Wednesday 5 December 2018

Treasured Frames Floral Toppers

Treasured Frames Floral Toppers

Here are two design ideas for the Couture Creations Modern Essentials Treasured Frames and Bracket Frames cut, foil and emboss dies.


When using the Modern Essentials cut, foil and emboss dies I have my GoPress & Foil set up with one or two 300gsm card shims on the hot plate, and then I have a thin metal shim on top of them.

The thin metal shim is the type you use with a die cutting machine when you are cutting fabric or need extra pressure to cut very intricate dies.  Any A5 size (15cm x 21cm) thin metal shim should do - but they vary a little in thickness so you might need more or less card shims underneath yours, and the number of card shims can also vary depending on your die cutting machine.

Or, you can use 2 metal shims.

I have 2 5"x7" 300gsm card shims that I keep with my thin metal shim, so they are always there ready for me to use.

My cards are A5 size (14.9cm x 21cm).

I've cut the card for the mat behind the patterned paper to 14.5cm x 20.6cm and this is the same card that I've used to make the toppers and sentiment.  If you are careful, you can gut the centre of the card and have a large enough piece to make the topper, or use another piece of the same card.


I made the topper using a piece of card 13cm x 19cm as you need a little extra space around the Treasured Frame die to tape your foil and die down to the card  - full details are in the videos.

Working with the blue card, I only needed one card shim under the metal shim on the GoPress & Foil, but the purple card is a heavier weight and slightly textured so I needed 2 card shims under the metal plate so that it would foil and cut properly.

First use the Treasured Frame to cut out the frame and foil its border.  I find it easiest to use a craft knife to remove the center portion of the foil - see video, then lay the foil and die on the card and tape it in place.  Place the die on top of the metal shim (on the GoPress & Foil) with the card being foiled on top.  Allow about a minute for the die to heat up on the GoPress & Foil before rolling through your die cutting machine.

I've also figured out a great way of placing foiling in exactly the right place - such as inside the foiled edge of the Treasured Frame.  Hold the decorative hot foil stamp in position with one hand and with the other place a strong magnet covered in masking tape (the sort used with stamping platforms) on the back of the card to hold the hot foil stamp in place.

On the blue version of the card, I used the Floral Wreath hot foil stamp from the Le Petit Jardin Collection to add the decoration inside the frame.  I marked the centre of the frame and lined up the bottom of the hot foil stamp with the mark.   To foil the other end I just turned the card around and repeated the foiling.


On the purple version I foiled the frame in exactly the same way and used the Thin Fern hot foil stamp to add the decoration inside the frame.  As the centre point is offset to the left, you need to let the hot foil stamp cool down after foiling the first set of ferns and then re position it to foil the second set.


Once the foiling is completed, stick the Treasured Frame piece down on your card and add some die cut flowers and foliage to complete the topper.


To make the sentiment, cut a piece of foil a little larger than the Bracket Frame cut, foil and emboss die, and use some low tack tape to stick it in down in the centre of the piece of card.


Foil the words in the centre of the card, then slide a small scrap of card under the foil to cover most of the words - this prevents extra foil adhering to the card when the frame is foiled.

Position the Bracket Frame cut, foil and emboss die over the words and tape it down.

Set up the GoPress & Foil with your card shims and metal shim (as for the Flourish Frame) let them heat up.

Place the Bracket Frame die on the GoPress & Foil, on top of the metal shim, with the card on top.  Allow it to heat for about 30 seconds and then roll through your die cutting machine.

Mount the sentiment on some foam pads to that it over laps the bottom right corner of the Flourish Frame, and add some more die cut flowers on its left to complete the card.




The videos are very detailed instructions.  If you've had plenty of experience using your GoPress and Foil, then you may want to fast forward through some parts.  The magnets I use are "neodymium magnets" which are very strong.  They are used to hold things in place on stamping platforms.  I've bought some extra ones and covered them in masking tape to make them easy to slide away from whatever they have stuck to.


Treasured Frame topper on purple card




Treasured Frame on Blue Card


Bracket Frame sentiment on purple card



Bracket Frame Sentiment on blue card

Couture Creations Products used:

CO725426  - Le Petit Jardin  - Floral Wreath Hot Foil Stamp
CO726459  - Modern Essentials Cut, Foil and Emboss dies - Bracket Frames 
CO725288  - Anna Griffin Hot Foil Stamps - Happy Birthday
CO726468  - Modern Essentials Cut, Foil and Emboss dies - Decorative Nesting Treasured Frames
CO725747 - C'est La Vi e- Thin Fern Stalks Hotfoil Stamp

I also showed:
CO725745 - C'est La Vie - Rosie Bouquet hotfoil stamp
CO725424  - Le Petit Jardin - Primrose Flower hot foil stamp