Hello everyone!
It is been a while since my last post, that even the season has changed.
Well today, i am back with a tutorial -no video this week- on how to stretch a cut file. I don’t know about you, but i always try to see how can i use every single piece of paper that gets to my desk. I especially struggle with the leftovers from any cut-out from a cut file, and many times, I find ways to work them into another layout, or as layering pieces on my projects.
For this tutorial, i will be showing you how i go about using the leftovers of a cut file into a new layout, therefore stretching my cut.
- I used the checkered heart cut file from Studio Calico by Paige Evans to create a cut out for one of my reveal layouts. Once i took the cut out from the mat, the leftover cuts still had a great design, that could be worked into another layout.
I tried to use a cut file that had large pieces (as it makes it easier to transfer the design into a new layout)
2. I picked some watercolor paper to start my new layout. Using removable tape, I went ahead and glued the cut-out to the watercolor paper. NOTE: using removable tape is the key to transferring the design. If you don’t have removable tape, little pieces of washi tape can be used to hold the cut-out in place.
3. Once the cut-out is glued. I started to transfer the pieces (just like a puzzle) from the cutting mat to the watercolor paper. I made sure to use permanent glue to secure all the little pieces to the mat. It was easy to transfer the pieces using the cut-out as a guide.
This is what the page looked like after transferring all the pieces.
4. I used a pencil to draw the outline of the cut out around the transferred pieces; then carefully, i peeled the cut-out out of the mat (if you are using washi tape, just be careful not to rip the cut-out).
5. This is what i had left on the mat after securing the pieces (i just added a few drops of glue to the middle of the little pieces)
6. Once i saw the pieced heart, all i could think about was mixed media. So i went ahead, and used color shine to create a colorful background (I think watercolor would have worked just as well).
The penciled heart was a great addition, as I used a piercing tool to create a stitching guide to the layout
I did not gessoed the page, since i wanted to create texture by wetting the pieces with ink -the corners of the pieces tend to curl a bit.
After stitching around the penciled heart, I added a picture of my baby (with just a few pieces of ephemera around), a large title, and some journal lines. I tried to keep the page simple so that the background showed as much as the picture.
The finished layout
I love this layout, it is simple and full of color and texture. I hope this inspires you into taking a second look at the leftover pieces of your cut-outs.
As always let me know if you have any questions about how the layout came together.
See you soon!
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