Of all the dies we use I love the frame dies. Like the Diamond Frame Dies, Large Graphic Frame Die, Square Diamond Frame Die, Circle Center Frame Dies, and our newest frame dies the Stitched Frame die and I’m going to include the 4×4 Dynamic Die too. Many of these dies allow you to frame out the photo with a nice patterned paper border or a solid color cardstock border and the die-cut adds another element in the framing. They are good dies to add bits and pieces into the outside for something fun like a shaker box.
Frames let you showcase your photos and depending on how you put it together can really enhance them. My favorite art teacher always told us that a great frame serves the purpose to draw attention to the painting, not the frame.
First and foremost, I want to see my photos and as much of the scene as possible. I like orderly pages with pops of color spots to include journaling and add in smaller 2×2 dies for interest and on occasion a few embellishments.
These dies also make great places to highlight journaling in an interesting way.
Let me show you how I used the Dynamic Die Set and our newer 2×5 Banner Die Set to create a festive Birthday page with lots of color and dimension.
The top row is a rainbow of 1” banners. The die cuts three at a time and I decided to stack them together for my first layer of depth. I used liquid glue to stack the dies together and this gives them a nice firm piece. I then made the mistake of using the liquid glue to adhere them to the grid. It warped the paper and even with weighing it down I couldn’t flatten it out. So, use your dot adhesive and you’ll be fine. Each of these banners is topped with three crystal gems in the same color as the banner.
In the next section, I used the Dynamic Die Set full across the page in white. Tiles to back each die section are cut from the Lawn Fawn Plaid. Because of the strong pattern I wanted it to be balanced so I centered the main square die section in the pattern and cut from the center and then to the left and to the right
The center die section is triple-layered so the photo will be recessed and the side sections are doubled also creating a bit of a recess to allow the stacked numbers and name to sit on the inside of the die section.
In this row, I added a photo to the center triple-stacked frame and cut the name from the Sizzix Homemade Alphabet, also triple stacked. The number 8 was triple-stacked, both then got a layer of Nuvo Glitter Gloss to finish them off with a bit of sparkle.
The bottom row or the bottom half of the page is filled with the larger 2×5 banners. The Watercolor Splash Party is cut into five banners. Five of the solid cardstock colors are then selected as 1×2 strips to be placed under the banner bottoms.
A length of twine to match each banner is wrapped around, tied in a bow and the ends twirled (using glue to hold the shape). On the back of each banner, I attached foam mounting tape along the top edge and then left a section for the twine to move freely before adding more to the bottom section. I have the bows staggered a bit.
Finally, I added tiny tags in colors to match each banner with a one-word description on each one using a white gel pen so it blends in and stands out.
All the colors in this layout from the solids to the plaids to the watercolor drips all work in a progressive flow before returning to the solid again. Similar, yet different, bringing interest to the page.
I didn’t have a lot of good photos from her birthday to work with, six kids running around leave a lot of blurry trails, but this let me take one to feature and remember her special day with a colorful frame.
Some of my favorite layouts have used my favorite dies. Here are a few:
- Stitched Frame die Cecily, recently posted
- Circle Frame Set
- Circle Center Frame Dies
- Square Diamond Frame Die
- Diamond Frame Dies
- Large Graphic Frame Die
Supplies:
- Mosaic Moments Dies: Dynamic Die Set, 2×5 Banner Die Set, 7&8 – 2×2 #4 number dies
- Mosaic Moments 12×12 Grid Paper – White
- Pattern Papers: Watercolor Party Splash (Ella & Viv) and Perfectly Plaid Rainbow – Gummy Bears by Lawn Fawn
- American Crafts Twines: Key Lime, Dandelion, Lemon, Peacock, Eggplant
- Cardstocks: Colorbok – Color Splash, Martha Stewart – Cardstock Paper
- Strip dies – Taylored Expressions
- Alphabet Dies – Sizzix Homemade Alphabet
- Foam Mounting Tape
- Honey Bee Stamps – Rainbow Crystal Gem stickers
- Nuvo Glitter Gloss
- Gelly Roll Gel Pen – White
What is your favorite die? Show us what you’ve made!
Andrea Fisher