Kanban Just for Men die cut toppers - card examples

I set myself a mini challenge to make a card using each of the toppers from one A4 Kanban Just for Men toppers sheet (the beer and wine one). Here are the results, ranging from very simple to more detailed cards. I'm keen on cuttlebug embossing at the moment (I use the embossing folders in my Big Shot), so quite a few of the cards feature embossed panels. When mounting the toppers, I used self adhesive foam pads for the topper itself to add some dimension, and double sided adhesive tape for the other layers.

For the card above, I matted and layered the topper onto brown paper and gold glitter card, then mounted it onto a Textile Texture embossed burgundy card panel and applied that onto a gold card. I also added a Card Art greetings banner with self adhesive foam pads.
The card above is a gatefold card, made using a light peach coloured A4 cardstock, making an A5 sized card. I matted and layered the topper onto gold moondust card and brown paper, and mounted it onto a Spots and Dots embossed gold card panel.

I stuck the card panel to one side of the gatefold opening (using double sided adhesive tape) and adhered a Card Art greetings banner to the same side of the gatefold opening with double sided adhesive foam pads. I applied art deco peel off corners to each corner, and coloured these in using a copper Sakura stardust glitter gel pen.
This card was made using a blue A4 piece of cardstock, folded to make an A5 sized card. I matted and layered the topper onto brown paper and gold glitter card and applied to the card. I adhered a remnant of Jolly Nation Wine Man backing paper to the card with double sided adhesive tape, and finished this off with a straight gold peel off.

I decoupaged a character from another piece of the backing paper, and mounted him and a couple of Sizzix champagne glass die cuts with self adhesive foam pads, and added a large Happy Birthday peel off sticker.
A very simple card - I matted the topper onto gold moondust card, then onto red deckle edged card and applied a Happy Birthday peel off. I mounted that onto a D'Vine Swirl embossed white card panel, and mounted the panel onto a red pearlescent A6 sized card.
I matted the topper onto green card and gold glitter card, then applied to a cream pearlescent square card decorated with an ornare pricking pattern.
I picked out the rim of the glass with glue using a Sakura Quickie glue pen, and glittered it with crystal holographic ultra fine art glitter. I then matted and layered the topper onto gloss black and metallic blue card. I mounted a textured paper onto a blue A6 card, and secured with designer Crop-a-Dile eyelets, before adding the topper and a Card Art greetings banner. I finished off with an unusual ribbon, which is tied on the inside of the card.
Another very simple card - I matted the topper onto gold moondust card and green card, then mounted onto an A6 gold pearlescent card, adding a Card Art greetings banner with self adhesive foam pads.
The card is made from an A4 piece of blue card, folded in half to make an A5 size card. I matted the topper onto black gloss card and blue metallic card and mounted it onto a Spots and Dots embossed blue pearlescent card panel. I applied the panel to the card, and added a Card Art greetings banner with self adhesive foam pads.
I matted the topper onto burgundy gloss card, gold glitter card and a cream hammered effect deckle edged card, adding a Happy Birthday peel off. I applied this to a sage green card, and embellished the corners with gold corner peel offs.
I matted the topper onto gold moondust card and brown paper and mounted onto a Script Texture embossed cream card panel, adhering this to a stone coloured card and finishing with a Card Art greetings banner.
I matted the topper onto gold moondust card and a red deckle edged card, added a Happy Birthday peel off and mounted onto a red pearlescent A6 card. I finished off by embellishing the corners with gold art deco corner peel offs.
I matted and layered the topper on gold moondust card and brown paper, mounting onto a Perfect Paisley embossed pearlescent card panel and then onto a burgundy card. I finished off with a Card Art greetings banner.
I matted the topper onto burgundy gloss card and gold moondust card, then mounted on a Spots and Dots embossed burgundy card panel. I added a Happy Birthday peel off and mounted onto a stone card.
The card above is made from an A4 piece of orange card, folded in half to make an A5 sized card, I then covered it, leaving a small gap around the edges, with alphabet patterned paper from DCWV. I matted the topper onto gold moondust and red mirror card, then mounted onto a Script Texture embossed peach card panel and adhered to the card. I finished off with a Card Art greetings banner.
I matted the topper onto green card and gold glitter card, then applied to a green pearlescent square card decorated with an ornare pricking pattern. I finished the card off with some tiny oval gems, adhered using a Sakura Quickie glue pen.
This was the most elaborate card, made from a A3 piece of chocolate Stardream card, folded in half to make an A4 sized card. The topper was matted onto gold moondust card, chocolate paper and brown paper and gold linen effect card. I secured the last two layers using designer Crop-a-Dile eyelets, and threaded through a gold coloured ribbon and gold coloured beading (secured on the back with adhesive tape). A close up of the topper is below.

