How to Create Spellbinder Nestabilities Frames

One of my favourite tools are Spellbinder’s Nestabilities.  My large selection of Nestabilities are neatly organized in CD cases which sit on my table, directly in front of me. When I find my labeller, they will be organized even better.

In trying to come up with a unique idea, I discovered that by placing two Nestabilities on my cutting mat, a unique frame was created.   To take this a step further, you can mix and match all kinds of shapes and sizes.  If that is not enough, you can kick it up a notch by embossing your frame, as seen in my Glitter Embossing tutorial.

My image is a download from Twisted Papers.

Choose the size of Nestabilities that appeal to you.  Do you want to cover the entire image or do you have a small image that needs a larger frame to fill your space?

Place your Nestablities Spellbinders onto your cutting mat. Lay your paper on top, and then place the top plate on top.  Be careful, you don’t want to move your Nestabilities.

This photo shows two widths.  On the left, the inside Nestability that was used was two sizes smaller than the outside Nestability.  On the right, the inside Nestability used was the next size down from the outside Nestability.  Make sense?

To kick it up a notch, you can emboss your frame.  Here I used my Glitter Embossing technique.

Close up view of the Nestabilities frame.

For a full index of my tutorials, visit my Tutorial page

Tutorial Tueday: Layered Fifth Avenue Floral

While cutting the Stampin’ Up Fifth Avenue Floral folder, I got the idea to do some layering.  It’s quick with little fuss, and one I think you might enjoy.

Supplies:  Fifth Avenue Floral folder, ink, sponge, paper cut into three sizes from full rose and smaller

Cut out three circles and then emboss with the Fifth Avenue Floral folder.

Lightly sponge colour onto rose.

Layer rose.

Hope you enjoyed this fun flower.

For a list of tutorials, please see the Tutorial page.

How to Create a Teabag Fold

Teabag folding has been around for a very long time.  It was invented by a woman in Holland who created the Teabag fold by using teabag paper.  There are so many interesting folds.  Today I will show you one of those folds.

My card measures 6 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ because I used 3″ x 3″ squares of paper.  I wanted to work with large pieces of paper for my tutorial for a better visual.  You may want to start working with 3″ x 3″ paper until you get the hang of how the paper folds.  2″ x 2″ is a good size to use for your cards, especially if your card is the A2 size.

Supplies:  Glue Dots and 8 square pieces of paper.

Fold your paper corner to corner in each direction.

Using the folds as your guide, fold your paper so has two wings as seen in this photo.

Lay your paper flat.  Take one of the wings and lift it up.

Fold the wing forward to form a small triangle.

Turn the paper around and create another folded triangle as you did above.

This is what your paper will look like once the two small triangles are made.

The next step is to add a glue dot and place the papers inside each other.  Add a glue dot to the area I am pointing to.

Place one of your folded pieces of paper on an angle like you see on the left.  Take a second piece of paper with the point in a downwards direction.  Slip the second piece of paper downwards ensuring that your paper is tucked behind the small triangle of the paper to the left.

After your eight pieces of paper are attached, this is what the folds will look like.

Finish your card with embellishments.

For a full list of my tutorials, please visit my Tutorial page.

How to Create Distressed Cuttlebug Backgrounds

I am so excited about today’s tutorial.  While playing around with embossing powder this weekend, I developed the Distressed Cuttlebug Background technique which is what I am sharing with you today.

My background was made using the Scrappy Spots technique from the June 2009 issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.  Noah’s Ark, from Our Daily Bread Designs, worked well with this technique because the Ark image came with sentiments which I stamped into the background.  Rainbow is from Odd Bird Planet.  Waves were stamped onto Cling and Scrunch technique from the June 2007 issue of the TJ Newsletter.

Supplies: White or Cream cardstock, clean VersaMark stamp pad, embossing powder, heat gun, sanding block or paper

With a clean VersaMark pad, cover your background completely.

Cover your background with embossing powder.

Use your heat gun to emboss your background.  I now use the heat gun on my ironing board and no longer have to worry about ruining my cutting mat or table.

With your dirty VersaMark pad, cover the entire background once again.

Add embossing powder and emboss with a heat gun.

With a sanding block, lightly rub over top of the background and rub off the embossing powder on the raised area.

That’s it.  Very simply and effective technique.  Have fun!

For a complete list of my tutorials, visit the Tutorial page at the top of my blog.

Tutorial Tuesday: Glitter Embossing (and blog candy)

Have you ever thought that your card was a little plain and wished you could put your finger on what it was that was missing?  I know I do.   Take this card, for example.  Because it is an all ivory confirmation card, I felt it needed something special without adding colourful Prima’s, chipboard, or other popular embellishments.  Instead, I wanted a subtle embellishment so I decided to add a little sparkle to the image by simply adding glitter to my clear embossing powder.  The sheen of the embossing powder adds a professional finish that is sure to delight.

This tutorial shows you how I combined glitter with embossing powder, as well as how I made the sky and the frame surrounding my image.  This lovely background came from the recent February issue of the Technique Junkie Newsletter and is called Mono Dies.

This week Pat Huntoon, owner of the Technique Junkie Newsletter, graciously sponsored this week’s tutorial.  Pat donated her most recent CD that is overflowing with techniques.  You can read all about this prize here.  Simply leave a comment at the end of this post telling me what your favourite technique is.  The technique does not have to be one that is in the newsletter, so you all have an equal opportunity to win.  Your comment will put your name into the draw for CD7.

Stamp out your image and let dry completely.

Mask areas that you do not want to get inked up.

Cut the shape of a cloud out (I used stiff watercolour paper) and rub ink over the top.  Place your template at the bottom of the image, working your way up.

Mix glitter with clear embossing powder.  With a new, or clean VersaMark pad ink up the area that you want to emboss.  A dirty VersaMark pad will dirty your image.

Sprinkle your image with the glitter/embossing mixture.  With a heat gun held away from your image, carefully heat the embossing powder.  It will be difficult to avoid the loss of glitter with this technique, so add more glitter than you think will be necessary.

Measure your image to determine what size the cardstock frame should be.

Keeping the Nestability centered, run the cardstock through the Cuttlebug.  Next, emboss the cardstock frame.

Adhere the image to the frame and finish your card as desired.

I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy little trick.  Don’t forget to leave a comment for your chance to win CD7 of the Technique Junkie Newsletter.

A full index of my tutorials can be found on my Tutorial page above.