It’s Inspiration Challenge day at SCS. And did I ever love the inspiration from Mizue Hirano. I chose the two in the third row down.
Both were done on water color paper using a flat wash brush and a small detail brush. Instead of watercolors, I used dye reinkers because I like the vibrant color and transparency. I first made the abstract backgrounds then dried them with the heat gun because I’m too impatient to wait.
I made the white frames with the method I developed for resizing the Nestabilities rectangles. The tutorial for this is under my Tutorial heading. I edged the frames with a red marker. All the images were embossed using black pigment ink and black embossing powder. These cards measure 4.25″ x 5.50″. The greeting tag on Reindeer was cut out using a nestie circle.
Supplies:
Stamps: Autumn Leaves, Inkadinkado, Studio G, Stampendous, Imaginisce
Paper: white, water color, red
Ink: black pigment & black embossing powder
Accessories: paint brushes, dye reinkers, nestie rectangles & circles. red marker (to edge the frame & tag), black marker (to edge the Christmas Trees panel)
When I was working on my card H is for Harvest, I really wanted a Nestabilities long rectangle set. I only have the standard, large rectangle set so I set out to see if I could somehow repurpose it into a long rectangle. It only took me a couple of tries and I think it worked like a champ. I’ll be doing this again and again until I actually do have the long rectangle set. After I used this technique, I thought there might be a few others who would like to try it. I made another long rectangle and took a lot of pictures so y’all could see for yourselves. Remember, you can zoom in on all the pics by clicking on them.
Standard, Large Rect. Set #S4-1132
This is the rectangle set I have. For this tutorial, I’ll be using the second smallest rectangle (it measures approx. 2″ h x 1.5″ w). The card stock I’m using is ivory and I cut it to measure about 3.5″ L x 2″ h. It’s probably important to note that I use an original Sizzix machine with one white cutting plate and the magnetic adapter. I also have a clear acrylic cutting plate that I place over the die when I cut. If you’re using a different machine, you may have to adjust how you do this. This also works perfectly using a Big Shot…simply have the edge of your top cutting plate back from the left edge of the die. It won’t cut where the plate isn’t.Â
1. First, place the rectangle, cutting side down onto the card stock, very close to the right edge as shown.
2. Push the cutting plate into the machine, but leave the last 1/2″ closest to the center of the card stock, out of the machine. We don’t want to cut this edge.
3. Remove the die, carefully place the embossing mat under it and emboss as usual, remembering to not emboss the last center 1/2″.
4. Remove the die from the card stock. This is what the back side should like with only the right half cut and embossed.
5. Turn the half cut card stock around. Place the die on the uncut half, very near the edge as before. Take care to line up the edges of the die with the already cut edges.
6. Place the cutting pad with the die in the machine, as before. Again, leave the last 1/2″ in the center out of the machine. We do not want to cut this part.
7. Carefully place embossing mat underneath and emboss as before. Remember not to emboss the last 1/2″ in the center.
8. That’s it! Here’s the finished product. My new long rectangle measures just over 3″ L x 1 5/8″ H. The leftover frame is also fun to use.
I’ve done this technique using many different die shapes. As long as the die is symmetrical, it has worked. This technique also works if you want to shorten the size of your die cut.Â
This is my combo for yesterday’s sketch and today’s ways to use it challenges. I had a lot of fun w/ both of these.
I stamped all the images (FireCracker Designs ) w/ either sienna ink or the Kpads (leaves only). I colored the pumpkins w/ markers and used a blender on the leaves. Then I outlined everything w/ a brown gel pen to give a little more definition. Everything was cut out.
The green and marigold layers, I used cb border folders on. The vanilla rectangle behind the pumpkins I used the harvest folder. I used the nestie rectangles to get my long frame and the small sentiment frame. This was a little bit complicated until I figured out how to make my standard rectangle dies cut a long rectangle. Since I don’t have the long rect. set yet, I played around until I figured out I could get my std. rect. to do the same thing. I’ll probably have to do it again and take pics cause it’s a little hard to explain. After I cut the long rect., I used the frame of the large one and sponged on green ink. I did the same to the small one and stamped the sentiment in the center.
The dp looking stuff is actually wrapping paper. I die cut the letter and shadow then attached them to a nestie circle. I added two little ribbon tabs on the left side.
I’ll try to explain how I made a long rectangle out of a standard nestie rectangle. Basically, take for example, the 1″ x 2″ nestie rectangle and make your card stock larger, say, 1 1/2″ X 4″. Place your nestie on the card stock near one end. It’s probably important to note that I use mine with the original Sizzix machine, so I don’t know what you’d have to do differently for other machines. Then place the die in the machine but not all the way. Leave the last 1/2″ or so (toward the center) uncut. Place on your mat and emboss. Carefully remove the nestie die and reposition toward the opposite end and repeat, again omitting the last 1/2″ toward the center. If done correctly, you will have a long, 1″ x approx 3 1/2″ rectangle. If you’ll check back tomorrow, I’ll try to have pics and a better description. Pics will make it so much easier to understand.
