Cuttlebug Tutorial for making a 14cm x 14cm card

I'm unable to post today, but thought that some new Cuttlers might be interested in this post from last February 2009, which is really useful for a larger card. 

Hi Cuttlers, hope you have had a good week and are ready to come a cuttling with me.
This week I'm concentrating on making a 14cm x 14cm square card using the Swiss Dots folder. I have been using this technique for some time and I have seen others using similar methods with which some of you might be familiar, but this is the way I discovered while messing around with my buggy pal. It works for me and I hope will work for you - it is a basic card, but even basic can look stunning by a few bits and pieces from your stash - as I hope you'll agree when you reach my card!

You will need

A4 cardstock
Scoreboard and pen
Swiss Dots folder



Cut your card to make a 14cm x 14cm card and score centre fold

(or 5.3/4" x 5.3/4" if you are working in inches)








Now position your folder right up to the centre fold and emboss
You will notice that I do not wrap the card round the folder - I feed it through open.
This way you will be able to position the folder better.





The next step is to reposition the folder carefully matching
the pattern. You will find that in order to match the pattern on
the folder some of the dots from the first emboss will be overlapped.
No problem. Emboss again.




This is what will happen

Your will have a row of missing dots. No problem.





Turn the card to the back and with your pen push the row of dots through to the front.





You will see that the pattern has reappeared! This will be your finished card.









To complete your card the possibilities are endless, but this is what I used next.

Scoreboard, Round edge punch, Nesties labels, Harmony Alphabet, ribbon and gems, and Dufex decoupage.










I scored two lines across the bottom of the card and rounded the
corners of the card







Cut two Nesties labels and letters.

Made an decoupage embellishment, added ribbon and gems








My finished card




From a basic card I now have a pretty and elegant card. Hope you like it!





If you have any messages, or problems, please leave a comment. In the meantime, wishing you happy cuttling. See you next week.

Provocraft - Cuttlebug Vintage Corners on Tippy Thursday

A couple of days ago I posted a picture on what I had done with one of the dies from the Vintage Corner set.  I had a reply from Nessie saying she also had this set of dies and I like me had used the corners but wondered what to do with this one.....

In the end she cut it in half to use as a corner, so.....

this is what you will get.  Nice one Nessie!

this is a stamp from Elusive Images that I have been playing with.  It lacked something?!?!?

So instead of cutting the die in 2, I cut it into 4 and left and bits in!

I like it now - the corners finish the picture nicely and

if you use DST (double sided tape) on the back of the card - they are easy to attach.

The Sandwich for Provocraft dies that will help stop your plates from bending is:

  A /B / die cut face up / card / B

Whilst editing my picture I thought I've have a play with the hue control.   What do you think of this?

 

I have a tendency to dither over what colours to use on an image......I think this could be  a good way of "making my mind up" for the next time I use this beautiful stamp.  Have you tried this?

Have a great day!

Cuttlebug Border Folders

My tutorial this morning is based on a freebie from a friend...

I just love this image but, sorry before anyone asks, I forgotten the maker! 

When I get something new, I'm like a child....I want to play....colouring the image was not a problem, nor chosing the background paper (for a change), it was how to maintain my resolve that this blog would always show or use some aspect of the Cuttlebug, die-cutting and embossing????  I'd no embossing folder that was suitable or that reflected the flower pattern on the image.  The image did not lend itself to any die shape, but after searching through my folders I came across these....

border folders.  I wonder how many of you like me have put them at the back of the cupboard?  Did you use them once, trice or never?

So, here's my  image coloured with Promarkers and DI's mounted on card coloured with DI's and embossed with the border. I have never used border folders this way, and also this gives me the opportunity to point any new Cuttlers that are having difficulties with the folders making lines, to a tutorial I did on this subject last year and which may have got shoved to the back of the cupboard like my folders!

To finish my card I stamped a swirl pattern on the already swirly paper - add a ribbon - and a few flowers...

 and here it is completed!

Thanks for dropping by, hope your day goes well and that you find something useful in the Cupboard.

Cuttlebug - Top Tip of 2009 - Die Cutting, Embossing, Stencilling with Nestabilities

Before I share with you my top tip of 2009, I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. 2010 - where will it take us with our crafting?

In January 2009 when I started this blog I had no idea or plans. I was encouraged by blog mates that this was the way to go! So go I did, and look where it got me! 297 fellow lovers of the Bug, and over 100,000 visits from across the world. I know I love my Bug, but I had no idea that there were so many of you out there feeling the same. I also did not realise that so many owners of this little Green Bug were looking for help and inspiration!

I hope that you have found a place where you can visit and browse at leisure, and also a place where you feel able to ask questions and share your own ideas and experiences.

Now for the tip that I consider to be the best idea I had in 2009. This simple way of stencilling and embossing is so useful. You do not need a Tan Embossing Mat to emboss the edges of many of your die cuts - all you need is an embossing pen. Like most good ideas - simple when you know.

From my Tutorial 20th April 2009

"Hi Cuttlers, another week - another subject - Stencilling. I'm adding this now because it follows on so nicely from the last two tutorials. Thank you Heather for your suggestion and contribution to make this an interesting and enlightening subject. Even though it says stencilling on the Nestability package, I had not thought or tried it before, but I have now and will again! Obviously, I only read what I want to see! How about you??? Have you tried this?

