Ever Use a Nestie Upside-Down?

One Friday evening a month several of us gather at our friend Sherry's house for stamp club. Sherry is an SU! demonstrator and has been hosting the monthly event for at least six years. (That's when I joined.) Last Friday we made a beautiful card using an Embosslit folder and matching Edgelit die. Getting everything lined up to cut and emboss was pretty confusing, so I was determined to come up with an easier way to do it. Sorry, ladies. I have a different way to do it, but I don't think it's any easier.

I decided to try using some Nesties since I don't have the Edgelits. I found that it helped to place the die, cutting side down, on the cutting plate and tape down one edge. It doesn't show very well on this picture, but I also marked where the edge of the paper lines up on the die. This will help later. Notice that only one edge of the card goes under the die so that only that edge will be cut. Fold the card down and run it through the machine.

DO NOT move the paper after you make the cut, but add an embossing pad to the sandwich and run it through the machine again. I had to add a couple pieces of cardstock to get a good impression. 

Can you see the line embossed across the bottom edge? When you fold the top down it will line up perfectly. Pretty cool, right?

Start with papers that are close to the size you want for your mats and center them on the die. The marks you made earlier on the die will help. 

After I had my mats cut I decided I liked the paisley better on the left side of the card, so I just cut a strip of it. I embossed the green mat with my Dotted Swiss folder and added a sentiment and ribbon.

You can use a smaller die, too. It just has to be wide enough to fit one edge of your card through. I used the Famelits Labels for this one. Cut your card so the fold is on the 4.25" side. Be sure when you run the card through the machine to cut it that you only cut the one edge. I only crank it through far enough to make the cut then I back it out. Taking it all the way through would add more embossing. You might want to give that a go. I might too! We could probably do without the mats then. Hmmm.... Let me know what you come up with!

Thanks for stopping by! See you next week!