Here are the Spring Wishes Thin Cuts and coordinating Spring Wishes stamp set. Notice the blue outline around some of the stamps. Those lines let you know there is a coordinating Thin Cut set for this stamp set. Pretty awesome, huh!
I've been playing with these Thin Cuts these last few weeks as I created the cards in our Charlotte Workshop Your Way kit. I wanted to show you some of the things I have learned.
When using Thin Cuts in your die cutting machine you need a special plate or shimmy to create enough pressure as it runs through the machine. I can only speak to the Cuttlebug as that is the machine I have, so let me tell you what I know.
To cut with the machine, you need a special C plate and unfortunately these plates are hard to find. After much searching, I was finally able to order a rubber mat that is used as a C plate from Amazon. See picture below. Another trick would be to use an old non-CTMH embossing folder ;) instead of a C plate. This would make the thickness what you need to press/cut the paper with the thin cuts.
In the picture you can see how to assemble the plates:
1. Plate A is the thickest mat and is a self healing mat. This will accept any cuts you make and help protect the other plates.
2. Place your paper on top of Plate A and then the Thin Cut turned with the raised edge down onto the paper.
2. Next the C plate or rubber C mat
3. 2 B plates or 1 B plate, embossing folder, and another B plate. (If using a C plate or Rubber mat you don't need the embossing folder between the 2 B plates - this is an either/or).
While making the cards from the kit, I was reminded of the best way to create using watercolors and stamps and now the thin cuts and I thought I would share with you.
Originally I sat down and cut out all the images I would need. I then stamped the coordinating images and finished with our watercolor paints. I noticed that the images weren't super clear and then remembered how much better the stamped images look when I stamp them after I watercolor. The watercolor makes the stamped ink bolder and brighter.
To make things easier on me, I decided to watercolor a strip of paper and then cut out the images I need:
I love creating streaked style instead of trying to make it super blended. This helps it look more natural and variegated instead of using simple, flat cardstock.
Here is a sampling of of the cut and stamped images. The set on the left was water-colored first and then stamped. See how clear the images are! The set on the right were stamped first and then water-colored. Big difference, huh!
Here are the completed cards. Do you see the difference now?!