You will need: a stamp, card and a Nestie Die

First stamp your image or sentiment on the card, place the die over the image and cut as usual.
Sandwich: A; B; Card; Nestie cut side down; C plate


Having cut your shape, emboss. If you have not done this before - check here on last week's tutorial.


Leave the card inside the die - now you can stencil a colour(s) round your image. This will leave a white edge which gives more definition to the image - the more colour - the more dramatic the effect will be!

I used chalk and prisma pencils, but you could also use ink. I must say I found it easier with chalk, especially if you have a rubber handy!!!


Now this has to be my tip of the week! Discovered completely by a mishap embossing when not adding enough pressure by too few shims, left only a faint impression.


With the card inside the die with the cut side up image face dwn, run an embossing tool round the edge of the inside rim of the die as shown

This is what happened - a remarkably clear impression. To test this out I used a heavy weight card and ......was very pleased with the result. Let's call this a "Cheats guide to embossing".
The cuttlebug embossed and the hand embossed - can you tell?

As I said before the stencilling idea was passed on to me by my Cuttlebug Mate Heather. If you don't know Rica you should! Her crafting is exceptional. Her blog outstanding for inspiration and creativity, as you can see from a glimse at these cards where she has used chalk and ink to highlight the main image. Thanks Heather for sharing your work. "


 
It's a long post today, but I felt sure you would like to read the tutorial in full. As I said - a simple idea discovered by accident, but what an accident it turned out to be! My Cheat's Guide to Embossing just has to be No 1 Tip of 2009!

Okay 2010 - now I'm ready to move on. Thinking cap on...what's next????

Tippy Thursday - Nellie Snellen and tips on how to avoid lines

Hi, Today I'm going back to my TT. (tippy Thursday) post. I started this post wayback to help  new and experienced Cuttlebug users overcome promblems and also to learn of new ways of using the Bug. In this post I also pass on info on new products, tips and techniques that I heard about and think will be interesting to fellow crafters. I'm also pleased to pass on your tips and comments, so if you have something you would like to share...just let me know...and it will be done!

Today I thought I would show you a few pics of the new Nellie Snellen Frame Dies.

I have used the Rectangle - this gives a very fancy die-cut frame,

but you could also be used to the die to make a mat. Indeed, you could die-cut a mat, then a frame to fit over the top, add your embellisment inside the frame and you have a super topper!  I have just thought of this and will have a go later and see how it turns out!!!

Recently, I received a query from Jo (Kinglake) on how I avoided join-up folder lines when using a folder to make a second embossing on a card..   The way I overcome this problem is to make a Modifying Folder Pad (Check out the tutuorials  under Labels on MFP on the side bar).  The pad is slightly smaller than the folder so that no pressure is put on the edges of the folders when embossing. Bit a bit of a nuisance to do, but once done you can save for future use and the bonus is NO LINES!  This was a technique that I developed  back in Feb/March because I hate line marks, so if you go back you will see that you can utilise this method for borders, or for making borders with the 2 x 2 folders.  Hope this helps Jo. 

Now I'm off to see if I can make another card using the NS frames and mat?!?!? Have a good day and thanks for dropping by.

PS: If you are interested in the NS dies - check out my supplier on the side bar. I can recommend this lady as a fair, competent and reliable trader.

Cuttlebug folders and no lines!

I have received a number of pm's about how I managed to acheive the image of two champ glasses without any lines in my last tutorial.

I'm afraid I assumed all had read the first post I did in January "How to use your border folders in your bug". Sorry! If you check out the side bar under labels you will find it there. This tutorial was based on the longer border sets, the image in question was from the small wedding folder but the method is the same. I could never manage to emboss these folders without lines until I made a small pad (which I now call a MFP - see glossary) which is slightly smaller than the folder itself. Now it works a treat! Why not try it yourself if you are having problems with lines, but first, please read the original post. Before you use a MFP you need to understand the sandwich. Hope this helps.

Partial cuttlebug embossing with my modifying folder pad

Cuttlebug folders are great, but sometimes limiting - so to do something different ... how about trying this

You will need

Cardstock to make a 6 x 4 card
Pieces of card and paper
Stylized Flower Folder
Glue and your bug


Start by taking a piece of spare card or paper to fit folder and emboss as usual. Then cut into two peices - carefully following between the outlines of the pattern.



You now have two patterns.

I have made both thicker by glueing together several pieces of card to the same thickness as the B Plate, because this will be used instead of your second B plate.
You have now made a MODIFYING FOLDER PAD - which I shall call MFP.
Caution - never force through the machine, best to start thin and work up. (You could always use a extra shim if your MFP is not thick enough).


Today I will work with the smaller MFP, but don't throw away the other because you will need it for the second part of this project.

Place your card into the folder to the centre scored line. NB: I have used the folder upside down - see the Cuttlebug logo and the card is not wrapped round the folder.



Place your MFP over the pattern to be embossed.


The sandwich would be: A-B-folder and card - MFP.




Carefully run through the bug

You will have made this

You could stop here because this would make a simple, but elegant card for that difficult occasion when you want to send a message but are not sure what to make or say.

I have taken it further by re-inserting the card into the folder in a different way.

Again place your MFP in line with the pattern and emboss again.


So from the folder and MFP

You now have an embossed card

I have finished the card with a few gems, butterflies and a scalloped oval nestie tag - and it's different!

If you like this card, I hope you will join me on Monday when I will show you how to use the remaining piece of the pattern.

Thanks for dropping by - please let me know what you think of this idea and if it works for you.