How to Create Perfectly Matted Layers Using Nested Dies

Hi Crafters,

Today I want to share a few tips on how to use nested dies, such as Spellbinder dies, to create perfectly matted layers for your greeting cards. The technique is not difficult but you must follow a few basic steps to achieve a good result. The mats you create with this technique will make your focal image really stand out and will give your cards a more finished appearance. I will demonstrate this technique using two mats and then using three mats but you could use as many mats as you like. I hope this tutorial is helpful and that you find many ways to use these matted layers in your crafting.

Enjoy,

Patchwork Pumpkin Card

Hello Again,

Today I am making another fall card project. I gathered up some of my Fall prints and solid colored cardstock scraps and cut them into 1.5 inch wide pieces. I borrowed a pumpkin shaped Spellbinder die from my crafty friend Sharon and made a patchwork pumpkin card. This is really a great seasonal card that can be used for lots of occasions - thank you notes, thinking of you cards, get well cards....

You could also use this patchwork idea to make a patchwork stocking. In fact you could use any of the large outline die shapes to create this style of card. I'd love for you to email me a picture of your creation so I can share it in a future post.

Happy Crafting,

Adorable Paper Purse and Faux Shaker Card

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today is the second day of Scrap-Fest so I have a few more video tutorials to share with you. We will be making and "adorable paper purse" that I am just in love with! We will also be making a "faux shaker card." I hope you enjoy todays projects and decide to give them a try. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Enjoy,

Window Card and Envelope Punch Board Bow and Gift Card

Welcome!

Today is the first day of Scrap-Fest. a two day crop that I help host as a fundraiser for our community sports complex. Scrap-Fest is held in the fall and spring of each year. I create video tutorials to go with some of the projects that I demonstrate at Scrap-Fest and post them on YouTube and on this blog.  Today I will post two of the Fall Scrap-Fest projects.  The first one is for a "window card" and the second is for an Envelope Punch Board project.

Enjoy,

Inlaid Leaf Border Card

Thanks for stopping by. Today I am doing another fall themed card. It really started out as a way to use up scraps from my previous two cards but turned into a really fun project. I used a border die from Poppy Stamps to cut out a leaf border along a layering piece. Then I popped the layer up on a "generous" number of pop dots. Next, I inlaid some fall colored leaves that were cut using the same die. Wow! what a cute card and the best part is, it only took a few minutes to assemble and used up some of those bits and pieces of paper that were lying about. Hope you give this technique a try.

Happy Stamping,

Embossed Background Card

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today I am having fun experimenting with dry embossing to add texture and dimension to a card. I will be using an embossing folder (and my trusty Sizzix Big Shot) as well as a scoring board to make and easy and interesting Autumn card.

Happy Scrapping,

Popsicle Card

I just  realized that never posted my Popsicle card. It is a quick end of summer card that I just couldn't resist sharing. It is also another great way to use the Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch. This card would work great for a kid's party invitation, thank you, or and invitation to a summer get together. It is amazingly easy to make and cold be a great family project.

Enjoy,

Autumn Wreath Card

I love, love, love fall! I like the fact that it is getting a bit cooler, I also love the beautiful fall flowers and the changing leaves. I was so excited to play with my new Autumn Wreath die from Die-namics that I could hardly stand it. This die makes it fun and easy to create stunning Autumn cards. Today I am posting a video tutorial on how I created my card but I understand that many of you won't have this die at home. That is why I have included information on how you could achieve a similar effect without this adorable little die set.

