Creating Multiple Color Layering Die Cuts for Mother's Day

M is for Mother, and M is the letter of the Month for Imagine.  Thanks for stopping by and checking out this tutorial to make your stamping more fun and quick!

I am loving the color layering stamp and die sets and thought I would share how I created multiple cards in one sitting for occasions where I need more than one card.  I have two mothers in my life to send a Mother’s Day cards to, and decided to make another card while I was at it.  This technique can also be extended to create more cards in one sitting in many different color combinations.  With careful planning one layer can be stamped for all your cards before stamping the next color layer.  This technique also works well for images that require more than one stamp for the die cut, such as the stem of orchid flowers shown here. 

Level:  Beginner

Time: 1 hour for three cards

Step 1:

Trim three sections of cardstock to accommodate dies to be die cut.  Arrange on cardstock in a way that will allow inking of the separate images.    Carefully line up the corners you plan to place in the corner of a stamp positioner.  In this example, the bottom left corner is lined up before die cutting.  (Four are shown here, but I found that the fourth does not cut well in the stack.)  Die cut with a sandwich that applies the most pressure allowed for your machine.  

Optional Step 2:

If you would like to make more than three cards, take the outside portion and create a new layer with two more sections of cardstock.  It is easy to line up the dies in the same position inside the holes from the top layer.  Die cut the stack.

Step 3:

From the wrong side of the cardstock section, place the die cuts back into the surrounding cardstock section and secure with removable tape such as painter’s tape.  Do this for each set.  This will allow easy handling and a production-line-style of stamping.

Step 4:

Carefully line up stamp images over the die cut.  Looking straight down through the image will help to correctly line up the image. 

Step 5:

Stamp image with VersaMark ink.  If you look closely the image ink of the branch is a barely visible on the white cardstock.  If needed, adjust the image before moving to the next step.

Step 6:

Stamp each layer of the image in the colors of your choosing.  Here the stem is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa.

Step 7:

Continue stamping successive sections of cardstock for the number of cards you plan on creating.

Step 8:

Stamp next layers of the color layering stamps as shown on the manufacturer’s example.  With this set, the stem is stamped first followed by the larger flower image down to the inner portion of the flower.  Since the top stem connects the last flower in the sequence this technique works well to stamp a perfect image every time.  In this example, the final third layer is stamped on the flower stem and the leaves.  If changing colors for each set, remember to clean the stamp before inking with the new color.  If the image does not stamp to your satisfaction it is easy to ink the image again and re-stamp, that is the beauty of using a stamp positioner!

Step 9:

Die cut the backing panel and ink with a coordinating color and a Jumbo Sponge Dauber.  Ink blushers work equally well, it just happened that I had previously used this Jumbo Sponge Dauber with green ink.  Ink the card base with a second coordinating color with an Ink Blusher or Ink Dauber.

Step 10:

Assemble die cuts on the card with On Point Glue. The small tip will allow very small drops of glue on the tiny sections of the die cut. Adhere the panel to the card base. Stamp sentiment on card front in a coordinating color.

This project takes a bit of thinking but the results of three identical layouts is so satisfying. Hope you enjoyed as much as I did! Happy Mother’s Day!!

Imagine

Memento—Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Morocco, Rose But, Angel Pink, Grape Jelly, Lilac Posies, Lulu Lavender, Elderberry, Pear Tart, New Sprout, Bamboo Leaves, Olive Grove, Peanut Brittle, Toffee Crunch, Rich Cocoa

Versa Mark

On Point Glue

Ink Blusher

Sponge Dauber Large

Other Supplies found here:

Hero Arts Color Layering Orchid in a Pot

Hero Arts Coloring Layering Frame Cuts Orchid in a Point

Hero Arts Celebrate Everyday

Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles

Stamp Positioner

I am delighted to enter these projects in the following challenges:

Always Fun Challenges #5 Female or Mom

Make My Monday #45 May Flowers

Just for Fun Rubber Stamps A Mother's Love

Great Impressions Feminine 

Creative Friday #178 Mother