CUTplorations Mini Release Blog Hop

Hello Crafty Friends!

STAMPlorations are releasing some fabulous CUTplorations edge/border dies today, and they are celebrating in style with a MINI Release Blog Hop. Here are the tree and edge beauties ...

... and here is what I made of them working mainly with white Centura Pearl card for a subtle shimmer ...

First up is the Stitched Spring Landscape die which was cut from plain white card. I then added some texture using the medium sizes tree from the Tree Silhouetttes set and pigment inks (Mantis Green, Soft Pink and Gold Shimmer Pearlescent and Evergreen Metallic Artiste pigment inks). I made sure not to ink up the tree trunks as I wanted to randomly stamp the canopy using the generational stamping technique.
I added two scored lines to my pearlescent base card, attached the Spring Landscape, inlaid the window, added a die-cut 'New' from the New Year Phrase Die, stamped the 'home' from the Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year set and finished off with a few sequins.

Next up is the Stitched Winter Landscape die which I combined with the Stitched Snow Hills and the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies to create this Winter Wonderland Shaker card. It's a little tricky, but well worth it. I cut a piece of pearlescent card exactly the same size as my frame, I did use the nesting die for this, and a base card fitting the exact same size for which I used my paper trimmer. It is important to get the correct measurements for your base card at this point as it will help you when assembling the landscape.

From my large stitched rectangle, I first die-cut the Winter Landscape and put it to one side, Next I die-cut the left hill before die-cutting the last hill using dies from the Stitched Snow Hills set making sure to keep the corresponding pieces together along the way.

I then started assembling the landscape from the top down (pretty much in reverse order in which they were cut) starting with the sky piece which was quickly and easily aligned with the top of my base card. Next I sponged a little blue into the sky.

To help me add the hills, I placed the Winter Landscape at the bottom and glued the pieces including the window on the right hand side in place. I removed the landscape and added some sponging. I repeated this process for the second hill before gluing the Winter Landscape into place, adding some white Flower Soft and attaching the shaker front into place.

TIP!: When cutting the Stitched Winter Landscape, place your die slightly in from the edge for the trees to be seen within the frame. It is just a simple snip to fully trim the landscape off.

Last but not least is my card using one of the Lacy Edges And Borders dies in combination with the Clustered Hearts die and the medium Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies plus a little sentiment from A Snarky Birthday To You.

From my stitched rectangle, I started cutting the red edge first, edged with red and put the piece to one side. I rotated my die, cut and edged the orange edge and put to one side. I continued like this until all the edges were cut. I die-cut the hearts from red and white pearlescent card, assembled everything on a matching rectangle for ease, stamped the sentiment and layered on my base card to finish.

Phew! There are a few die-cutting ideas here, and I am sure my teamies will add to them. Pop over to the STAMPlorations Blog to check out the projects my teamies created and of course to join the hop.

Commenting closes Tuesday, 21st February and there'll be two winners, randomly drawn from the STAMPlorations and participating designers' blogs. One will win a $15 gift certificate and the other one will win her choice of either Lacy Edges or Winter & Spring Stitched Landscape dies.

The winners will be announced in the February Challenges and Blog Hop Winners Post on 10th March on the STAMPlorations Blog. Feel free to subscribe to their blog for updates on challenges, blog hops and of course winners too.

That's it from me for now. I shall be back later with a fun Spotlight Tutorial making even more good use of the Lacy Edges And Borders Dies.

See you then!
hugs
Monika xxx

here is what I used from the STAMPlorations Shop, remember to apply my personal discount code STAMPGIRLMONIKA (not case sensitive) at check out for a 20% discount on their stamps, stencils and dies:
CUTplorations Dies: Stitched Spring Landscape, Stitched Winter Landscape, Lacy Edges And Borders,

Stitched Snow Hills, New Year Word Die, Clustered Hearts, Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangle Nesting Dies

STAMPlorations Stamps: VIGNETTE Tree Silhouettes, Sentiment Builders: Christmas & New Year, A Snarky Birthday To You