Welcome to another In Detail post. Today I’m reviewing two die cut sets: My Favorite Things Blueprints 13 and Avery Elle Custom Panels Elle-ments.
I don’t really know quite how to categorize these sets. Unlike the die sets I’ve recently reviewed manufactured by Sizzix, neither of these sets creates the actual card base. These sets often greater flexibility in terms of card design than the Sizzix Flip-Its and Stand-Ups die sets. Both the MFT and Avery Elle sets contain a main card panel die, in slightly different dimensions, which I’ll get into in a moment. These panels would be attached to the card base. There are pieces in both sets that I might not ever use, and there are pieces in both that I’ll use again and again.
As of My Favorite Things’s May release, there are fifteen Blueprints sets. Each Blueprints set contains a variety of large and small pieces. There are basic shapes such as squares, circles and rectangles, as well as word dies, arrows, flowers and bows. There are downloadable sketches available for the My Favorite Things Blueprints, which can be found in the Product Description on the store website.
The Blueprints 13 set must be cut apart before use. (The Elizabeth Crafts Design Die Snips and File Set are suggested tools for this use.) The set comes packaged with a magnetic sheet.
The approximate measurements of the Blueprints 13 pieces, according to the manufacturer, are as follows: Stitched Rectangle 4" x 5 1/4", Fishtail Banner 2 5/8" x 4 3/4", Bracket Banner 2 1/8" x 4", Washi Tape 3 1/4" x 1/2", Fishtail Flag 1 3/4" x 1/2", Stitched Line 5 1/4" in length, Rounded Edge Label 2 1/2" x 3/4", Large Arrow 2 1/8" x 3/8", Small Arrow 5/8" x 1/4", Large Star 7/8" x 7/8", Small Star 1/2" x 1/2", Circle 1 1/2" in diameter, and Pinking Edge Circle 1 5/8" in diameter.
To begin my investigation of the Blueprints 13 set, I cut cardstock strips (4 ¼" x 11") with the dies in the set using my Sizzix Big Shot and Magnetic Platform. Following the sketch guide for Blueprints 13, I combined the cut pieces. I didn’t glue down the pieces, as I was simply arranging the shapes on the card fronts. For each, I used the stitched rectangle, measuring 4" x 5 ¼", as the card panel. This will definitely be my most-used die from the set. (While I could easily create this size panel with my paper cutter, I prefer having a die to cut paper exactly, and I like the finish of the stitched edge.)
I began working with only solid cardstock pieces, but I soon realized that pieces stamped with background stamps or dry embossed with stencils or embossing folders were needed for visual and textural interest. With a lot of layers, it’s important to include some pattern.
In the photo on the left, above, the fishtail and bracket banners were cut for a horizontal orientation. The set includes a stitched line to finish off the cut edge.
Personally, I had a hard time figuring out where I would put a sentiment with the designs shown in the sketches. Most of my card designs are simpler than these, as I tend to use fewer layers. Additionaly, I would replace the arrow with a different die cut. While My Favorite Things does not have any specific stamp sets that coordinate with this Blueprints set, they do offer a large selection of sentiment stamp sets, which would work with the various shapes, such as the circle or the rounded edge label. For example, the Lollipop Additions – Birthday stamp set coordinates with the Lollipop Treat Die Set, which includes a slightly smaller circle (1 3/8") than the circle die in the Blueprints 13 set. Obviously other stamp manufacturers sell circle stamps sets that would work. My Favorite Things also sell two stamp sets–Washi Patterns and More Washi Patterns–designed to resemble washi tape that work with the washi tape die in the Blueprints 13 set.
I ran into this same issue when I worked with the Sizzix Stephanie Barnard Flip-Its die. I just haven’t built up a collection of sentiments that work inside circles.
While I don’t usually make any purchase suggestions in the In Detail post, one of the Blueprint sets would be a great introduction into die cutting for someone just starting to build their die collection. My Favorite Things offer a wide collection of STAX (stackable) dies: circles, rectangles, squares, labels, and other shapes sold in a variety of sizes in the set. However, it takes some time to build up a collection of those, and the Blueprints offer an affordable option if you simply want to “dip your toes” into the die cutting pool.
Now let’s turn our attention to the Avery Elle Custom Panels Elle-ments set. Designed by J.J. Bolton, the set includes the following dies: an A2-sized rectangle (4" x 5 1/4"), a label, three circles, three hexagons, a curvy line, a curved line, an angle, and a curved-edge shape. The set also includes an alignment guide (the plus sign) to align dies. The set must be cut apart before use. In this case, I have not included a photo of the set before I cut it apart.
In the photo below I show how the A2 rectangle die can be used to cut a card front panel from patterned paper.
Angled card panels are currently trending, and the A2 die can be used to easily create a variety of angled panels. Please note: for the following examples, I've combined the cut pieces but did not use any adhesives. In some of the photos you may detect that the cut pieces have shifted slightly.
Similarly, the angle die in the set, which is not a 90-degree angle, can be used to create angled card panels. Simply vary the position of the die to create any number of different shapes. Even a shift in one direction by a small amount creates a different shape.
You can also make an angle cut, then shift the die down and cut again, to achieve another angle piece.
Even though I was using a magnetic platform (and brand-new cutting plates), I found that it was necessary to hold down the die with washi tape for precise placement.
The wavy line / hill die can be used to create panels with two different shapes simply by using both sides of the cut paper. The length of the wavy line is just a bit greater than 4 ¼". For an actual card, I would trim the wavy line/hill panel to size.
The curved die can be used in a variety of ways. Its width is just a fraction under 5 ½". For my first example, I placed the curved die on an A2-sized panel vertically and ran it through my Big Shot.
Then I folded the cut panel back (I could have also snipped it on the edges) and used the A2 die to cut a hill shape at a width of 4 ¼".
Finally, here's another example using the curved die, in which I cut the cardstock first with the A2 die and then with the curved die. I added a die cut sentiment to the curved area for illustrative reasons.
As you can see, the line dies included in the Avery Elle's Custom Panels Elle-ments set leave the creation of the shapes up to the imagination of the crafter!
--Jean
