A little while ago I created a bookmark and included a video showing how I made the 5-1/2” long base using a much shorter cutting die. I love being able to get more from all my crafting tools and today’s project is another take on that. However this time I used one of the Tailor Made Tags Dies to create a smaller piece. So now my sentiment label would coordinate perfectly with the tag base. Then using a few scraps left over from earlier projects I created this Christmas tag.

BASIC START

My project began with the #4 (largest) of the fancy topped dies in the Tailor Made Tags Dies set. For the base I simply used the die to cut out a piece of Thick Basic White Card.

Then I found a 1-1/4″ strip of the small poinsettia pattern from the new Boughs of Holly Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack. Using the same tag die I placed in onto the DSP so that the bottom of the die would cut the paper. This gave me some faux stitching across the bottom and up the sides, and rounded the two bottom corners.

Next I took a 1/8″ strip of Shaded Spruce card and placed the tag die on top. This time I wanted the die to cut the strip exactly the same width as the tag and add the faux stitching to the sides.

With that done I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to attach the two pieces onto the tag base. so the rounded corners and faux stitching created a seamless design.

TURNING TAGS INTO LABELS

For the sentiment I chose “Wishing you all the beautiful gifts of Christmas” from the Inspiring Thoughts Stamp Set. Using Shaded Spruce ink I stamped it onto some Thick Basic White Card and I was ready to cut it out.

Still using the same die from the Tailor Made Tags set I placed it with the bottom of the die just below the bottom line of the sentiment. Then making sure that the words were centred between the sides of the die I set the die up so that the bottom of the sentiment would be cut first. Then I watched carefully as I ran it through my Cut & Emboss Machine and stopped after a little over half the sentiment had passed between the rollers. At this point I reversed the platform out of the machine.

Now I removed the top cutting plate and picked up the die. Then I turned the sentiment piece around so that this time the top could go through the machine first. I turned the die around so the bottom end was just above the top line of the sentiment and used the faux stitching at the side to help ‘lock’ the die into place. Finally I added the top cutting plate and began to send the die through the machine. Once again I stopped after a little over half the sentiment had passed between the rollers and then reversed it out.

With this simple process I had created a custom-sized label.

I must say that the actual process is a lot easier than perhaps my written explanation suggests. So I filmed this short video which shows you the technique in real time.

With the sentiment cut out I just had to attached it to the tag base using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To finish I cut 6″ of gold cord from the Simply Elegant Trim pack. Then after threading it through the hole in the tag I tied it in a simple knot. Finally I added three Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels and my Christmas tag project was complete.

So what do you think? Have you tried using dies in different ways to their original intention? Please leave a comment below and let me know your tips.

If you want to make the tag dies longer, see the video in my blog post Gray for elegance.

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