Faux Die Cut Inlay

Hello, crafty friends, Marla here with another CottageCutz YouTube video tutorial.  I love the inlay die cutting technique, but sometimes the work involved can be a little daunting.  My card today features a cheat for this technique that gives the appearance with less work.  The technique is one that any card maker can achieve, and it worked well with the beautiful "Spring Butterflies" die.  

I would love for you to join me today over on our YouTube Channel and after watching, I hope you give the technique a try.  There's also an opportunity to win the "Spring Butterflies" die, which is an added bonus.  

Don't forget to check out the new "Folk Art" release that just dropped at the Scrapping Cottage.  It's a magical new collection you don't want to miss.

Until next time..... Marla 

Sweet As Can Bee Gnome Card

Hello crafty friends,

Hope your day is going spectacular. Today I am sharing a cute card I made featuring some Sweet As Can Bee dies from Cottage Cutz. Here is a look at what I created.

My card is a top folding A2 card. It features a white cardstock base.

The star of my card is this sweet little Bee Gnome. He is just adorable. I decided to make this in a different color palette. The typical bee themed palette is yellow and black. Of course my favorite colors are pink and a tealish or minty teal green color.   I started by/ creating the tiny polka dot paper and the diagonal plaid papers. I printed them out and used them as my various mats. I cut all my pieces out in white cardstock. I then colored them in with my markers. For the little gnome, I used a couple of the negative pieces that came from the fench to create some legs for him. Because I used foam tape behind him, I wanted to make sure his little shoes didn't get lost in the mix.  added some stickles glitter gle to his wings and the centers of the flowers.

Here is a closeup of the sweet little home, the fence and the grass die cuts. For the mats I used a couple of the wonky stitched square dies.

Here's a closer look at the cute little twine bos. I wrapped the twine around the patterned paper mat strips and then added a bow with a little gem in the center. 

Here's a closer look at the sweet little bumble bee with his glittered wings. You can also see the three gems I used for a little extra touch.

This closeup shows you the honeycomb slimline die I used to cut out the white honeycomb frame. I added that on top of the pink and white polka dot mat paper I created.

Here is a view of my card standing and at a slight angle. You can see all the dimension between the layers. It really adds so much depth to the card by adding in those extra layers of foam tape.

Here is one last look at my card from the opposite angle. I think this turned out so cute!

Bee Gnome

Fence & Grass

Bee Phrases

Honeycomb Slimline

Nested Wacky Stitched Rectangles

(Currently out of stock)

Don't forget to also check out the Cottage Cutz YouTube Channel for some great crafty videos!

Well that about covers it for today! Until the next time, have a wonderfully crafty day!

Envelope Box Card

Happy Memorial Day crafters!

It's Kris sharing with you today. ☺

Before I get to my card... our Memorial Day SALE is still going (thru Wednesday!) and you can save up to 70% OFF!!  Be sure to check that out!!  We also have a brand new release (not yet in our Design Team's hands!) that is Folk Art themed and the bundle is 65% OFF for a limited time!  Plus, all the individual dies in this new release are 35% OFF!

Ok, onto my card... I made an envelope box card for an in-person recipient as this one does not collapse down to fit into a regular envelope.  However, there is a boxy envelope that you can make that this 5" x 7" card will fit into and is perfect for gifting in person.  I'll share that link at the end.  

For this card I used the Spring Tulips, the Springtime Bicycle, and the Thanks w/ Shadow dies.

*Note:  if you need to watch a video on how to create this card, you can watch this one here.

DESIGN STEPS:

Envelope Base:

1.  Cut a piece of green cardstock at 5" x 7" 

-- Along the 5" side, make a mark at 2-1/2" 

-- Along both  7" sides (closest to the mark on the 5" side), make a mark at 2-1/2".

--  CUT diagonally from the middle mark on the 5" side down to the 2 marks on the sides. 

2.  Cut a piece of gingham patterned paper at 4-3/4" x 6-3/4"

-- Along the short side, make a pencil mark at 2-3/8" and again on each of the 2 connecting sides

-- CUT diagonally from the middle of short side down to the marks on the sides.

-- Adhere this to the base you cut in step #1.

Envelope Sides:

3.  Cut (2) pieces of green cardstock at 3-1/2" x 3-1/2"

-- Score at 1/2" and 1-1/2" and put a li'l mark at 2", then FLIP it (vertically) and place another mark at 2"

-- Turn 90 degrees so that your 2 score lines are at the bottom, and place a mark at 1-3/4" 

--CUT diagonally from the 1-3/4" mark down to each of the 2" marks

4.  Cut (2) pieces of green gingham patterned paper at 3-1/4" x 1-3/4"

-- With short edge along the top, place a mark at 3/8" (on top and bottom) of piece

-- With long side at top, place a mark at 1-5/8"

-- CUT diagonally from that 1-5/8" mark down to both of the 3/8" marks

--Attach patterned piece to solid piece as shown below.

Envelope Bottom:

5.  Cut a piece of green cardstock at 4" x 7"

-- Along the 7" side, score at 1" and 6", then place a mark at 3-1/2"

-- Along the 4" side (opposite end from where you placed that 3-1/2" mark), score at 1/2", 1-1/2" (both are scored all the way down), and 2-1/2" just to the score line on both ends as shown below

6.  Cut away the small rectangles formed by the intersecting score lines, then miter the 1/2" flap as shown below

7.  Cut diagonally from that middle 3-1/2" mark down to the score line where you scored just to the score line, then following the score line, cut up to the next score line as shown below. 

