Gentlemans Emporium - Aperture Frame Cards

Gentlemans Emporium - Aperture Frame Cards

For this project I've used one of the 12x12 sheets from the Gentlemans Emporium Collection Pack to create 4 cards featuring foiled frames around apertures.

I created 2 of the frames using one of the border hot foil stamps from the Gentlemans Emporium Border set (set of 3) and the other has been created using the Acanthus Corner hot foil stamp.

I've also tried out some Couture Creations foils that I thought worked well for masculine cards as alternatives to gold and silver -  Driftwood, Midnight Black, Grey Translucent, and Matte Silver.

From the 12 x 12 sheet I cut 4 14cm squares - this is the sheet I've used.  When you trim the sections to size, keep in mind which details you want to be on the edges of each panel.

I wanted to use some card a little darker than the patterned paper as a mat layer, and also for the frames.  On two of the cards I've used some plain dark grey card; and on the others I used some watercolour/stamping card coloured with an ink wash.  Couture Creations have some great plain card stock to coordinate with the Gentlemans Emporium papers.  

For both frames I've die cut a square of card and foiled before cutting the aperture out using another die.  For the round aperture I also used 2 dies from a set of nesting circular dies to cut a thin frame for the edge of the aperture.

For the square frame I used a square of card just a little smaller than the patterned paper and foiled on 2 opposite edges, masked the foiling using strips of card 18mm wide and then foiled the other 2 opposite sides.

In my video I show how to line up the corner and border hot foil stamps to create the frames.

Couture Creations Products Used:

CO726064 - Foil - Driftwood (Mirror Finish)

CO726075 - Foil - Grey (Translucent Matte Finish)

CO725693 - Foil - Midnight Black (Mirror Finish)

CO725351 - Foil - Silver (Matte Finish)

CO726844 - Gentlemans Emporium - Acanthus Corner Mini Hotfoil Stamp
CO726813 - Gentlemans Emporium Collection Pack - Stickers, Postcards and Papers - 12 x 12in
ULT158114 - Hot Foil Sentiments - Birthday Wishes
CO726468 - Cut, Foil and Emboss Modern Essentials - Decorative Nesting Treasured Frames
CO726848 - Gentlemans Emporium - Border Collection hot foil stamps

CO726831 - Gentlemans Emporium - Gentlemans Timepiece Mini Die

Foiling on Shrink Plastic

Foiling On Shrink Plastic

This is a great alternative to stamping with ink on shrink plastic to create embelishments for your crafting projects.  You can also use Cut, Foil and Emboss dies to create items with foiled details, cut perfectly to shape.

The foiling process is very similar to foiling on card.  I found you just need to add an extra card shim so you have the right pressure for the foil to transfer.

You can die cut shrink plastic with open frame dies, but you have to bare in mind how much it will shrink.  Any very narrow areas may become brittle when the plastic is shrunk.  It shrinks to about 1/4 of its orginal size.

I made the flowers and "Live, Lough, Love" tags noraml open frame dies (just the outside shape and no fine details).

The car, cake, "Best Wishes" tag, and the butterfly are made using Couture Creations Cut, Foil and Emboss dies. The picture on the right shows the Cut, Foil and Emboss dies used and the finished items - you can see how much they shrink. 

The plastic gets much thicker when it is shrunk, so if you want a hole in whatever you are making (to attach a cord or ribbon) use a hole punch to make the hole before you shrink the plastic.   The hole will also shrink to 1/4 of its original size so needs to be quite large to begin with.

After shrinking the plastic, use some clean dry kitchen towel to buff the foil.

My video shows you the process from beginning to end.

Couture Creations Products Used

CO726573 - Butterfly Garden - Garden Butterfly Cut, Foil and Emboss Die
CO726567 - Butterfly Garden - Live Love Laugh, hotfoil stamp
CO725905 - Lavish Ballroom - Wedding Cake Cut, Foil and Emboss Die
CO72540  -  Nouveau - Jalopy Cut, Foil and Emboss Die
CO725392 - Foil - Blue/Green Foil (iridescent finish)
CO725358 - Foil - Blue Foil (Mirror Finish)
CO725359 - Foil - Pink Foil (Mirror Finish)

Gentlemans Emporium Ribbon Panel Card

Gentlemans Emporium Ribbon Panel Card

This classic masculine card features foiled corners and an elegant foiled ribbon detail on the centre panel.

I've used papers, hot foil stamps and stamps from Couture Creations Gentlemans Emporium collection to create an A5 card.

The backgroud is cut to 13cm x 19cm before adding the foiled corners.  Details of how to position the corner hot foil stamp are in my video.

This has been layered onto a slightly larger piece of satin gold card.  

For the centre panel I cut a piece from another of the papers, and matted onto cream card matching my card blank.

I stamped some additional detail onto the panel using one of the decorative stamps from the Gentlemans Emporium collection

I've also used one of the border hot foil stamps (they come as a set of 3) to foil a piece of cream satin ribbon which is then wrapped around the centre panel, and secured at the back using high tack double sided tape.

To finish off the card I added a sentiment.  The tag for this is cut and foiled using the Couture Creations Modern Essentials Bracket Frames nesting die set.

Couture Creations Products Used:

CO725355 - Foil - Gold (Vintage Matte Finish)
CO726459  - Modern Essentials Cut, Foil and Emboss dies - Bracket Frames
CO726844 - Gentlemans Emporium - Acanthus Corner Mini Hotfoil Stamp
CO726840 - Gentlemans Emporium - Ornate Icon mini stamp
CO726813 - Gentlemans Emporium Collection Pack - Stickers, Postcards and Papers - 12 x 12in