Altenew Academy: Level 1- Easy Die Cutting Technique

Hello there,

"All the things are difficult before they are easy!!"

Warm welcome to the blog again, in this beautiful, cozy autumn weather :) Lots of colors, smell of pumpkin, cinnamon spices and trails full of fallen treasure in the forests. Autumn is another fav time of the year and happy to see nature's colors everywhere spreading smiles :)

'Die cutting' is a kind of favorite of mine amongst other card making style, techniques which I usually do :) It's so fun to just keep cutting dies (ofcourse not randomly) but based on the project and idea and stack them together and use them in super creative ways.

My 2 different ideas will be shared below and would be happy to receive your inputs/feedbacks on the same, if you have time :)

The techniques/Learnings from this class are as follows: Use dies creatively, use dies on diff media than only paper, dry embossing with dies, using die cuts as bacground (tone on tone or colorful), die cut other panel for shaker, try to create different geometric shapes using dies, using dies as stencil, combine die cuts and stencil and embossing folders together, doing eclipse technique using the dies, stamps, create see through shaker panels using coordinating dies and move back the stamped image on back panel and then create shaker........ I can write on and on... but will stop here and let your creativity spark through these ideas :)

My creation details:

Card 1-

                        

    

How to: Very simple :) The only goal was to create a shaped card and I just went along without a plan in head. I had die cut 1 piece from the main outer die from the Mandala die set. Then, on that, did a dry embossing with another actual mandala die. Also, I did the die cut of the same die too with a black cardstock, to be used as a stencil on the first piece (which is dry embossed). I have stencilled first using white ink and then on top, I used 2 blue shades of inks. The base color of the card is not khaki, not brown and not even gray. It's something from my stash and a unique kind of color , which I cannot explain :)

On top of it, I have added washi cut flowers (fussy cuts), a simple sentiment and they both bring the whole card together.

Die: Delicate Mandala die

Ink Colors: White and light blue hues

Others: Washi tape (Botanical Rhapsody), black pen for outline

Card 2-             

How to: Remember the black die cut from the same mandala die set, we used as stencil for card 1? Well, that is the main die cut to be used here. Also, I did another die cut with black cardstock too, and then in laid bit and pieces from this die cut (but not on the whole background). 

Then, I added glossy accents to make those in-laid pieces shine. I wanted to keep everything subtle even with the pink and black's striking contrast, but as you see the image, it is still not so distracting contrast :) Added a simple sentiment on top (also on circle die cut) and done!

Die: Delicate Mandala die

Others: Washi tape (Pink with gold splatters), gold glitter cardstock, Pink card base, Glossy accents

Last, some more images/close-ups for both the creations are here-

It was a fun class and very close to the end of Level 1 too. This journey which started late for me here, but is going so well for now, has given me so many wings and aspirations to move further and I am so happy to look at all these creations and cherish these always :)

Wish you a very nice time and lovely autumn vibes.

Regards

Disha