Die-cutting/"Stansen"

Last week I was trying to explain to someone what I do. I mentioned the word “die-cutting” and she got this blank expression on her face, so I had to explain. (I still do lots of explaining, because my Dutch is still FAR from perfect!) I was proud of myself, because I knew the Dutch word (“stansen”) too, but this was not enough. It made me realise that many Dutch brides and grooms might not be familiar with especially the English term, so I thought it might be useful to post a short explanation here on my blog, especially because I’ll soon be selling die-cuts (“stansvormen”) in my Etsy shop.

 

Die-cutting is a method by which a specific shape (for example that of an envelope, box or flower) is cut from or punched out of paper or fabric by using a metal form that is called a die. The noun “die-cut” is used to refer to the cut out shape.

Below is a picture of a die:

 
This die was used to make this box:
 
 

I will soon be offering die-cuts cut from my collection in my Etsy shop. As soon as they become available I will do a post on my blog. If you need die-cuts before then, please contact me via e-mail.



2011

Pantone Colour of the Year - 2011

Those of you who know me will also know that I often wear pink and that I've painted my previous studio and even our bedroom (with Hubby's blessing!) different shades of pink. So I was very pleased when Pantone anounced a vibrant shade of pink as the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2011! Pantone calls this beautiful reddish shade of pink "honeysuckle", but other flowers also come to mind: peonies, roses, fuchias and my favourite tulips that will hopefully bloom in the spring!

 

What signature colour will you choose for your wedding? Considering Honeysuckle?  Then you need to read on! I love Pantone's passionate description of the colour and since I couldn't say it better myself, I've reprinted a part of the article here:

Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.

“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”

Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women... It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway...

You will find the original article here.



My Favourite Tools

At present I have a few plans up my sleeve. One of them is the launch of a new Etsy shop! Yes, I've been in The Netherlands for more than a year now and I've decided to share some of my favourite paper products and a few of my own creations with the DIY brides and bridegrooms out there! I don't want to say too much too soon, but while I am waiting for my paper orders to arrive from Italy I thought we could start with a few basics for making wedding invitations and stationery, so that you know the basics by the time that my Etsy shop opens! (I hope to be up and running by the end of November.)

Today we'll look at my favourite tools that I use for making invitations by hand. Depending on the nature of your design, you might not have to use all of these, but these are what I use all the time!

Cutting Mat

At the bottom I have a plastic sheet on which I work when I cut, punch and go crazy. Mine is just a simple sheet of plastic (3mm thick), but more fancy self-healing mats are also available from craft shops. A cutting mat protects the surface of the table that you're working on. Keep your cutting mat clean! You don't want dirt sticking to the mat to stick to your precious invitations!

Paper Trimmer

Another favourite tool is my desk cutter or paper trimmer. Mine is by Carl, but many brands are available at scrapbooking or craft shops. They can be quite expensive, so if you're not convinced that you'll be papercrafting after the wedding, it's probably not worth buying one. But please don't use scissors to cut your paper. Use a hobby knife/scalpel and a steel ruler on a cutting mat as an alternative. You just cannot achieve those neat straight edges that a well designed card requires with scissors!

Bone Folder

A bone folder is used to score paper and to flatten folded lines so that they're nice and crisp. Bone folders were traditionally made from bone, but nowadays you also get variations made from plastic. Once again your bone folder should always be clean to avoid marks on especially light coloured paper. If you can't find a bone folder or prefer not to invest in one, you may also use an old, dry ballpoint pen and a ruler to score paper and cardstock. (Just make sure that it is completely dry!) For crisp folds a plastic ruler should also do the trick, although I find a bone folder much easier to work with, because of the smooth surface and the rounded shape.

Embossing Tool

My embossing tool is nothing fancy - one that I've picked up at a flea market years ago. It has two fairly small points and may be used to score paper (against a steel ruler) or to emboss paper. (Embossing templates are available from most craft shops.) I use my embossing tool to sharpen creases if a fold of a diecut isn't as crisp as I would like it to be. I also (a)buse my embossing tool by using it to push small embellishments such as flat-backed pearls or crystals into position.

