extending dies and folders

extending dies and folders

Have you ever wanted to emboss and die cut something but needed a larger size? Did you know there is a simple trick to extend your dies and embossing folders? In today’s blog post, I will teach you these simple tricks to extend your dies and folders to use on slim line cards and beyond.

Today’s card is a slim line card and it measures 7 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored on the 7 1/2″ side in half at 3 3/4″. If you want to emboss a layer to fit the entire length of the card you need an embossing folder that is 8 1/2″ long, right? Wrong – you just need an embossing folder that has a design that will be easy to match up. Our embossing folders are 4 1/2″ x 6″ long so you need to run it through twice.
Have you ever found the perfect sentiment for the card but the die you want to use isn’t long enough – no worries there is a way around that problem too!

Measurements:
BASE: Basic White 7 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
scored at 3 3/4″ on the 7 1/2″ side
Basic Black layer: 2″ x 8 1/2″
Scraps of the 2022-2024 In Colors for die cutting

Place your black layer in an embossing folder that has a pattern that is not to tight and complex. I choose the dots from the Basics 3D embossing folders pack, this pattern is easy to match up, the dots fit easily back into the surrounding pattern and match up to make a continuous pattern sampling. Run through the Stampin’ Cut and emboss machine and remove from the folder.
Flip the layer and place the last full dotted line in the folder matching the dots up. You will fill the embossed paper slip into the pattern of the embossing folder and “lock” into place. Place the unembossed side inside the folder and run that side through the machine in the folder.
Cut the floral dies from the Timeless Arrangements die set out of the 2022-2024 In Colors Collection: Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party, Tahitian Tide, Orchid Oasis and Starry Sky card stocks. Adhere them in a pleasing pattern to the right hand underside of the Basic Black embossed piece.
To extend a die, place the die on the paper and add the top cutting plate to lie over 3/4 of the die, leaving the end of the die exposed and not under the cutting plate. Run this portion under the top cutting plate through the machine.
Stamp the desired sentiment onto the die cut space – this allows you to see how long the extend die cut needs to be.
Line up the die and place the top cutting plate only over the bottom of the die.
So you can extend most dies to accommodate the space within!
Add a few more Timeless Arrangements dies to the left hand side of the sentiment piece.
Adhere using Stampin’ Mini Dimensionals to the card front center. Add three Brass Butterflies to the card front and this card is complete!

Try to extend some of your embossing folders and dies next time you stamp and go create some art of your very own – one stamp at a time!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

heartfelt hexagon window card

heartfelt hexagon window card

Today will be a very fun day and this is one of the fun projects you will be able to do if you are local and coming to visit me between 1-3pm at my New Catalog Open House. This bundle was made available early on-line because it was used in an on-line stamping day but it is one of the new bundles available in the January to April 2024 Mini Catalog! (and there is a FREE set you can earn during Sale-a-bration that coordinates with the punch HOW FUN IS THAT!!)
One of the best things I like about punches is that they can do so many fun things and cutting out a peek through window is one of those things and the one use I will be highlighting in this blog post!

Measurements:
Orchid Oasis: 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ scored at 4 1/4″
1/2″ strips of:
Bubble Bath
Flirty Flamingo
Lemon Lime Twist
Coastal Cabana
Orchid Oasis
Basic White layer: 4″ x 5 1/4″ embossed and
punched

Slide the Hexagon punch onto the Basic White layer from the top of the 4 1/4″ side and punch out the hexagon shape.
Place the punched layer into the Painted Posies 3D embossing folder and emboss the image around the punched window.
Cut at least one 1/2″ strip of each of the colored cardstock in Bubble Bath, Flirty Flamingo, Lemon Lime Twist, Coastal Cabana, and Orchid Oasis.
Place adhesive closely around the punched out window on the back side.
Layer one strip butting up next to the next strip and lay down onto the adhesive above and below the punched out window opening.

Place the Basic White layer embossing side up on a Stampin’ Pierce mat and stamp in Tuxedo Black Memento ink, one of the sentiments from the Heartfelt Hexagon Bundle. Press firmly as you are stamping on multiple pieces of cardstock layered next to one another and not a single sheet of cardstock.

Tie a length of Orchid Oasis Metallic Woven ribbon in a knot around the Basic White embossed layer. Pop up this layer on Stampin’ Dimensionals and adhere to the Orchid Oasis cardstock base.

One of the coolest things about this Metallic Woven ribbon is you can pull it gently to create a pattern within the ribbon or pull it all the way to create loose singular threads at the end – I used both techniques on the edges of this ribbon. I placed a small patch of adhesive down under the ribbon to keep the pulled design intact!

I added five 2022-2024 In Color Pearls in coordinating Orchid Oasis to complete the card with a little coordinating bling – LOVE that about Stampin’ Up!

Hope to see you this afternoon and help you make this card! Come and create a little artwork of your very own – one new stamp at a time!!!

Happy Stampin’
Natalie

P.S: If you are one of my out of town customers be sure to leave me a comment on today’s Facebook post to be entered into a Open House Prize drawing for those that cannot make it today!