Cut It Up April: Be You

Hello!  Today I am on the Paper Issues blog  along with some Paper Issues teammates, and we are showing you several ways to use the new free cut file: Be You.  I transformed the ampersand into a stitching cut file and this post is all about walking you through the super simple steps!

I wanted to supersize the Be You ampersand and do some hand stitching--I am pretty happy with the results!  Here's the how to on getting perfect needle circle holes to stitch...

1. Once you have your cut file the size you want on your mat, select the text (A) icon.

2.  Select Times New Roman font.

3.  Set the font size to 36.0

4.  Increase the character spacing to 200% if you want longer length stitches as I used in the ampersand.

5.  Start typing periods in the text box.  (if any of the settings reverted back to default, highlight the periods in the text box at this point and select the above settings).

6.  Move the green circle toggle button in the text box so that it snaps onto the cut file line of the ampersand or cut file you are using.  This will adhere the periods over the cut line.  Continue typing periods until the entire shape is covered with the periods (stitching holes).

 7.  After the shape is covered with stitching holes, click on the mat near the shape to select the shape, this will remove the green text box.
8.  Go to the Silhouette cut settings and select NO CUT.  This will instruct your machine to only cut the stitching holes and not the original cut file outline.
9.  If you'd like the original cut file for the inside of the stitching area, reload your mat and cut the shape again with whatever patterned paper you'd like by cutting with the normal cut settings.
Here's what the perfectly round stitching holes look like:

Here's with the stitching completed with several colors of thread/floss and the Pink Paislee Oh My Heart paper number 8 inside with a bit of mixed media.  Have I mentioned how gorgeous this paper is??!!  I love that it looks like it was painted and there's no mess involved!

Close ups of the final project with added ephemera from Oh My Heart and Fancy Free.  A few puffy stickers and enamel dots for added dimension! The Oh My Heart  6x6 paper pad works so well for layering under the photo.

One last picture to show the popped up parts of the florals, photo, and title.

Thanks so much for taking a look at the process I use to transform a cut file into a stitching file by using the Cameo to punch the holes for me.  

I hope you'll try one of the PI free files this month and tag Paper Issues or me so I can check out your awesome projects!  

If you use this tutorial to help you convert a cut file, let me know!  I can't wait to see what cool ideas you have!

You have until May 2nd to post your Cut It Up entries into the Facebook Friends and Fans April Challenge folder.  Winners of the monthly gift cards will be announced May 3rd.

As always, if you are a fan of the products I've used here, go to Paper Issues online store to save 20% off with code: Stacie

Happy Dance

Looking for a project that uses your favorite scraps or cut away strips from papers? Concentric designs like a star, heart, diamond, or square can work with this idea! I went with the mega stars to play with the sketch for July at Paper Issues. 

I sketched the design on the Silhouette Cameo using sketch pens/pencil. Lightly adhere the center of each scrap on the line. You want to be able to lift up the edges after they are sewn down!

It's always hard to decide what to cover because I usually love how it all looks!

Get out your fave collection and embellish! In my case, I used Pink Paislee's Fancy Free which I love something huge! I use vellum to soften the layers and set the photo up on pop dots for dimension above the textured background! This idea originated from Paige Evan's "Paige's Pages" class at Big Picture Classes. I love having a springboard to prompt an idea when I'm stuck! I also did this idea with this LO:

Different look with this pencil pattern by Amy Tangerine! Try it out!

Here We Go 2015

I lifted a cool LO by Paige Evans using her circles paper from Fancy Free. First step: watercolor circles and add white acrylic paint drops to the BazzillBasics ombré paper.  

Next, add matching punched circles. Put foam adhesive under some for dimension. Also, get messy threads of matching colors under some circles.

Cut circle photos to add on top of some circles. Add buttons in between and add enamel dots.

Journal around some circles!

Add Pink Paislee Fancy Free stickers to some circles! Mat the LO on soft pink cardstock and a sheet of circle paper. Done! 

Summer in So Cal

Paige Evan's new Pink Paislee line was worth the wait. It is gorgeous! I love the open letters from The Cut Shoppe. I welded the letters together for Summer. I will be using these letters a lot more as paper piecing little scraps is quite fun! Also, those coral thickers, yes, they are my fave from Amy Tangerine's Cut and Paste line and they need to replicate this font again! I love it.

A close up of the beautiful colors! This layout is a lift on Jen Chesnick via Paper Issues Facebook group.

Lots of layers and using every little scrap!