Die-Cuts ala Judy Kauffman

Judi Kauffman is a friend who has opened a door to let me peek into a world I've never explored.  I came into this with so little knowledge on this topic that I went to the Internet to educate myself.  Here's what I found --

Die-cutting is a process whereby a die is used to cut through materials such as paper and card on a die press. The process allows you to make an identical cut into material numerous times. For each job, a die, which is a shaped blade, is custom made for the item being created.

For a complete understanding of this topic, I highly recommend this website because in just a few words, with a few corresponding photos, the world of die-cutting is laid open.

As I read thru the material cited above, I was reminded that in one basic way, the process is very similar to what happens in stencil creation.  Both processes start with a specific design. Then their paths diverge.  In die-cutting, the design is translated/copied by blades shaped to match the original design.  At StencilGirlProducts.com, the design is cut from high-quality Mylar using a laser.  The die-cut goes on to create as many matching cut-outs as the heart desires. The stencil goes on to allow paint or dry media form an imprint on a substrate, and these prints can be made in endless variety.

Today's post will include two examples of die-cutting, one from the skilled fingers of Judi Kauffman and another from a manufacturer of self-adhesive decorative stickers, Paper Wishes.

But first things first.  Before any paper became material for die-cutting, it needed printing to make it interesting.  Judi chose my 9" x 12" Twinship Stencil L268 -- which is actually a mask labeled as a stencil, but I digress! -- to make Gelli Plate prints using the colors below, as well as other colors which will appear in the die-cut examples that will follow ...

Above:  This eye-exciting print has a foreground in a hot color, red, while its pre-printed background features cool blues and aquas. 

Above:  Another yummy color combination.

Above:  This bright aqua is an attention magnet!

Above and below:  Creativity is the art of exploring new options and color combinations.

Now for the die-cut creations (notice the frame-like mountings and the surprise treats behind the doors:)

Above:  a delightful surprise gift from Judi to me! This is the front of a greeting card.

  

Above:  Cancelled postal stamps make these fun!

Below:  Today's second example of die-cut tools for art-making comes from Paper Wishes, manufacturer of self-adhesive decorative stickers.

More art by Judi Kauffman, as well as the stickers above, will show up again, in my next post (entitled Just Look For It!) Thanks for your showing up here today!  To scroll thru the pages of my stencils and masks at StencilGirlProducts.com, please start here.