The lettering and numbers were created using stencils and a very glittery gold glitter card and mounted using self adhesive foam pads, I finished the card with a Card Art greetings banner and two die cut gold Sizzix champagne glasses.

Step by step project: card featuring die cuts with glitter accents

Here's another gorgeous card designed by Andrea Dipple. The card uses these techniques:

• creating a glitter border;
• creating a glittered greeting; and
  
• creating glittered embellishments.
  

You will need:

• ultra fine art glitter and a Tonertex or Sakura Quickie glue pen;
• shoe and handbag die cuts and die cutting machine (or ready die cut images);
• greeting rubber stamp;
• ink pad;
  
• piece of 3mm satin ribbon;
  
• 1 cm wide double sided sticky tape;
• bone folder;
• card scorer and embossing tool;
• card blank and card off-cuts;
• small adhesive gem stone; and
• 3d foam pads or silicone glue.
  

To start, using your card scorer, score a fold on the front of your card blank only, approximately 2.5cm from the spine of the card (if you do not have a card scorer, this can be quite simply achieved by using a metal ruler and scorer. At this stage, do not fold the card along this new scored line. Simple open the card up so that it lies flat with the front of the card facing upwards.
Working on a piece of spare paper, apply a piece of double sided sticky tape centrally to the newly scored 2.5cm section. Trim tape to fit. Remove protective layer and cover with glitter. Tap of excess glitter and return to bag. Adhere two small pieces of double sided tape to the inside top and bottom of the scored section. Use this to secure the ribbon centrally over the glittered section. Do not worry if the ends look untidy inside the card, as this is about to be hidden! When you close the card, the 2.5cm scored section will be sealed shut by the double sided tape.
Tie a small piece of ribbon in a bow to the front of the card.
Use your die-cutting machine to create two shoes and one handbag die cut (tip, if you turn your card over and cut from the reverse when cutting one of the shoes, you will have a left and a right shoe). Stamp your greeting onto a card off cut and allow to dry
Using your glue pen, trace the stamped greeting with a light layer of glue. Also use the glue to pick out detail on the shoe and the handbag flap. Allow to dry. Apply the adhesive gem stone to the centre of the handbag flap. Then, working on a spare piece of paper, apply glitter to the embellishments, tap off excess and collect back into glitter container.
Cut three equal-sized mats from contrasting cardstock, apply 3D foam to the reverse of the embellishments and mount them onto the mats. Apply 3D foam to the reverse of the stamped and glittered greeting.
Apply these to the front of the card to finish this project.

Step by step project: Marij Rahder moveable decoupage

Marij Rahder has designed some great moveable decoupage sheets, to add something fun and and unusual to your card making and craft projects. However, the instructions printed on the sheets themselves are a little sparse, so I thought I'd do a step by step project showing how to make one.

To start with, you'll need the moveable decoupage sheet of your choice, a sheet of card or paper, glue, scissors, four brads, a pokey tool (or hole punch) and foam pads (or silicone adhesive).

Check the instructions and letters on the sheet, to help work out how to assemble the scene. There is a little outline diagram on each sheet showing how the assembled project should look. Paste the decoupage sheet onto the sheet of card or firm paper, I used a glue stick to do this. Although this step is in the instructions on the sheet, I'd say that you could probably make the project using the decoupage sheet on its own if you prefer.
Cut out all the individual design elements from the sheet.
Make holes where indicated for the brads. There are two of these on each character, two on the background and two on the long fence piece. I used my 'pokey tool' to make the holes, you could use a hole punch, or (if you are very posh!) a Crop-a-Dile.
Assemble the scene using the brads. On the girl, the upper brad is fixed to the background, and the lower right brad to the fence piece. On the boy, the upper brad is fixed to the fence piece, and the lower brad (in his foot) is fixed to the background. Once the scene is assembled, you should be able to gently pull the fence piece, and the figures will move towards each other.
Stick foam pads onto the back of the other cut out pieces - you can of course use silicone adhesive, if you prefer.
Stick the decoupaged pieces on to the boy and girl figures, layer them up using the largest first to produce a 3D effect.
Gently pull the fence piece, to make the boy and girl kiss - all together now, ahhhhh!
Your moveable decoupage project is now complete, and can be added to your card or other craft project.

