Color Blocking With Dies

Thanks everyone for joining me today, for my first Papertrey Ink Senior Design Tip. I've got something fun to share with you today, it involves two of my current card making faves and I've been dying to share...

Dies have proven to be such versatile and trendy tools, and so... they have become a necessity in many card makers collections, making them a "hot item". Another currently trendy style, this year, has been the color blocked look. You can find this trend not only in the world of card making, but in the worlds of fashion and home decor. When you combine the two you get a trendy and unique look that's an easy addition to your own creations. Using the same techniques available to you through your dies, you can take them up another notch by die cutting color blocked shapes, focal points, borders, panels and so much more.

Let me show you what I'm talking about...

First up, a colorful color blocked Christmas tree to make the perfect thank you card for after the Christmas holiday. I started this card by trimming and stamping a white cardstock panel with a sentiment from In The Meadow, in True Black ink. Then attached the panel to a Soft Stone card base.

I then die cut the Christmas tree from cardstock colors of Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss & Hibiscus Burst. Attached the tree to the card base, touched up with glitter and embellished with a button and a ribbon bow.Let me show you how: Start with an assortment of colored cardstock strips cut to different widths.

Then attach the strips to a cardstock panel and trim the edges. Now you are left with a color blocked panel ready to be put to work.

Here's A Tip: Be sure to give the back of each strip a good covering of adhesive. Try to cover the entire piece.

There are two options available from this point...

You can either die cut a number of desired shapes from the color blocked panel. Like pictured above and below...Or die cut a single shape to create a color blocked panel for your card base, like on the card below...

Here's A Tip: When die cutting through two layers of cardstock, you may need to make a few passed through your die cutting machine to ensure a clean cut. Another option (if you can't get your machine to cut through the two cardstock layers) would be to attach the cardstock strips to a lighter weight cardstock or even to computer paper. My die cutting machine has no problem cutting through two layers of cardstock.

I started by creating a color blocked panel from cardstock colors of Smoky Shadow, Berry Sorbet and Melon Berry. I die cut a Signature Series: Butterfly from the panel, wrapped it with Smoky Shadow Twill ribbon and attached it to a white card base using dimensional adhesive.

Within the die cut opening, I stamped a Signature Greetings sentiment. Then embellished with a Smoky Shadow button and glittered around the butterfly opening.

I hope all of you have been inspired by what I've shared with you today. One things for sure... you'll be seeing more color blocking with dies from me in the future. If any of you decide to give it a try too, be sure to share your projects with me. I'd love to see!

Merry Christmas to you all! I hope you have a blessed and wonderful one!

Maile

Thank You For The Gift:

• Stamps: In The Meadow
• Ink: True Black
• Cardstock: Soft Stone, White, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss & Hibiscus Burst
• Accessories: Hibiscus Burst Button, 1/4" White Silk Ribbon, Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue (Rock Candy) & Christmas Tree Die

Girly, You Rock:

• Stamps: Signature Greetings
• Ink: Gray
• Cardstock: White, Smoky Shadow, Berry Sorbet & Melon Berry
• Accessories: Smoky Shadow Twill Ribbon, Smoky Shadow Button, White Embroidery Floss, Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue (Rock Candy) & Signature Series: Butterfly Die