Our lovely Playmate Linby (real name Lynn - and one of my greatest enablers, in the book world, as well as crafting) was one of my picks from Challenge #424 - and I couldn't get her gorgeous cards out of my head. To see Linby's cards - please hop over HERE. So worth a look.
It's such a super way to use up snippets and I already had one of the shadow frame dies to hand. Almost got rid of it the other week as I couldn't see beyond using the fairly repetitive and rather ordinary little decorative dies which it came with - what a numpty!
Plus, a while ago I was whining on here about being sent the wrong Christmas 'Snowflakes range' paper pad by Amazon, made by Crafters Companion. Basically it had the incorrect bar coded label on the back so someone, somewhere, dropped a clanger. Instead of being nicely patterned all over, the designs have lots of 'scenes' featuring woodland animals and Christmas images in the corners - plus loads of matching die cuts. I kept it, as we were still pretty much locked down at the time, and the other day, musing over Lynn's cards, I realised that my shadow box frame die does have huge potential after all!
Take a peek - cute and such fun to make:
I used:
- 5.5" x 4.25" white card blank, tent style using 300gsm white card stock from Hobbycraft
- more of the same card stock to die cut a shadow box frame - using the Creative Expressions 'Christmas Shadow Box' die set
- then decided how to fill the apertures, using papers from the 'wrong' pad (which is actually called 'Watercolour Christmas'), I used one single 6 x 6" sheet and picked out then die cut the pieces I wanted, using the separate straight edged shapes you have to use to cut out the apertures in the main frame (very handy!)
- glued the frame onto the card front
- glued the chosen images and pieces from the paper in place
- didn't add a sentiment - and called it done!
It sounds quicker than it was, but having done it twice over (yup, I made two the same whilst at it, gotta keep the Christmas card numbers growing) next time will be even easier, and faster, I hope. Now want to make even more and still have the dies and paper pad beside me here! I found that using the 'shadow box die itself was the really tricky part - holding all those pieces to also cut the straight edges in place with removable tape to do the die cutting, sheesh!
It was a real joy to use my Gemini and it cuts like a knife through butter - really effortlessly. I've read loads of hints and tips and can really recommend that you do check out Jennifer McGuire if you have issues with cutting plates. Be it be on any machine really, but she has delved deeply into the Gemini and come up with some great solutions. Watch here and be impressed, I am! The video covers avoiding as well as fixing warped plates for all machines and then at the end, a great idea for an unconventional 'cutting sandwich' for Gemini machine owners. I'm already onboard!
Plus, I snapped up a Cuttlebug on eBay the other day - for my thick Sizzix dies and as a back up. Bargain!
Cheers all round on the die cutting front!
Lovely card, this die and your mini scenes pair perfectly! Sometimes wrong can turn out to be just right.
ReplyDeleteI think this is an excellent way of using up some papers which have been gathering dust and in your case these wrongly sent ones Di, and they look great behind the frame. I have a Gemini and my plates are quite warped now so will give this boiling water a try. I could not quite understand the idea of adding a green double sided plate to the ordinary cutting plate and doubling up on the other plate for on top too as I would have thought the sandwich would be too thick to go through the machine, although you are not using the thinner sandwich plate. Maybe I have not understood it right. x
ReplyDeleteYou take away two plates not one. The thinner sandwich plate and the magnetic shim aren't used. I have the green plates here and will have a play and report back Pat! x
DeleteA super Christmas card and you've made great use of the frame die with your 'wrong' patterned papers. Pleased to hear you are enjoying using the Gemini.
ReplyDeleteSuper looking card Di. So pleased you were able to use the papers that were sent out wrongly. Glad you could make use of the shadow box die after all. Sounds like you’re sorted on the die cutting front now xxx
ReplyDeleteLove it Di. Might just have to go shopping- again!
ReplyDeleteOh Di this card is so lovely the frame is a brilliant idea with the smaller pictures and gorgeous images used your gain someone else’s lost the papers are stunning xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful card Di and also a great video on the warped plates and solutions too.
ReplyDeleteSue xx
Hi Di this is a gorgeous card. I love it. Take care. Hugs Jackie
ReplyDeleteA fabulous Christmas card and the images are really sweet, probably a good mistake by Amazon for you x
ReplyDeleteI agree Lynn is very inventive and your card looks great. I am so glad you have found a solution for a great Christmas card that uses up existing stash. always a bonus xx
ReplyDeleteAH! The famous Di takes on the famous Lynn and I love it. Your card is Super Di, love the die and the images and a "fortunate" mistake by Amazon comes out on top. Love it. Thanks for the links, I'm off to take a look at the Gemini video, still wondering if I should give up my ancient Grand Calibur?
ReplyDeleteLovely card Di.
Faith x
Brilliant! I too had a wrong pad for mine - but it was my own mistake lol. You've gone one better than me as I put the pieces behind the die rather than inlay them so I'll have a go your way next time.
ReplyDeleteI was a little worried that I could end up with a fine line of the backing card showing, but the die set that I (and you as well of course) used seems to have less 'chunky' cutting lines if that makes sense! Huge thanks for the inspiration! Di xx
DeleteFabulous "Lynn technique" for your card Di, really effective with that cute paper! I had to try it! :D
ReplyDeleteHugs and Happy Easter!
Thanks Di and Lynn...finally found my frame die like yours and will use it. Love all your cards.
ReplyDeleteA great way to use the shadow box die, beautiful card. xx
ReplyDeleteAdorable card Di!! Isn't it great when things seem to fall into place. Linby's inspirational card did the trick and then you had the perfect die-cut frame and some lovely winter images to fill the openings. Awesome! I will forward you another video about die-cutting that was sent to me from Christine Alexander. It's very helpful, especially as the sandwich for the Gemini is pretty thick and it does take time for it to work it's way through. I've had my Gemini Jr. for a couple of years now and it was getting harder to get the rollers to grab the plates. The video helped me to see that less is more when it comes to the layering of plates and inserts. xx
ReplyDeleteOh my, your CASed card is as beautiful as the original Di! Happy accident about the Amazon papers and I'm so happy that you didn't get rid of this die. This is the cutest, most beautiful Christmas card! And those papers are perfect for your die, love this idea! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDelete