Welcome back to the MFT Academy!  Melody is your Guest Professor today and she’ll be sharing some fun tips and tricks using our Die-namics dies with an assortment of cutting materials. 

I love My Favorite Things Die-namics, in fact, it’s hard to remember how I ever made projects without them. Today, I’ll show you a number of different things you can cut with your Die-namics other than card stock.

I use a Big Shot to do all my die-cutting, using the standard recommended stack.  You can find recommended cutting stacks for assorted die-cutting machines at the bottom of THIS page.

When using alternate cutting materials, you can modify your sandwich stack to help increase the pressure placed on the die.  This will ensure the very cleanest cuts.  Add a sheet of paper or the Metal Adaptor Plate to your sandwich stack as a shim.  Running the sandwich stack through the machine twice is also advisable.  The pressure will vary from machine to machine, so you will need to experiment to see what works the best for you and your die-cutter.

Cut all three pieces of the Behind the Camera Die-namics from chip board. Run twice through the die-cutting machine or add the Metal Adaptor Plate for the cleanest possible cut.

• Paint the camera with black paint and allow to dry.
• Add a second coat of paint using black glitter paint.
• Cut the middle circle once more from card stock, stamp the sentiment and adhere the card stock to the chipboard.
• Paint the smallest circle with black paint, allow to dry. Add a coat of black glossy accents.
• Adhere the three circles together using dimensional adhesive.
• Embellish with rhinestones.

Supplies:

• Behind the Camera Die-namics
• Behind the Camera Sentiments
• Black Licorice Ink
• Sno Cone Card Stock
• Chipboard
• Black Paint
• Glitter Paint
• Rhinestone circle embellishment
• Dimensional adhesive

Create durable chipboard elements with this technique.  For the next sample, the Keys and Locks Die-namics were cut once from black card stock and once from light chipboard. Liquid glue and black embossing powder has been added for an eye catching effect.

Supplies:

• Keys and Locks Die-namics
• Rounded Banner STAX Die-namics
• Lovey-Dovey Sentiments
• Lisa Johnson Designs Distressed Diamonds
• Hemp Cord
• MFT Card Stock in Black Licorice, Wild Cherry, Kraft, Whip Cream
• MFT Ink in Black Licorice, Wild Cherry
• Chipboard
• Glue or Embossing Stamp Pad
• Embossing Powder
• Sewing Machine

Die-namics will also cut a wide range of materials beyond card stock and chipboard.  Let’s take a look at some other products you can play with!

Fabric:

MFT Die-namics will even work with fabric, and will instantly add handmade charm to your project.

Iron-on patches are the simplest way to add fabric to your projects. The patches already have a backing which will stop fraying. Iron-on patches are readily available at your local fabric store.  Running the material through the die-cutting machine twice will ensure the cleanest cut.

Use scraps of fabric you may already have in your stash, or purchase small amounts at the fabric store. Most fabric stores have fabric quarters in the quilting section, which will include an assortment of patterns to work with. 

Add an iron-adhevise to the back of fabric before die-cutting. This adhesive backing will make the fabric easier to cut, and also helps reduce fraying. The package instructions clearly explain how to apply the iron-adhevise. Heat ‘n Bond Lite can be purchased at most craft and fabric stores.

Leave the paper backing on until after die-cutting. Since fabric is generally thinner than card stock, you will want to add an extra sheet of card stock or a piece of light weight chipboard to increase the pressure between your Die-namics and your cutting material.

Use fabric in place of patterned paper in your card-making. The red gingham fabric was cut with the largest Rectangle STAX.  The Heat n Bond adhesive backing can also be used to affix your fabric layers.  In this example, using an iron on low heat, the red gingham fabric was adhered to a layer of white card stock. This ensures that the fabric is smoothly adhered to the card stock.

  

Supplies:

• Die-namics Pretty Pocket
• Die-namics Rectangle STAX
• Layered Rose
• Fishtail Flags STAX
• Simply Scallops Medium
• MFT Premium Dye Ink Wild Cherry
• Kraft card stock
• Nightshift Blue card stock
• Smooth White card stock
• Iron-On Patch

Experiment with different fabrics to create flower embellishments. You can create this fluffy flower using chiffon and tulle with the Circle STAX and a Pink Lemonade Button. Since tulle is so very thin, fold it into a numbers of layers and also add an extra piece of lightweight card stock to your stack for a clean cut.

This sweet custom embellishment pairs perfectly with the Baby Onesie Die-namics.  As outlined above, Heat ‘n Bond Lite was applied to the back of the fabric to ensure a smooth cut.

 

Supplies:

• Circle STAX Die-namics Set 1
• Pink Lemonade Button
• Tulle
• Chiffon
• Silver Thread

Next I wanted to show you how quickly and easily you can make fabric yo-yo’s using the Circle STAX Die-namics.

Cut a circle using one of the dies in the Circle STAX Die-namics 1 or 2. I am using the largest circle in Circle STAX Die-namics 1. In this case, you can cut the circle with or without the adhesive backing, since we are not concerned about fraying.

Use a needle and thread to run a long basting stitch around the edge of the circle. I am using red thread so that you can see the stitches in my sample, but normally you would match the thread to the fabric. You can also use the basting stitch on your sewing machine.

At each end leave threads that are long enough for you to pull the two threads together in the middle. Knot your thread in the middle and cut off the excess thread.

Sew a button to the middle of the yo-yo.

Supplies:

• Circle STAX Die-namics 1
• Fabric
• Needle and thread
• MFT Buttons
• Canvas Bag

Burlap adds rustic charm, along with lots of texture and dimension.  The iron-on adhesive is highly recommended when working with burlap, as it really helps reduce fraying.

Supplies:

• Traditional Tags STAX
• Pretty Posies
• Fall Leaves Die-namics

Felted Die-namics:

Felt is a very popular cutting material for Die-namics.  Use it to create luscious flowers, or add soft fuzzy details to your cards and pages.  Whenever cutting felt, run it through your machine twice. Consider adding the Metal Adaptor Plate to the sandwich stack for the most crisp edges.

My Favorite Things Felt is a wool blend felt which comes in a wide variety of colors.  This felt works perfectly with Die-namics.  Use a low temperature glue gun or glue dots to hold the felted elements together.

Supplies:

• Large Hybrid Heirloom Rose Die-namics
• Traditional Tags STAX
• Circle STAX Set 1, Circle STAX Set 2
• Leaf -Filled Flourish
• Black Licorice, Whip Cream and Gumdrop card stocks
• MFT Premium Dye Ink Black Licorice
• MFT Felt in Wild Cherry
• Glue Gun

Layer assorted cutting materials to fill your projects with depth and texture.   The base of this tag was cut from Kraft card stock, and then covered with burlap.  The Mini Hybrid Heirloom Rose has been cut from felt.

I hope you are now filled with lots of new ideas for ways to use your Die-namics.  The next time you are ready to throw out that cardboard box or packaging, give it a second look! During your next visit to the craft store, look outside the scrapbooking section to see what else you can add to your paper crafting projects.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and that you will be inspired to use your Die-namics to incorporate new materials into your cards and pages. Use the keyword MFTED6 in your gallery upload on Splitcoaststampers so we can admire your creations!

If you have any questions, please email joanne@mftstamps.com, and we’ll be happy to help you!

Welcome back to the MFT Academy!  Barbara is your Guest Professor today, she’ll show you how to create this gorgeous clean and simple card with a step-by-step tutorial.

Supplies:

• Smooth White card stock
•  LJD Pretty Poppies
•  Die-namics LJD Poppies and Leaves
•  Premium Dye Ink Pad Orange Fizz
•  Premium Dye Ink Pad Factory Green
•  Premium Dye Ink Black Licorice
•  Copic markers: YG91, W1, W3, W5, W7, W9
•  Foam tape
•  Removable tape

Step 1: Cut card stock 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″ to layer on an A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) card base.

Step 2: Lay out the dies and stamps to get a basic idea of how the design should look.

Note: Do not put your dies too close to the edge of your card front–no closer than 1/4″.

Step 3: Once the dies have been positioned, secure them to the card stock with removable tape.

Step 4: Cut out the dies, but do not throw the die cuts away; they can be used on another project.

Step 5: Using another piece of Smooth White card stock, stamp the images.

Step 6: Color the center of the bottom poppy with Copic markers using the following colors:

Step 7: Lay down YG91 in the center, then starting on the outside with W9, work back towards the green with W7, W5, W3,
and W1.

Step 8: Continue to blend the layers of color until your center looks like this:

Step 9: Trim out the images using a pair of scissors, leaving about 1/4″ margin.

Step 10: Test the images behind the die-cut openings to make sure the arrangement is properly aligned.

Step 11: Stamp the stems on the card front.

Step 12:  For this design, the stems needed to be longer. To accomplish this, ink up a portion of the stem stamp and extend as desired.

Step 13: Do another trial fit. There will be a gap where there’s no stem on the stamped image.

Step 14: To remedy this, line up the image precisely with the stamped stems and place light pencil marks where the stem needs to be extended onto the image.

Step 15: Stamp stems over the pencil marks.

Step 16: Stamp the sentiment.

Step 17: Place narrow strips of foam tape on the back side around the die cut holes.

Step 18: Remove the tape backing one at a time, and then lower the card front over the stamped images, lining up the openings and stamped stems. The back will look like this when done.

Step 19: Add dimensional foam tape to the back of the card front to ensure that  the card front doesn’t sag around the die-cut openings.

Step 20: Adhere card front to base card.

Step 21: Add embellishments as desired. This card only needed a few black dots to create balance.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the tutorial, there are quite a few MFT stamps and Die-namics dies that work well with this technique. Here is a card using LJD Sweet Roses and Die-namics LJD Roses and Leaves.

And here’s another using Inspired by Up, Up and Away and Die-namics Up, Up and Away.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and that you will be inspired to try your hand at the technique. Use the keyword MFTED5 in your gallery upload on Splitcoaststampers so we can admire your creations!

If you have any questions, please email joanne@mftstamps.com, and we’ll be happy to help you!

Pretty Poppies Poppies and Leaves Die-namics Black Licorice Ink Orange Fizz Premium Dye Ink Factory Green Premium Dye Ink Smooth White Cardstock