Layering with Stamps and Big Shot Die Cuts - Saturday with Sizzix

 

 

When I saw the Bird on a Branch Stamp Set (PN 113266) in the Stampin' Up! Spring-Summer 2009 idea book & catalog, I fell in love.  I literally squealed with delight when I saw the Birds & Branches sizzlits decorative strip die (PN 114529) in the back of the catalog.  I just thought that these two items were screaming to be brought together and desperately needed to be featured side by side.  The card above is my first attempt at bring stamping and die cuts together with a variety of layering techniques.  I am sure you will being seeing more of this pair together as I really enjoyed playing with them.

For those of you new to crafting, creating a card, scrapbook page or painting is an iterative process.  The professionals rarely whip out the perfect creation on the first try.  They spend time playing around with various techniques, deciding on a layout and piecing things together until the final design is created.  Then the final product is created.  Okay their may be a few talented people out there who nail their creations in the first shot, but I'm not one of them. 

While I show you how to create this card, I will talk about the design process, sponging and layering using the stamp off technique.  I'll be sure to discuss the various products that I use as well. 

Supply List

• Very Vanilla 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (PN 101650)
• Bordering Blue 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (PN 102630)
• Mellow Moss 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (PN 102898)
• Chocolate Chip 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (PN 102128)
• Creamy Caramel 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (PN 102514)
• Chocolate Chip Stampin' Pad (PN 100908)
• Pacific Point Stampin' Pad (PN 111837)
• Kiwi Kiss Stampin' Pad (PN 111835)
• Ruby Red Stampin' Write marker (PN 100075)
• Cameo Coral Stampin' Write marker (PN 100074)
• Bird on a Branch Stamp Set (PN 113266)
• *Bird & Branches Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die (PN 114529)
• Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (PN 113439)
• Sponge Daubers (PN 102892)

To use the Sizzlits Decorative Strip Dies in the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine you will need the Decorative Strip Cutting Pads (PN 113479) & Extended Spacer Platform (PN 113477).

Please remember that you don't need to purchase individual packages of card stock, you can purchase card stock assortments by color family.  For this card, you could purchase the Rich Regals Card Stock Assortment (PN 105567 - Qty 36 sheets or 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock) and the Earth Elements Card Stock Assortment (PN 105567 - Qty 36 sheets or 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock).  The card assortment packages are a great way to play with colors.

Let's get started with the Card: (IE Tutorial Begins HERE)

Step 1: Creating the Sizzlit Decorative Strip Die Cuts.

Building the sandwich:

The picture below shows the sandwich needed for the decorative sizzlit strip dies. 

Beginning with the bottom most layer first, the sandwich consists of

1. Extended Spacer Platform (PN 113477)
2. Decorative Strip Cutting Pad (PN 113479)
3. Sizzlit Decorative Strip Die
4. One Sheet of Paper or Card Stock (ONLY use 1!)
5. Decorative Strip Cutting Pad (PN 113479)

Tip:With Sizzlit dies ONLY use 1 sheet of paper at a time!

Tip:When using the decorative sizzlit strip dies, it is best to use 12" x 12" paper if you want the entire image from the same piece of paper  (i.e. if you were using the swirly die).  Here I am using 2-1/2" strips of paper to cover the areas of the die that I want a die cut from.   The width of the die is 2-1/2". 

For example, sheets of the Mellow Moss (leaves), Chocolate Chip (branches), Bordering Blue (birds) and Creamy Caramel (Branches) were all cut for the sections needed and placed on the appropriate sections of the die and run through the machine.

 

In the image above, there is a piece of Bordering Blue card stock that is 2-1/5" x ~3-1/2".  This is more enough to cover the bird section of the die.  This piece of Card stock was placed over the birds and the Sandwich completed.  The sandwich was then run through the Big Shot Machine.

The resultant die cuts are shown below.

Once I had all the pieces cut, the were run through the Xyron 150 Create a Sticker.  Click here for a tutorial on the Create a Sticker, you will LOVE it.

Don't forget to outline your newly created stickers with a pen.

I'll talk about how I layered the various die cuts as the we go on.

Step 2: Creating the Stamped Background for this Card.

The background of this card uses the Stamping Off Technique.  This technique allows you to get several shades (or tones) of a color from a single stampin' pad.

 

The numbers in the image refer to the sequence the branch stamp was stamped on the card stock.  You can see how the Chocolate Chip Ink used on the branch stamp gets lighter the more times you stamp with it.  Please note, I did not re-ink in between stamping.   I did twist and turn the stamp to make it look different, but I did not re-ink the stamp.  The point is that by using the stamping off technique (or repeat stamping technique) you can get varying shades of a color. 

The varying shades gives the image some depth.  The lighter images appear further away than the darker branch.  This is a nice simple technique to use to add a little something to your projects.

The stamping off technique was also used for the red flowers.  The stamp was inked using the Ruby Red Stampin' Write marker and the Cameo Coral Stampin' Write marker.  The flowers were than stamped in the same order as the branches to produce the same graduations in tones.

Step 3: Layering the Die Cuts

Remember that a design process is iterative.  I began laying out the die cuts, when I decided that I wanted to add some green foliage to the background behind the die cut branches.  You will notice this in the pictures as you read a long.

 

The branches were then removed and the green foliage stamped behind the branches.  I then began cutting the various  components of the branches from the previous die cuts and layering them over each other.

Step 4: Sponging Technique

The last technique used on this card front is the sponging technique.  Sponge daubers were dipped on the Stampin' ink pad and rubbed along the edge of the bird.

 

Step 5: Stamped the inside of the card.

The inside of the card was stamped using a 2 step stamping technique.  For more information on the 2-step stamping technique, please click here.

Hope you enjoyed this weekends Saturday with Sizzix!

Comments

[Marie]

Thanks so much! The stamp set & sizzlit decorative die has quickly become one of my favorites!!! Thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment. Your comments really mean a lot to me! LOL - Marie

[Joan B]

wow this is awesome...

[Jean Fitch]

Gorgeous card Marie!

Thanks for the tutorial and the inspiration.
Hugs and blessings - Jean

[CeeCee]

Wow,absolutely stunning!!!
CC

[MaryJo Marshall]

this is beautiful!

[Venessa]

Nice card!!