Technique of the Week: Easy Inlay by Dianne Johnson

I got the idea for this technique from Jennifer McGuire's blog. She's always thinking up easier ways to do complicated things, and we like that!

I thought it would be fun to show this technique using Yupo paper and alcohol ink. I wanted to show how you can die-cut Yupo paper with beautiful results.

For this technique I chose a Poppy die 1840 Gentle Leaf Collage, and the Magenta stamp 07.928.I With Sympathy. 

I applied alcohol ink to a piece of Yupo paper, using the same technique shown here. I wanted to show that you can also die cut the Yupo paper, although it can't be torn. For this piece I used some of my favorite new colors of alcohol ink, Amethyst, Limeade, Valencia, and Turquoise.

In planning my design, first I cut the die out of white paper and placed the Yupo paper colored with alcohol inks behind it. It was pretty, but I wanted the colors of the alcohol ink piece to show up more, and I needed more space for my sentiment.

I put the die onto another piece of white cardstock onto my cutting plates and placed the sentiment where I wanted it. I moved the die around until I thought there would be plenty of room for both; then removed the stamp before running the die through with the white cardstock.

I then arranged my die on the Yupo paper. My goal was for the die to cut through the Yupo paper, but for all the pieces to remain in the paper.

I looked carefully at the back of the Yupo paper, with the die still stuck to the other side. It looked like it all cut through.
Leaving the cut pieces in the Yupo paper, I then carefully placed the front of the white cut out onto the back of the Yupo paper so that they matched up perfectly.

Working on the back of the white die cut piece that is lined up on the Yupo paper, I adhered scor tape to the entire area of the die cut opening.

The effect of this is that there will be adhesive facing through all of the holes in the front of the die cut opening.

Once the back was completely covered, I flipped it over to the front, and the die is still attached to it.

I poked a sharp tool through all of the holes in the back of the die to ensure that the Yupo paper would release from the die.
As I peeled the die carefully away from the Yupo paper, it revealed that the die cut pieces were still in place, and this is what you want. If any pieces fall out (two of mine did), place them back in their spaces. I pressed the colored Yupo side very firmly.

Since I put adhesive on the back of the white panel that is positioned right behind the Yupo panel, all of the die cut pieces in the Yupo panel stuck to that adhesive. The Yupo pieces only stuck where there was adhesive facing through the die cut.

I carefully peeled the Yupo panel off of the white panel underneath, and the die cut pieces of Yupo paper stayed behind, stuck to the adhesive. If any of them tried to peel up with the Yupo panel, I pressed them down with my sharp tool, so that they all stayed behind, stuck to the scor tape.

The white panel has the Yupo pieces beautifully inlaid into the die cut holes, and I have a beautiful Yupo panel that I can use on another card.

I placed the panel into my MISTI to stamp the sentiment, but first I wanted to stamp it onto a piece of grid paper to ensure that it was perfectly straight. After I did all of this work, I didn't want any mistakes at the end.

With the first stamping, the sentiment did not stamp all the way. It took a number of stampings to get it all stamped and I found myself wishing I had used the Creative Corners for the MISTI. Sometimes when you stamp close to the edges some stamps do not stamp well there.

Although I finally got the sentiment stamped correctly, I got a little smudge in the upper right hand corner. I used a Mono Sand eraser to take that out, with no damage to the cardstock. We do sell these erasers at the shop and I highly recommend getting one for your kit.

I hope you will give this technique a try! It's much easier to do it than explain it! It really is much easier than trying to individually place each die cut piece by hand.

To see step by step photos of this technique, please go to my Backporch blog here.

WHAT'S NEW AT ART 'N SOUL:

The second set of Distress Oxide colors are scheduled to be delivered on Wednesday, July 19. We have been taking pre-orders, and they are selling very quickly. Call us to make a paid order and reserve yours.

Ranger has told us that the new Tim Holtz Stamp Platform will start being shipped as soon as they receive them, and they expect them any day. We are taking paid pre-orders for these Platforms, and they are selling very quickly. If you want one, call or come by to reserve yours.

We just received a shipment from our distributor, with lots of things, including scor tape, specialty Deco foils, Nuvo drops, Mono Sand erasers, alcohol inks, Yupo paper and much more!

Pam has scheduled the newest mini class! 
Sunday, July 30^th, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. "MINI CLASS - CHRISTMAS IN JULY” – Pam Nelson $5 cash or store credit

by Pam Nelson

Do you want to get an early start on your holiday cards? Drop by the store any time between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to make this fun card featuring a new die from Memory Box’s holiday release. Pam will show you how to use two colors of glitter to make a shiny, yet easy, card. Please bring your double sided adhesive and fine tip glue applicator, if you have them.

We will be opening the Memory Box/Poppy catalog in conjunction with this class! The newest collection from Memory Box and Poppy is Holiday and Christmas, and there are some beautiful new dies that you are going to love!

For all the news on classes and events at Art 'n Soul, you can link to our latest email newsletter here. There is a link above on this blog for our calendar, or you can link to it here. Come in and see us soon!