Using Punches instead of Stamps

Simple flower and scalloped flower punches make a pretty decoration in co-ordinated papers.

There are soooo many great punches available out there!   I love my Stampin' Up! ones of course - they are sharp and easy to use.  I have most the old 'whale' style and like their leverage - the new ones are almost as good though :)    The best way to use them is to actually turn them upside down - this will let you see exactly where you are punching - especially important if you are punching around a sentiment. 

This is where punches are superior to die cuts which could move in the time from laying it up, making your 'sandwich' with the cutting plates and then running it through the machine - although the magnetic board and metal dies are in improvement.    The other plus for me is that my punches are out and accessible.  The Big Shot and dies are in a tub under the table, definitely not as handy, but there is only so much room on the craft table!  

But I digress.... as I was saying, punches are a great way to decorate a card with no (or minimal) stamping.   This is also where all those pretty papers you've been hoarding can be put to use - either as backgrounds or as the punched shapes themselves.

The top photo is of a gift card - matted twice for that double border look and some punched shapes in co-ordinating papers make a little bouquet style decoration.  Simple and easy :)

The christmas stocking card is using the SU stocking punch which is now retired but you can still get them around second hand.   Using glitter paper made these really easy :)    I've matted with a patterned paper, then a white layer of cardstock that I've actually drawn a line across with a marker, then glued on the mix and match christmas stocking pieces.  I've also added three star brads to the patterned sheet before adhering to the card base.

A point to note, glitter paper is pretty rough on punches and will blunt them - punch them upside down so the back of the paper gets cut first to help prevent this.

The SU stocking punch and glitter paper does all the work for you!

This next one is a bit fancier.  Using the SU cupcake builder punch, I've made clouds out of the top of the cupcake - cutting 6 tops I folded 3 in half and with a very narrow strip of double sided tape adhered them to the flat base cloud.   

Punches - SU cupcake builder punch, modern label punch and scalloped edge border punch.   Greeting from SU "Rain or Shine" stamp set.

Instead of plain matting, I have punched the bottom of the matt with a scalloped border punch then matted the top layer of patterned card.   The raindrops are adhesive rhinestones and the greeting is punched and attached with double sided foam pieces to add dimension.