BD and AD - {Dies R Us} {Out of the Box technique} {Spotlight technique}

Hello, sweet crafting friends! 
Thanks for dropping by for a little
Dies R Us Inspiration!

Today's project is all about BD and AD!

that is...

BEFORE die cuts and AFTER die cuts!

It also features the Spotlight technique with dies - 

using the same colors, 

and

the same stamp image, 

to see how differently the same spotlighted images can look 

by simply changing the die cuts.

click below for:
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PINTEREST BOARD
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FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

My cards use the following DRU Products:

                                                       each card has the following for the two "spotlight" elements.

Sue Wilson - Canadian Collection - Montreal (for dainty oval)

Sue Wilson - Noble Dies - Classic Adorned Squares (rose pop up)

Card One (butterfly in corner):

Sue Wilson - Noble Dies - Ornate Pierced Rectangles (for frame)

Memory Box - Cascadia Butterfly Trio and Leavenworth Butterfly Trio

Taylored Expressions - Mini Leaves

Card Two (brown tones):

Spellbinders - Card Creator 5x7 Elegant Labels Four

Sue Wilson - Noble Dies - Classic Adorned Squares (rose pop up)

Sue Wilson - Canadian Collection - Montreal (for dainty oval)

Card Three (dark background):
Spellbinders - Card Creator 5x7 Detailed Scallops

Spellbinders - Mega Nestabilities Curved Rectangles (to create smooth turq panel for stamp)

Dee's Distinctively - Flourish Set Four

Card Four:
A2 Card is the BD (before dies):

none!

The Out-of-the-Box die cut technique was developed for images that might be larger than dies.
"Spotlighting" is an old, old stamping technique.  

Here are links for the Out of the Box Video and a step-by-step pictorial tutorial.

For another of my unusual out of the box cards, please click here. 

For some gorgeous Spotlighting ideas, please visit this Pinterest Board.

Psst! If you are new to Pinterest, please know you don't have to sign up or have a Pinterest account in order to enjoy all the lovely Pin-spiration you'll find there.

An "olden days" style Spotlight card without dies to fancy it up:

To accomplish the Spotlight technique using dies, it is easiest to deliberately choose crooked shapes, or shapes like circles that can be easily rotated on the image. Because the Out-of-the-Box technique on this card uses level dies (as opposed to round), I needed to be sure that the pop up portion would not be crooked when adhered. I'm not always good at "eye-balling", so this is how I solved that issue:

CARD ONE:

How to create the first card's shaped base and frame:

CARD TWO:

Putting the frame and card together:

Using the "negative left overs" on the interior:

CARD THREE:

Changing it up by using a dark background and white embossing powder, but all the same colors:

To create the frame:

Interior using the left over pieces:

Our BEFORE and AFTERS:

Other Products:

• Image: Joy! Crafts Clear Stamp "Floral Flourishes"
• SU White cardstock, Recollections glitter paper
• Tombow Markers
• StazOn Azure Blue, Mermaid Lagoon and Stormy Sky Distress dye inks
• Craft Essentials EFOB0010 Basket Weave embossing folder (Card 3)
• SNS - Detail White EP, Meadow Spark Ultrafine Glitter,
• Inks: Moonlight White Brilliance (distress 3rd card), VersaMark, Mermaid Lagoon, Old Paper, Tea Dye,
• Prima Flowers,
• Paper: SU, Recollections Glitter, Vellum

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Craft Your Passion #307 - Anything Goes 4/19
2. Crafting from the Heart #107 - Anything Goes 4/19
3. Crafty Gals Corner #67 Use Die Cuts or Punches 4/19
4. Dream Valley #129 Anything Goes 4/25
5. Inspiration Destination Challenges "#81 Anything Goes" 4/19
6. Tuesday Throwdown #289 - Use Your Die Cuts 4/19

Stamping Hugs Always,

Nesting Bird {Dies R Us} {Sparkle N Sprinkle} {Digital Tutorial}

Greetings, Crafty Friends!

