Die-cut Letterpress Tutorial
Learn the art of Letterpress Die-cutting! This technique is a great way to get more out of your dies – whether it’s basic shapes or some really intricate designs.
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Follow Christine's super-easy step-by-step guide to create your own letterpress creations!
You can turn any of your dies into handmade letterpress elements using scrap card and vellum.
The basic letterpress die-cutting principle is to create a thick die-cut by stacking up multiple die-cuts which you can run through your die-cutting machine using the embossing sandwich to give you a debossed impression. Then for that letterpress look, simply add another die-cut to the bottom, this time from vellum. This gives you a slick surface for you to apply your ink to, enabling you to transfer the ink from the letterpress element to the card when the pressure is applied. Depending on the die-cutting machine, you might need more or fewer layers of scrap card before you add your vellum to get a nice crisp debossed impression, but start with fewer, as you can easily add an extra scrap card die-cut to the top.
The simplest version of the technique is to have all your letterpress elements separate from each other with no overlap so that you can run everything though in one go, giving an even finish where each image is debossed to the same level.
This means if you’re repeating a die-cut, you’ll need to make multiple letterpress elements for that design. To add extra depth to the technique, why not repeat the process with different colours to create a layered design, or ink up the letterpress elements with a few different colours of ink to give an ombré effect. You don’t just need to apply it to basic shapes or intricate designs either, word dies work fabulously as well. So whatever dies you have in your collection, give letterpress die-cutting a go with just scrap card and vellum, no fancy letterpress contraption required.
Die-cut the selected die twice from scrap card, and once from vellum. You’ll need two complete homemade letterpress elements
Use glue to adhere all three die-cuts together, making sure you add the vellum one to the bottom
Ink up the homemade letterpress element, adding the ink directly to the vellum side
Repeat the process in Step 3 for the second letterpress element
Place the cardstock onto the embossing mat then carefully flip over the inked letterpress elements and add them to the card front
Run through your die-cutting machine using the same sandwich you would use to emboss a die, then carefully remove the letterpress elements
You will need
- white 10.5x13.5cm tent-fold card blank
- Empire Blue, Laguna Bay & Lime Burst Tonic Studios Nuvo inkpads
- Green Hills Hero Arts inkpad
- gems
- white cardstock
- vellum
- Dymo Labeller & tape
- glitter
- Cosmic Shimmer Glue
- 3D foam pads
- Card Making Magic Complete 5x7 Box & Layered Florals die sets
- Crafti Potential Crafti Words Wishes die & stamp set
- Crafti Potential A2 Stitched Rectangle Fleur De Lis dies
You will need
- white 13.5cm-square card blank
- white cardstock
- vellum
- Laguna Bay Tonic Studios Nuvo inkpad
- Cornflower & Green Hills Hero Arts inkpads
- Nautical Blue Memento inkpad
- gems
- Dymo Labeller & tape
- glitter
- Cosmic Shimmer Glue
- 3D foam pads
- Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pens
- Card Making Magic Complete 5x7 Box, Layered Florals & Welcome Baby die sets
- Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Square dies
You will need
- white 14.5 cm-square card blank
- Empire Blue, Laguna Bay, Lime Burst Tonic Studios Nuvo inkpads
- Cornflower & Green Hills Hero Arts inkpads
- Nautical Blue Memento inkpad
- gems
- white cardstock
- vellum
- Dymo Labeller & tape
- glitter
- Cosmic Shimmer Glue
- 3D foam pads
- Card Making Magic Complete 5x7 Box & Layered Florals die sets
- Crafti Potential Crafti Words Birthday die & stamp set
- Tonic Studios Floral Favour Octagon Layering die set
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You will need
- white 14.5 cm-square card blank
- Empire Blue, Laguna Bay & Lime Burst Tonic Studios Nuvo inkpads
- Cornflower & Green Hills Hero Arts inkpads
- Nautical Blue Memento inkpad
- gems
- white cardstock
- vellum
- Dymo Labeller & tape
- glitter
- Cosmic Shimmer Glue
- 3D foam pads
- Card Making Magic Layered Florals, Complete 5x7 Box & Complete 6x6 Box die sets
- Crea-Nest-Lies Double Stitched Square dies
You will need
- White 13.5x10.5cm card blank
- Laguna Bay Tonic Studios Nuvo inkpad
- Green Hills Hero Arts inkpad
- Nautical Blue Memento inkpad
- Gems
- White cardstock
- Vellum
- Cosmic Shimmer Glue
- 3D foam pads
- Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll pens
- Card Making Magic Layered Florals Die Set
- Crafti Potential Crafti Words Hello die & stamp set
- Crafti Potential A2 Stitched Rectangle Fleur De Lis dies
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