Scissors

I also do embroidery, so I love my very sharp, pointed embroidery scissors, but any sharp scissors would be useful. I don't allow anyone to cut paper with my embroidery scissors, since paper very soon makes scissor blades blunt, but I use the scissors to cut ribbon, fabric scraps, plastic film, threads, etc!

Tweezers

Tweezers are available from craft shops, but you might find them for much cheaper at your local pharmacy. Tweezers are optional, but I always keep mine handy to pick up small embellishments or to position them on cards.

Eyelet Setter

My eyelet setter is by Making Memories, but there are many brands available. An eyelet setter is used to set eyelets, but it also comes in handy to make neat holes for ribbon, string and so forth. The Making Memories eyelet setter is quite noisy, so don't use it while the baby sleeps, but it is my favourite. Once again it was quite expensive, but if you plan on using it often, it certainly is value for money. I will, however, recommend a cheaper eyelet setter, if you're not that keen on doing a lot of papercrafts after the wedding! Or, if you don't need holes or eyelets, you don't need an eyelet setter at all!

Steel Ruler

I use a steel ruler, because the steel doesn't damage so easily when you use the ruler as a guide for a cutting blade. A plastic ruler just doesn't last when you use it with a craft knife or scalpel. If you know you are going to use your ruler with a craft knife, try to find one with a layer of cork at the back. This prevents the ruler from slipping too easily.

Mosterd na de Maaltijd!

I’m guilty! I’ve been away for a long time! Please accept my apology! I’ve actually planned to do a post to inform you about my plans, but right at the end everything was such a rush and it was actually only after I’ve arrived in South Africa that I realised that this picture was still to be published! But, since I’ve prepared the image, I thought I might just as well show it to you anyway. “Het is wel mosterd na de maaltijd!”*, for those of you who knows a little (or a lot) of Dutch, but since I love hippos I thought you might enjoy this lazy bunch with me. I will try to make up for my absence by posting a bit more often in the coming weeks!

Kaart: Wit vierkant (145 x 145 mm) met geronde hoeke

Drukwerk: Laserprinter

Decoratie: Kant (zwart, ongeveer 110 mm breed)

Envelop: Wit vellum

Why "Almost Amsterdam"?

A few days ago a friend of mine asked me why I call this blog "Almost Amsterdam", so I thought more of you might wonder why!

Ever since I've learned to speak German in school I wanted to travel through Europe. I was dreaming about visiting cities like Zurich, Munich, Copenhagen, Amsterdam ... I never thought I would be able to visit all these cities! (Travelling through Europe on the South African Rand is a luxury that very few South Africans can afford!)

A little more than two years ago my hubby and I have decided that, if we really wanted to experience Europe, we had to come and live and work in Europe! We thought it was going to take a while for one of us to find a job here, but Marc found a job within two weeks after making his first call to a personnel agent!  We were actually still getting used to the idea of moving to another continent and the job opportunity came completely unexpected! We weren't really prepared, but at the same time we didn't want to turn down a good opportunity and a month later Marc came to The Netherlands. Having Dutch parents, Marc was in possession of a Dutch passport, and it was relatively easy for him to come over to work in Holland.

I was less lucky. I stayed behind in South Africa to sell our house, to get my paperwork sorted out, and to prepare our animal "children" for life in The Netherlands. Because of problems with my birth certificate (which was apparently lost), I had to wait for almost a year before I could join Marc! It was an incredibly difficult time for both of us, having to live on different continents! (Thank goodness for Skype!) But after a year my paperwork was finally sorted out and the animals and I were able to join Marc here in Vleuten, in the Provence of Utrecht, in The Netherlands.

Now, after almost a year on European soil, I sometimes still find it hard to believe that I am actually here and that I already had the privilege of experiencing quite a bit of Europe! It's almost unreal, like a dream from which I might wake up any time! So, on those days when I can still hardly believe that I actually live in Europe, I deliberately walk past the sign at the end of our street that points the way to Amsterdam, just to remind myself that this is not a dream - that Amsterdam is in fact only 31 kilometres away!

Since Vleuten is a very small town in The Netherlands, that very few people know of, I thought Amsterdam might also serve as a nice reference point for the rest of the world to figure out where we live! So, I've decided to call my blog Almost Amsterdam!