Party Challenge

Hello Friends!  It’s Monday morning and time for a new Cards in Envy challenge. Today we are having a PARTY!!!  A “birthday party” to be more specific. You have until Sunday, August 16th to submit your entry and as our name states, your card must fit nicely in a standard sized A2 envelope.  That means no big lumps, bumps, or large embellishments.

The first stamp that came to mind when I saw this theme was “The Whole Herd” from My Favorite Things.  I saw a great video by Jennifer McGuire who showed “dot” coloring and used this stamp set for her example.  I’ll warn you – this technique can be time consuming but the effect reminds me of a party.

I also did a lot of masking for this card.  Remember, always stamp the images you want in the front first.  So for this card I stamped the cow, the chicken and the pig, then masked those off and continued stamping. I also required a mask for the horse and haystack.  My pattern paper is from Lily Bee called, Handmade.

We sure hope you’ll join the party!  We can’t wait to see your cards. Have fun!