Give Your Card The Wow Factor. A Step by Step Press, Colour and Emboss Tutorial Using Magical Fuchsia

Hello cardmaking friends! It’s Lisa Tilson here with you today to share a card featuring the Magical Fuchsia Press + Foil Plate & Die Set from the Alex Syberia Designs Magical Fuchsia Collection. I am going to be doing a step-by-step photo tutorial showing you how to press, color, and emboss this beautiful image! There are many options available to you when combining the press plate, stencils, and embossing folder. You can press or foil the plate, use it with or without stencils. You can use the stencils on their own or combine them with the embossing folder. You can even use the embossing folder on its own. I have to say that adding the embossing folder into the mix when using the press plate really takes your card to another level – the texture of the folder over the pressed image is fabulous!

So, let’s get started with the card.

Dear Friend

For all of the die cutting, use the Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine with the die cutting sandwich as follows (from bottom to top):

• Plate A – Platform Base
• Plate B – Platform Top
• Plate C – Cutting Plate
• Plate C – Cutting Plate

The cardstock/die will be inserted between the two cutting plates with the die sitting on top of the cardstock, cutting side down.

Die Cutting and Pressing

1. Start by taking an A2 panel of Pebble BetterPress Cardstock and taping the second largest rectangle from Perfect Touch Rectangles and Tag Etched Dies onto it using Best Ever Craft Tape.

2. Run it through your Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine.

3. Tape your die-cut panel onto the underside of the BetterPress Letterpress System platen (clear top plate). As your panel is smaller than A2 size, tape it so that it sits centrally within the A2 guidelines.
4. Place the Magical Fuchsia Press + Foil Plate onto the chase (magnetic platform) and ink it up with BetterPress Black Ink. Position your press plate centrally on the chase so that when pressed, the image will sit in the centre of your die-cut panel.

TIP: Using the large BetterPress Black Ink Pad is helpful for larger plates.

TIP: Die-cutting your panel to size before pressing helps to preserve the letterpress effect. Die cutting after pressing can result in you losing a little bit of that beautiful, pressed look.

5. Flip the platen back over and pop it back onto the chase.

6. Remove all plates from your Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine and run your BetterPress Letterpress System through it.

7. Take the “dear friend” press plate from Crafty Hugs Sentiments Press Plate & Die Set and place it onto your chase.
8. Tape a small panel of Porcelain BetterPress Cardstock to the underside of the platen.
9. Ink up the plate using BetterPress Black Ink.
10. Flip the platen back over and place it back onto the chase.
11. Run it through your die-cutting machine.

TIP: The small BetterPress Black Ink works really well for small press plates.

Coloring the Fuchsia Using Layering Stencils

1. Place your image panel onto the Stampwheel Sticky Mat. You are now ready to add your colour using the Layered Magical Fuchsia Stencils. There are five stencils, and they are numbered in the bottom left corner.

2. Align Stencil 1 over your image. The sticky mat will definitely hold it in place, but you can also add a few pieces of Best Ever Craft Tape to make doubly sure it doesn’t shift!
3. Using a Medium Blending Brush, apply Amethyst Core Ink through the stencil openings and then remove the stencil.

TIP: Use a heavier application of ink towards the centre of the flower and fade the colour out towards the ends of the petals.  This helps to give the flower a little more interest rather than just applying a solid application.

4. Line up Stencil 2 and apply Ultra Pink Core Ink through it.

5. Line up Stencil 3 and apply Raspberry Jam Core Ink through it.

6. Place Stencil 4 on top and apply Green Apple Core Ink through the openings.

7. Using a Mini Blending Brush, blend a small amount of Moss Core Ink into the lower sections of the leaves. This will add a little bit of interest and depth to them.

8. Place Stencil 5 down over your image and again, apply Green Apple Core Ink through the openings.

9. Again, apply Moss Core Ink to the lower parts of the leaves using a Mini Blending Brush.

10. Finish by blending BetterPress Black Ink through the stencil to colour the ends of the stamens.

Embossing the Fuchsia

1. Take the Magical Fuchsia 3D Embossing Folder and insert your blended panel inside, lining it up with the embossed detail on the front flap. Tape it in place.

2. Place the embossing folder/cardstock between the Platform Base (A) and the Adaptor Plate (D). You do not need any other plates when embossing a 3D embossing folder. If you need to, add a paper shim or two for a deeper impression.
3. Run the embossing folder through your die-cutting machine.

4. The texture on the fuchsia is incredible! So beautiful, and it adds a real touch of luxury to your card.

Assembling the Card

1. Tape the sentiment strip die from Always and Forever Sentiment Strips Press Plate and Die Set over your sentiment and run it through your die cutting machine.

TIP: You could just trim your sentiment with a paper trimmer. However, using a sentiment strip will give you a nice, polished finish/edge to your sentiment.

2. Trim the sentiment down using a Guillotine Paper Trimmer.

3. Add Bearly Art Glue onto the back of your embossed panel and adhere it onto a side folding A2 white note card (8.5” x 5.5”, scored and folded at 4.25”)
4. Add small pieces of White Foam Adhesive Square onto the back of your sentiment.

5. Adhere your sentiment to your panel.

6. Finish by adding some Onyx Color Essential Gems around the sentiment and towards the bottom right of the fuchsia.

That finishes your card!

I hope you find this tutorial useful. I kept the ink blending very simple today, but you could add even more interest to it by experimenting with a few colour blends on the petals. The pressed and coloured image is beautiful without the embossing, but it is even more gorgeous when you emboss it. You won’t be able to stop running your fingers over it!

If you would like to see more of my cards, I would love to have you join me over on my blog, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube. In the meantime, thank you so much for joining me here on the Spellbinders blog. I hope that you have a great day!

Spellbinders Supplies:

Other Supplies

Hero Arts Moss Core Ink, Hero Arts Amethyst Core Ink