You can create some beautiful and striking cards by using your dies and stamps to create a ’window’ effect to a scene behind a shaped aperture. These cards are created by inking and stamping images on one piece of card and using a shaped aperture from a negative die-cut over the top to frame and highlight the scene or images.

Have a look through you die collection and I am sure you will find a variety of dies which you can use to create some unique aperture shapes. You will need dies which will leave a large enough negative aperture to allow you create a scene behind. Nesting dies such as hearts are an obvious choice, but you can also create some fancy apertures using more intricate dies, or using two dies together such as the flower and leaf in the Best Wishes card.

To create the scenes behind the negative die-cut shapes place the die you are using onto a piece of white card with the cutting edge down. Draw around the die approximately 1cm from the outer edge to give you the area to add the inking and stamping. You can colour the area with Distress inks and add stamped images over the top, or you can stamp scenes and colour them. Clear stamps work well for this because you can see where you are stamping within the area which will be seen through the die-cut aperture. At this stage it may look rather messy, but once the die-cut piece is placed over the top the scene you have created will really pop.

On a second piece of card hold the die in place with low-tack tape and die-cut to give you the aperture piece. Save the die-cut pieces to use as embellishments or for other projects. Using 3D foam on the back of the die-cut piece gives dimension and depth to the scene but make sure to use some small pieces around all of the die-cut shape. Place this over the inked and stamped piece and see your scene come to life.

Give this a go and see what you can create!

1

Place the large flower die facedown on the right-hand side of an 11x16cm panel of white cardstock, then draw a circle approximately 1cm from the edge of the die

2

Punch a 1.5cm circle from the sticky edge of a Post-it note and attach to card inside the drawn circle

3

Using Cut-N-Dry foam and Distress Ink add colour to the area of the circle, using darker shades at the edges and blending the different colours

4

Remove the Post-it-Note circle and stamp the grasses and flowers using Onyx Black ink over the coloured background. Colour the small flowers

5

Cut a 12x17cm panel of white cardstock and cut the die from the right-hand side, affix in place with low-tack masking tape to ensure it lines up with the scene

6

Add ribbon and gems to the panel and attach over the scene using 3D foam pads. Matt onto turquoise cardstock and attach to the card front. Layer a stamped sentiment onto turquoise cardstock and affix in place using 3D foam pads

With love- cute embossed panel lovebird card with stamped sentiment
Cute lovebird valentines/anniversary card with embossed back panel and inked image, embellished with sequins and ribbon
Stamping1 min read08 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • White 18cm-square card blank
  • White smooth card
  • Purple cardstock
  • Hint of Silver Centura Pearl cardstock
  • Dovecraft Love Birds clear stamp
  • Weathered Wood, Broken China, Shaded Lilac & Wilted Violet Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Sentiment stamp
  • Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic inkpad
  • Post-it note
  • Ribbon
  • Gems
  • 3D foam pads
  • Ranger Cut-N-Dry foam
  • Manul die-cutting machine
  • Xcut Nesting dies Homespun Heart
  • Crafter’s Companion Embossalicious Vintage Floral Rose Swirl folder
Birthday wishes poppy card
Create this pretty poppy design card finished with gemstone and ribbon embellishments
Stamping1 min read08 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white 13x18cm card blank
  • white smooth card
  • turquoise cardstock
  • Inkylicious Poppy Lea stamp
  • Weathered Wood, Broken China, Shaded Lilac & Wilted Violet Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • sentiment stamp
  • Purple Hydrangea VersaMagic inkpad
  • 1.5cm circle punch
  • Post-it note
  • ribbon
  • gems
  • 3D foam pads
  • Ranger Cut-N-Dry foam
  • manual die-cutting machine
  • Tattered Lace Lavish Blooms Poppy die
You’re the best card
Pretty and delicate, create this card featuring floral and butterfly designs and gemstone embellishments
Die-cutting1 min read08 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white 20cm-square card blank
  • white smooth card
  • purple cardstock
  • Hint of Silver Centura Pearl card
  • Leane Creatief Blossom stamp set
  • Ranger Distress Inks Broken China & Shaded Lilac
  • Sentiment stamp
  • Purple Hydrangea, Spring Pansy & Pretty Petunia VersaMagic inkpad
  • small butterfly punch
  • ribbon
  • gems
  • 3D foam pads
  • Ranger Cut-N-Dry foam
  • manual die-cutting machine
  • Memory Box Darla Butterfly & Isabella Butterfly dies
  • Crafter’s Companion Embossalicious Flutterby Butterfly embossing folder
For My Best Friend Card
Show a special friend how much you care by creating this delightful design
Stamping1 min read08 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white A5 card blank
  • white smooth card
  • dark turquoise cardstock
  • Sheena Seascapes stamp set
  • Broken China, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Pine Needles & Scattered Straw Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • Woodware For My Best Friend stamp
  • Spring Pansy VersaMagic inkpad
  • ribbon
  • gems
  • 3D foam pads
  • Ranger Cut-N-Dry foam
  • manual die-cutting machine
  • Crafter’s Companion Birthday Party Collection Balloon Trio dies
  • Crafter’s Companion Textures Hessian embossing folder
It’s Your Birthday Card
Celebrating birthdays in style with butterflies, ribbons and gems!
Stamping1 min read08 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white 20cm-square card blank
  • white smooth card
  • purple & turquoise cardstock
  • Card-io Backyard Blooms stamp set
  • Broken China, Weathered Wood, Wilted Violet & Shaded Lilac Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink
  • sentiment stamp
  • Purple Hydrangea & Turquoise Gem VersaMagic inkpad
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • ribbons
  • gems
  • 3D foam pads
  • Ranger Cut-N-Dry foam
  • manual die-cutting machine
  • Memory Box Butterfly Exhibit die
Best wishes layered card
Create this striking layered card featuring flower and gem embellishments
Stamping1 min read08 Aug 2019
DISCOVER

You will need

  • white 10.5x21cm card blank
  • white smooth cardstock
  • purple cardstock
  • Inkylicious Picture Perfect 1 stamp
  • Broken China, Weathered Wood, Wilted Violet & Shaded Lilac Ranger Distress Inks
  • Onyx Black VersaFine inkpad
  • sentiment stamp
  • Turquoise Gem VersaMagic inkpad
  • 3D foam tape
  • ribbons
  • gems
  • Cut-N-Dry foam
  • manual die-cutting machine
  • Crafter’s Companion English Country Garden Collection Lazy Daisy die