when your stamps are too big...

Hello my fabulous friends!

Sometimes when you are working with larger stamps, they just don't quite fit in the shaped dies used to create panels..  But that's ok! There is a really easy fix for this that not only solves the problem, it looks fabulous!

Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; LDRS Creative Daisy Delights

Stamps: LDRS Creative Story Time

Ink: LDRS Creative Raven, Copic multiliner; Uniball Signo White

Coloring: Copic

Skin- E33, E35, V17, R14, R04, RV42

Hair- E89, E87, E79, E49, C3

White- W3, W00

Purple- V12, V15, V17, V09

Wood- W6, W4, E81

Grass- YG93, YG95, YG97, YG03

Snail- E81, YG93, E84, E87, E51, E55, E57

Black- W9, W7, W5

Pink- R32, R35, R37

Book- E81, Y13, Y19, YR24, YR27, E02

Pots-E18, E08, E99, E97, E95

Dies:  LDRS Creative Woodland Foliage Frames

Other: rhinestones 

Let's take a look at what I'm talking about.. See that snail... It doesn't fit inside the die-cut oval.. So either you can chop him in half (NOOOO!) or you can use this simple trick to do some partial die cutting! Ready to get started?

First we are going to stamp our image.... I'm using Raven Hybrid ink.

Then color.... I'm using Copics, but you can also use watercolors or colored pencils when you use the hybrid ink!

Next we need to mark what doesn't fit... So lay your die over your stamped image just how you want it to die-cut... then lightly make little marks with a pencil on the INSIDE of your die to indicate where your image starts and stops going under the edge... So for this stamp, I'm marking the top of the snail shell where it starts crossing past the edge of the die, and the bottom of the snail where comes back through and is finished crossing the die.. 

Now make little slits in your paper going from the edge of your paper to the marks you just made. This will make a little tab with the snail on it.

You can then slide your die back into place with the tab going OVER the back of your die. Run it through your die-cut machine like this.

When you pull it out of your die-cut machine, it should look something like this... a little weird, but hey, the snail is still there!

To finish it off, do a little fussy cutting around the snail. Now it looks intentional and awesome!

Bonus tip: For easy "doodled" borders around die-cuts, place your cut paper back into the die, and secure it in place, then run a pen around the inside of the die... 

For mine I started my border at my snail, and finished it at the gate. It gives it a nice finished look.

And a few rhinestones to polish it off!

Are you the kind of person who needs to see a technique in action instead of just reading how to do it? Don't worry, a video is coming later this week! Stay tuned!

See you soon!
~Kassi

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