Thursday 10 May 2012

Black and white and a lot of angst

As soon as I spotted the current challenge over at the Allsorts Challenge Blog which is Black and White, I knew exactly what new toys I wanted to play with.

Yeah right, what a time I had! I'd been itching to use a new set of Spellbinders Dies called 'Moroccan Motif' and after wrecking lots of attempts I nearly lost the will to live here. They are almost impossible to remove from the dies :( I've read that waxed paper is a secret weapon so that's on my shopping list, unless I find some hidden away amongst the baking tins etc. I think that rubbing the dies with a tumble dryer sheet is also an option but I don't have those either. Sooooo disappointing but eventually I came up with something 'passable':
I used:

- 7" x 5" white card stock

- Spellbinders Moroccan Motif dies - grrrrr - with white and black card from the snippets folder, layered for dimension using very thin sticky pads

- black card punched using a Martha Stewart Daisy edge punch - ha, that was a walk in the park!

-  white self adhesive ribbon with faux stitching - just a little snippet which doesn't even go right across, but the gap is hidden by a Craftwork Cards sentiment

- black gems and a white pearly flower from my store of goodies

Snigger, there are some very small black gems on the white die cut layer, to hide some poked marks I made in desperation whilst trying to get the card out of the die :) A lorra stamping of feet here I can tell you!

And, when he saw the result my 'in-house critic' said he thinks black and white is much too funeral like!! Trust me, I could be flicking the landing light off or soaping the shower tray if he doesn't take care :)

Grump, grump :(

Di
x

20 comments:

  1. A gorgeous card Di, I love the B&W theme, it works really well!

    Hugs, Karen xx

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  2. Oh Di you do make me laugh.....of course if he does slip in the shower or down the stairs now we will have all the evidence we need :-)
    Hope you succeed in getting your new toy to work more easily.
    Hugs,
    A x

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  3. Hello Di

    The Moroccan accents are a great set aren't they. But wondering if yours are OK as mine come out of the dies perfectly. I had that problem with a border set a while back and turned out they were faulty and were replaced. Just an idea !

    Anyhow, your card came out great, black and white always gives such a lovely feel of elegance.

    Thanks for joining us at Allsorts this week and good luck.

    B x

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  4. Love it hun, one other trick to try...........rub it with liquid soap, and rub it off, thats supposed to work as well, xxx

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  5. Love the die motif and the card Di. But I know how frustrating some dies can be. Fortunately most of the newer ones now have pricking holes to push them out through. I usually choose a point on the design that will be covered, i.e. the centre of the motif, and prise it up with my finest pricking tool. That way the damage is covered by the next layer. Anyway, I think you have done a great job with this one. Kate x

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  6. Oh Di you do make me laugh.
    Sorry your die gave you so much trouble I hope it's not defective.
    Your card is stunning and elegant.
    Love & Hugs

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  7. Love this card Di, so clean and yet elegant. Keep 'em coming! Tracy x

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  8. Beautiful elegant card, black and white is so lovely, but so hard to do well, and you've done it!!! I expect nothing less than perfect with you Di...!! Karen x

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  9. The card turned out beautifully Di. Very elegant. If I have trouble with mine I usually whack them on the desk a couple of times and that usually works.
    Good luck!
    Hugs
    Caz x

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  10. Hmmm . . . did someone get out of the wrong side of the applie pie bed this morning then?

    Fabulous result despite the gnashing of teeth and stamping of feet.

    Gonna try mine out soon . . .

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  11. Lol, great cards, I like black and white, I think it has a simple elegance

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  12. Love this. I know what you mean with the dies, I have the accents and some of them are not easy to get out, even using those pressure release holes that Sue Wilson pointed out.
    Linby x

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  13. What a fabulous die, Di and a fantastic card well done Hugs Elaine

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  14. The finished result looks great! I've got a similar set, and to get the shapes out of the dies I poke them gently with a cross stitch needle until there's enough to slide the needle in between the paper and the die! They are fiddly, but the cross stitch needles are blunt so you don't get too much imprint or poked holes!! M x

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  15. Doesn't your in house critic know he should only give positive feedback! Send him to me for training. lol. x Jo

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  16. I LOVE black and white cards. And I have a special spot for black and white with a smidgen of color too. The Moroccan Motif dies are gorgeous, but what a bummer they won't come out of the die. How does that wax paper thing work exactly? Die cut a piece of that too? I have a snowflake die by Marianne that is useless like that. What a royal pain. Your card is very lovely and elegant. Sorry it drove you to the brink.

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  17. OOOO! Someone sounds like they are a little stroppy today! A bad workman/woman always blames his/her tools! Tho I have to say this is gorgeous! Have you got any wax? If so try rubbing it over with some wax on a piece of kitchen roll!

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  18. Fabulous card Di, love the die cuts even if they were a devil to release, don't you just hate that.
    Wish I had spotted this challenge as I just love black and white.

    Kath x

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  19. Hello Di, fabulous card and those dies are quite beautiful. I'd heard about the greaseproof paper - the type bread and soap gets wrapped in ... not at the same time of course :) I have a Christmas border edge die - really too long for my Cuttlebug, but I love it - that is also unwilling to give up the card and wondered if baking paper would do a similar job. Will give it a try some time as it might just work. Elizabeth x

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  20. Brilliant, Di, you do make me laugh. Hubbies are great with those helpful remarks aren't they!!
    It's a stunning card, very dramatic. Sue Wilson always seems to bang the dies on the desk to get them out but i think waxed paper sounds like a definite plan. I've got some if you can't find any!! Just send me an e-mail.
    You sound very busy, hope everything is OK.
    I'm off for a small op next week, hence the absence from WOYWW. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
    Have a great weekend.
    Hugs Lisax

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