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You
can add a wide array of special effects to your art by using
craft punches.
Punched
out shapes are excellent additions to your stamped art.
Ornaments and embellishments can be used for accents, and
are especially eye-catching when cut from metallic paper,
brightly contrasting colored paper or paper that has been
inked and heat embossed with sparkle powder. The corners
of cards or layers can be rounded or punched to add elegance.
T
I P S F O R B E T T E R P U N C H I N G
-
Lubricate a sticking punch by punching through wax paper
several times.
-
Place
a sticking punch in the freezer for 20 minutes to contract
and shrink the metal parts.
-
New
punches will loosen up with continued use.
-
Tap
a sticking punch on the table top to release the mechanism.
-
Stand
up when punching to gain more leverage, and always punch
down on a hard
surface rather than "in the air".
-
Use
the punch upside down for more precise placement, and
for
even more added leverage.
C
R A F T P U N C H I D E A S
CIRCLE
PUNCH
With a fine line gel roller pen and a circle punch you can
create:
-
Balloons, bubbles, sun, buttons, pumpkins, etc. to glue
onto your creations.
-
Flowers: sunflower centers, petals or leaves from a double
cut circle, other assorted tulips and posies by assembling
different size circles and cutting away petals.
- Sports
balls of all types: basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis,
football.
- Food
items: pizza, ice cream scoops.
- Donuts,
bagels, olives, watermelon slices, or sandwich cookies.
- Bugs:
ladybugs, bees with petal shaped wings
HEART
PUNCH - With a heart punch you can create:
-
Open bow (requires 2 sizes heart punches). Punch the smaller
heart out first, then line up the larger one on the cut
out shape by using the larger punch upside down so that
you can see the position of the shapes, Arrange on card
and adhere with glue stick. Add a ribbon which you have
drawn freehand and cut.
- Mitten:
Cut away a portion of the heart shape. Decorate with a
"cuff" and draw a string.
- Raindrops,
solid bow ties, leaves or petals can all be formed with
half of a punched heart.
- Flowers
or four leaf clovers
- Bows
and braids to dress a stamped or drawn face.
- Lace
edges (with the help of a 1/8" circle punch and a scallop
paper edger.
CORNER
PUNCHES:
BORDERS & MEDALLION DESIGNS can be created after removing
the plastic "V" corner guides from the punch. Using a flat
screwdriver, push out the pieces from the center. (They
are easily replaced when desired.) (ideas by Joanne Peterson)
Plan and mark your design lightly on the back of your
paper with a pencil. Measure the vertical and horizontal
centers, distance apart, and distance from the edge. (Fig.
1) For medallion designs, place the punch at 4 places,
each equally distanced from a center point. (Fig. 2)
-
Use
the punch upside down, so that your markings are visible.
S
T A M P I N ' T I P S
-
Punch
out a shape that fits into your scene or theme to add
an open accent.
-
Punch a series of designs along the edge of your card
to use as a border. A penciled line helps keep them in
a straight line.
-
Save
your punched out designs. Use them as confetti, or glue
them onto a card that is a contrasting color.
-
Use
your punched design as a stencil for sponging the design.
T
E C H N I Q U E E X A M P L E S
Click
on an example for a larger view,
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Example of Corner Craft Punch.
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