How To: Emboss With Dies

Hello there, a few weeks ago I had a few of my lovely blog readers mention that they struggled to emboss with dies (as appose to cutting with them). So today I thought I would do a quick tutorial for you. I only have the Cuttlebug to show you on but the concept is the same with the other machines. What you need is a tan mat (doesn't actually have to be tan in colour but most are, the one from Sizzix is grey though). This is a sheet of rubber that causes the metal in the die that would usually cut, to bounce off and emboss only. You can get the tan mats from a variety of places, most manufacturers of dies sell them.

 

Here is how you do it ...

 

 

The sandwich for the Cuttlebug is: A Plate, B Plate, Tan Mat, shims (if using them), cardstock, dies face down, B Plate. I hope that may have helped some of you. Thanks so much for visiting me today. Hope you have a lovely day!

Sitting Here ...

Hello there, welcome to day three of Clearly Besotted Stamps Teaser Time. For my card today I am sharing two new stamp sets - Time to Relax and Shine Bright (plus die set). I thought they looked great together so just had to do it. I have used one of my signature layouts and also embossed the background using the Decorative Tile EF, I think it looks rather effective!

SUPPLIES:

Are you enjoying Teaser Time? Remember to pop by Stephanie's and the rest of the DT blogs for more. I will back later this afternoon (I know, two posts in one day!) to share something a little different with you.

Monkey Thanks - DTDF

My card for the DTDF Blog this week uses the cute monkey from the CC Designs Flower Power set (an oldie but a goodie!). The card base is made from Memory Box CS and the sentiment has been stamped using the CC Designs Many Thanks Sentiments set and cut out using the end of an MFT Fishtail Flags Stax die.

 

SUPPLIES:

Thank you for visiting me today, hope you are all happy and healthy

Winter Critters

Whwn I saw this Some Odd Girl Winter Critters set I knew I couldn't resit it! I have used one of the penguins from the set for this card for my mum.

SUPPLIES USED:
COPIC COLOURS: BV20, BV23, BV25, BV29, Y26, Y28, E40, E41.

+ A Muse sentiment stamp - retired.

Thanks so much for visiting me today, I am still behind with my Christmas stuff but getting a little closer to the finishing linbe now. Hope you are all well.

Rudolf the Reindeer

Ok, so I couldn't resist inking this gorgeous reindeer from Clearly Besotted Stamps again! He is just too cute! He is from the Merry Little Christmas set, as well as the sentiment. I am entering this card into the Retrosketches #34 challenge.

SUPPLIES:

Thanks so much for visiting me today, hope you all have a great weekend!

The Cutest Reindeer In Town!

Is this not the cutest reindeer you did ever see?! When I got previews of the Clearly Besotted Stamps sets I saw this reindeer and fell in love! I don't usually make Christmas cards this early (yep, it's still early for me) but I could not resist inking this beauty up.

SUPPLIES:
COPIC MARKERS - E40, E41, E43, E44, E47, E49, R24, R27.

Apologies for the photo's again, it is so dark and miserable here in Surrey today. Have a great day whatever you are up to.

LIM - A Bit Of Bling

I have made this card for my very good friend Sarah who's beloved cat Bozzy died last week. I wanted to let her know I was thinking of her and her hubby at this sad time. I am also entering into this week's Less Is More challenge of A Bit Of Bling. Quite easy for me since I use a little bling on almost every card I make!

For the card I have taken some PTI Spring Rain CS and run it through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder and added the panels to a white card blank. I have then stamped a heart - from the SU! So Happy For You set in Angel Pink ink and then the greeting - from the PTI Floral Frenzy set stamped in black. I have then cut this out using a Labels Four Nestabilities die and added PTI Spring Rain ribbon to this and added to the card with 3d foam. Adhesive rhinestones added to the top and bottom.

STAMPS: Papertrey Ink, Stampin' Up! INK: Memento Tuxedo Black & Angel Pink. CS: Papertrey Ink. TOOLS: Nestabilities. EMBELLISHMENTS: Papertrey Ink Satin Luxe Ribbon, Papermania Adhesive Rhinestones.

Thank you all for the lovely messages regarding my health on the below post. I will be having my LP on the 13th Dec. Since there is quite a bit of recovery time afterwards i.e. laying down for at least a week, I am trying to get all my Christmas prep sorted out before that.

50 and Fabulous!

Here is a card I have made for my aunt. I have used Maya Road Philadelphia chipboard numbers and coloured them with a Copic marker and added Clear Bazzill Jewels to them; these have then been added to circle layers cut using Nestabilities dies - the white layer is 3d foamed from the scallop layer and added to base with DST. The base is a sheet of DB Fairy Dust CS which has been run through my Cuttlebug using the Seeing Spots embossing folder and layered with DB Lilac CS. The greeting has been printed (from my PC) on to sparkly vellum and wrapped around the layers with Wild Pansy Bazzill Jewels added. The whole lot has been added to a white CWC Elegant card blank.

