AECP-Easy Die Cutting Techniques

 Hello! I am continuing to enjoy my Altenew classes.  I have just completed Easy Die Cutting Techniques.  The instructors make everything look so easy and provide great instructions. The above card uses a die to make an impression.  

I used 110 lb cardstock cut to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 & placed it over the Leaf Frame Die from Altenew. I ran it through my die cut machine following the directions for embossing.  My paper cracked in a few spots and I liked the effect.  If you prefer a smoother look, slightly spritz your cardstock before embossing.

After embossing, I ink blended Bundled Sage & Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide Inks onto the frame, covering the center as I went. I then stamped & cut several blooms & leaves from Altenew's Watercolor Blooms set. I used Pink Pearl & Coral Bliss for my blooms  & a green ink in my stash for the leaves.  After arranging them on my card front, I stamped some tiny dots using another of the stamps in that set in Antique Gold Pigment Ink.  Since this is a pigment ink, it dries slower than dye ink.  Use your heat tool to dry it or just wait on it.  The sentiment is stamped in black using a stamp from Altenew's Wispy Begonia. Of course, I had to add some Wink of Stella to the blooms.  This was adhered to a top folding A2 card base.

I really like the effect of the cracked cardstock on the leaves.  I think it adds a more realistic effect.

Another fantastic technique is to use Vellum for your die cut.  I stamped the outline image from Prettiest Pomander several times onto Vellum & white heat embossed. I colored the back of my stamped pieces using Copic Markers. I did several because I enjoyed this technique & I love to color. My first card uses B95, B97, YG67, YR04 & YR07. I cut the completed image using the matching die. I then used a slightly larger circle die to partially cut the side out of my card front.  I found a matching piece of blue cardstock, cut it slightly smaller than my card front & also partially cut it with the same circle die. This blue piece was then embossed to add a small amount of texture. The sentiment was white heat embossed & is from the Ranunculus stamp set.  I also added a few jewels.  I placed glue dots behind the more embossed areas of my Vellum so that they wouldn't show.

Below is another sample using the same technique, only in more muted tones. I added several layers to my die cut piece for dimension. The pink cardstock was partially embossed.  The sentiment is from the Paint A Flower-Hydrangea.

My last sample for this class is totally different & again, I really enjoyed the process.  It is called the Inlaid Technique.  I used a light grey cardstock & stamped a background using matching ink.  I then stamped the sentiment from the Big World set. All the other pieces for this card are from the same set. I die cut the globe & globe holder from the background piece & adhered it to an A2 card front. I then cut a globe holder from black cardstock & adhered it into my cut out. After stamping & die cutting the globe, I cut 4 more out of white cardstock, glued them all together & then into the cut out globe section of my background cardstock.  To complete the card, I inked around the edges & a little on the background.

This was a great class & I really enjoyed these techniques.