To die-cut or not to die-cut!

TGIF! It's FAB FRIDAY on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog!


It's Spike today on the DT with, die-cut or not to die cut, the tutorial...
Now I can't take full credit for this technique, I had a crafter in my Cuttlebug Basics class ask me how to do this as she had seen it somewhere before and she drew me a picture of it. I took it home and thought about it and then played around to get what you see here! If you were the originator of this fab idea, please let me know so I can give you proper credit!



Before I start, in the directions I mention a "B-Embossing Plate" and a "B-Cutting Plate". These both are the regular "B Plates" for your Cuttlebug only that I suggest you keep a set of B Plates for Embossing (to keep them nice and flat) and another set of B Plates for cutting (so only one set really gets the wear and tear). But if you only have one set of B plates that you use for both, then just use them as is.

Also keep in mind that all machines can be slightly different, the sandwich stacks listed below are a guideline, you may have to add a shim or two to yours. As always, err on the side of too thin than too thick, you can always run it through again! :)

So first to start, grab your fave Nestie and a piece of cardstock that's the same length of the diameter of your Nestie by twice it's diameter.

For example, my Nestie is 4" diameter (from end to end) so my piece of cardstock is 4" x 8"


So when the card stock piece is folded in half, the Nestie would fit perfectly on it.


I keep Post-It or sticky notes handy by my machine, it's really handy when I want to keep things from sliding around and I don't have any wiggle room! They're thin enough where no impression comes through. At this point, secure the Nestie cutting side down with a sticky note to the card stock.


Set up your embossing sandwich: A Plate, B Embossing Plate, tan embossing mat (from Spellbinders), cardstock with secured Nestie, B Embossing Plate. Run it through your Cuttlebug. Wheeeeee!

Now don't get over zealous and don't pull apart the Nestie from your now embossed cardstock, figure out which end has the fold. This is the end that will remain embossed and you don't want to cut it. So I make note of it on the sticky note.


Start setting up your cutting sandwich: A Plate, B Cutting Plate, cardstock with secured Nestie... with the fold AWAY from the machine (in this photo, I have it oppsite but don't do that...turn it around)


The folded end is now facing away. Next (blue arrow below) slip the tan embossing mat UNDERNEATH your cardstock in half way. (The tan embossing mat will "protect" the area from being cut).

After you've slipped in the tan mat, place a C-Plate on top. Then run the sandwich through the Cuttlebug up to the middle (see black line below). It will be difficult to go through the machine at this point anyways because the mat is too thick to run through and do NOT force it the rest of the way. Instead roll it out backwards.



Then taking apart the sandwich and flipping the cardstock over, you can see where the die cut and where it didn't. (If the cardstock isn't cut to size, you may have to trim it a little!)


And there you have it! I just added a few more layers of cut cardstock in alternating colours and topped it off with some liquid pearls to accent the scallops!


I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. If you give it a go, I'd love to see what you come up with! Just add your link to your card in the comments area below.

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Have a happy, scrappy Friday!!

Love,