make it monday: deck your dies!...

Good morning!  I'm up on the Papertrey Ink blog today with a Make it Monday to inspire you as you create your holiday cards.  This time of year, we deck our halls to dress up our homes.  For today's tutorial, we are decking or dies to dress up our cards for the holidays!

There are step-by-step instructions on the PTI blog.  My first card uses the Joy die from the Bold Borders:  Flurries die collection.  I've dressed up this die by die-cutting it from patterned paper, Bitty Big Spring Moss.  One thing to be aware of, is to choose a small pattern for your word die cuts, so the word doesn't get lost in the busy pattern of the paper.  I added some embellishments to my Joy die cut by adding felt cut leaves and gems to resemble holly and berries.  

I then stacked stamped and die cut trees from the Enchanted Forest stamp set across the top of my Joy die cut.  I love how they sprout upward, following the shape of the word die cut as they go.  

My next card uses the beautiful Big Basics:  Merry Christmas die, cutting my sentiment from gold metallic cardstock.  There are so many different mediums you can use with these word dies.  Think about glittered cardstock, corrugated paper, patterned paper, metallic cardstock, etc.

I added character to my die cut sentiment by embellishing with florals from the Floral Fantasy:  Christmas stamp set as well as the Forest Floor:  Winter stamp set.  

I hung stockings from the base of my die cut sentiment to mimic stockings hung by the fireplace.  I used the Warm & Fuzzy stamp set and added in a few berries and leaves by using the Sending Comfort stamp set.

Across the bottom of my card I added a subtle border by using the Fair Isle Borders stamp set.  The texture created in this set adds dimension and warmth.

There are so many fun things you can do with your word dies....think outside of the box whether it's for the holidays or for occasions throughout the year.  Enjoy creating!

Melis

Comments

[H .Saveur]

Both Super gorgeous!

[Nancy Penir]

Yes! Now that's what I call decorating for Christmas! Delightful details everywhere. ~ happy holiday eye candy!

[see mary stamp]

As always - your designs are just breathtaking! Thanks for the continued inspiration.

[Sue]

Simply gorgeous! Your designs are so inspirational. Thank you for explaining step by step on how to create the cards.

[StephH]

Oh Melissa! Both cards are just beautiful, but the one using the Enchanted Forest stamps and dies took my breath away! Just stunning!

[Becky Green]

BOTH of your cards are BEAUTIFUL, Melissa!!! My mind is going, trying to figure out WHAT to use for my cards! LOVE EVERYTHING about your cards!!!! ;)

[Greta H]

Loved the first card on the PTI blog, but wow--the second one is just as great! Love how you hung your stockings from the bottom of the gold word die! You're always an inspiration, Melissa!

[Stephanie Clapper]

Hi Melissa! You bring the Christmas spirit home even more. I've been admiring your beautiful cards and how you coordinated so many stamp collections together. We are so blessed to have you to teach and inspire us. Thank you for the tips too. (Word dies in a small patterned paper- that one is going into my tips and techniques notebook). I LOVE your work, thank you Melissa. :)