Saturday, November 11, 2017

CARD MAKING TRENDS 2017 - BIG ALPHAS AND WORDS DIES

Usually Big Alphabet cutting dies are more expensive than silicone stamps sets. Every card maker hesitates to buy an alphabet set if sees a limited usage of it. Can you think of more than three or five ways to use these steel dies? If you answered yes, go grab them! The Big Alphabet and Words dies are trendy now.
Hello everyone! This is my second blog post about the trends in card making for Clean and Simple style. I published the first post about Bouquet Stamps in August 2017.
Trends 2017: Floral Bouquets
(Перевод публикации на русский язык выйдет на следующей неделе.)

Card Making Trend #2 - Big Alphabet and Words Dies

Big alphabet dies are sets of steel letter-shaped dies for die cutting with machines. There are several dies sets available currently in the market from Altenew, CZ Design, and My Favourite Things

If you want to make quickly several cards based on one main step (2-For-1), enjoy playing with various techniques, are keen on extending use of your stamps stash or just love making shaker-cards, big alphabet dies are made for you.

10 Ways To Use Big Alphabet Dies

Here are some ideas and examples for using Big Alphas for making cards.

1. Inlaid Die Cuts, a good technique for cards to be sent by post, results in flat and not so heavy cards. Postage fee always matters for Holiday Season.

2. Use foam tape or several layers of card stock to add dimension to your card. Poped-up die cuts are always striking.
Source: Altenew
Have you ever combined Big Alphas with stamps? There are several techniques to extend use of your stamps and dies.

3. Stamp images down to the die cuts to make a strong focal element.
4. Stamp over the die cuts 
5. Die cuts make a Tone-on-Tone technique simple, specially for white-on-white style cards.
Source: Laurie Willison
6. Combine with sentiments stamps - Another take on using the Big Alphas is to replace a word in a sentiment stamp with a die cut, positive or negative.
Source: Keisha Campbell
7. Use together with big background stamps 

Source: Kristina Werner
9. Use glitter card stock for festive look.

10. Add ombre shading to letters. 

Tip:

Think of your own short funny words or copy sentiments from stamps manufacturers. I love several sentiments from My Favorite Things, e.g. hogs and kisses, see you soon, ski you soon.

For more ideas please visit my Pinterest board, on which I collected more inspiring cards.

I recently added Celebrate Speech Bubble die to my stash and today I am sharing the first card made with it.
The Best Techniques To Use for Alphabet Dies
I started with creating a bokeh background for the card panel. You can see a quick video on my Youtube channel about making bokeh effect with Distress inks and masks.  Then die cut the speech bubble and repeated die cutting with glitter card stock. The panel is glued to a white card base, while letters are popped up with foam tape.
Ideas for Using Big Alphabet And Word Dies
I am sharing this card at the following challenges:
Inkspirational Challenge #147 dedicated to Trends in card making.
Tic Tac Toe #23 - Using Sentiment, Die Cut and CAS
HLS November Anything Goes with Dies
Crafty Creations Challenges #354 - Anything Goes
Dream Valley Challenges #167 - Add A Sentiment
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Let the Sparkle fly!
Cardmania Challenges - Anything Goes
Cards in Envy - Typography Card Challenge

Closing Thoughts

Big Alphabet and Word steel dies are fantastic tools for card makers, adding dimension to cards, helping to build a strong focal element, and stretching the existing stamps - background, small image stamps and even sentiment stamps. To find out more inspiration about the Big Alphabet and Word dies and stay updated, please follow my Pinterest board dedicated to them.

Thank you for stopping by! Have a great start of the weekend!
post signature
Celebrate Card Supplies:

Big Alphas and Word Dies:

23 comments:

  1. Отличный пост! Прекрасные примеры и твоя открытка чумачечая! :)

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    1. Спасибо, Наташа. Как всегда старалась.

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  2. Really cool card. Love the photo of it standing with the baubles (bokeh-y) in the background. And fun post! I love alpha dies and own plenty. Love the versatility of creating your own words/sentiments, especially combined with sentiment stamps.

