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I use the Georgia Pacific card stock weight paper from Wal-Mart � about 4 cents a sheet. You find it in the same place they keep their reams of copying paper. I cut out 5 copies of what I want to emboss. Before I remove them from the mat I put a small mark facing the top of the mat in the same place on each of the 5 designs. This is important for designs that look similar, but are a little different (flowers) and it also helps you cut and emboss with the correct orientation in the future. Three weeks from now I know how to line up the paper I just cut by following the orientation it cut on the mat and the marker on my embossing die. So for most sizes I can make an embossing die for 4 cents and use my die cutting machine to cut out the designs to embossed � pretty cheap. I tried 6 layers but this was too thick and tore the paper I embossed � so you may need to experiment with different numbers of layers depending on the paper you are using. I have had really good luck with the Georgia Pacific and using 5 layers.
Next I use Zig glue or a glue stick and glue them all together matching up the
marked areas and making sure that I have no clumps of glue. I found tape adds a collective thickness that makes them emboss unevenly. Then I mark on the front of the "die" what size it was cut and where I store the design for the cutting if using the Pazzles Inspiration or SCAL. With the Cricut I label which Cartridge was used, page in the book that it is located and what modifier key(s) were used. With marking where the design came from and the size the embossing die was cut the embossing dies are easy to reuse in the future.
Now I cut out a design 0.2 inches bigger or more to use with the embossing die.
I use the Cuttlebug but I am sure this could be adapted to other machines.
First I run my embossing die through the Cuttlebug using the sandwich below, but leaving out the paper to be embossed. This just smashes all the sheets of the die together.
I first put down my base plate, then a B plate, on top of the B plate I put a
piece of plumber's gasket, you could try using two of the spell binder embossing mats, next I place the paper that what I want to emboss or deboss, then I put the embossing die I have made. By doing the sandwich this way you can easily see where to place the embossing die. If it is really critical I might use a bit of the repositionable glue that you can roll easily off with your fingers. Then I place another B plate. You can see thought the second B plate that you have the embossing die correctly placed. Then I add some shims. With my machine I use 4 sheets of lighter weight cardstock. This actually leaves a deeper embossing mark than I can often get with my Spellbinders.
If I want the design even crisper yet I slight moisten the paper that is to be
embossed with a fine misting spray bottle of rubbing alcohol. I then place this
under a magazine so it does not warp while it quickly dries. Most of the time I
do not use the alcohol.
Besides being cheaper, this way lets you decide how far in you want the
embossing to be � 0.2 inches � 1 inches etc. or if you want it off center. It
depends on how big you cut the design that you are going to emboss and how you place the embossing die.
I tried making the embossing template folders with the part of the design on
each side, but have found I have as good luck with this as using the folders and this way is a lot cheaper, easier, and more flexible.
Please email me if you have any questions. Darlenea
Hmm...this sounds interesting...maybe could you post a picture of what you mean? I am having a hard time visualizing this, but it sounds like a really great idea!
Yes that helped! I didn't realize that you were using designs you cut from your cricut. I guess I just missed that part! Great idea! Thanks so much for the inspiration!!
Friends are like the walls of a house. Sometimes they hold you up, sometimes you lean on them. But sometimes, it's enough to know they're just standing by.
I clicked it on and don't get a video???? I get a picture of the cards.
__________________ ************************************************************** Deborah "Imagination is more important than knowledge" ~ Albert Einstein
The "Nesties" I make are like and can replace Spellbinders if you so choose
Actually, with the Cricut I have cut designs that are extremely similiar to the spellbinders nesties. I use the cut out glued together parts to emboss the same shape cut out on the cricut in a larger size and they DO look like the Spellbinders - so I really do think these can replace the Spellbinders if you can cut the shape out with your Cricut, Pazzles, etc.
I own at least 15 different set of Spellbinders nesties so it is not that I am against them. This is just is a much cheaper option, offers much more flexibility with shapes and you can choose where and how far in you want to emboss.
I will try and post some pictures in the next couple of days to show more what I mean. I think I am not really good at explaining what I mean. I really do like spellbinders also - this just gives more flexibility.
I did one last night similar to the spellbinders one, and it looked just like them. I live in South Africa and I can not find spellbinders nesties anywhere, so this is my best bet!!
I think it would be cool if we post which cartridge has shapes that are similar to the Nestabilities. This thread is starting to be really helpful and full of ideas
Cricut Cartridges that contain shapes similiar to the Spellbinders nestabilities
I have mainly used Story Book and Accents Essentials - I am sure mainly other cartridges have shapes also. We just need to open up our eyes.