For the inside I have layered up more cardstock and vellum and stamped the PTI (Birthday Bash Sentiments) greeting onto a white Nestabilities circle.

STAMPS: Papertrey Ink. INk: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs, Paperchase Vellum. TOOLS: Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots Embossing Folder, V17 Copic Marker. EMBELLISHMENTS: Maya Road Chipboard Numbers, Bazzill Jewels.

It seems that spring has really sprung now, what lovely weather we have had today so far. I hope everyone is having a nice day whatever you are up to!

Christmas Angel

Christmas ... only 24 days away and this is the first card I have made. So I am behind as always then, nice to know nothing changes!! Haha!

I have made this card using the very cute CC Designs Christmas Angel, I have coloured her in using Copics, adding glitter to her wings with my Spica pen. I have then cut her out and added to the base with 3D foam pads. The base is made by running a piece of Bazzill Tropical CS through my Cuttlebug using the Snowflakes Embossing Folder. I have then added a strip of Bo Bunny Winter Joy paper accross the bottom and and wrapped around with organza ribbon and Scrappers Floss; this has all been added to a Craftwork Cards card blank. Greeting stamped from the CC Designs Amy R Merry & Bright set and punched out using a Stampin' Up oval punch (from the lovely Jules) and pearls added to the panel. A MFT Die-namic snowflake has been cut using Bazzill Bling CS and added with a MME button.

STAMPS: CC Designs. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Bazzill Basics, Bazzill Bling, Bo Bunny. ACCESSORIES: Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, My Favourite Things Die-namics Let It Snowflake, Stampin' Up! oval punch, My Minds Eye Bloom & Grow button, Organza ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Karen Foster Scrappers Floss, The Hobby House pearls, Copic At You Spica Pen, Copic Markers.

I hope you are all well and keeping warm where you are, we have no snow down here yet but I am sure it is on it's way!

Diamond Wedding Anniversary

It is my Nan & Grandad's 60th Wedding Anniversary at the end of the month and while I was visiting Tobi Crawford's blog I saw this card and thought it would be excellent to re-create for my needs (thanks for the inspiration Tobi). I have used Bazzill Bling cardstock and embossed the bottom half with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, wrapped the middle with white organza ribbon and then added to a pearlescent card blank. The hearts are a Cuttlebug die (I think the one that came with the machine), I have added the bottom one direct to the card and the one on top has been added with 3d foam. Bow added on top with a rose and diamond pins (from Tabby Crafts) added through the centre. I hope they like it ... not a stamp or Copic in sight!!

CS: Craftwork Cards Pearlescent, Bazzill Bling. ACCESSORIES: Cuttlebug Heart Die, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Organza ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Flower from stash, Pins from Tabby Crafts.

Elzybells Challenge 31 - Textures

The challenge over at Elzybells this fortnight is Tempting Textures. For my card I have used the very cute Polar Bear stamp and coloured him with Copics added mini pearls to the snowflakes then added him to the base with 3d foam pads. The base is 2 shades of purple CS layered up and a 3rd which has been run through my Cuttlebug using the Snowflakes embossing folder. Ribbon wrapped around, gem stones added and the greeting stamped from the Mini Tags - Christmas set. Please see the other DT blogs for their cards - links are on my sidebar (welcome back Charlene!) and see the blog for all the deets on how you can enter.

STAMPS: Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs. ACCESSORIES: Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Papermania Adhesive Gems, Basic Grey Opaline, ribbon by Anitas, Copic Markers.

Elzybells Christmas

Hello there, today is the third day of sneak peeks for the new Elzybells stamps, only one more sleep till release! Today I have made 2 cards using the same ingredients but different stamps, the first one uses 'Winter Friends' and the second one uses the 'Mini Messages - Christmas' and the 'Tags - Christmas' sets. Both card blanks are pearlescent which I think gives a lovely shimmer and goes really well with the lilac.

STAMPS: Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder, Ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, Basic Grey Opaline, Copic Markers.

Elzybells - You Keep Me Warm

Woohoo! Today is the the start of a new release from Elzybells, you are going to love them, lots of lovely Christmas images and sentiments. the new stamps will be released on Thursday 22nd October and the DT have sneaks running up to that day. Sadly Charlene is not able to join us for this release but we have the super talented Carly as a Guest. For my card today I have used the 'Winter Couple' stamp and the 'Keep Me Warm' sentiment - how well do those two go together?! I have stamped the couple of ot and coloured with Copics, cut out and added to the base with DST. The base is simply a sheet of Elzybells Kraft CS and then a layer of DB red CS which has been run through my Cuttlebug using the Snowflakes embossing folder. Greeting stamped on Kraft and cut out using a Nestabilities Label die, added with 3d foam. Buttons added with linen thread.

