Aperture Card Tutorial -Bigshot Tips

Aperture card

Aperture Card

I have a fascination with aperture cards and have had fun hand cutting  them in the past. Though making aperture cards is a piece of cake for most card makers with machines...it was not so easy for me as I am new to the world of die cutting machines...and made some silly mistakes.So to help novice Bigshot users like me,sharing this aperture card tutorial !

Aperture Card Tutorial

Score an 8.5 x 6 inch card at 4.25 inches. Chose this size as its an ideal size to emboss half using the ItsyBitsy embossing folders I have. 

Place your nestie/frame die on the center of one half of the card with the ridged surface touching the good side of the card[If the card /paper has a good side eg with shimmer or glitter ,placing the good side against the cutting ridge side of the die makes it cut better ].

Lightly stick the die to the card using tape which is not too sticky so that when you remove it ,it doesnt tear or mark your card.

Aperture Card Tutorial

Sandwich for the bigshot will vary depending on your die.For my Sizzix framelit :Multiplatform-Clear Plate,Die with ridge facing up,Paper with good side facing down,Clear plate.Roll over and you have cut your aperture card .

Aperture Card Tutorial

If you are planning to emboss the most important tip is remember to cut first and then emboss as otherwise you will spoil all the lovely embossing![I made this mistake earlier]Place your aperture cut card inside your embossing folder .If your card has a good /shiny side make sure the rough raised edges of your embossing folder are on the non shiny side so that the final embossed pattern gives raised pattern on the good side of your aperture card.

Aperture Card Tutorial

Sandwich for the Embossing folder : Mutiplatform with tab 1 and tab 2 flipped over to other side,Clear plate,Embossing folder with the card inside,Clear plate. Roll over and you have embossed the front half of your aperture card which you can now fold over at the scored line

Aperture Card Tutorial

Added a 6 petal flower punchcraft rose and some Marianne die cut leaves on one corner of my aperture card.

Punchcraft Flower

On the other corner of the aperture card is a shiny Cheery Lynn die cut butterfly 

Die Cut Butterfly

I altered a box to make a matching notepaper holder and decorated it with punchcraft flowers

Punchcraft flowers

The tiny golden knobs on the fence are "bindis".All the tiny butterflies have been cut from thick silver card using Cheery Lynn dies .

Punchcraft Flowers

The background paper is a gift from my friend Nupur and has tiny embossed birds to give company to my glittery birdie! 

Paper Flowers

The red gemstones on the bird house are also"bindis"[used by us Indian women as decorative adornments on our foreheads!].Used glossy accents to make tiny dew drops on the leaf and petal of the punchcraft flower.

Paper Flowers

The fence goes all around my altered box.

Punchcraft flowers

Its the first time I am playing with so many fancy stuff  such as dies and embossing in a project..All the dies are new crafting toys bought from Priya and in my excitement to use the new goodies..feeling I have gone overboard...opinions and reassurance needed!!

Supplies:Bigshot,Glitter strips,Shiny card stock,Embossing folder,Punchcraft paper,Flower Stamens - all from Itsy Bitsy

Sizzix oval scallop frame-lit,Cheery Lynn Butterfly ,Cheery Lynn fanciful flourish,Marianne Anja Leaves,Marianne Bird,bird house and fence dies - from Priya

Linking to Trimmies craft Challenge,
PS: I am facing a lot of difficulty with the new blogger format with my dashboard and blog reading list not showing posts from fellow crafters...so having lot of difficult seeing my friends new projects.Is anyone else having this problem?
Edited :This project came top 3 at Trimmies craft make your own embellishment