Wednesday Trends: 3D Dies

Good Morning everyone! It's Sandra here and I have a pop quiz for you!! 

What does this card, and this one, and this one have in common?? They all use dies in a three dimensional way! Last week I made this card using the Enjoy Life dies and thought I'd share a little tutorial with you today on how to make them! (I have no clue on what they're really called, so I'm going with 3D doohickey/thingamabob, k?) 

Here's what you'll need to make one of these thingamabob's:

• A symmetrical die (the image has to be able to fold in half and be the same on both sides)

• Patterned paper

• Scor-pal or similar

• Adhesive glue

Step 1: Cut out 5 die cuts with the symmetrical die you're choosing to use. For my example, I'm using the Christmas tree from the Warmest Wishes set. You could cut out more die shapes if you liked

Step 2: Score down the center of your die, with the side you want showing facing up. Repeat for all die cuts.

Step 3: If you need to emboss or add ink to your die cut pieces, now's a good time to do it. I sponged the edges of mine with Distress Ink. Now, turn your die cut pieces over (I've used double sided patterned paper) and apply adhesive to the right hand side of your pieces. I've marked mine so you can see which side clearly. Repeat for all but one of the pieces.
 

Step 4: Using one of the pieces with adhesive on it and the one without any, turn them so they have the wrong sides facing each other and their edges line up (like in the upper left hand photo below). Press them together so that the one side with adhesive is stuck well. It should look like one die cut. Then fold back one of the die cuts along the score line, so it exposes the wrong sides of the die cuts. Repeat the same process with the rest of the die cuts, folding them back to expose the wrong sides as you go. Once you've added the last die and folded it back, it should look something like the photo in the bottom right hand corner, below.

Step 5: You're almost done! All you have to do now is apply adhesive to the two exposed wrong sides of the die cuts and glue it to your card! It's as easy as that!

Here's what the Christmas tree 3D doohickey looks like on a card! Pretty cool right?! If you're worried about mailing cards with these on them; don't be! You can flatten them along the folds and they slip inside an envelope beautifully and the recipient of the card just needs to 'fluff' them up a little to get them back to their original shape again!

I hope this has inspired you to use your dies in a new way! Thanks for stopping by!

Trendsetter Tuesday- Sandra!!

What can I say about Sandra MacLean that isn't completely obvious...well, LOTS!! Beyond being one of THE most talented stampers I have EVER come across, she is smart, funny, loyal, beautiful, and just one of the best people around!! I am in LOVE with her work, as I am sure a lot of you are too, and have been for years! Sandra just keeps getting better, and we LOVE her here at There She Goes!!

Her first card is one from our recent release using Maidbot....O. M. WERD!!! I have been in LOVE with it from the moment I saw it, and yeah, I pretty much still feel the same way!! Here coloring, the amazing paper and layout...she has SUCH fun and CREATIVE layouts, and really uses her stamps, and embellishments in such a balanced, perfect way. I just LOVE this!!

Another OVER THE TOP fun layout for this week's challenge using Oh Snap! I can't even imagine how much work it was to make that background, but it is AMAZING!! Such great style, and the subtle darkening of the edges...so eye catching!

And finally....but definitely last but not least, this GORGEOUS creation!! Her coloring it TOP NOTCH, but her papers, layout, and creative use of the Oh Crop  and Poultry in Motion sets...BRILLIANT!! Another one to LOVE, am I right?

Well, that is it for me for now!! Thanks for stopping by, and be sure to stop by Sandra's blog and shower her with LOTS of love!!

TSG168 Get Sentimental

This week our challenge is brought to us by our Trendsetter of the week, Sandra! She is challenging YOU to make a card or project using a sentiment as the main focus of your card!!

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a card or project using this week’s challenge and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (August 13th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

 

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the lookout to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :)

 

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG168 so we can check out your beautiful work!

 

Need some inspiration to help you get started? Check out these great cards made by the following Trendsetters!!

