abric Cut Outs
To cut fabric with the die cut machine, you use the same method, except that you add a stainless steel plate under the first piece of perspex. It makes the plates a tiny bit thicker which you need as the fabric is thinner than paper. If you are using a really detailed design you should roll it through a couple of times to ensure each tiny detail is cut out well. You can lift the edge of a detailed design to make sure it is cut through before removing it totally.
F
utting felt
To cut felt with your die cut you will need to use
the metal plate so it cuts through. You also may
need to run the felt through twice like with other
fabrics. Often the dies will have a bit of
embossing detail on them too. I have found this
can disappear with time from the felt, but if you are
backing the felt with interfacing it should last
longer as it will help to hold the design a little
better, don't be disappointed if this happens, the
cut out is the fabulous bit. If you chose to use
interfacing and a backing fabric too the felt will be
quite stiff so you can do quite a lot with it. I will be
creating some Christmas decorations using felt
shortly so you can take a look.
C
hat can you make?
Obviously the skies the limit with
craft, but to give you a few ideas. Hair
clips, faux flower displays, brooches,
design pieces for clothing, scrapbooking
items, cards, gift wrapping accents, Christmas
ornaments, party decorations, jewellery,
headbands, bunting, wreaths, decorations
for stationary, wall hangings. I am having a
lot of fun thinking up ideas as I write this,
can't wait to get on to some of these projects
to show you how to do them and how
interesting and easy it is to do all sorts of
things using a die cutting machine.
W
favourite recipes last month
As a tribute to Father's Day I made a couple of cookies and some spiced almonds. The cookies are made from Dark Chocolate and Almonds but if you wish to alter this recipe you could use the all time favourite white chocolate and macadamia nuts, with the same other basic ingredients. There were also coffee creme cookies, with a lovely layer of coffee icing between them and as a decoration topped with a hazelnut - you could use a whole coffee bean in place of the hazelnut. Then there are spicey almonds, these could be any nuts you chose and you can add a little sugar too if you like the salty/sweet thing. As with all my recipes I am using gluten free flour so I can make sure it is also suitable to those who have a gluten free diet.
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