Tip to Die Cutting Letters

I thought I'd take a minute (or a few) and go in to detail showing and explaining how I was able to make a negative image. 

Here's what I mean... 

This would be considered scraps by some. 

I layed out the letters on the Big Shot platform and found they'd fit perfectly. So I moved them to my grid paper. 

I used painter's tape to hold them in place. 

Then moved them to gold foil cardstock that was cut to be 9x3".

I was able to remove the letters without issue and repeated the process to have the second copy. 

I did the same process for STAR and kept the insets of the A and R so I can use it as block letters, if I ever want. 

What I thought I had planned while doing LITTLE was the duplicate letters, but I missed an L and had to use a piece of actual scrap. So I don't have a LITTLE "negative". 

One technique I have never done, but want to is the mirage. I've stolen a watermarked image of a card that inspires me. The negative and positive letters are put on a card... Here's what I mean. 

By the way, Brian is amazing at this craft. I've been following him for years. :)

If you've read this far and have no idea what I've done, that's absolutely normal. Keep reading I'll add more pictures to explain that. 

I use a retired Stampin'Up! die set called Large Letters and I love the font so I can't see myself parting with it any time soon. 

The inside edge of the dies have a raised edge which when used with the Big Shot that edge "cuts" the image out. 

What's a Big Shot? ... A die cutting "machine", obviously :) 

Think of a pasta roller, it's a similar concept - but not for food. 

There are "plates" that we use to make a "sandwich". The pressure of the platform, sandwich, dies and cardstock put through the machine makes magic. 

It'll cut out an image or if you change up the ingredients and use an embossing folder you can add texture to cardstock. That's another card/post.

Stampin'Up! has created their own die cutting machine. I'll keep using this one for bigger projects BUT I'm excited to see how small the "mini" is - for smaller projects. 

I think I might have derailed myself. And I'll take a second to read this over... 

I'm good now. I've read this over and I think I'll pause here. 

Please leave a comment if you have read this. I'm happy to answer any questions, especially if you're still confused. 

My goal with the blog is to explain the process I have when creating. 

Christie

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star banner

Where to start. Imagine a mom of an infant planning for a friend's baby shower. Cue the support network. I offered my craft supplies vs buying at a big box store. After some discussion, I offered to make a feature wall banner. 

Hostess provided suggestions on colour scheme and styles she liked. I made up a prototype. After some tweaking I was able to get a full understanding. 

Then I did what I thought was best and took creative control :) 

Using Stampin'Up! Whisper White, I cut out the largest sized banner, VersaMark the edges and heat embossed gold. I realize, I could have just cut out of gold foil cardstock, but why make it easy? 

Next layer is the second largest banner die, stamped with Mint Macaron using the Star of Light set. That was then run through the Lucky Stars embossing folder and using foam strips dimensionals the gold foil Large Letters were attached. 

 

On the ends and the word spacers I used So Many Stars die to give the filigree effect - also gold foil. 

This banner was kept gender neutral until the last minute. 

It's a girl, just a bit late, but in time for her baby shower. 

So, thinking cap back on. How do I make a finished banner more girly? Add pink and flowers! 

I noticed a mistake in my planning when I layed out the letters. I missed a spacer between little * star. So! I created 7 new banner flags using Blushing Bride cardstock, instead of gold. Stars embossing on Whisper White and adhered 3D flowers which were stamped in Blushing Bride and using 2 large and 2 small daisy punches (with curled petals). The picture shows stamped in yellow, but they were gold embossed centres.

All the large banner flags were single hole punched in the top corners to allow twine pass through. 

And my largest banner yet.