Using die cuts in card layouts

[crystaldolphins]

I'm not sure if this has already been covered in another thread. I'm looking for tips or hints in using die cuts in card layouts. I have seen some gorgeous layouts using swirls and leaves with flowers. When I put them together, they look flat, boring and lifeless! I don't want to make thick cards that won't go in the mail - I'm thinking more of the design. Ideas include using doily dies, lattice dies, flower dies. I buy these because they look so gorgeous and I get home and don't know what to do with them. There seem to be lots of scrapbooking page samples but they don't help since everything is on a larger scale. Any video links or blog links with tips, tricks and samples for cards would be greatly appreciated!

tia for any help

[cat_woman]

I don't know of any videos, but you could go to the design team websites/blogs for the companies whose dies you've purchased to see what they are doing with the dies. Other options could be to go through the gallery here to see what you like or Pinterest. There's lots out there and it can be hard to weed through all of it...

[Cook22]

If you want to keep the cards flat, a great option with flowers and flourishes is to use the embedded embossing technique. That adds a real feeling of depth without the volume!

[staceylovespaper]

MFT seems to use a lot of those kinds of dies in their creative team samples, you should take a look there for ideas.

[bound4london]

Here is an amazing gallery: Gallery Projects - Cardmaking - Die Cuts - Two Peas in a Bucket

[Skippet]

There are hundreds of wonderful cards in the SCS gallery using diecuts. You can search under die cuts: die cuts - Homemade Cards, Rubber Stamp Art, & Paper Crafts - Splitcoaststampers.com

or look at the individual companies galleries such as Spellbinders:
spellbinders nestabilities impressabilities edgeabilities m-bossabilities - Homemade Cards, Rubber Stamp Art, & Paper Crafts - Splitcoaststampers.com

You can find many beautiful flatter cards just perusing these galleries.

[herekitty]

FWIW, cards don't have to be totally flat to go through regular mail. I use foam adhesive all the time without any problems.

[Boss]

I've had great luck getting mpnew ideas by simply googling Memory box die cards, and similar word choices. You will get thousands of choices, many of them will be pins on Pinterest and a single one of them can have over 100 samples. Amazing way to get ideas and guaranteed to inspire you! :cool: