ThePowerOfACard: Great Tips for Using the Everyday Details Dies

I love die sets - something you already know if you've followed me for any length of time. The Everyday Details dies are part of a bundle and can be found on page 28 of the Jan-April Mini Catalog, but really, they are fantastic stand-alone dies. They are super for sentiments of a variety of sizes, can be used to make frames, and can even be embellished with embroidery floss/baker's twine/linen thread or brads!

I have decided not to make a card in this week's video in favor of showing you some great tips and a large variety of sample cards. In the list of products below, I have not included all the supplies, but rather the products that are the main focus. If you need any details about the cards, please feel free to reach out to me via comments in the video, or email.

Let's start by looking at the dies. There are 11 dies in the set and two of them do double duty. By that I mean that they cut a frame (like the largest rectangle on the top right and the square with circle on the left) and a shape (see below the frame and to the right of the square) at the same time. Most of the shapes are obviously designed for sentiments and all but the smallest have holes punched out around the perimeter. There are three additional dies that simply cut out a pattern of dots. On my diagram, I have included the measurements as a reference.

The first tip I want to share is cutting additional sizes of frames by cutting with multiple dies at the same time. If you take all three of the largest rectangles or circles and cut them at once (I use low tack tape to center and hold them in place), you will get two smaller sized rectangular frames and two circle frames with the largest having a double row of dots.

My first two cards use the dies in a standard way - as a sentiment, a place holder for popped up card elements, and as a frame. The card with the Cutest Cows Bundle was one I designed for a card swap I participated in. I loved pairing the Rock & Roll DSP with the Angus cow for this adorable birthday card. The Fluffiest Friends Bundle and Softly Said stamp set were used in the second card. I also use the Most Adored DSP pack (one of the Sale-A-Bration (SAB) free selections!). It is a great reminder that it is OK to stamp on the patterned paper! I also love the heart the beaver is holding - it fits so well with the sentiment!

Now it's time to look at some creative ways you can embellish the pieces cut from the dies. The first is a Mother's Day card using the largest circle and the Stippled Roses Bundle. I used the In-Color Baker's Twine to stitch the shape. At first, I tried just threading the twine but it soon became too frayed. Then I tried adding some tape around the end, but that didn't work very well either. Then I got out a tapestry needle (like those used in cross stitch) and that was the perfect solution! The second card features the Softly Sophisticated Bundle (another SAB free selection) and linen thread. Shout out to Dena Rekow for the inspiration behind this card. Adding embroidery floss, baker's twine, linen thread, thin metallic yarns, or any other similar materials you may have adds both texture and interest. The holes in the shapes lend themselves perfectly to this embellishment! And just think - wouldn't this be fun for your kids to help you do?

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com Karen Sliwinski ©Stampin’ Up!

Another way to add texture and take advantage of the hole is to use brads as you see in this music themed birthday card. Brads used to be very popular years ago and I still have a selection from Stampin' Up! that are long since retired. We do have Black and White Brads in the annual catalog, so if you don't have any, you can certainly get some. A few tips for using them - firstly, it is best to mat the die with paper. The reason for this is because when you open up the flaps of the brad, they will show beyond the edge of the die cut piece. The second tip is to use your Take Your Pick tool to pierce through the paper mat in the places where you want to add the brads. Depending on the size of your brads, you could have lots of fun creating additional designs along the edges of these shapes!

My next sample is an elegant congratulations card in gold and white. I used the double dots frame in Gold Foil (using the tip where I die cut all three circles at the same time). I embossed my sentiment in gold and decorated the frame with flower/leaves cut from the Nature's Sweetness DSP and the Lovely & Sweet Bundle. I added a few Iridescent Foil Gems as the final touch. What a lovely card for a wedding, retirement, welcoming a new family member or any special occasion!

My next two cards feature the large X patterned die. In the first card, I used it to make a lovely background on "solid" colored DSP. The paper from the Meandering Meadows DSP pack isn't technically a solid color, but practically speaking it is so and is perfect for repeating the cuts over the entire piece of paper. I started by placing the die along the top edge and just moving it down after each cut. The Thoughtful Expressions Bundle was used to complete the remainder of the card. The Father's Day card features the Trusty Tools Bundle. Here, I used the die on a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock. After the first cut, I offset the die down and to the right to make second cut. Then the third cut was up and to the right. This gives another look to the dots. After I was finished cutting, I used a blending brush to add some Pecan Pie ink to the piece.

My last two cards feature the two think strips of X shaped dots. In the catalog, the image looks like there is one long and thin die, but as you see from my display of all the dies, there are actually two of them. The one on the left features the Softly Stippled DSP (yet another Free SAB choice) and the Baker's Twine Three Color Pack. I cut a 12" strip of DSP that was slightly less than a 1/2" width and lined up the two dies to make a continuous row of dots. I used this as a border for my patterned paper, as well as on the inside of the card. The second card has a rectangular sentiment where the two dies just cut a decorative border. I matted this and added it on top of the Sunny Days DSP (yes, another free SAB choice). It elevates this quick and very simple card with very little effort!

There you have it! The Everyday Details Dies are a wonderful addition to my craft room and I hope I have inspired you to get them and use them in a variety of ways! Don't forget - Sale-A-Bration lasts until the end of February and as you can see from many of my projects, there are many great choices of items you can get for Free with every $50 purchase you make. Like I always say, SAB is the best time of the year!

Karen

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