Cut out Directions

Did you ever wonder how people used a die cut and left part of the stamped image outside the die cut shape? I found a tutorial called "The Box Within" on Split Coast Stampers. After several attempts I have tweaked this method so that it works better for me.

This is the step in the tutorial on Split Coast Stampers where I had problems:

Step 3

Remove the die. With a pair of sharp scissors, cut from the edge of your paper up to the line you drew, cutting along the lines of the image. Then cut around the section that will pop out.

I could not make it work like this because if you cut to the line made from marking the edge of the die, the cut portion will be inside that line. Look at a die...the outside edge is NOT the blade where the cut will be made. The cut will be made INSIDE. Therefore you must cut past the outside edge of the die so that there is room to lift that section and pop it out so that it lays above the die.

The tutorial says to draw a partial line here on the outside of the die.

But look at the cutting line... it's inside where you traced a line.

If you cut just to that line, you can't get the image over top of the die and have it cut in the right place.

My solution is to cut beyond the line that you traced just a bit.

Now, there's room for me to put the fish's nose over the die, so it won't cut his nose off. Blue painter's tape holds everything together while  you are cutting and won't tear your cardstock.

Here is what it looks like from the back.

All finished, with the nose hanging out, as if the fish is swimming out of a bubble.

On a totally separate subject, you've got to check out these great directions for decorating cakes for people who don't do decorated cakes. Great Cakes