~ Kim O.
~ Sandra
~Torico
~Angela
~ Wendy
~ Debby
~Jessie

Winner of last week's challenge is: Linda Monroe
Here are your random numbers:

12 

Timestamp: 2012-08-05 15:50:07 UTC

Week in Review (July 29 to August 4th)

What is Week In Review (WIR)?- WIR is where we showcase cards made by the Trendsetters and myself throughout the week. Not only to you get to see gorgeous projects made using TSG stamps, but you also have a chance to WIN one of these cards! Leave a comment on this post and next WIR I will choose a winner using a random number generator. That person will then get to pick out their favorite card and the Trendsetter that created it will send it to them :)

Last week's Winner is: Sharla
Here are your random numbers:

5 

Timestamp: 2012-08-04 17:15:07 UTC



Kim O. (Ho Ho Ho) 

Debby (Enjoy Life)

Candace (Beach Bums)

Jessie(Happy Trails)

Jessie(Beach Bums)

Anything But a Card....um, Saturday?

Sorry I am so late with the Anything But a Card Friday post...I lost my Uncle this week, and my mojo went on a break. 

For my Anything But a Card Friday post, I altered a small clipboard that I purchased at Office Depot. I covered the base with paper from the MME Union Square paper pad. I used Scor Tape to adhere it, and then sanded the edges. My ribbon is Black Licorice Grosgrain from MFT. For my saying, which is what I call my stamp room(it's in the basement), was made using American Crafts Thickers. I stamped my image and sentiment from the Every Child set on X-Press It blending card, and then colored it with my Copics. I layered her with Black Licorice cardstock, and added some brads, and a spiral clip with Sweet Tooth and Wild Cherry ribbon on it.

Well, that is it for me for now! Have a great day!

Trendsetting Spotlight on Amber Milone!!

This week's Trendsetting Spotlight has fallen on Amber Milone!! Amber has only had a blog since May, but I couldn't help but show off her SUPER cute work after seeing this past week's challenge entry from her!

She used the Cutie Pi set, and I JUST LOVE her take on the sketch! Pretty colors, and coloring, and I LOVE that ribbon! Do you see the shine on the goggles? Adorable!

While poking around on her blog, I came across THIS cute card, and wanted to show it off, too! She has used the Scent-sational set, and I LOVE how she layered the presents!! And, can you see that little bit of sparkle on the ribbon and dots, SO FUN!

Thanks so much for playing along with our weekly challenges Amber, and for being a loyal fan! Be sure to stop by and tell her hi!

Wednesday Trends-Paper Piercing with Jessie

If I have been asked once, I have been asked 100 times how I do my paper piercing, one of my "go to" embellishments on my cards, so I thought I would throw together a quick tutorial so you would know some of my tricks.

First, I stamp my image, color him, get him cut out, and then I go ahead and layer him. I NEVER pierce through one layer UNLESS it is a sentiment panel(which I normally do as single layer). 

I use the Stamping Up Piercing Guide, formally the Mat Pack. It is TWICE as big now, and I'm not sure I like it as well, but if you can't tell by the photos...it's the first time I've used this particular mat. I pierce a LOT and it kinda looks like someone's chewed on my other one, LOL! I try not to move the guide as much as possible, so I line it up to where I can use as many of the holes in one go...see here, it wraps around from the bottom, all the way to the opposite corner. 

I then use my paper piercer to poke my holes along the edge being sure to hold on to the guide so it doesn't slide around. I have tried out SEVERAL styles of paper piercers, and this Making Memories one seems to be my favorite. I bought it back in 2007, and have tried really hard to find a replacement, but I can't seem to find this exact one. any piercer will do, though. Be sure when you are poking your holes you go STRAIGHT down, not at an angle!!!! Trust me, it matters because when you go at an angle, the holes look less open, and sloppy. 

When I adhere my paper pierced panels, I ALWAYS use dimensionals. The reasoning for this AND not only piercing through one layer is that when you glue it down, and you don't leave a space between the bottom layer, and what you glue it to, it smashes the holes back up, and they don't look as open or good. That's why I go ahead and mat my image BEFORE I pierce my holes, because if you don't, when you glue it down, it just doesn't look as good. It is a little harder to do(poking through all those layers of card stock), but the end result is WELL worth the effort.

And here you have it, my finished results(and my challenge card for this week)!! I pierce the base, and the paper layer the same way. The top 4 layers(from my MME paper to the Blu Raspberry layer) are all glued together first, and then pierced.

Well, that is it for me for now!! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment here, or send me an email at Jessi96@yahoo.com!!

Thanks and have a great day!!