For this card I'm working with some Cut and Create dies from Couture Creations. I've used the Floral Frame and Standing Daisies Cut and Create Layering die sets. Both sets are from Couture Creations Vintage Flowers Layering Cut and Create dies collection. The flowers in the Standing Daisy set are the same size as those on the frame, so they can be layered together.
Couture Creations Cut and Create dies can be used to cut and emboss, cut and stamp or, in conjunction with the GoPress & Foil, they can be used to create foiled elements in a design.
For my card I've used my GoPress & Foil to add contrasting colour using a variety of Couture Creations hotfoils. For the frame I've used Sea Breese (turquoise), for the daisies and the sentiment I've used Phantom Purple and for the butterfly and the centres of the daisies I've used a silver iridescent foil.
The Floral Frame Cut and Create die set includes the Frame, Sentiment and Butterfly
For these cards I've been exploring using a repeat foil stamping technique to create large wreaths as my card background.
It's much quicker and easier than you'd think, as rather than moving the hot foil stamp, you turn the card and foil the hot foil stamp 4 times before moving it and foiling 4 times again, rotating the card each time. In part 1 of my video I show you how I create the foil wreaths on the top two cards, and part 2 shows how I created the bottom right card using a large hot foil stamp and a larger piece of card (the card base is 7"x7"). The bottom left card is created using a different hot foil stamp, but the foiling technique is the same.
You need to create your wreath on a square piece of card. I've used a 15cm Square, which is the same width as the GoPress & Foil hot plate - so it will fit through any die cutting machine that the hot plate will fit through. If you have a larger die cutting machine (A4 plate size) you can use a larger piece of card and allow it to stick out of the sides of the GoPress & Foil hot plate. See part 2 of my video for more details on using larger card and large hot foil stamps.
Before you start (preferably while your hot plate is still cold) mark the centre point on the front edge of the plastic frame that goes around the heated part. Once you've made the mark you can start the hot plate heating up ready to foil.
Cut your square of card to size. I like to start with my card a little larger than I need and trim it down after I've done all of the foiling. Draw guide lines on the back of the card (or paper) - the diagonal lines are just to find the centre; the lines that mark the mid point of each edge are the important ones. Number each of the mid point lines - this will help you keep track of which way the card needs to be rotated between each foiling.
Now you just need to position your hot foil stamp. I like to use a stamp press magnet wrapped in in masking tape - you can position the hot foil stamp on the card, put the magnet on the back and use it to transfer the the hot foil stamp onto the hot plate (see video).
Once you've heated the hot foil stamp, I recommend you do a test run (or two) using a scrap of your card/paper and a small piece of foil to check how many card shims give you good, reliable foiling results.
Now to foil the wreath, you just need to add your foil (pretty/coloured side down) and then put your card/paper on top with the guide lines facing up (visible).
Line up the mid point of side number 1 with the centre point mark you made earlier on the hot plate frame.
Use a small piece of low tack tape to tape the edge of the card to the plastic frame. Then add your shims, close the lid and roll through your die cutting machine.
When you lift the card off the hot plate be careful not to move the hot foil stamp.
Peel off masking tape off the card and peel off the foil.
Now you just need to add another piece of foil to the hot foil stamp, rotate the card and position so that the mid point numbered 2 is against the mark on the hot plate frame, add your shims, close the lid and roll.
Repeat for sides 3 and 4.
Now remove the hot foil stamp and let it cool so that you can work out the position it will need to be in for the rest of the foiling. I've used a different colour foil for the next 4 passes - in the finished wreath the colours will then alternate.
When you've got your hot foil stamp in position and its heated, foil as before rotating the card for each pass.
To finish off the cards, I've matted with contrasting card and added sentiments and some flowers.
Part 1 of my video covers the basic wreath building technique, and part 2 covers using a larger piece of card and a large hot foil stamp - where some extra consideration is needed with positioning the hot foil stamp.
Video part 1
Video part 2
Couture Creations Products Used:
CO727383 - Cutting die set (3pc) - Peaceful Peonies - Layered Trilliums
CO727392 - Mini Cutting die set (2pc) - Peaceful Peonies - Tall Branches
The small paper pad in this collection is 6 1/2" square. I've simply matted and layered this sheet with some plain pink and silver card onto a 7" square card blank.. I've used the same pink card as a mat for the sentiment, which is hot foiled on white pearl card. The Peaceful Peonies collection has some beautiful cut, foil and emboss dies. These are great as you can achieve a very detailed look without lots of fiddly bits to glue down. I've used foil on this card, but the cut, foil, emboss dies can be inked and die cut instead, or just die cut and coloured using the contours as a guide.
