Hello friends! It's Anna-Karin here today with a fun tutorial using Sizzix Inksheets Transfer Film together with new dies from Stephanie Barnard. I made a card and a matching envelope, but the techniques work just as well on other types of projects too.
Stephanie Barnard's new mini card die sets are so fun to work with and I really like the way in which the receiver can display the Stand-Ups cards. I used Sizzix Inksheets Transfer Film in different ways on this card and envelope, to show you just how versatile they are. Inksheets turn wafer-thin dies and embossing folders into stamps.
Here you can see the die sets and embossing folder that I used: the Mini Envelope Framelits Plus, Thinking of you Mini Stand-Ups Card Framelits, Stars Triplits, and the Swirls #4 Textured Impressions folder.
Start by die cutting the card base from smooth (hot-press) watercolour paper. Use this sandwich: Sizzix Extended Multi-Purpose Platform Tab 2, Cutting Pad, paper, die facing down, second Cutting Pad.
You need these three pieces to start with.
I embossed the bottom part of the card in the Swirls folder, together with a Blue Inksheets Transfer Film. You can cut the Inksheet to size, like I did, or use a whole piece. Place it with the matte side towards the paper, inside the embossing folder. I embossed my paper using Tab 1 on the Multipurpose Platform. For a less distressed and grungy look, use the platform without any tabs, since less of the Inksheet will transfer to the paper then.
Repeat on the other two pieces. I just love this cool random look. You get a messy look, without any mess at all. To the bottom left you can see the used Inksheet, from the piece above it. It's a gorgeous blue colour. For more inspiration on this technique, check out my Paper Leather and Inksheets Tutorial.
Next, I used a black Inksheet together with a sentiment heart from the Mini Envelope set. Use this sandwich: Sizzix Extended Multipurpose Platform Tab 2, Inksheets Transfer Pad, paper, Inksheet with the matte side down, die facing down, Cutting Pad.
Use the coordinating heart die to die cut the Inksheets heart. It is best to use this together with the Sizzix Magnetic Platform, since the platform holds the die in place. This sandwich: Magnetic Platform, Cutting Pad, paper, die facing down, second Cutting Pad.
Here's the final result. One of my favourite uses for Inksheets are together with word dies, for more inspiration check out This Mini Clipboard tutorial of mine.
You can also place an Inksheet between the die and a paper and die cut as you normally would. Some of the Inksheet will transfer to the paper, in a random fashion. I used a blue Inksheet for the heart border and postage stamp, and a black one of the label. All these dies are part of the Mini Envelope set. Use this sandwich: Extended Multipurpose Platform Tab 2 (or the Magnetic Platform), Cutting Pad, paper, Inksheet with the matte side towards the paper, die facing down, second Cutting Pad.
Small dies together with Inksheets are perfect to add details to larger die cuts. I added a blue heart to the label and a black flower to the postage stamp. Use the Inksheets Transfer Pad for this, as above with the black 'for you-heart'. 'Hello' was first done with a blue Inksheet and then I placed a black one in between the shadow die and the paper and die cut the word.
Smear Distress Ink on your craft sheet, mist with water and pick up with a paint brush. Paint the images and label.
Place a white Inksheet between the paper and the patterned star dies, run through your Big Shot or Vagabond using the Inksheets Transfer Pad, as above. Then die cut the stars normally with a black Inksheet in between the paper and the die. This gives the black outline that you can see on the stars.
Smear Black Soot on your craft sheet, mist with water and press the stars into the ink. The white Inksheet pattern on the stars will resist the ink and create patterned stars.
Die cut the envelope in your Big Shot Plus. This die does not fit through the Big Shot, so you need to use a Big Shot Plus. With this sandwich: Big Shot Plus Platform, Adaptor A, Cutting Pad, paper, die facing down, second Cutting Pad.
Smear Twisted Citron and Squeezed Lemonade on a craft sheet and mist with water, press the papers into the ink. As you can see, the Inksheet resists the ink. For another resist effect tutorial with Inksheets, check out this Adventure art journal page.
I stamped the envelope and areas without embossed texture with Tim Holtz Newsprint background stamp and Hickory Smoke ink, aiming for a random look.
Assemble the card. I used foam dots for the heart to add dimension. The stars were glued to wires which were glued inside the embossed panel on the front. Instead of using stars, you could use the flower dies that comes with the Thinking of You Mini Stand-Ups set, or perhaps balloons, hot-air balloons or kites. Change the colors for a different look.
I also splattered a little bit of Black Soot Distress Paint on the card, to add more texture.
Isn't this background cool? This technique gives a whole new use to your embossing folders.
You can also apply the ink with an ink-blending tool, and the Inksheet will still resist it.
At the front of the card, I added a Small Talk sentiment, the two small stars, and another border, die cut with a blue Inksheet in between the die and the paper. It was inked with Black Soot.
Here you can see the effect of inking the border strip with Black Soot, after die cutting it together with a blue Inksheet. The ink only gets stuck where there is no Inksheet transfer.
If you close the card, it looks like this. You have to tuck the stars in a little to make it fit into the envelope. Closed up, the card measures 3.5 x 4.9 in.
I tied a piece of twine around the envelope. Or you could add envelope glue. The envelope measures 3.7 x 5.2 in.
Here's a closer look of this Inksheet and colored sentiment.
The back of the envelope looks like this, with space for the recipient's name and address.
A pearl was added to the flower.
I also inked the heart border with Black Soot, but it also looks great with the white paper showing through here and there.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that it gave you some new ideas for how to use the fun Inksheets Transfer Film.
Happy summer crafting!
Other Materials Used:
- Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz - Newsprint & Type
- Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Black Soot, Hickory Smoke
- Distress Paint - Black Soot
- Fabriano Hot-Press watercolour paper
- Tim Holtz idea-ology - Small Talk Stickers
This looks so fun to do..Now on my wish list!
These are so pretty! Thank you for the inksheets techniques and I love those stars on the wires, too.