Problem: Fun Foam & Shakers
 

Just got an idea to make heart shaped shaker cards. Bought nesting heart dies, cut everything out. Used 2mm fun foam that I doubled sided with scor-tape. When layering, the fun foam piece had grown somehow and showed. OMG! I had to cut on the inside and outside edge to get it not to show. It was so time consuming because of the narrow width I was working with. I have searched on SCS and learned that the foam has to rest. But it did. What did I do wrong.
What do you guys suggest? I wanted a time saving method. But fixing this up was a mess. Please help. TIA.

I have always had that problem with cutting foam for shakers or layering die-cuts. I'm not really a video watcher, but did watch the surprise shaker tutorial here on SCS last year for a challenge, and she advised trimming the foam - so I assumed it was normal. Unless you have a sufficient number of stacking dies to be able to cut one smaller?

Sounds like it "smushed" in the die cutting and did not recover/bounce back with resting. 2 mm sounds thin? You might try thicker foam? I am also guessing that thinner/more delicate cuts might have more trouble with that?

Also how much the foam in "in" from the paper edge is a matter of taste in terms of showing...some dont care and go right to the edge and some do and go in a 1/4 inch.

Hearts are a problem shape. They never come (as far as I have seen) with nesting dies that are only 1/4" different like standard circles, squares etc. You would have to trim at least the top half by hand. I just looked at Hero arts who have the infinity line and you see the big difference with any shape like hearts, houses, teapots, etc.

I learned to do shakers with foam tape you cut in sections-esp for rounded edges. You can cut the tape in half length wise if you get the standard for narrow cuts or you can get it pre cut narrow-which I believe I read is bendable? I have not tried it yet. You probably know this part though.

I thought of you today when I saw this vid. See what she does with the foam tape-it is what I was trying to describe. Watch at 14:22

https://youtu.be/waPf-VF7hH4?t=17

I recently had a go at shaker cards for the first time, one was Hubbys Valentines card with a heart cut out. I used some foam tape on a roll, and cut it lengthways in half to make it narrower. In order to go around the shape, I just snipped into the tape at small intervals to make it bendable. I also did a double layer as it was a little too shallow.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.spl...2bcf7cbd75.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.spl...56a78b4b0c.jpg

Beautiful card, Shaz. I bet he loved it!

I would BUY that card, Shaz. And I'm not even into hearts! Beth

Thanks ladies, it wasn't so much a learning curve as a learning ski-slope, lol. I did learn to think things out carefully though! Like I had just put down the first layer of foam tape, about to add the second, when I realise I haven't put the acetate front on first!
The at the end, I had to stamp my sentiments onto cardstock and layer them on top. I should have stamped first- by the time all the layering of foam tape was done, I had no stable base to stamp on. Oh well, we live and learn. :)