Stretch Your Dies – Diecember 2018
For all you die junkies out there, this Decorative Hamsa die is a great one to add to your stash. I had a blast finding different ways to use this beautiful intricate die from Simon Says Stamp DieCember 2018 release.
Partial Die Cut Gatefold Card
This die inspired me to create a partial die cut, gatefold vellum card wrap. Whoo, that was a mouth full. I was envisioning 2 hands holding the card. I cut a piece of Bazzill 40lb Vellum to 8.5 x 5.5 and scored it at 2 1/8 and 6 3/8.
Tip: Reinforce the fold with a bone folder prior to die cutting. This will make folding the partial die cut easier.
Tape the die in the desired location and then die cut with the cutting plate lined up exactly with the score mark. The die will only cut what’s under the plate anything not under the plate will be left intact. See video.
I stamped a sentiment from SSS Stamptember Spiritual Sentiments set in Soft Navy ink on a piece of Moda Scrap design paper cut slightly more narrow than 4.25 inches.
The design paper is white on the backside and will act as a flat card that can slide in and out of the vellum card wrap. Simple and unique.
Hamsa Flower Card
The next card uses the two outer frames of the die to create a large 3-dimensional flower with an alcohol ink center.
This is my favorite card from the set with all its creamy white space and delicate dimension. Simply cut 4 Hamsa dies from Curious Metallic Quartz cardstock. This cardstock is 105lbs and luxurious.
Cut a circle from the A2 sized Quartz card panel. Attach a scrap of design paper or alcohol ink to the back of the panel.
Tip: The stitch line on the scalloped circle die lined up perfectly with the bottom of the Hamsa petals making alignment a breeze. See video.
Adhere the Hamsa petals with small dots of Ranger Multi Medium Matte only on the bottom half. Don’t glue the top half so that the petals can be curled upwards for dimension. Arrange 8 petals in a + and then an x for proper spacing. Use a couple stamp blocks to hold the petals down until the glue has set.
Finally, the petals were gently curled upwards for dimension and a sentiment from SSS Tiny Words was added in Soft Navy ink. Look at the pretty shadow the petals cast. Love!
Alcohol Ink Background Card
This 4.25 x 4.25 card features 2 Hamsa die cuts in quartz and soft navy. The navy die cut and 1 frame act as a drop shadow to offset if from the busy alcohol ink panel.
I cut 2 Decorative Hamsa pieces from Stardream Metallic Quartz and SSS Soft Navy cardstock. I offset the inner main die cuts and framed it with smallest navy Hamsa frame. Using 3 Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares Dies I cut an alcohol ink panel to create a center piece and frame.
The ink panel was created previously with Ranger Alcohol Inks in Denim, Pebble, & Willow. Pebble was an interesting color in that separated into grey-brown with rust at the edges.
I popped the frame and center piece up with foam tape and adhered it to a 4.25 x 4.25 piece of Curious Metallic Aloe paper. This paper is a gorgeous mint green.
I adhered the hands with Ranger Multi Medium Matte adhesive and used the navy hand as a drop shadow. The sentiment from SSS Tiny Words Stamp Set was stamped with SSS Soft Navy ink.
Gel Press Card
This card ended up becoming an addition to my CPR – Card Project Resuscitation video series. My first time using a Gel Press did not go as planned, but I used it as an opportunity to get more creative.
I had these metallic cardstock dies left over from one of the other cards which gave me the idea to use them as stencils with my Gel Press. I had not intended to use the actual die cuts in the card but rather create a pattern with them.
Well things didn’t go as planned with the press. See video for details.
I had a few failed gel press attempts, and in the process the die cuts developed a distressed metallic appearance. So I turned 2 of the pressed panels and these sweet die cuts into a card. I will definitely revisit the Gel Press!
And that’s a wrap! I hope you enjoyed these cards today and feel inspired to stretch your dies and think of things gone wrong as opportunities to try new things. Please hit the thumbs up button on the videos and subscribe so you don’t miss any future projects.
All products used in these cards are listed below. See the full Simon Says Stamp Diecember release here.
Supplies
