3 WAYS: Alphabet & Word Dies
Hello! I am a big fan of finding ways to creatively use products… especially those products that have a higher price point. Today’s video shows three ways to use alphabet dies… but it can work with word dies, too!
[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]
I share three techniques today. All of them start with a background of any kind (stamped, embossed, stenciled, etc.), and then the alphabet die cutting. Lots of possibilities! If you don’t have alphabet dies, you can use word dies instead.
#1: 2-for-1
I am a huge fan of “2-for-1 techniques”…. techniques that result in enough finished pieces to create two cards. Here, I show creating a background and die cutting a word from it. Keep in mind – you can create the background any way you want – stamping, inking, etc. I chose stenciling.
I used the Altenew Plaid Plate A and Altenew Plaid Plate B Dies to create my own stencils from cardstock. I then inked over the stencils with Altenew Ocean Waves Dye Ink, Altenew Warm Sunshine Dye Ink, and my Mini Ink Blending Tool. I really like how the yellow and blue ink overlap to make green. I next die cut the Altenew Bold Alphabet Dies to make “HUGS”.
Using the negative space, I created a simple shaker card with Hero Arts Acetate and Lucy’s Cards Coral Island Sequin Shaker Mix. The added sentiment is from the fabulous Altenew Crafty Friends Stamp Set.
I added the letters themselves to a white layered background cut with the Altenew Plaid Plate A and Altenew Plaid Plate B Dies. Easy peasy.
If you aren’t into shaker cards you could also do a see-through or inlay card.
#2: DIE CUT INLAY
Die cut inlay also is another great use of alphabet dies. Here, I created white heat embossed backgrounds on white cardstock with the Altenew Under the Cherry Tree Stamp Set. I then used the Altenew Bold Alphabet Dies to die cut “FRIENDS”.
For my first card, I inked just the letters with Altenew Coral Berry Dye Ink and my Mini Ink Blending Tool. The embossing resists the ink and allows the stamping to show through. I then placed them back into the un-inked negative space for an inlay look.
For the next card, I inked the negative space for an ombre look and popped back in place the un-inked letters. The sentiments are from the Altenew Crafty Friends Stamp Set. I also added Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals Mix for sparkle.
I also used the Altenew Crafty Friends Stamp Set for the matching envelope.
And… a bonus card. Just because. 🙂 That Altenew Crafty Friends Stamp Set slays me!
You could save a lot of time with this technique by instead white heat embossing a background stamp.
#3: POP-UP DIE CUTTING
Popping up letters from a stamped background is definitely eye-catching! I like this technique so much that I created several examples.
First we have cats! (Says the dog person, lol.) I used the MISTI to stamp the new Altenew Modern Cats Stamp Set on both Altenew Spicy Yogurt and white cardstock pieces. I then die cut the Altenew Bold Alphabet “MEOW” in the same place from both pieces.
I adhered the white cardstock negative space on a Altenew Spicy Yogurt notecard. I die cut lots of Altenew Spicy Yogurt “MEOW” letters and layered them in the open letter spaces. On the top, I glued the stamped Altenew Spicy Yogurt letters.
I did the same for the card but opposite colors. Isn’t that cat cute? (Says the girl who is sneezing while stamping them.) Check out the dimension with this technique.
If you want to save time, you don’t have to pop up the letters with this technique. You could instead do a simple inlay, as I did with these two cards…
I have another pair of examples using this technique. This time I used the Altenew Budding Thanks Stamp Set. That flower looks so realistic!
The sentiment is from the Altenew Enchanted Iris Stamp Set and I added Wink of Stella shimmer to the stamping. Those Studio Katia Sparkling Crystals Mix are gorgeous!
Keep in mind – if you don’t have alphabet dies to pop up a background, try any die you may have – words, circles, hearts – anything!
BLOG HOP
This post is also a part of the Altenew May 2017 Release Blog Hop focusing on their newest stamps, dies, and more. Altenew continually amazes me with their incredible and creative releases! You can find all the new products HERE.
The next stop on the hop is the home of the talented Virginia Lu. (You can also start at the beginning of the hop at the Altenew Blog.)
GIVEAWAYS
How would you like to win a $30 gift certificate to Altenew? For your chance, leave a comment below by 11:59pmEST on 6/1/17 telling me if you ever use alphabet dies. (To leave a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post and click the green “leave a comment” button. The winner’s name will be randomly selected, emailed and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too!)
Altenew is also giving away a $50 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners! Head to the Altenew Blog for details.
SUPPLIES
Want to find the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those from Altenew. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Altenew (ALT), etc.
