My regular readers will know that I love experimenting with my craft supplies. Today my plan was to use another of the products that will be retiring soon; Snowy White Velvet Sheets. I’m not sure exactly how it happened but in the end the velvet featured quite heavily in the design. By the time I was done it had been die-cut, punched, and folded, stamped on, and coloured! Using the Peaceful Deer Stamp Set and coordinating Deer Builder Punch this is the final result. I particularly love the velvet antlers.

MINI POCKET

This project all began when I cut the Snowy White Velvet Sheet using the main die from the Mini Pocket Envelope Dies.

After removing the die from the velvet piece I went back to the Mini Pocket Envelope Dies and found one with a slot at one end and a small circle at the other. I placed the circle end in the centre of the curved scalloped section of the die-cut piece, about 1/4″ from the top. Then I ran it through my Cut & Emboss Machine.

With the hole added I folded the velvet sheet along the ‘score’ lines inpressed by the main die. After folding it in half I tucked in the tabs and sharpened the creases with a Bone Folder. Finally I fixed the tabs in place using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) and my pocket was assembled.

Next, from the Baker’s Twine Essentials pack I cut 6″ of Crumb Cake twine. After threading it through the hole I tied the twine in a simple knot and set the pocket aside.

VELVET ACCENTS

To decorate the pocket I started with the leaping deer from the Peaceful Deer Stamp Set. Using Early Espresso ink I stamped it onto some Kraft Paper. Then I coloured him in using just the light Soft Suede Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker. With that done I punched out the deer using the coordinating Deer Builder Punch.

Going back to the Snowy White Velvet Sheet I used the punch to cut out the two antlers. Then I simply coloured the velvet side using the same light Soft Suede Stampin’ Blends marker. Finally, with a little liquid glue I fixed the antlers to the back of the deer’s head, before attaching him to the front of the pocket.

That just left the sentiment and I went back to the Peaceful Deer Stamp Set for the simple “Merry Christmas”. First, using Early Espresso ink, I stamped the sentiment onto a scrap of Snowy White Velvet Sheet and left it for a minute so the ink could dry.

Once I was happy, I took the scalloped rectangle die from the Mini Pocket Envelope Dies to cut out the sentiment, but as it was larger than I wanted I had to do a little adjusting.

I began by placing the stamped sentiment onto the platform and cutting plate of my Cut & Emboss Machine as normal. Next I put the die on top so that the top edge of the die was just above the top of the sentiment. Then with the second cutting plate on top I watched carefully as I cranked the sentiment between the rollers. I only wanted the die to cut about half-way and once that was done I reversed the plates back out of the machine.

You might find it easier to see how I create custom-sized labels in this short video. It’s filmed using a different die but the process is the same.

Next I turned the sentiment around so the bottom section would go into the machine first. Once again I placed the die on top. This time I lined it up with the bottom of the words while ‘locking’ it into the scallops already cut at the sides. Then once the top plate was in place I began to crank the sentiment through the machine. As before I only went about halfway before reversing the plates back out again.

Now when I removed the top plate and die I had a smaller die-cut piece that suited the sentiment perfectly. All I had left to do was attach the sentiment to the velvet pocket with Stampin’ Dimensionals and my soft velvet gift card holder was complete.

Oh what fun I had, but once again it’s only as something is due to retire that I really explore all its possibilities. Will I never learn?

PRODUCT LIST

RETIRING AND DISCOUNTED SOON – The Snowy White Velvet Sheets are being retired and will appear in the Last Chance promotion that starts on December 1st. From then, but only while stocks last you’ll be able to get these at 60% off! At this price I suspect the Velvet Sheets could be very popular, so make sure you place your order before they sell out.