I love creating off the page elements to use around my home. Not only during the holidays but also for everyday use, and sometimes just for fun. As part of my French neutral colour scheme around my work area and home I wanted to keep Christmas a bit more vintage in certain areas. So as part of décor I am creating various items that can be quite useful as much as they are pretty.

To create my Cuttlebug Christmas décor cube, I used an ordinary wooden cube measuring 7cm on all sides for this project. They can be used in a myriad of ways, for instance I use them as name tags for place settings and even as paper weights to keep things together, or sometimes just part as a festive vignette.

Adding texture to projects

In a few easy steps I added texture to my project using my Cuttlebug and a Christmas embossing folder. I used a neutral patterned paper but wanted to add some colour too along with the embossed texture. Here’s how…
 

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• Step 1

  Use a dye ink pad to add colour to the top part of the embossing folder. Place the embossing folder in front of you and open the folder so that the top part folds up wards. Swipe the ink pad across the texture in a smooth motion to get an even coverage of ink. Place the selected piece of paper on the bottom part of the folder with the right side of the paper facing upwards.

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• Step 2

  Close the embossing folder and place the folder inside the sandwich. The sandwich refers to the stack of plates used to regulate the height so that the embossing folder or die will reach to the rollers applying the pressure. The sandwich is as follows: A plate, B plate, embossing folder and B plate – from bottom to top.

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• Step 3

  Make sure that the plates of the sandwich all line up together in the front and back of the stack. Roll the sandwich through the machine by turning the handle. As the stack feeds through the machine the pressure applied to the embossing folder and in return onto the paper – the embossing folder now applies both pressure and colour to the paper because the embossing folder was inked in step 1.

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• Step 4

  Remove the plate stack from the machine. Open the embossing folder to reveal the beautifully embossed image. I love how the ink gives the image a more defined look. To finish off the embossed image I added a layer of silver glitter glue applied with my fingers before adhering the papers to the wooden cube.

Tip

• The most important thing to remember when using your Cuttlebug machine is to get the correct stacking order of the plates or the sandwich
• Make sure that the plates are lines up on the front when you place them inside the machine. Lightly push them forward, if the handle starts turning automatically then the sandwich is correct and you can just start turning the handle
• By placing the Cuttlebug machine on a smooth surface like your desk, and then lowering the sides, the machine will “grab” onto your desk surface with a suction motion. The enables you to work the machine without holding on it and without the machine slipping and moving

Enjoy the versatility and endless creative possibilities the Cuttlebug offers you with embossing and die cuts. Compact and light weight for maximum creativity!

 

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Products Used

• Cuttlebug Machine [PC 2000293]
• Cuttlebug Emboss A2 – Village [PC 2001457]
• Glitzin’ Glamour Glitter Glue – Antique Silver [ADCO 721982]
• American Crafts WOW! Glitter Extra Fine – Gold [AC 27310]
• docrafts – Anita’s 3D Clear Gloss Finish [D25401]
• Glitz Dessign – Hello Friend Giant Rhinestones [GGR3412]
• Kaisercraft – Tropicana Double Sided Paper – Hibiscus [KCP988]

Post by The Wholesaler’s Designer Jowilna Nolte.

We are very proud to introduce you to our first designer, Jowilna Nolte. Jowilna is a true creative and she will be sharing some of her passion and creativity with you.

Read more about Jowilna here.