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    1. Thank you, Maria. Isn't it always tricky to find the right props for shooting a card, is it? ;) Creating own words - this is probably the best thing about alpha dies.

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  3. What a great post! I loved your bokeh card... good luck in the challenges! I also own many different sets and love making cards, banners, name signs and wallart with them. I've made several projects with complete phrases, like this recent card that I invite you to check out: http://www.laparejacreativa.com/una-tarjeta-positiva-con-muchas-letras/

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    1. Thank you, Laura, for finding my blog and coming from FB. I am glad to see you here ;) Yes, wall art is a great idea for Big Alphas and Words dies!

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  4. Wow Ksenija, what a wonderful post! I don't own alphabets dies because I've been quite clueless how to use them (except for the obvious use of spelling a word and glueing it to card base!) and this post changes everything! :) I think I must buy myself a set now! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Your card for Ink is fab -absolutely trendy and I love the sparkle. Thanks for joining us at Inkspirational!

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    1. Thank you so much, Nonni. Believe me, I have been also rather indifferent to big alphas and words dies, before I strarted researching this topic. Always considered them expensive and a bit useless. But now I want to try almost every way I mentioned. And my latest post for AAA Cards demonstrates one more use :)

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  5. These are all beautiful cards! Thanks for joining us at Cards in Envy.

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  6. What a fabulous post, Ksenija ! Thank you so much for sharing all your great tips, your pinterest board is fabulous and very inspiring too ! I bought this summer a set of alphabet dies and I'm going to take it out to try several of your techniques ! And your bokeh card is just WOW ! Thanks so much for sharing and inspiring !

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    1. Thank you, Isabelle, for a thoughtful comment. I am very curious to see what you make with these dies! There are so many options, and one more I am going to share as soon as I receive new Holiday stamps that are on the way to me already. Have a beautiful day, my dear. XOXO

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  7. WOW! These are all just FABULOUS! Thanks so much for joining us at The Sisterhood’s ‘Let the Sparkle Fly’ challenge and please come back again soon!
    Darlene
    one of the 'Sistahs'
    The Sisterhood of Crafters
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit!

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  8. Love your cards! The Celebrate one for our card challenge is fabulous! Love the big letters for celebrate on the blue circles! Thanks for sharing with us at Cards in Envy.

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  9. Love your cards and your blog post on using my alphabet stamps and dies is ispirational as well. Thank you for playing with us at the Sisterhood of Crafters and hope you will join us again soon.

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  10. Ah, all the techniques are very inspirational - thanks for the list, Ksenija! I love the card you've created with the celebrate die, and the bokeh effect with those circles - looks just fabulous! Just the perfect backdrop, something that I should try myself! Thank you so much for sharing your talent at Seize the Birthday challenge!
    xx Ashwini, STB DT

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  11. Gorgeous cards; love the way you use the alpha letters. Thank you for sharing with us at The Sisterhood of Crafters.

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  12. I love every one of these! And your video on masking the dots—you rock!

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  13. More fabulous work....but I would expect nothing less from you! Your birthday card is stinkin' awesome! Thrilled to have you joining us this week at Seize the Birthday and enjoying our topping!

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  14. What an inspiring post! Thank you! Your 'celebrate' card is gorgeous, I love the vivid bokeh background! Thanks for joining in at Dream Valley!

    love Mags B x

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  15. such a great batch of cards!! LOVE how you used the larger letters!!!thanks for playing with Cards In Envy!!!

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  16. Awesome card...Love the bokeh background so much..and thank you for sharing your ideas..Really enjoyed your post..Thank you so much for joining us at Crafty Creations Challenges. Hugs xx Deepti Aggarwal

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    1. Thank you so much for joining us at Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with dies Challenge. Hugs xx Deepti Aggarwal

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  17. Thank you for participating in the HLS Anything goes challenge this month. All the best!!
    Hugs
    Seemaa
    (icraftpaper.blogspot.com)

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