Documenting Life Tutorial

Hi all! I have a little Sizzix tutorial to share today, it is not what I originally planned, but because I've been sick, I had to wait with my more elaborate tutorial for later.

 

I made a layout with some new Sizzix dies and stamps by Echo Park and wanted to show you how easy it is to add interactive elements, and extra space to a layout. I often want to use more photos and words than there is space for and I am always thinking of new ways of dealing with this. The die I used for the flaps is meant to be used for window cards, but works great also on layouts.

 

Smear Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn and Peeled Paint on your craft sheet. Mist with water and press the paper into the ink. Hold the paper at an angle to let the ink run and blend.

 

Die cut two Cards with Windows from white or cream cardstock. The die also has a sweet banner. This is an XL die, so you need the Extended Cutting pads, and the Crease pad also works great together with it. Replace the top cutting pad in the sandwich with the crease pad.

 

Smear Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap on your craft sheet, mist with water and press the papers into it, all sides.

Stamp the images and words in the Everyday set on white smooth cardstock with Archival Inks.

Here I wanted to show you a new product from Sizzix, the Stamper's Secret Weapon. It is a double-sided stamping and piercing mat, and is meant to be used especially with clear stamps. Clear stamps don't have the same cushioning as you get in a wood mount or cling mounted stamp, and placing your paper on top of the firm sponge of the Secret Weapon makes it easier to get a perfect impression. You can use it with your wood mount and cling mounted stamps too. 

Die cut the stamped shapes with the coordinating dies. The Magnetic Platform makes this much easier since the dies and the paper don't shift.

Here you can see the finished die cuts. I particularly like the speech bubble and that all these dies work just as well on their own. They don't have to be used together with the stamps.

I used the Documented set to die cut some more shapes from white cardstock and kraft-core.

To give myself even more space, I cut a piece of cardstock for the inside of the flaps. Poke holes and thread a thin piece of twine through.

Tie the twine on the outside. Adhere a photo to the inside of the frame.

For a nice extra detail, I stitched around the photo to add an extra frame and more texture. You could also write or stamp on the frame.

Layer the die cuts on the page. This stamp is great to use for a title. You can easily make the background more elaborate by stamping or stencilling on it.

I used foam dots for some of the die cuts, to add dimension.

This is such a fun arrow. If you struggle to get the arrow out of the die, it helps to place a piece of wax paper between the die and the paper when you die cut.

I used some old photo turns to keep the flaps closed, but once they are in a page protector it isn't even necessary.

 

Thank you so much for looking!

 

Happy crafting!

 

Anna-Karin

 

Supplies:

Surfaces: Canson Mix Media paper; Daler & Rowney Watercolour paper; Neenah Smooth Solar White Cardstock; Tim Holtz Core'dinations Kraft-Core cardstock

Dies: Sizzix: Everyday Framelits set w/Stamps, A2 Card w/Window, Documented Set

Stamps: Sizzix: Everyday Framelits set w/Stamps

Ink: Distress Ink: Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Gathered Twigs; Archival Ink: Leaf Green, Vermillion, Fern Green, Potting Soil

Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology: Life Quotes Remnant Rubs; 7Gypsies photo turns; rhinestones

Tools: Sizzix: Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Stamper's Secret Weapon