Welcome to my first post as a new Dies R Us Inspiration Design Team Member!

Have you ever... ?

Have you ever planned a design in your head, and then made one boo-boo after another so that your project ends up completely different?

 THAT'S what happened with this card.

LOTS of boo-boos (giggle)

Dies R Us  is an on-line store carrying a huge assortment of amazing dies by several manufacturers.

I hope you enjoy today's oh-so-ugly project (giggle)...

click below for:
STORE
CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

My card uses the following Dies R Us Products:

• Sue Wilson Pierced Rectangles
• Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large, Floral Ovals, Fleur de Elegance, 
• Spellbinders Elegant Labels 4, Labels 4, Card Creator Grate Effect 
• Memory Box Meridian Border
• Poppy Stamps Grassland Border
• Impression Obsession Grass

TIP:

Change the appearance of die cut "frames" by adding borders to them:

TIP:

It is not necessary to use the dies within a die set to create pretty frames. Change it up by using other dies (like circles, ovals or shapes) rather than what the manufacturer has put together.
This gives you the ability to create frames to suit your project needs:

TIP:

Mark frequently used dies to help expedite your crafting:

The Poppy Stamps Grassland Border does not have a cut edge on the bottom, making it ideal for wide borders of grassy layers, or turned upside down for icicles. It's a long die, but can be cut apart to use in patches (shown in the base of the card). It can also be fussy cut in a shape, shown in the sample below:

TIP:

How to customize the sizes of your panels while keeping the details of the dies (like the piercings on the Sue Wilson set):

Boo Boo Time!

While the stencil for the Fleur de Elegance die is beautifully detailed, I was displeased with the way the ink looked around the decorative portion of the die cut. It was too dark. To fix that, I resorted to glitter. Probably opaque white embossing powder would have been easier:

AFTER:

I used a very large transparent chunky glitter and SNS Waterfall Ultrafine Glitter to "distress" the problem area and hide the ink:

I slightly altered the SNS digital image to place greenery around the sentiment, and add greenery around the bird as well. View my TUTORIAL for altering and masking digital images, including using Apple products.

Other Products:

• Copic Markers: Y15, Y32, E00, E19, E43, E50, E35, E11, B0000, B00, B02, G0000, G00, YG03, YG11
• Images: Sparkle N Sprinkle Nesting Birds (digital set), Nesting Birds (rubber stamp set)
• Chunky Glitter, SNS ultrafine Waterfall glitter
• Embossalicious Regency Swirls by Die'Sire embossing folder
• Ribbons, Brad, Dye-base inks

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. Animal Friends Challenge #37 "Birds" 5/1
2. Card Mania Challenge #79 "Spring" 5/1
3. Craft Your Passion #306 Anything Goes 4/10
4. Crafting for all Seasons - #123 Use Die Cuts/Punches 4/13
5. Crafty Boots Challenges (Mar 28) "Spring is in the Air" 4/10
6. Creative Card Crew #110 Die Cut (list of dies shown above) 4/18
7. Critters and Creatures Linky Party - Ellibelle's Creative Moments (April) "Critters and Creatures 5/2
8. Dies R Us Challenges #46 "Use Scallops" (scallop border at the top and bottom of the top card portion) 4/14
9. Doodle Pantry Challenge #16 Anything Goes 5/1
10. Love to Scrap #75 "The Big Bow Theory" 4/17
11. Ooh La La Creations Challenge #201 "Feathered Friends 4/10
12. Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge "Anything Goes With Wings" 4/13
13. Sisters of Craft (April) Anything Goes 5/1
14. Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges (April) "Anything Goes" 5/1
15. Where the Heart Is Challenge #8 "Sparkle and Bling" (Used lots of chunky and ultrafine glitter on the frame) 5/2
16. Word Art Wednesday #224-225 Anything Goes with an Uplifting Sentiment 4/13
17. The Ribbon Girls Anything Goes as Long as it is a Card 4/17

Thanks for stopping by today, my sweet friends.
hugs,

Empty Bottle - Full Diaper {Our Crafty Corner #8 April}

Hello Sweet Blogging Friends!