For the foiling I've used my GoPress & Foil, along with the Couture Creations Conversion Plate for the cut, foil and emboss dies. (see my video) I've used a peach coloured semi-transparent foil for the Peony Bouquet, on some white pearl card.
For the leaves (Leafy Branch), I've foiled in silver on both some more of the white pearl card, and also on some green pearl card.
To fit the leaves around the right hand side of the sentiment I cut into one of the pieces and separated it into two parts. Some of the leaves are stuck down underneath the sentiment panel.
My video shows you how I used the cut, foil and emboss dies to make the elements on this card, including how to use them without foil.
Couture Creations Products Used:
CO727351 - Paper Pad - 6 1/2 x 6 1/2in - Peaceful Peonies - (24 sheets)
Today I tried out foiling onto paper napkins / serviettes, using my GoPress and Foil, and I love how they turned out. I've used plain, white serviettes and transformed them with a variety of foils. You could use the same technique to foil onto any colour serviettes. I've used my GoPress & Foil, and Couture Creations heat activated foils, along with a selection of Couture Creations hot foil stamps from their Naughty Or Nice release. I found that there was a greater tendency for over foiling than when foiling on card, because the surface of the serviettes is soft - but any over foiling easily brushed away using a soft, clean brush.
This is what one of the snowflakes looked like when I peeled off the foil. The gaps in the snowflake are filled in - but the extra foil just brushed away.
This is what the snow flake looked like after I had brushed away the over-foiling. In my video I show you how easy it is to create these gorgeous paper napkins / serviettes.
Couture Creations Products Used:
CO726924 - Naughty Or Nice - Ornate Christmas Tree Hotfoil Stamp CO726920 - Naughty Or Nice - Merry Christmas Snowflakes Hotfoil Stamp CO726923 - Naughty Or Nice - Christmas Borders Hotfoil Stamps (set of 3) CO725685 - Foil - Gold (Warm Mirror Finish) CO726065 - Foil - Silver Foil (Iridescent Speckle Pattern) CO725358 - Foil - Blue Foil (Mirror Finish) CO725390 - Foil - Deep Red Foil (Mirror Finish)
For this card I've used a backing paper, dies and a cut/foil/emboss die from the Couture Creations Naughty or Nice collection. The hot foil stamp used to decorate the ribbon is from the Gentlemans Emporium collection.
I've made my card blank from a sheet of A4 300gsm white card - scored down the centre, folded and then trimmed to a 14.9cm square. My gold mat later is a 14.cm square and the patterened paper is 14cm squre. Alternatively use a 6" square card blank and cut the gold mat 5 3/4" square and patterned paper 5 1/2" sqaure.
I cut 4 of the Noel Frame mini die from my gold card before sticking the patterned paper over the top.
I also cut another 4 of the Noel Frames from white card - I used the card I trimmed off when I made my card blank. The die cuts are layered together, along with some circles cut from some dark red card.
The NOEL letters are cut/foiled using Couture Creations Cut, Foil and Emboss Alphabet set, but you could use other die cut letters or stamp and heat emboss letters using gold embossing powder as alternatives.
I used some dark red ribbon, foiled in gold, to create a cross in the centre of my card. I used a border hot foil stamp from the Gentlemans Emporium collection to foil the ribbon, but you can use almost any hot foil stamp. There are some great border hot foil stamps in the Naughty or Nice collection too.
In my video I'll show you how to foil onto ribbon, and use the cut, foil and emboss dies - used for the letters and for the Christmas tree.
The gold backing card and the patterned paper are layered together before using double sided tape to secure the ribbon at the back. I marked the centre point of each side to help me line up the ribbon correctly so the both pieces are straight and cross in the centre of the card.
Now you just need to stick these onto your card blank and then add the die cut Noel Frames with their letters in each corner. I've raised all of the frames up on foam pads. Add a small amount of glue under the centre of the ribbon cross, so that neither of the pieces can move. The last thing to add is the Christmas tree in the centre.
Couture Creations Products Used
CO726425 - Cut, Foil and Emboss - Alphabet Set
CO726889 - Naughty Or Nice - Collection Pack 12x12 Papers + Stickers and Postcards
CO726927 - Naughty Or Nice - Curling Christmas Tree Cut, Foil and Emboss Die
CO726906 - Naughty Or Nice - Noel Frame Set mini dies
CO726848 - Gentlemans Emporium - Border Collection hot foil stamps