STAMPS: Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Elzybells, Doodlebiug Designs. ACCESSORIES: Snowflakes embossing folder, Nestabilities dies, Stampin' Up Linen Thread, Buttons from stash, Copic Markers.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone that left me comments on my post below. I am still not right at all, hence why I only have one sample for you today but I will have lots more samples towards the end of the week. I promise also, that I will get round to replying to e-mails etc asap, sorry, I am not ignoring you!

Teddy & Snowman

Welcome to day three of Elzybells sneak peeks - only more sleep to go till these cuties are released! For todays sneaks I have gone back to the adorable Christmas bears. My first card uses the 'Teddy & Snowman' stamp and the already released 'Everyday Greetings' set. I have stamped the image out and coloured with Copics adding glitter to the snowman's hat; cut out using a Nestabilities circle and added to base with DST. The base is a layer of pink DB CS, a layer of Craftwork Cards snowflake paper on top then a layer of pink DB CS which has been run through my Cuttlebug using the new Ice Crystals embossing folder. 3 snowflakes have been cut using an X Cut punch and added with teeny pearls. Greeting added to finish. So, are you seeing some great sneak peeks? and do you know which ones are on your wish list yet?

STAMPS: Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Anitas, Doodlebug Designs, Craftwork Cards. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug Ice Crystals Embossing Folder, X-Cut Snowfake punch, Kaisercraft Adhesive Pearls, Copic Markers - Bear: C1, C3. Snowman: B000, E55. Scarfs & hat: Rv32, Rv34.

I hope you can pop back later, I have my last Christmas bear to show you!

Anniversary Hearts

The very talented Kerry made this card a while back, I thought it was so stunning that I had to CASE it! Thanks so much for the inspiration Kerry, I hope you don't mind me CASEing it! I have changed the colours and made it into an Anniversary card, I am quite pleased with it {except for the greeting being slightly wonky}. I added a strip of red CS to a white card blank followed by a strip of Doodlebug heart paper {those red flowers are flocked!} and then a strip of white that has been run through my Cuttlebug using the Victoria embossing folder and then added some satin ribbon on top. Hearts cut using a Sizzlits die and added with 3d foam pads. Gem stones added to finish. Greeting stamped from the Woodware 'Tiny Greetings' clear set underneath. This card is made for my cousin and her husband who are celebrating their one year anniversary, I made their Wedding placecards using red & pink and gem stones so I hope they like it and it compliments their memories of their Wedding Day.

STAMPS: Woodware. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs, Bazzill Basics. ACCESSORIES: Sizzlits die, Cuttlebug Victoria Embossing Folder, red ribbon from stash, Papermania Adhesive Gems.

Dino-Mite Day!

This card is made using the very cute CC Designs set Eric and Chrissy Go Prehistoric available from Dies to Die for. I have stamped the cute dino and palm tree out and coloured them both with Copics, cut out and added to base with 3d foam pads. The base is 2 shades of green CS added to a white card blank. The top one has been embossed using the Distressed Stripes embossing folder. Message stamped and cut out with a Nestabilities die and also added with 3d foam.

STAMPS: CC Designs. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Doodlebug Designs. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes embossing folder, Copic markers.

Happy Mother's Day Tilda

Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there! I hope you all have a lovely relaxing day. This is the card I have made for for my mum. She loves sunflowers and the colour lilac so I thought I would try and combine the two! I have stamped Tilda with Sunflower and coloured her with Copics, cut out and added to base with 3D foam pads. The base has been made by layering up shades of lilac Bazzill CS, the top one has been run through my Cuttlebug using the Stylized Flowers embossing folder. Ribbon wrapped around and Prima flowers layered up. Message {from Elzybells} stamped and cut out using a Nestabilities die, added to the flowers with a silver flower charm. Gem stones added to the image to finish. My camera has decided it doesn't want to take close ups of my images on the last few cards I have made, they seem to come out blurry ... not sure why!

I have decorated the inside by stamping the same image and cutting out using a Nesties circle. Elzybells message stamped and gem stones added.

STAMPS: Magnolia, Elzybells Art Stamps. INK: Memento Tuxedo Black. CS: Craftwork Cards, Bazzill Basics. ACCESSORIES: Nestabilities dies, Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers embossing folder, Prima Flowers, ribbon by Ribbon Oasis, charm from eBay, Papermania Adhesive Gems, Copic markers.