embosslit XL dies

I was browsing the Sizzix site a couple of weeks ago, checking to see if there were any sale items that I couldn't live without. I was just about to leave when I came across a couple of embosslit XL dies. What was this? I hadn't heard anything about XL embosslits! There are two being sold on the site--one has a dotted background and a cake in the center, the other has flourishes, candles, and Happy Birthday text embossed on it. Well, I had to check this out. I knew that you all would want me to tell you about them. :-)

So, here's one of the embosslit XL dies.


There you see the design that I chose, and the die that I pulled out of the packaging. The die is actually all metal.


Here is the die opened up. You can see the positive and negative faces as well as the blade that will cut out the shape.


Now, there were no instructions for using this die other than that arrow, so I figured that I'd use the same set up that I'd use for any other embosslit die. Here you can see that I have my multipurpose platform open to Tab 1, then a clear plate, the die with the aqua cardstock tucked inside of it, and another clear plate ready to go on top.


I rolled that stack through and you can see the result up above. The center in particular is nicely embossed. The dots toward the sides are less crisply embossed.


The blades cut cleanly around the edges, giving me an embossed die cut that's 3 3/8" by 4 3/8".


And here's a quick card that I made using that die cut. The stamped sentiment is by Memory Box and stamped using Memento dye ink.

So, my take on this die--it's okay. I'm not sure why the embossing wasn't uniform throughout. That was disappointing to see. I'll have to try shimming to see if that would help improve the embossing of those edges without causing the center to be cut through or to tear. I'll also mention here that I originally used one of my clear plates that had a crack starting on one of the edges and that somehow that was "transferred" to my die cut in the form of a split--the cardstock actually looked like it had been cut, and the cut correlated with the position and size of the crack. It was weird to see, and it happened a couple of times before it occurred to me to switch that plate out. Not sure what the physics is behind that, but be sure to use nice solid plates if you try these dies.

From a versatility standpoint, it was easy for me to see at the outset that these would have a fairly limited use, though that's part of why I chose the cake die--to keep my options open to occasions other than just birthdays. But unlike Cuttlebug embossing folders, you have less flexibility in how to use this type of die because of the fact that it does cut out the shape of the layer and there's no good way to get around that. I could see this being handy if you're making a number of the same "type" of card though, so it probably has its place. A holiday design could speed up card-making considerably this time of year. Haven't seen any designs like that yet, so we'll see. :-)

Wish Big!

I hadn't realized it, but that was an appropriate sentiment for not only my card, but for this post. :-)

I wanted to use the last of the new Sizzix Movers & Shapers dies that I'd bought. This is Kit #4, the Note Card Envelope. This came with an XL die that lets you cut out the envelope shape. It's scored and has the flaps so that all you have to do is fold it and glue it together. There is also an opening in the die similar to the card dies that allows you to place the add-on dies to cut out shapes, if you want to.

Here are some of the details. The finished envelope with the flap closed measures 3 1/2" by 5". The cutting surface of the die from cutting edge to cutting edge is 4 3/4" by 11 1/4", so again, you'll need to use cardstock or paper that's longer than the standard 8 1/2" by 11" to use this die. You'll also need the XL cutting plates. If you're a Cuttlebug user, these plates are currently too wide to fit through your machine. You can use your B plates and run the die through twice, but you'll get a bit of folding where the edge of the plate gets pressed into the cardstock or paper. You could get away with it if you make that happen at your fold.

This card envelope is designed to be used with the card kits that make the vertical and horizontal note cards, kits 2 and 3, respectively. I assume that those work the same way as the horizontal A2 card kit that I've described before (card kit 1), but just a smaller size. Personally, I'm not sure that I see the need for the note card dies. I don't think they have any special edges. They just have the advantage of being able to place the add-ons. You could cut your own note cards though and use the add-ons without the XL die.

This is probably a good time for me to mention that if you want to read more about my experiences with the Sizzix Movers & Shapers dies so far, including using them with the Cuttlebug and using add-ons without the card die, look at my sidebar and check out my drop-down menu for Tutorials and Info for the Big Shot and Cuttlebug.


The yellow envelope was made using the note card envelope card kit. I used the flower add-on to cut out the window. The Martha Stewart Simple Scallop border punch was used to embellish, then I added some bling. I'll mention here that the die worked nicely, but did cut through the cardstock at one of the crease lines, just a 1/2" at one spot, but that was a bit of a disappointment.

I cut the notecard myself to fit the envie. The stamped image is by the Memory Box Company and colored with Copic Spica pens and the Inkssentials opaque white pen. The sentiment is by Cornish Heritage Farms and stamped with Versafine ink. Again I embellished with the Martha Stewart border punch. I also used the die cut from my envelope and a Brides flower to embellish.

And here's the card envelope with the card placed inside....


I thought this was a fun and cute card die. I didn't have any card envelope dies in my arsenal, so I thought I'd invest in this one and try it out, particularly since it's a bigger size. Except for that issue with the crease line being cut, this worked nicely. I'm going to tinker a bit and see if using the crease pad might help as far as that problem goes. It'll be fun to use some of the other add-ons with this kit for even more effects.

quickie cards

Every so often I like to do cards that are just very simple and straightforward. This morning was one of those times.

This first card was made by cutting a window out of some GCD Studios patterned cardstock using my four pane window movers and shapers Sizzix die. I then stamped the images and sentiments by My Favorite Things using Memento dye ink. I embellished with the ribbon and some of the Brides confetti flowers and added Liquid Pearl centers.


The main layer of this next card is from Memory Box Co's Sprout line. I embossed it with the Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls embossing folder and then cut a wavy window using another Sizzix movers and shapers die. The stamped images are by Hero Arts and colored with Prismacolor colored pencils and blended with the Goo Gone Mess-free pen.


This last card features the Fiskars read between the vines corner and border punch. The stamped images are all by Hero Arts and colored with Prismacolor colored pencils and the white opaque pen by Inkssentials. The flowers are Primas.


Not bad for some early Sunday morning crafting. :-)

Butterfly, Flutterby - DCM

Wow, this week's theme on Daring Cardmakers was only posted this morning and I've already got my card finished and ready to post on my blog! It helps that I like the theme, which is Butterfly, Flutterby, or using butterflies on cards in some way, shape, or form.


I like the way that the D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing suggests butterflies fluttering by. I did a diagonal embossing and accented with score lines made with my Scor-It. The die cuts were cut and embossed using Spellbinders butterfly dies on Memory Box Sprout paper. The stamped images and sentiment are by Hero Arts.

Purple - Wednesday Stamper

I'm late getting to this Wednesday Stamper challenge. The theme is Purple and any colors that go with it. I've made an ATC.


The background is polished stone. The stamp images are by Stampendous and Memory Box. I accented the bird in the background with some Diamond Stickles because I thought it was getting lost in the branches.