Fun with Framelits Pt 1 by Amanda

Die cutting and stamping are two of my favourite techniques, so I was really pleased to find a product range that includes coordinating dies and stamps together in the same pack - the Sizzix Framelits Dies with Stamps range.  They're a great addition to your stash if you love stamping but not the cutting out, if you want to get more creative with your die cuts, or if, like me, you just like things to match really well.

I've also recently fallen in love with Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze and I have a few projects to share using both products over the next week.  Here's the first, I hope you like it!

Friends card

For this project, I wanted to show how the Framelits and Glimmer Glazes can be used to transform plain white card.

You'll need:

Sizzix Framelits with stamps: Flowers, Daisies (657916)

Spellbinders Shapeabilities: Foliage

Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders: Lace Set (657381)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Dusty Concord and Worn Lipstick

Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze: Pink Lady and Purple Passion

Green patterned paper, eg DCWV Whimsy

White card

White DL (approx 10x20cm) card blank

• Emboss white card with the large flower embossing folder from the Lace set, trim to around 12cm tall and stick to your card blank.  Cover the rest of the card with green patterned paper.
• Cut out the largest flower and the large circle Framelits from white card and stamp with the corresponding spotty stamps using Distress Inks, then paint with Pink Lady glimmer glaze.  The instructions recommend stamping first and then die cutting, but if you're comfortable with stamping accurately and your cutting pads are as worn and wavy as mine, you might find it easier to do the cutting first.  Alternatively, just use a little masking tape or temporary glue to stop your die moving as you feed your cutting sandwich through your machine.
• Cut a Shapeabilities leaf and a thin strip from your green paper and stick to the card as shown, supporting the tip of the leaf with 3D foam pads or silicone glue.
• Emboss white card with the Lace borders and cut out one border.  Paint with Pink Lady Glimmer Glaze.  When dry, put a couple of dabs of Purple Passion Glimmer Glaze onto a sponge or kitchen towel and dab over the border, then stick to your card over the join of your white card and green paper.

• Cut the smallest flower from white card and assemble your flower as shown below.  The petals should have curled upwards as they dried, if not, curl them around your finger and support on your card with foam pads or silicone glue.

• Stamp the greeting from the Framelits set onto white card using Dusty Concord Distress Ink, trim and edge with ink. Hand emboss petals from the lace border embossing folder in the corners as shown.  If you don't have an embossing tool, a worn out ballpoint pen will work just as well.  Finish with two purple gems and fix to your card.