Playing with Impressibilities

I had some time to play with my Impressibility dies this weekend and thought I’d share some of the things I learned.

The dies are cleanly cut metal and are in a square frame. 

I decided to clip my dies out of their square frames to make them a little more flexible (I did not want to have the square frame around the edge when I embossed a whole card front).  

I just used cheap every day scissors (not my good Cutterbee’s!) to clip the design from the frame by cutting throught the metal connectors close to the design. 

This makes the die a little more delicate (especially the paisley pattern), but I did not have a problem embossing.  I store the dies in their folders to keep them flat.  From what I have read, you can cut the dies in pieces and use just parts of the die to emboss, but I have not been brave enough to try that yet.

One tip – try spritzing the cardstock very lightly with water before you emboss.  I found I got sharper embossing when I did. 

Here is the background in the card sample above (this is the Butterfly Impressibility).  The die is embedded in the paper and leaves behind a pretty crisp impression (but it pulls off easily).

I embossed with the Wizard Machine (but other die cut machines can be used).  The sandwich I used is:

1. white plate
2. Impressibility die
3. Prism paper (lightly spritzed with water)
4. Tan embossing mat
5. 2 sheets of cardstock (for a shim – my Wizard is old and overworked so you may not need a shim)
6. top white plate

For my sample, I used the Impression Obsession stamp Bee Hive and used the Sentiments I Add On to create the “Hi Honey”. 

Its stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copics.  Here are the marker colors.  I added a little clear Copic glitter pen to the bee’s wings, but it does not show up in the photo

I also used the dies on the Core’dinations color core cardstock and lightly sanded the raised areas.  The process is the same (I still lightly spritzed the cardstock).

I don’t know why, but I always get a little kick out of sanding that stuff .  Easily amused I guess LOL! 

Here is the finished card (with the cute little owl from The Greeting Farm Forest Friends set.

I had a lot of fun playing with the Impressibility dies.   I have another post for you tomorrow with 2 ink techniques using them.

 The kids are off school tomorrow (election day and the schools are polling places).   Somehow I ended up with the worlds largest playdate planned over here.  I think 9 girls will be here (I hope the neighbors are prepared for all the high pitched screeching – man some of those girls can yell.  I have my ear  plugs anyway).  I’m REALLY hoping for good weather.

 Here are the card details – in case anyone needs them.

Bee Hive Card:

• Stamps:  Bee Hive, Sentiments I, Sentiments I Add on
• Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa, Antique Linen Distress, Copic Markers
• Paper:  Prism Cardstock: Sunflower Dark, Intense Teal, Baronial Ivory
• Tools:  Butterfly Impressibility Die, Duster Brush, Circular Dies, Copic Glitter pen

Owl Card:

• Stamps:  Greeting Farm Forest Friends
• Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa,  Copic Markers
• Paper:  Chocolate Box Core’dinations cardstock, Baronial Ivory
• Tools:  Flowers Impressibility Die, Scalloped Circle Dies, Fancy Corner Punch