Recognition

Thursday, January 1, 2026

Just Us Girls #804 -- DIE Week



HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Join us! It is 
DIE week at Just Us Girls.  I am your host this week and am challenging you to make a card using a COVER PLATE die.  This coverplate can be a die, a letterpress plate, or a hot foil plate.  

The category is broad this week because I received a Betterpress machine for Christmas and wanted to play with it. Jennifer McGuire said Betterpress is flawless, that our first card would be perfect. Well, I didn't find that to be true. I messed around with inks, paper, and plates for several days before I came up with a couple of cards that I like. The card above was not inked; it was just "pressed." In other words, I used the Betterpress plate more as an embosser. I stenciled the flowers, adding a bit of gold paint at the flower centers. I then letterpressed the hello sentiment over the design.  I finished the card by adding a few glitter dots.

The card below is another attempt.  I used Spellbinders Betterpress ink.  I think plates need to be conditioned first (not sure about this). This card took three tries. I made several attempts to color them, but there are a lot of details, and my hand isn't as steady as it used to be.  I have a feeling that I will just be "letterpressing" in single colors. Of course, this card is simplicity at its best, and the design is beautiful.

Hope everyone with Betterpress has had better luck than I have. Here's to better crafting as the year progresses.  I generally make multiple cards; this week, however, my multiples were all experiments.

Meet our featured guest designer for January 2026, Laurel Seabrook. Please welcome her and check out her fabulous work at Seabrook Designs.

Also, check out the design team.  These ladies work hard to inspire you each week.  Drop by their blogs and leave them a little love.

Enjoy!  I am looking forward to your inspired creations in the gallery. 

Elizabeth

Project Details
Stamps/Dies/Stencils/OtherSpellbinders Layered Floral Celebration, press plate, and stencil
Spellbinders Sweeping Script Sentiments
Concord & 9th Just Saying dies
My Favorite Things Blueprints 16 (embossed A2 die)
Cardstock 110lb. Neenah Solar Crest
Bazzill solid black cardstock
Vellum
Ink Spellbinders Letterpress black ink
Simon Says Stamp dye inks
Embellishments Pinkfresh glitter dots
Liquidex gold paint
Desk Staples Dahle Personal Rotary Cutter
Scor Pal Mini Score Board
Sizzix Big Shot Die Cutting
Ranger Stamp Platform
Bearly Art Precision Glue
3M ATG 714 Tape Adhesive
3M foam tape

1 comment:

Vicki Dutcher said...

Yay for your perseverance! I got one too and JM help me getting it working correctly 😀. Gotta love that enabler. Meanwhile love your card you went with