Friday, January 16, 2015

Functional Friday - Versatile Background




Hi all! Thanks so much for your positive response to the new series I introduced last week ... Functional Fridays. I'm really excited about it! In case you missed the post, I'm featuring one die from Top Dog Dies each month, and each Friday I'm sharing a different way to use the die. My hope is that even if you don't own that exact die, the ideas will translate to similar dies you do own.


This month's featured die is the Heart Border Die. The detail is amazing with hundreds of tiny hearts ... no way I would attempt that on the Silhouette, and I'd venture to say it's impossible with an exacto knife. To take advantage of the detail in a subtle way, I set about to use it as a background.



I cut one strip in the same color as my card base to make the heart shapes less apparent. We're just looking for texture here. Then I tore the border in thirds, making sure to remove all the straight edges. Not too much thought next, I just gathered the three pieces in the center of the card and adhered them down. I used the penguin from Winnie & Walter as the focal point and ended up with ...



... a card that has a little something extra than a penguin standing on a sentiment (which isn't a bad look either, I'm just happy to find ways to make it a little different than some of my other cards.) I think you could get this look with any tiny, densely patterned die.


  
The edges on top are adhered to the card base. I left the edges on the bottom a little loose. While not necessary, I also like that if someone notices that the holes are tiny hearts, it goes with the sentiment's love theme.


Here's the inside of the card. One more thing to point out ... just because it's a heart die doesn't mean that it has to be for Valentine's day. There's not a hint of red or pink on this card and it doesn't look out of place.

Well, so far we've seen the Heart Border Die used as a home for a stitched heart, and as a background. I've got another idea for next week that I can't wait to show you : ) Thanks again for visiting Functional Friday!

- Kelly

19 comments:

  1. I love this series. And, you are the perfect person, given the way you think. This is such a cool and unexpected use of this die.

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  2. Simply Brilliant!!! Love the card!!

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  3. This is perfect, Kelly! Totally, ROCKS!
    I would have never thought of this...thanks for sharing! Happy Friday! :)

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  4. I love the texture that the border pieces provide....at first I thought it was a stencil/paste!

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  5. Wow...what a wonderful background you created. Love all those sweet little hearts, they look like so much fun. Sweet card with your little penguin.

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  6. This is super cute, Kelly!! Love the background, it makes a perfect stage for the sweet penguin!

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  7. Ok Kelly...super smart idea! Love the collage feel!!

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  8. Way to keep us tuning in, Kelly. I've love your ideas so far and can't wait til next Friday for the next one. Darling card BTW.

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  9. Kelly you always come up with the most creative uses for dies and stamps! This is wonderful!!!

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  10. KELLY!!! LOVE THIS! Thank you for choosing my card over at Fusion-- I actually was off social media most of the week and so found out via Darnell!!!! I was like "wha, wha, wha?!" I'd almost forgotten I'd submitted!! I've had a card completed for you since end of December, but still haven't made it to the P.O.!! I'm terrible about mailing stuff out-- so maybe I should not open an Etsy?? Hope you are well-- I just got an order of Top Dog in for X-mas present! Love your idea of the deconstructed die! xo

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  11. Such a creative an appealing way to use that die! Awesome! TFS

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  12. I'm always looking for new ways to think outside the box, Kelly, and you've now thrown about a million "pings" into my brain! This is absolutely brilliant. Not only is the 'new' use fun and interesting, the composition is wonderful. Love this idea and am looking forward to more! You go girl! Bev

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  13. super brilliant use of that die my friend and the penguin is so cute!

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  14. Love the textured background with the penguin! Awesome work indeed, Kelly!

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  15. Hi Kelly! I'm catching up on your genius today... LOve this use of a border die! I'm determined to find a way to use this technique!!
    =] Michele

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I absolutely love reading comments. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave one! - Kelly