Enjoy the Journey Designer Series Paper from Stampin’ Up! is so beautiful! It uses bright colors to share mountain imagery as well as different repeating shapes and patterns. Every 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack has 12 sheets of paper, 2 each of 6 double-sided designs. And even better, right now you can receive this pack of DSP for FREE with a $50 order during Saleabration!
Embossing, Designer Series Paper, and a large focal image combine to create this simple yet stunning card.
My first card uses just a 2” strip of one pattern of DSP to guide the color selection: I also chose a larger image (from Simply Succulents) to serve as the focal point for this card. I love line image stamps because they’re so versatile – I can stamp them in any color to keep it simple, or I can stamp and then color with Stampin’ Blends. Here, I chose to keep it simple, and I love how it turned out! The fonts used for the sentiment (also from Simply Succulents) are really striking, too.
Purples and blues in this fun fold project create a soothing mountain image.
My second card, the first fun fold for this class, has a totally different color scheme. Using Highland Heather and Starry Sky, along with a purple-tones panel of DSP, created a very soothing card any friend will be happy to receive. (And, purple is my favorite color! So of course this project made me really happy.) While fun folds can often be challenging to make AND difficult to figure out how to open, this fold is very accessible to crafters of any level.
Finally, the fold I’m sharing for my last card is a little more advanced but still totally doable. I CASEd it from Jackie Bolhuis at Klompen Stampers, and I love how you see two really great DSP patterns. Plus the recipient has a little fun opening it as it is a card-within-a-card!
Make sure to head over to my YouTube channel to watch the replay – and subscribe while you’re there so you don’t miss any of my videos!
Good morning! Hope you all had a fabulous weekend, whether you were enjoying the big game or getting in some good crafting!
Hopefully, you’ve had a chance to watch my Live from last Thursday. You can catch the replay here. I shared how to create this inspirational paper crafting sampler using the Sending Support stamp set and the Favored Flowers Designer Series Paper (both FREE items during Saleabration!).
Samplers are a great paper crafting project because they allow you to showcase several different patterns from a stack of Designer Series Paper, and they also make a great gift! This sampler can be used in an 8” x 8” frame, or you can mount it on an additional piece of Designer Series Paper to fit it in a 9” x 9” or 12” x 12” frame.
I especially love using Vellum on my samplers (and cards) to add texture and shapes without adding distracting colors or covering up that Designer Series Paper. We actually have several Vellum options right now – the Vellum Basics leaf pattern is what I used for the top left panel, and for the bottom right panel I embossed a piece of regular Vellum Cardstock using a new (SNEAK PEEK ALERT!) embossing folder that will be available on March 1: the Basics 3D Embossing Folders are a set of three folders that you’ll have to have!
Vellum Basics panel
Vellum Cardstock dry embossed with Basics 3D Embossing Folder
The Dry Brushed Metallic Specialty Designer Series Paper was a great addition to the bottom left panel, as it added a lot of shine, a little complementary color, and some flair. And finally, I brought in the 5/8” Rose Gold and White Ribbon for the bow in the top right panel – it’s a wide ribbon, so tying it in a bow is too bulky for cards. It was just right for this project!
Dry Brushed Metallic Specialty Paper
Rose Gold & White 5/8″ Ribbon
If you’d like to receive the kit to create this sampler yourself, make sure to place your $50 order TODAY in my online store – and please use host code SFMHQYVT at checkout so I know you want the kit! This order will qualify for a free Saleabration item, too! Orders of $75 or more will also receive a pack of the Pastel Adhesive-Backed Sequins as a thank you from me.
Please reach out if you have any questions. Until Thursday, happy stamping!
Die cutting and dry embossing are easy with the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machines!
Have you met the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine? This machine makes die cutting and dry embossing easy, all with one machine. It is a hefty but elegant piece of equipment that will drastically improve your card-making game! It is an investment, but once you have it, you’ll never look back!
Die cutting and dry embossing are easy with the Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machines!
However, there is also a MINI Cut & Emboss Machine! It is the perfect size for taking with you to crafting events, in the RV, or wherever else you like to take your crafting. At half the price of the full-size machine, the Mini C&E provides great value without sacrificing much functionality – the only tools that won’t work are the full-size embossing folders and some of the largest dies.
To have your machine do both die cutting and dry embossing, it includes several plates of different thicknesses. These plates help adapt your cardstock and tools to fit the machine so you successfully create the desired effect with a single pass. Let’s take a look.
What is especially nice about the included plates is that they have instructions printed on them, so you’ll never wonder which piece goes with what! Your combination of plates, cardstock, and tool creates your “sandwich”, which then runs through the machine with the hand crank.
Die cutting: Plate 1, Plate 2, Plate 3, cardstock, die (with cutting edge down), and Plate 3
Dry embossing with a regular embossing folder: Plate 1, Plate 3, Embossing Folder with cardstock, Plate 3
Dry embossing with a 3D embossing folder: Plate 1, 3D Embossing Folder with cardstock, Plate 4
As every machine is slightly different, over time you’ll get to know what your machine needs to be successful. Here are some tips for troubleshooting:
If your sandwich is too thick to crank through the machine, and you’ve already double-checked that you’re using the recommended plates, you may need to try removing Plate 2
If your sandwich goes through without enough pressure, your cardstock won’t be effectively cut/embossed. Sometimes, adding a “shim”, such as another piece of cardstock or even simple printer paper, will be all you need to do. Other times, you may need to swap out plates to make the sandwich thick enough.
If your sandwich is perfect, but it seems like you can’t get the plates to catch in the roller, you may need to EITHER stagger the front edges of the plates OR align them flush with each other.
Sound like there’s not a definite answer?! As I said, you’ll learn what your machine needs, so don’t give up on it! If you’ve tried all these suggestions to no avail, contact your demonstrator or go directly to Stampin’ Up!’s customer support. On the rare occasion that there is something wrong with your machine, it does come with a warranty of 3 years, and one of the many things I love about Stampin’ Up! is that they stand behind their products 100%.
Here are several other tips to help you craft successfully with your Cut & Emboss Machine.
If you find your cardstock cracking when dry embossing, spritz the cardstock lightly with water before putting it into the embossing folder
Run the embossing folder through the machine hinge-first
Make sure the die cutting edge is down on the cardstock
Use washi tape or post-it notes to secure your die to your stamped image so that nothing shifts as you run it through the machine
Dies with straight edges can cause a loud cracking sound if put through the machine improperly; for shapes like a square or rectangle, try putting the die on the plate so that the shape goes through at an angle (this also improves die cutting results). For very detailed dies, you may need to take more than one pass through the machine. In this case, I like to carefully rotate the die and cardstock on the plate after the first pass, as this changes the distribution of pressure on the die and leads to a more defined cut.
Storing your plates rolled halfway into the machine will help minimize the warping/curving that occurs to the clear plates over time.
Don’t wait too long to replace those clear plates! Eventually, clear plates appear almost white from all the cut marks, and these marks can also leave an imprint your cardstock. You may also notice that bits of cardstock stuck in the cuts transfers to the cardstock you are using for your current project.
If you’ve found these tips and tricks helpful, make sure to follow me on YouTube to see more techniques in action!