Michele Marsden Exploding Boxes and Waterfall sheets

Here's something a little different - die cut exploding box kits and waterfall sheets, designed by Michele Marsden. You may well have seen these demonstrated on Create and Craft TV.

The exploding box kits contain 3 die cut sheets, so you won't need scissors to put together the boxes. The waterfall sheets are also die cut. Both are easy to make, as long of course as you know how! An illustrated step by step instruction sheet will be included with all purchases of exploding box kits or waterfall sheets from Foil Play.


Other new goodies from Redhotbed in store at Foil Play include Clutter sheets and die cut topper sheets, featuring Egypt, Paris, Spain, Japan and USA foiled stamp designs amongst others, along with the very popular die cut Designadecoupage sheets.

Michele Marsden, a papercraft and concept designer, works as Design Manager for Redhotbed and demonstrates her designs on Ideal World and Create and Craft TV channels. Michele's website includes lots of step by step projects and gallery examples for crafting inspiration.

Gallery updated

I have updated the gallery at Foil Play with more project examples.

Many thanks to Barbara for sending pictures of some gorgeous cards she has produced using Paper Nation decoupage sheets and co-ordinating papers. I love the googly eye on the fish in the Fishing Man card above!

Crafting with peel off stickers - a few hints and tips

Peel off stickers are a staple item for the crafter, and very versatile. Use them in many ways, from popping on a quick greeting or embellishment, or really go to town to produce more special effects.

Basic 'how to' instructions

To apply peel off stickers, bend the sheet and gently pull up part of the edge of the sticker (on delicate designs it may be necessary to loosen more edges).

Peel the entire sticker off the sheet and allow it to relax in the air, and regain its shape. Use tweezers, or a 'pokey tool' to hold the sticker if you prefer. Gently place the sticker onto your project (so that you can reposition if necessary). When you are happy with the placement, press down to adhere it.

If you are working with a greetings sticker, or individual letters, it can be a little tricky to get the wording straight. One way to do this is to use a post-it note as a straight edge against which you can align the message, then remove the post-it note when you are done.

If you are working with a very large peel off design, it can be sometimes be difficult to get it to lay it flat on your project, without getting any lumps or crinkles in the design. A tip here is to lay the peel off on your work surface, adhesive facing upwards, then lay your card or paper over the peel off and adhere it in that way.

How to get more out of your peel off stickers

Here are just a few ideas for using peel off stickers:

- colour in the sticker using a variety of materials - watercolour or gel pens, paints, chalks etc;

- use the sticker as a stencil - first remove some of the stickiness, by sticking to your clothes a couple of times, then place on your project and chalk over, then lift the sticker away (and repeat the process if you wish to make a background design, for example);

- apply the sticker to adhesive film (or use a glue pen), and colour it in using ultra fine glitter, rub on foil or coloured sand;

- apply the sticker to your choice of decorative background, then cut around it before applying to your project, either flat or using foam pads or silicone adhesive to achieve a 3D effect - either will emphasise the design very effectively. Transparent peel offs suit this technique particularly well. For background, you could use plain, decorative or holographic paper or card. Gold peel offs on a gold background or silver peel offs on silver look great too;

- bored with the basic colours? - change the colour of your stickers (while still on the backing sheet) using overhead projector or special peel off colouring pens;

- use the stickers as an outline for glass painting projects;

- use the 'negative' left behind after using a peel off sticker. To do this, you will need to cover the negative design with overlapping strips of Scotch magic tape, or peel off transfer sheets. Press down very firmly, then lift off the design. Place the tape / transfer sheet over where you wish to apply the negative image, then rub over very firmly (e.g. with the back of a spoon) and the design will transfer. You will need to apply a lot of pressure to achieve this successfully!

- another way to use the 'negative' if you have the same design of sticker in different colours, is to use the 'negative' from one or more different colours to fill in a design, use tweezers or a pokey tool to get the pieces in position.

Step by step project: Foiled Christmas gift bag

Another beautiful project designed by Andrea Dipple, this time a very special Christmas gift bag, accented with rub on foils. Step by step details of how to complete the project are here.

Step by step project: Christmas glittered bauble card

This is the first in a series of step by step projects to showcase different ways to use rub on foils and ultra fine glitters. This beautiful card has been designed by Andrea Dipple, and detailed instructions on how to create it can be found here.