Thursday, December 22, 2011

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:

Girly, You Rock:

62 comments:

  1. This is fabulously amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing this tip!

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  2. Wow! Amazing work as always, Mailee

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  3. This is such a nice idea. Thank you Maile.
    Hsve a nice Christmas

    xx Anita

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  4. Wow, this is amazing Maile. Thanks for sharing, I'm definitely going to give this a try!!! Merry Christmas!

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  5. Wow!! This is a great idea! I loved! :)

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  6. Love this idea! I can't wait to try it!

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  7. Impressive- I love the clean simple WOW you create with your cards Maile.
    The butterfly card is stunning!
    Thanks for sharing!

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  8. As always, what a fabulous idea!

    It's a good life!
    Terri E.

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  9. I adore both cards! Sometimes when you see a trend it's hard to know where to begin with it. Your tips and tutorial will certainly make this paper crafting trend more attainable for me, and for others I'm sure. THANKS! I have been following a blog whose author, Susan, has createf some amazing CAS cards using your stamps. If you don't already follow her "Simplicity" blog, and would like to take a peek, here's a link.
    http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com

    Happy Holidays, Maile! :)

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  10. Such a creative and totally FUN look -thanks for sharing!!!! Bx

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  11. thank you for the inspiration, happy holiday to you and yours!

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  12. beautiful results! what a great tip!

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  13. A great idea!Love love love!
    thank you for the inspiration!
    Merry Christmas to you and yours.
    Céline.

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  14. FABulous...love it...thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  15. Love the tree card, it's a die I used a lot this season. Beautiful! Thanks for the tip and inspiration . Merry Christmas!

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  16. Great idea! I love your style.

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  17. Awesome -I love the Girly you rock! card. Great idea for using our dies. Thanks Maile!

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  18. This is an AMAZING idea!!! Thanks for sharing!!

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  19. What a great ideae-this may be my favorite Christmas present! I will have to make a few thank yous today with this gorgeous technique. Great job on your first Senior Design Team Tip!

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  20. ooooo! love this and it's so easy. your cards look amazing! going to play with my dies and strips of papers.

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  21. Maile, you never cease to amaze me. :) What a wonderfully original idea! :) Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!

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  22. Love this project! It can be adapted to so many uses. And will help me use my pile of scraps...

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  23. Can't wait to play with this idea. I love it!

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  24. Totally stunning my dear! What a wonderful idea - thanks for some great ideas....wishing you and yours a very Happy Christmas. Greetings from Northern Ireland where it is mild and we will not have snow this Christmas, thank goodness, easier to get around.

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  25. Now I know why I've been saving all those strips of paper! Thanks for a fabulous set of ideas!

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  26. Love this idea, Maile! And the cards are so very chic! Happy Holidays to you, too:)

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  27. Brilliant idea, Maile and what a lovely effect using the negative part too! Very trendy! Thank you as always for wonderful inspiration.


    Happy Happy Christmas to you and your family!

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  28. Maile, you just knocked my socks off with this technique! Thanks for sharing and for all your awesome ideas. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  29. What a wonderful idea. Will be trying this one soon! Happy holidays to you and your family. Am a huge Papertrey Ink fan and always look forward to seeing all the cards you gals make and the wonderful ideas you share with us. Thank you!!

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  30. Oh my! Beautiful and brilliant, as in genius.
    Janice

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  31. Love your cards Maile and the technique you showed us today. You amaze us with your simple designs and I find myself coming back to your style more and more.

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  32. This is a fabulous way to use of scraps! Thanks for the idea!

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  34. I totally agree with everyone else! Fab way to use up all the scraps! You are amazing! I use so many of your ideas!

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  35. I love this! I am so going to CASE your 2nd example!

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  36. SUPER idea..love your cards!
    Have a wonderful Christmas and the very best wishes for 2012!
    Thanks for all your inspiration this year..look very much forward to next years!

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  37. Very cool idea! I love your cards! Have a blessed Christmas!

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  38. That is a wonderful technique Maile! Thanks for sharing it with us! Merry Christmas!

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  39. Such a wonderful idea. Just wanted to know what kind of adhesive you used to attach the strips of paper to the underlying paper?? Thanks for the new idea. Erika Bishop

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  40. love this idea! and your tips are super helpful, thank you so much! both are beautiful, I'll have to give this a try soon

    -rachel w k
    rwkrafts.blogspot.com

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  41. This is such a clever idea and I wonder, "why didn't I think of that". It's a great idea. You make such beautiful cards, but I'm sometimes dissappointed that I can't see them up closer, when i click on them. My eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, and a closer look would be very helpful. I do love your creations though.

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  42. Really cool way to dress up a die! I will definitely have to try this! Love both cards!

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  43. This is a great idea. I do have a question, how would I do this for a graduation party invite?

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  44. I think you are the best when it comes to using PTI's products!!! Merry Christmas to you!!!
    Gay Ferland
    gay_ferland@yahoo.com

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  45. Always love your designs Maile, and thanks so much for the 'block colour' tips.

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  46. Maile, what a clever and stunning
    idea! The cards that you have
    created are fabulous. Thanks so
    much for sharing this idea! Gotta
    give it a try.

    Sherry in MI

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  47. Love this idea, Maile!! Thanks for the inspiration! Will need to give this a whirl! ;) merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  48. This is a wonderful technique, Maile! Will definitely be giving this a try after the holidays!

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  49. I love the look of this with solid cardstocks! Really pretty! Can't wait to try it! Thanks so much!

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  50. I'm always looking for ways to use up left over strips! This is a fabulous idea Mailee! Thanks for the clear instructions and inspiration projects!!

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  51. Love it! Love it! Love it! And I cannot wait to try this technique. Thanks so much.

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  52. Thanks for sharing the tutorial!!! Love thiiiiisssss....

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  53. Adorable Thank you card and a fantastic tutorial! Thanks for sharing! I love the idea and it can be used in so many fun ways!!

    Woohoo! Something new and fun to inspire me!!

    :) Lisa

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  54. Hi Maile! What a great technique. And so easy too. I made some thank you cards with it. You can see them here http://iamderby.blogspot.com/2011/12/color-blocked-thank-yous.html

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  55. Hi Maile! Lovely Card, dear!
    Maile, please get in contact with me, 'cause I have a special invitation to make you: magazine publication.
    Please get in contact: reach_ju@hotmail.com, cardmakingbrasil@gmail.com
    Hope to hear from you soon!
    Happy New Year!!!
    Love, Julia Sáddi

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  56. OMG, what a great way to us up scraps of card stock. Very pretty card, and a fairly easy project to complete. Makes me want to go to my "card stock scrap box/folder".
    Thanks for sharing this technique.

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