-- Repeat on opposite side

8.  Cut a piece of gingham patterned paper at 4-3/4" x 2-1/4"

-- Along the short side, place a mark at 7/8" (top and bottom)

-- Along the long side, place a mark at 2-3/8"

-- Cut diagonally from the marks on each side up to the middle 2-3/8" mark

--Adhere to solid piece as shown below

Putting it all together:

9.  Add glue to the short mitered flap of envelope bottom piece and join to the back of your base panel.

10.  Add glue to the short flaps of your side pieces and adhere to back side of base panel so that the bottom edges are even with the bottom edge of base panel as shown.

11.  Add glue to one of the small flaps of envelope bottom pc. and bring it up while folding the side piece over and adhere to it forms a 90 degree angle.

-- Repeat with other flap.

12.  Fold bottom up and add glue to adhere to side panels.

13.  Cut a "shelf" piece to place in the middle of your box (to glue tulips to) at 1" x 6"

-- Score 1/2" on each end of 6" side

--Glue tabs and insert to attach to box sides, lower than the pointy part that sticks up so it will be hidden.

Decorating the box:

14.  I die cut the Spring Tulips die 2x and colored with Distress Oxide Inks 

(Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Picked Raspberry, Kitch Flamingo, Twisten Citron, and Mowed Lawn)

15.  I attached some of my tulips on foam dots to the back (base) of envelope, some to the middle "shelf" and some I glued directly behind the front of my box.

Writing Piece for Back of Card:

16.  Cut a piece of green cardstock for the very back of card at 5" x 7" and score along the 7" side at 3-1/2"

17.  Cut a piece of white at 4-3/4" x 3-1/4"

-- Adhere to the front  (see below)

18. Cut a small piece of green at 3" x 1"

-- Score at 3/4", 1-1/2", and 2-1/4" (mountain, valley, mountain fold it)

19. Fold card and attach to the back lower part of box so that the white piece is on the outside.

20.  Add glue to the 2 end sections of your "W" piece and attach to inside of small card on back, about 1/4" up from the bottom edge.

And lastly, I die cut the Thanks w/ Shadow die from white and pink cardstock, glued together and attached to a strip of acetate and glued it to the shelf inside the box.  

and DONE!

If you'd like to make a box to fit this envelope card into, click here.

PRODUCTS:

I hope I've inspired you to get crafty with your CottageCutz dies! 

Happy Memorial Day!

~Kristine

Flowers 3 - Hugs Card

Hello CottageCutz friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with us today. It's Mary Marsh here bringing you the Saturday edition of the Blog.

We have a brand-new release in the online store. It's our Folk Art release with 19 new designs. For a limited time, you can pick up the entire bundle for 65% off. The individual dies are 35% off. 

The folk-art designs are so perfect for cardmaking, journaling, and scrapbooking. They allow you to add a beautiful touch of folk art to whatever you may be creating.  The team will begin showing ideas in the next week. 

We are also having a Memorial Day sale with savings of up to 70% off.  Check out the store early for the best selections. The sale ends Wednesday.

Today for your viewing pleasure, I am featuring the Flower 3 and Leafy Branch 3 dies. I created a card for my good friend who just received some not so good health news on her hubby. 

I started my card with my background. I had this envelope in my stash and decided to cut it apart and use it as designer paper. I just thought it was too pretty to use as an envelope. I layered it with an espresso cardstock and then my card base is a powder pink shade.

Powder Pink Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Espresso Layering Panel: 4" x 5 3/8"

Designer Paper Panel: 3 7/8" x 6 1/4"

I cut the Flower 3 images in powder pink cardstock and the pistil in a bold pink cardstock. I used a yellow enamel dot for the centers. The Leafy Branch 3 is cut in olive cardstock.

I cut my Hugs w/Shadow die in the 2 shades of pink cardstock. 

Now I am ready to start card assembly. I attached the designer paper panel to the layering panel with double sided tape. 

For the images I wanted them lifted slightly off the background, so I used dimensional adhesive to attach them. For the leaves I used a clear drying glue.

To finish off my card I attached the Hugs phrase, added a few enamel dots to the card corners and then secured everything to the card base. 

Well that's it for me for this week. See you next Saturday.

Reminder: We are having a design team call. If you like working with dies and cute images, you have until Wednesday, May 31st to send in your application. Click here for all the details. 

Dies I used to create card:

You're Tweet

 Hello Friends

It is Pam creating with you today!

I am making a few thank you cards for my stash.  I am also making some for our little sale at church.  It helps pay for our teens to be able to go to summer camp.  The die I am using is the Fence w/ Flower Garland from the Flowers and More release.  Also used on this card is an oldie Tree of Nature.

Design Steps:

1.  Using the Fence w/Flower Garland cut out white, green, yellow and blue card stock.  Using the Tree of Nature die cut out brown, green, blue (bird), yellow(cage) and light brown(bird).  Using the Spring Grass die cut out green card stock.  Assemble with a fine tip glue

2.  Cut a piece of white card stock 3 1/2 x 4 3/4.  Blend blue ink onto the card stock and then splatter with water

3.  Begin to assemble the card starting with the grass making sure to only put glue at the very bottom of the grass so you can tuck in the tree and then the fence

4.  Add the leaves, birdcage and bird to the tree

5.  Stamp your sentiment in black in to the right of the tree.  (I decided I didn't like the way it looked so I stamped the sentiment on white and layered it with the blue). Use a A2 white card base and a 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 piece of embossed white card stock.  Glue your embossed piece to the card base and then glue the blue panel to the white embossed piece

6.  When I have left over scraps from the card I like to use them inside.  It is a really good way to use them up along with any extra dies that didn't get put on the front of the card

CottageCutz Products

We have more inspiration on our YouTube Channel check it out HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by!  And I will see you next Thursday.

Blessings and Take Care