Saturday 16 May 2015

How to Use Pop Up Dies

Welcome to our new blog - The Skills Room at Make the Day Special Stamp Store!   We do often get asked  "but how do you use that" about some of the products we sell, so we thought we would set up an area dedicated to "how to" tutorials and videos and this is it.  Rough and ready but we will refine it as we grow.

For the first post I have a quick picture tutorial showing you how to use the new Pop-Up Trio dies from Mama Elephant as I know they have a few people confused.

When you use these dies they will cut holes in your base card, so the easiest way to use them is to create a liner on the inside so the holes are hidden.

Cut the card stock you've selected for the inside to the width of your base card and score on the centre line.  Lines your die (or dies) up with the central score line over the score line of your card stock - the easiest way to do that is to use a little washi tape across the score line on the die so you can easily line it up.

Run the dies through your die cutting machine and fold the tabs they create outwards along the score lines and crease the centre fold of your card.


You can choose to make the insert the full length of your card, or you can use a die to create more interest.  I went for simplicity for this demo and just trimmed it a little short so I could add some decorative washi tape underneath.  Add some double-sided tape to the back of your insert and remove the liner from one-side only.   Fold your base card and tuck the insert tight up to the fold and secure by pressing down your tape.  Remove the other liner from the other side and simply close the card to avoid any buckling.


Now you can add your characters, sentiments, die cuts - whatever you want on your pop ups - aka the fun part!


I went with Lawn Fawn's Monster Mash and used one monster and a sentiment - I will make this a get well card when I get around to doing the outside!

You can see better how they sit from this side shot.  Very easy to use and they fold nice and flat when you close the card.



So that's it - our first lesson in The Skills Room - was it useful?   I do hope so.   If there are other products you would like to see us demonstrate, or if you want to know how to do a specific technique - please leave a comment and we'll add your requests to future lessons.