Text Block Tips

The Text Block: Birthday die releases tonight (10pm Eastern) on Papertrey Ink's website and I thought y'all might find it helpful if I shared a few tips I learned while working with the die this week:

• The Xyron machine is your friend. Alternatively, wide rolls or sheets of adhesive would be similarly helpful. The idea is full coverage.

• Apply your adhesive (and burnish it to make sure it's nice and secure) before you die cut. You see those tiny, narrow letters? Yes, you could use a glue pen...and then you could curse my name for years to come.

• The metal shim is a good investment.

• I use a Cuttlebug and I had the best results when I die cut up instead of down. My sandwich was: A Plate, Metal Shim, C Plate, Die facing up, Paper, B Plate. Everyone's machine is different, but that's what worked best for me.

• If you're planning to use the die in some sort of window application make sure to invest in some clear cardstock. You'll still get the see-through effect and you'll stabilize the letters in the process (I'm looking at you "very").

• The same goes if you want to pop your shape up on foam tape. Just make sure there's something behind your words to act as a stabilizer. Vellum would be another great option.

• Be gentle when removing your shape from your die. You don't have to use kid gloves, but there are a few spots (the "a very" line primarily) where the connections to the frame are narrow and it would be a shame to tear them. I never did so it's not like you have to be crazy vigilant, but I thought it was worth mentioning.

• Try different materials! I showed cork, but fun foam, super thin wood veneer (1/64"), stabilized fabric...use your imagination!

Most importantly, HAVE FUN! Enjoy your weekends, friends! See you soon!