Hello, Crafters.
Yesterday I decided to find out how to use the Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder (EF) and decided to share with you what I found out! I have previously bought a set that offered something similar but never took the time to find out how to use it. It was such a waste of money that I decided I’ll never let that happen again!
I watched a few videos and copied what they did. While I photographed my samples I left videos playing on my laptop. I also made a card using the grand finale embossed/die-cut image. Unfortunately during this time I heard a different way to achieve the finale but haven’t had a chance to check it for myself. When I get to the finale sample, I’ll tell you about this other method and will try it myself next time I play with this little beauty!
Each photograph I’m sharing with you includes two samples because I did one sample the way I had seen demonstrated and then I did another sample where I sprayed the cardstock with water first. Please look closely at the photographs so you can decide for yourself if you think the water makes a difference!!
For each step I started with a piece of Blushing Bride Cardstock (CS) that measured 6¼” x 4½”. This size fits in the whole embossing folder, therefore there was no worry about making sure I put the cardstock in the correct place. I put the first piece of cardstock in the EF and placed it on platform 1 of my Cut & Emboss Machine (C&E) and put plate 4 on top. After I ran the piece through the machine, I repeated the process with another piece of cardstock but sprayed it with water before running it through my C&E.
To achieve the second sample, I placed the large outline die so that it fitted around the embossed area on the EF; I made sure it was on the side that has Stampin’ Up! written on it. With the cutting edge facing outwards, I put the cardstock on top and closed the EF. I placed it on platform 1 with the fold of the EF ready to go through the C&E first and put platform 4 on top. After I had run this through my machine, I repeated the process with another piece of cardstock but I sprayed it with water first. As you know, I’m no photographer and I have no idea why my Blushing Bride CS changed colour!!
The next step should have been the third and final step but it didn’t work the way it should have done, which is why demonstrators have found at least two ways to get round it. First I’ll show you what the problem is and bear in mind this is what I saw on the video. I tried it myself to demonstrate it wasn’t something that happened only to the demo in the video. As she said, for some reason when the intricate die is put in the EF with a piece of cardstock, the resulting die-cut doesn’t cut properly, i.e. it won’t come away from the outer cardstock. When I ran both of my pieces through my C&E, both pieces of cardstock “pulled” on the outside edges; the pulling was slightly worse on the unsprayed cardstock.
The pulls aren’t very obvious in these photographs. On the left-hand image, two pulls can be seen – just about! – below the round leaves at the bottom of the image. On the right-hand image, on the right-hand side about a third of the way down, by the double round leaves.
The easy way to get round is to die-cut my cardstock using the intricate die with the regular C&E sandwich, i.e. plates 1 and 2 and two plates 3. Next I put it into the EF frame and lined it up with the pattern. Once I closed the EF I used plates 1 and 4 as previously and ran it through my C&E – it worked perfectly. I did my second one but sprayed it with water first and again, it worked a treat! I saw an alternative way to achieve what appears to be the same result and that starts by embossing and die-cutting as in the second sample I showed above. Next, the demo placed the intricate die over the image and ran it through the C&E as a regular die. I expected the embossing to take a bit of a hit by this method but as far as I could see, it worked beautifully. As I said previously, I will try this second method and see for myself what results I get!
I hope you have enjoyed this walk through how to use the Merriest Frames Hybrid Embossing Folder. It’s an amazing product and it makes me wonder what will Stampin’ Up! come out with next! I decided to make a card using the final water-sprayed image for a special friend of mine and her family who are going through an extremely difficult time. The sentiment I chose is from the Quiet Meadow Stamp Set.
By the way, the videos I watched were by Sara Levin, Diane Evans and Cindy Brumbaugh. That’s it from me today. I look forward to being back with you soon and in the meantime, please take care and stay safe. Happy crafting.
JanB. xx
Products used for this project: please click on any of the links to be taken to my 24/7 online Stampin’ Up! shop. The Hostess Code for AUGUST 2021 is YHUYPFGY Thank you. xx
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Cardstock Layer Sizes: A4
Card base 8¼” x 5¾” scored and folded at 4 1/8”
Top layer: 2 pieces 4” x 5 5/8”
Cardstock Layer Sizes: Letter-size
Card base 8½” x 5½” scored and folded at 4¼”
Top layer: 2 pieces 4 1/8” x 5 3/8”
hallo jan,
bedankt voor de goede uitleg van je embosmallen.
groetjes
Ik ben zo blij dat je ervan genoten hebt, Manon. xx