Die Cut Embossed Features

 Hello my crafty friends!  This is another card that was done with an objective in mind.  I wanted to illustrate how you can use your die cuts as an embossing detail.  Now this method is different from putting your die on the card and placing the tan mat over it and just embossing it.  While that does give a lovely effect, this method will create a softer embossed look for your card.  What I have done here is cut two of the Heartfelt Creations Oval window and glued them together to create a slightly thicker one.  I used cardstock that was 215gsm so together it was double that thickness and I think it was just about the right thickness.  (Just a little note here, if you glue three together thinking that you will get a deeper emboss, it doesn't quite work like that, it just tears or creases the surrounding card).  I stamped my sentiment with a black archival ink and clear embossed it.  Then, I placed my glued die cuts under my card so it surrounded my sentiment.  You can do this fairly easily by holding your card to the light  so you can see the sentiment and then centring the die before taping it in place.  Then, I placed the tan mat on top and the pink embossing plate and ran it through the GC.  Now, in theory, you can remove the dies and keep them to use another time or you can leave them in place so the embossing won't become flattened since they are on the underside of the card.  I removed mine to reuse later.  Next I cut out two of the Heartfelt Creations Decorative Lace Border in the soft gold card.  I cut both apart into sections and used only the lattice part at the edge.  It was backed with black card and mounting foam.  I cut two of the Vintage Lace borders in gold and placed those so they were peeking out from underneath the lattice sections on either side of the card.  I  pierced the main card piece top and bottom only between the borders to help frame my focal element.  I used a black mat as a final background to the card.  I really like how easily this design could be adapted for masculine cards (which are always a challenge) and suitable even for sympathy cards.  I'm sure you will come up with some other ideas too!

Just a quick note too to let you know that I have dates for my next shows on Create and Craft TV.  I will be doing the Tool Shed from noon to 2pm and the 5pm show on Sunday the 16th of Dec.  Right now, those are my only dates before Christmas,  I will let you know if that changes.  All for now, Sue x