StoryBook has a lot to offer
Scalloped rectangle on page 34 - even the accent/ frame on this page - you could cut out the owl and just use the frame
Scalloped Circle on page 36 under shadow
Square on page 37
Circle on page 38
Rectangle on page 39
Bigger scallops on a circle page 40
Heart on page 42 if you cut off the little top extras
Scalloped Square on page 47
Scalloped Rectangle on page 49
Different shaped scalloped rectangle on page 50
Oval on page 53
Large scallops on a circle page 58
MANY great!!!!!!!!! labels shapes on page 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75 - many which are close to the spellbinders shapes.
Plau many other shapes
Accents Essentials
Many circles and squares
Circle with triangles cut out of edges page 35
Flower edges page 36 and 37 - WATCH out for edges that have deep cuts in You need a much bigger circle to emboss on or these deep cuts in will go right into the embossing _ I learned this by mistake - not once but twice.
Circle with zig zig around edge page 40
Flower shape page 62
Hexagon on page 76
Flower page 77 - I have used this one and it is great - but remberer to mark the same petal on each cut out for your embossing die because they do not exactly line up - Again I learned the hard way
Scalloped Square page 78
Great label page 79 - I have used this one
This is just a few that are similiar to the spellbinder nestabilities.
Inportant setting to have set on your Cricut Expressions for cutting out nestablities
The cricut expressions is set to the default of changing the size by 1/4 inch when ever you move the size wheel.
I found for making the "nesties" I wanted to make smaller changes in the size wheel. If you go under settings and keep hitting the okay button until you get to the size button. Under this you can push the arrows and cycle through 4 different unit settings. Inches 1/4
cm
Inches 1/10
mm
I like the inches 1/10 setting so per inch I can change the size dial 10 times rather than only 4 like the default is set. MM will give you the smallest changes, but my brain does not think well in mm or cm. You push the foreward arrow key twice to get to the 1/10 setting - make sure it is highlighted when you push the settings button to get out of changing the settings. I found this very confusing when I first started trying to change this - It likes there are only 2 setting to chose from not four.
So I often will cut a nesties die shape to use example like 3 inches. Then I go back and cut the shape out again for embossing at 3.2 or 3.4 inches - this just gives you more control.
Also I have found that on many alphabets that do not have shadows I can cut the letter out, like at 2 inches and then go back and cut out the letter again at 2.1 or 2.2 and this will work for a small shadow shadow - this does not work on all alphabets but does on many without shadows. When the shadows are real small they follow the letter better.
Plus I use this smaller cutting out feature when I am using the blackout feature. I have trouble gluing the blackout cutttings so none of it sticks out on an outside edge. If I cut the blackout cutting 0.1 inches smaller this almost always makes it easier to glue with out the wrong part sticking out and showing.
I am sure there are many other times this smaller change than 1/4 inch will come in handy - I just figured this out this past week - so I have been having fun playing with smaller size changes. Email me if I am not making myself clear.
I just can't imagine being creative enough to think of this! I applaud you. I am certainly going to give this a try. Thanks for the tutorial, I couldn't even think of trying without, as I am a visual learner.
WOW this is awesome! Thanks for the tutorial. Can you only emboss or is there a way to cut out the shapes you make too?
I'm afraid not. My suggestion would be just to emboss, and then cut around the embossed image. Or, cut the shape first with, say Nestabilities, then emboss with your chosen image. Hope that helps
I actually cut the shape out with the cricut and then emboss it with the shape I have made. With the Nestabilites you can only usually emboss in only about 1/4 from the edge but with this you choose the size you cut to emboss for the piece you are going to emboss so you can make it 1/2 inch bigger, etc or even another shape. I write on the piece that I made to do the actual embossing where the design came from and what size I cut it out so in the future I can go to that design and cut out another piece to emboss easily. Darlene
I actually cut the shape out with the cricut and then emboss it with the shape I have made. With the Nestabilites you can only usually emboss in only about 1/4 from the edge but with this you choose the size you cut to emboss for the piece you are going to emboss so you can make it 1/2 inch bigger, etc or even another shape. I write on the piece that I made to do the actual embossing where the design came from and what size I cut it out so in the future I can go to that design and cut out another piece to emboss easily. Darlene
Why didn't I think of that in the first place??? LOL! Thanks Darlene
Wow, thanks for these ideas and the tutorials. I don't use my Cricut nearly enough to justify the expense of it. Plus I have the Storybook and Accent Essentials cartridges, so I'm off to a good start. Thanks again!
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
How I make my own "Nesties"
Cricut Cartridges that contain shapes similiar to the Spellbinders nestabilities
