I have a confession to make – I don’t like to stamp anymore at least not large background stamps. Even with a stamp positioner, it is just too difficult to get a good image. But I do find “stamping” with press plates so much easier than regular stamping. There is one major problem though- the cost of the 100% Cotton Cardstock.
Hello, Karen here today, and I am sharing a solution for that problem: CutCardStock sells their Savoy 100% Cotton Cardstock for less than a third of other cotton cardstocks! And it creates beautiful letterpress images as you can see on this card I created:
CutCardStock Used:
Savoy 100% Cotton Card Stock Brilliant White
Royal Sundance Linen Card Stock Emerald
Stardream Metallic Card Stock Fairway Green
Stardream Metallic Card Stock Vista Blue
Other Supplies Used:
Spellbinders Platinum Plus Machine
Spellbinders Betterpress System
Altenew Modern Leaf Background Press Plate and Stencil Set
Kat Scrappiness Stitched Foliage Die Set
Karen Burniston Thank You Die
Ellen Hutson Kindness Matters Die
Various shades of green Simon Hurley Ink
Blending Brushes
BetterPress Process
It is easy to get a beautiful letterpress image. First choose a press plate like this one from Altenew and ink it up with a juicy ink pad. The BetterPress system from Spellbinders has a magnetic area marked where to lay an A2 sized plate. Next attach a piece of Savory 100% Cotton Card Stock in the A2 spot on the top plate. Finally click the two together with the magnets and run it through a Spellbinders Platinum Plus or other BetterPress compatible machine.
Cut Images and Cardstock Pieces
To make a three layer card like this one, cut three pieces of cardstock for the 3 layers of folded cards. Next die cut the sentiments and images you want on your three layer card.
Here is a picture of the template I used to cut, score and layer this three layer card.
There are three layers shown on this template. Each shows the total size, where to score (SC on the template) and several options for sizes to layer with. The layers can have a 1/4 inch border or a 1/8 inch border depending on which you choose. The A2 layer (or largest 3rd layer) is a standard A2 size card base cut to 5 ½ inches x 8 ½ inches and scored at 4 ¼ inches.
There are several ways to get letterpress images on this 100% Cotton Cardstock. You can choose to simply “emboss” with the press plate as I did on the white piece above. Also shown is the bottom layer and the “thank you” and foliage piece cut out of green linen cardstock.
Finish the Card and Inside Messages
The three layers of this card show the letterpress beauty with simply inking, with additional stencil coloring and with no ink at all.
Additionally, the three layers of sentiments share the thought that “kindness matters” and heartfelt thanks.
I hope this card inspires you to give this three layered card template and letterpress technique a try now that we know there is a solution to high priced 100% cotton cardstock. Then join me in sending some handmade joy out into our world!
Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen