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die cuts
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Have you ever tried to cut out flowers by hand? It is so hard to get each petal the same size and shape and when you need a lot of them it is really labour intensive. If this sounds like you, it's time for a die cutting machine.
D
ow to use a die
cutting machine
After you have purchased the machine, you'll need some die's to cut with too, they come in many different styles and designs. They are little steel plates that fit between two layers of perspex. First you place a piece of perspex on the special thicker plate comes which comes with machine, then the paper goes on the first layer of perspex and the die face down on this, then the last piece of perspex goes on, so the die and the paper are sandwhiched between the perspex. Then you simply roll it through the machine, and then back again and the paper will be cut into the shape of the die.
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2
ie cutting machines are amazing! They are a simple piece of equipment, which has a roller and a a few perspex plates. You use specially created 'dies' to cut from paper, cardboard, coark, felt, fabric, and so on - if you can cut it with scissors, you can cut with a die cut machine. The fairy skirt pictured above was made for book week. I used a die to cut the flowers, leaves and stamen out of felt. I made the dress and the head piece in only a couple of hours and the flowers took about 1/2 hour to make with the machine. I can't wait to get onto more designs! Christmas is looking pretty special at this rate!