Today begins challenge #8 for Our Crafty Corner!

It continues until the end of the month.

OCC is a month-long challenge, beginning the first Monday of each month.

Every month's theme: ANYTHING GOES

This month's sponsors are:

Lacy Sunshine - http://lacysunshine.weebly.com

Bloobel - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BloobelStamps

My card features an image by Stamps By Judith

 
The heart trio is from a Martha Stewart punch called "Heart Seal". They are made with the "left over" portions of the main punch shape shown in the bottom left corner. The tiny heart in the center of the "seal" was made from the edge punch shown on the right:

Now it's your turn to link up to the 
Our Crafty Corner Challenge!

Products Used:

• Images: Stamps By Judith, Studio G
• LifeStyle-Quickutz Nesting Frame #7
• Taylored Expressions Banner Stacklets #1
• Spellbinders Grand Labels One, Grand Decorative Labels One, Carnation Creations, Rose Creations
• Sweet Stamps - Elegant Branch
• Martha Stewart Heart Seal Double Craft Punch, Lace Heart Edge
• EK Success - 1.25" round punch
• Copic Markers, Copic Refills (background)
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Waterfall Ultrafine Glitter G1071, Brushable Glue

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

1. A Beautiful Mess Challenge - #1 Anything Goes 4/29
2. All Sorts Challenges #357 "April Fool/humorous" 4/8
3. Artistic Inspirations - #153 4/11 (sep post)
4. Crafting by Designs - (April) Anything Goes 4/26 
5. Crafting With Friends #17 Anything Goes 4/11
6. Crafting for all Seasons - #123 Use Die Cuts/Punches (listed above in products used) 4/13
7. Crafty Gals Corner - #65 "Anything Goes" 4/6
8. Crafty Friends Challenge #28 Anything Goes 4/7
9. Cut It Up #93 "April Fools! + die cuts" (include a joke or riddle) 4/14
10. Let's Color Saturday Linky Party - Ellibelle's  Creative Moments - Let's Color Linky Party #6 4/9
11. Glitter N Sparkle Challenge #182 "Use a Punch or Die" (please see my list of products used - both were used - thank you) 4/10
12. Inspiration Destination - #79 "Anything Goes" 4/6
13. Little Patch of Crafty Friends #31 "Anything Goes" 4/16 (week aft chal ends
14. QKR Stampede Challenge #185 "Something Funny or Foolish Thoughts 4/6
15. Southern Girls Challenge - (Mar 31) Anything Goes ?

hugs,

Bright and Sunshiny! {Crafts Galore Encore - April} {Beccy's Place}

Hello, sweet crafting friends!

Welcome to Crafts Galore Encore's April Challenge!

The Rules to the Challenge are so easy! 

Just create your project (using any crafting medium) according to this month's theme with up to 3 entries, and link your blog posts directly to the linky on the CGE Challenge site! That's it!

This month's challenge theme is oh-so-easy! 

"Anything Goes".

Our Sponsor this month is artist Beccy Muir of Beccy's Place.
She has a wonderful assortment of easy-to-use digital images and digital papers
 available in her on-line store.
Her images are available in black and white OR pre-colored.
Both options come to you when you purchase at her store.
In addition, Beccy has rubber stamp sets available through Sparkle N Sprinkle.

My cards utilize the Beautiful Friendship set.

