Using Die Cuts in Your Scrapbooks

I am excited about all the possibilities that die cuts give you for your crafting.

1. Scrapbook pages - there are literally tens of thousands of different die cut shapes, so you can find something for every layout.

2. Birthday Cards - handmade birthday cards show that you care enough to make them something unique and especially for them. You can add die cuts to your cards that are in the exact colors or patterns and shapes to make your card exactly your own.

3. School Projects - die cuts can make a book report really pop or make a poster extremely professional looking. Teachers can use die cuts to make their rooms fun and educational and to make bulletin boards that draw the students' attention.

4. Vinyl Words or Images for Your Walls - The Cricut die cutting machines let you cut vinyl. So you can cut you own vinyl wall words, at a fraction of the cost of those ones at the home parties. The vinyl clings to the wall securely; but can be removed easily without any damage to the walls. So this is perfect for renters that want to decorate their home.

5. Christmas cards - There are so many Christmas themed die cuts available that you can easily make your own Christmas cards.

6. Valentine's Day Cards
7. Wedding Invitations
8. Anniversary Cards
9. Thank you cards
10. Friendship cards
11. Posters
12. Yard Sale signs
13. Thinking of You Cards
14. Miss You Cards
15. Mother's Day Cards
16. Father's Day Cards
17. Decorating Book Covers
18. Flashcards
19. Recipe cards
20. ATCs - Artist Trading Cards
21. Collage Art
22. Stencils
23. Tags
24. Specialty Shaker Boxes in your choice of shape
25. As a mask for spongeing
26. As a mask for rubber stamping
27. Punch art

Also there is something so creative and empowering to turn a sheet of paper / cardstock into an intricate shape.

You can embellish your die cuts in so many ways:
1. acrylic paints
2. chalks
3. rubber stamps
4. embossing
5. ink around the edges
6. pen details added
7. pen stitching
8. cutting multiple diecuts and reassembling to make a multi-color die cut
9. scrapbook markers
10. use eyeshadow to tint the die cut
11. Run the paper through a crimper either before you cut the die cut or after.
12. Use glossy medium to make it look like an epoxy sticker
13. Use crackle medium to give it an aged look
14. Add pinpricks with a pin or needle; place die cut on an old mousepad to protect your work surface and allow a little give while pricking the holes
15. Distress the die cut with sandpaper or a nail file.

You can piece your die cuts to make them look more realistic. Die cut one die cut from each color that will be in the embellished die cut.

For instance, in the picture below of the die cut rose; I die cut the rose three times. I cut one in red, one in grass green, and one in light green. Then I cut the red blossom off the red stem. I discarded the red stem, and glued the blossom exactly on top of the light green die cut. Then I cut pieces for the leaves from the grass green and glued then onto the light green background.

After you have the die cut reassembled into a single multi-color die cut; you can then further embellish it with one or more of the above mentioned techniques.