Happy Saturday!
Today I'd like to share with you a list of 50 ideas for "jazzing up" your die cuts for your next layout, mini album or other papercrafting project!. This is a comprehensive list of techniques and ideas I found at "Designing With Die Cuts", HERE. Some of these are "oldies but goodies" and it's always nice to be reminded of some techniques we might not have used in a while. And there are even a few mentioned that have to do with sewing, our challenge theme for this week! So here we go...
1. Emboss them to give texture.
2. Layer them.
3. Use a crimper on them, especially nice for the roof of a house, trees, etc.
4. Chalk them with powdered chalk to add depth & color.
5. Ink them, use a dauber to dab inks onto them.
6. Color them with markers.
7. Color them with colored pencils, try the Gamsol technique.
8. Add eyelets or brads, especially cute as buttons, hubcaps, eyes, flower centers, letter "O", etc.
9. Add string or yarn, especially nice as hair, a balloon string, fishing pole line, rope, etc.
10. Use a Versa-Marker Watermark pen to create subtle light/dark highlights.
11. Ink edges with Chalk Inks to draw attention to the borders.
12. Stamp on them, great to add design contrast.
13. Stack them to give depth.
14. Mat them.
15. Use a white pen to highlight areas or add accents.
16. Use a black pen to outline the shape with a thin line or dashed line to create the stitching effect.
17. Use some gray chalk to create shadows.
18. Use patterned papers, especially double sided depending on the project,
19. Use pop dots to make them stick out & gain dimension.
20. Add sparkly gems.
21. Add Stickles.
22. Spray with Glimmer Mist.
23. Run through a Xyron machine & stick glitter to them.
24. Add wires.
25. Add charms.
26. Use a real button, especially cute as a flower center, nose, eyes, etc.
27. Use ribbon.
28. Use fabric.
29. Print computer generated text/graphics on your paper, then cut your die cut out of that paper.
30. Doodle on your die cuts.
31. Run through a Xyron machine & stick microbeads to them.
32. Add highlights with gel pens.
33. Create a shadow by cutting two of the same die cut in different colors. Layer the darker one on the
bottom a bit lower & to the right to create the shadow.
34. Use paper tearing techniques to soften one or more edges of the die cut.
35. Pierce your die cuts. Use tiny pin pricks to outline the shape, or highlight a part of the die cut.
36. Add crystal lacquer (colored or not) to add dimension.
37. Use embroidery floss.
38. Use a black or white pen to make dots around the border.
39. Sew your die cut around the the edges by hand, or use a machine.
40. Write on your die cut & use as a journaling block.
41. Crumple the die cut.
42. Sponge inks onto your die cut for an aged look.
43. Use tulle to snazz up your die cut.
44. Use lace to soften & embellish die cuts.
45. Use Magic Mesh to add texture.
46. Lightly rub sand paper on card stock with white core to distress & show white through.
47. Paint them with acrylic paints.
48. Use embossing powders on them.
49. Use paper flowers to embellish.
50. Punch small holes & connect die cuts with string, thread or ribbon.
Designing With Die Cuts also has some other great ideas as well as some neat tutorials so be sure to check them out!
Hope you enjoyed these ideas and will share with us any layouts or mini albums you create incorporating these fantabulous ideas!
Today I'd like to share with you a list of 50 ideas for "jazzing up" your die cuts for your next layout, mini album or other papercrafting project!. This is a comprehensive list of techniques and ideas I found at "Designing With Die Cuts", HERE. Some of these are "oldies but goodies" and it's always nice to be reminded of some techniques we might not have used in a while. And there are even a few mentioned that have to do with sewing, our challenge theme for this week! So here we go...
1. Emboss them to give texture.
2. Layer them.
3. Use a crimper on them, especially nice for the roof of a house, trees, etc.
4. Chalk them with powdered chalk to add depth & color.
5. Ink them, use a dauber to dab inks onto them.
6. Color them with markers.
7. Color them with colored pencils, try the Gamsol technique.
8. Add eyelets or brads, especially cute as buttons, hubcaps, eyes, flower centers, letter "O", etc.
9. Add string or yarn, especially nice as hair, a balloon string, fishing pole line, rope, etc.
10. Use a Versa-Marker Watermark pen to create subtle light/dark highlights.
11. Ink edges with Chalk Inks to draw attention to the borders.
12. Stamp on them, great to add design contrast.
13. Stack them to give depth.
14. Mat them.
15. Use a white pen to highlight areas or add accents.
16. Use a black pen to outline the shape with a thin line or dashed line to create the stitching effect.
17. Use some gray chalk to create shadows.
18. Use patterned papers, especially double sided depending on the project,
19. Use pop dots to make them stick out & gain dimension.
20. Add sparkly gems.
21. Add Stickles.
22. Spray with Glimmer Mist.
23. Run through a Xyron machine & stick glitter to them.
24. Add wires.
25. Add charms.
26. Use a real button, especially cute as a flower center, nose, eyes, etc.
27. Use ribbon.
28. Use fabric.
29. Print computer generated text/graphics on your paper, then cut your die cut out of that paper.
30. Doodle on your die cuts.
31. Run through a Xyron machine & stick microbeads to them.
32. Add highlights with gel pens.
33. Create a shadow by cutting two of the same die cut in different colors. Layer the darker one on the
bottom a bit lower & to the right to create the shadow.
34. Use paper tearing techniques to soften one or more edges of the die cut.
35. Pierce your die cuts. Use tiny pin pricks to outline the shape, or highlight a part of the die cut.
36. Add crystal lacquer (colored or not) to add dimension.
37. Use embroidery floss.
38. Use a black or white pen to make dots around the border.
39. Sew your die cut around the the edges by hand, or use a machine.
40. Write on your die cut & use as a journaling block.
41. Crumple the die cut.
42. Sponge inks onto your die cut for an aged look.
43. Use tulle to snazz up your die cut.
44. Use lace to soften & embellish die cuts.
45. Use Magic Mesh to add texture.
46. Lightly rub sand paper on card stock with white core to distress & show white through.
47. Paint them with acrylic paints.
48. Use embossing powders on them.
49. Use paper flowers to embellish.
50. Punch small holes & connect die cuts with string, thread or ribbon.
Designing With Die Cuts also has some other great ideas as well as some neat tutorials so be sure to check them out!
Hope you enjoyed these ideas and will share with us any layouts or mini albums you create incorporating these fantabulous ideas!
Happy Crafting!!! :)
Wow! I've never thought of some of these things, but they would be so simple. I will certainly give them a try. Thanks for the ideas. Hugs, dj
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas!
ReplyDeleteTnanks for sharing this great list of ideas! I am fairly new to Cricut and card making, so this will be very helpful for me to spruce up my creations!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great list of ideas-sometimes you forget ablout the simple little things you can do to spice up your pages and I think you named them all
ReplyDeletewow...this is a good reminder. good job! and THANKS SO MUCH:)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Thanks for the fantabulous tips!
ReplyDelete