Beautiful Friendship digital set (on right), Beautiful Friendship Rubber Stamp set (on left)

It was a pleasure using Copic Markers on this pretty flower:

I cut out some extra greenery to jazz up the sentiment.
Green vellum brings out just a hint of the color in the leaves.
Because of the golden strip and lace panel, a little TLC was needed to secure the circle.
A double layer of dimension tape was put on the top back of the circular panel,
and wet glue as used on top of the lace for the bottom portion of the circle,
so it is all one "level" on the card:

Sparkle N Sprinkle Chunky White Enamel with pinches of Dandy Dandelion Glittery Embossing Powder were heat set from under the dry embossed panel. I'm sorry the photos don't capture it well. It does not look so "splotchy" in real life.

Under the white circular panel, is a round gold panel. The edges of the gold circle were painted with SNS Sunny Daze Glitter for sparkle. Once the glitter dried, orange marmalade distress ink was utilized on top of the glitter to give it a shaded appearance.

Tip:
I used to create pretty interiors to cards, but with time constraints and postage rates, I have neglected that part of my cards. Recently, I began using the negative portions of die cuts to create a bit of visual interest on the inside of my cards. The effect is not as pretty as using an entire sheet of paper, but it's still a fun element, and doesn't always use additional product.

In this case, I colored extra portions of the image for the interior:

Now it's your turn to play!

Crafts Galore Encore Challenges


And for my blogging buddies, may I share something from Scott Stabile?

Hope it touches one person's heart.

Products Used:

• Image: Beccy's Beautiful Friendship digital set, Beautiful Friendship Rubber Stamp set
• Spellbinders: Classic Circles, Decorative Elements Circles S4-344, Classic Scallop Ovals and Classic Ovals, Foliage, Bitty Blossoms, Mega Curved Rectangles, Grand Big Scallop Circle, Grand Circle
• Sue Wilson Dandelion Clocks, 
• Sparkle N Sprinkle: Sunny Daze Glitter, Dandy Dandelion EP, Chunky White Embossing Enamel, Brushable Glue, Beautiful Friendship Rubber Stamp set
• Scrapy Land Embossing Folder - Embossalicious Rose Vine by Die'sire
• Martha Stewart Daisy Edge Punch
• Ribbon, Lace, Dye Base inks, VersaMark, Adhesive Pearls, Lace, Cheese Cloth

Challenges I'd like to play in Please:

1. Petal Lu Challenge Blog - #11 Anything Goes P15 (1) (sep post on 1st)
2. Bastel-TraumTinker Dream - SCRAPBOOK CARDMAKING - #39 Nature Garden/Garden P15 (1)
3. 613 Avenue Create Challenges - #169 Anything Goes with no optional Twist!  4/3
4. Come and Get It Challenges (Mar 27) "In the Garden" 4/3
5. Dragonfly Journeys #50 "Good As Gold" 4/3
6. One Stitch At A Time #258 Embossing - used 2 types of embossing powder and Embossing Folder Embossalicious Rose Vine by Die'sire 4/3 (sep post)
7. Crafty Friends #28 Anything Goes 4/8 (w/new chal)
8. Fairy Tale Challenge  #140 Spring Cards  4/12
9. Through the Craft Room Door (Mar 29-Apr 4) "Anything Goes" 4/6 (sep post)
10. Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenges (April) "Anything Goes" 5/1
11. Beccy's Place *New Challenge* (Apr) "Anything Goes with a Beccy Muir Image" 5/1
12. Eclectic Ellapu (April) "Spring Flowers"5/1
13. Cards for Gals - #19 Springtime 4/13
14. Dies R Us Challenge - #46 Scallops 4/13 (used SB Classic Scallop Ovals in green vellum behind sentiment and Big Scallop Ovals in green vellum behind main image)
15. Craft-Dee-BowZ - (April) Anything Goes with Handmade Bow 5/1
16. Really Reasonable Ribbon #138 "Flowers with Ribbon or Trim" 4/13
17. Let's Color Saturday Linky Party - Ellibelle's  Creative Moments - Let's Color Linky Party #6 4/8

Wishing you a lovely week,