Happy Scrapping,

Clear Plastic Sleeves for Stamp and Die Storage

I recently purchased some clear plastic sleeves for storing my rubber stamps and dies. I was looking for a more space efficient way to store the items but didn't want to spend a lot of money. A friend told me about these great bags that are actually designed for DVD storage. They are large enough to fit the DVD case artwork (14mm) so they will also accommodate the artwork from my Stampin Up stamp sets and they have a simple flap closure at the top. They are similar to the Avery Elle storage bags but are much much less expensive. I got 200 of them for $19.99 and the shipping was included. Pretty awesome huh? I am posting a link to the site below. (Just copy and paste it into your browser) I haven't decided how I am going to approach this project yet. Not sure if I will just try it with my non Stampin Up sets or if I will go "all in." but whatever I decide, I have supplies to get started.

http://www.checkoutstore.com/CPP-Clear-Plastic-Sleeve-with-Flap-Fits-14mm-DVD-p/cppl.htm

Bright and Cheerful Card

I love those bright, shiny enamel dots that are so popular these days but they are so pricey that I rarely used them. Well you can only imagine how excited I was to learn that I can make them myself very inexpensively and best of all I can make sizes and colors that suit my own needs. I searched Youtube for video tutorials and started baking right away! I will post links below to three videos that I found particularly helpful. Since I started making my own dots I have found that there are pony beads available in at least 2 sizes (9mm and 7mm) and both work great but yield slightly different size dots and that Perler beads are available in about a million (ok that might be an exaggeration!) colors. You will have so much fun making your own enamel dots.

Today's card features two different sizes of enamel dots. The smaller yellow ones were made with Perler beads and matched well with the yellow paper I chose. The black enamel dot was made with a 9mm pony bead and is an awesome flower center. The card uses a bright and cheerful color palate and was super quick and easy to assemble. Hope you enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmQEwE_0M98

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BTOK8Quu4k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W4iXlgCtWM

Diorama Card

Today I am posting a fourth project from my "Scrapbook Getaway Weekend." It is called a diorama card. You can fold it completely flat (which is fantastic for mailing) but when you open the card it pops up to reveal a 3-D area where you can place a special image or greeting. It is so much fun to see someones face when they open a card and reveal something that they were not expecting. This card is much easier to construct than you might think so go ahead and give it a try. I am sure it will be one of your new favorites.

Elegant Gold Embossed Card

I hope you have been following along this week as I post one project from my "Scrapbook Getaway Weekend" each day. I had a blast making and sharing these projects with fellow scrappers and now I am excited about sharing them with you.

Foil papers are super trendy and hot right now but I have never had a good way to incorporate them into my card making. I decided to challenge myself to use some of the beautiful foil paper that was in a paper stack that I snagged on sale. (Really, who doesn't love a good sale!) Today's project is the result of that personal challenge and I love the way it combines foil accent paper and heat embossing to make an elegant but easy greeting card.

Waterfall Card

Welcome back! Today I am posting another project that we made at the "Scrapbook Getaway" Weekend. I will show you how to make a simple "Waterfall" card that could easily be sent as a greeting card or as an invitation. This interactive card gets quite a bit of attention because the moving parts always make people curious about how it works. It is really a lot of fun to make, give and receive one of these cute cards.

Baby Dresser Card

I spent the weekend at North Bend State Park. My friend, Michelle and I hosted a "Scrapbook Getaway Weekend" and had a great time! Each day this week I will post a video demonstration of one of the projects we made at the Scrapbook Getaway.

Super Easy Birthday Cake Card

Wow! Yesterday was a busy day at Scrap-Fest. I had a blast sharing new ideas and techniques with my scrappy friends. The project I am sharing now is a fabulous way to use up scraps of paper left over from previous projects and it's a great way to turn out an adorable birthday card in no time at all. After this, you will look at your scrap pile in a whole different light! Enjoy!

Screen Card and Butterfly Thinlet Card

Today I will share a couple of video tutorials with you. One is a super fun and easy technique for using a thin, intricately etched die as a focal image for your card and the other demonstrates a cool way to use a label punch and border punch to make a really unique screen card. Hope you enjoy!

Stand Alone Double Pocket Treat Holder

Hello! If you are participating in Scrap-Fest and want to see all of the latest demos then you have come to the right place. Today and tomorrow I will post the projects that I have demonstrated. You can come back here if you need  measurements or more detailed information about how a project was constructed. The video links will remain active indefinitely so feel free to come back whenever you like. You can also subscribe to this blog or my Youtube channel, crafting4fun247, Hope you enjoy the projects!