I have been having the brainstorms this week! I loved the look of the cards the Papertrey Ink design team had made that had a pull away strip (think of the pull strips on cardboard ice-cream boxes you use to open them) and I really wanted to try that technique. The PTI girls used a die which I don’t have. I am picky about dies and almost only buy ones that are thick and can cut a variety of materials such as foam, burlap, mat board, metal etc, so I was not really interested in buying a die for such a novel purpose. The good news is that you can replicate this look many ways. Here is my attempt at it:
I am quite pleased with the results. In case you are wondering the seed packet and flower stamps are from Papertrey and the pointing finger is from one of those old Making Memories magnet mount stamp sets and the letters to spell “pull” are from a $1 wood peg mout Studio G set. Here is a close up of the pull tab:
There are so many ways to make the pull strip.
- You can use a perferator wheel on your paper-cutter to cut two parallel lines and connect them on the pull end.
- You can use a cutterbee perforating bug (this is the method I wanted to use but I could not find my perforating wheel!) and proceed as above.
- You can use a Basic Grey Notch and Die tool to make 2 series of strait notch lines and connect then at the pull end with the tab notch.
- You can use an x-acto knife and a metal edge ruler to cut two lines of slits and connect them at the pull end.
- You can make a template in SCAL2 (or snag my free one here) so your electronic die cutter can cut it for you. For an explanation on how to make your own custom templates in scal2 please check out my screen shots:
The file I designed will cut 4 cardfronts for a 8.5″x11″ paper, if you are using a smaller cutter like a Cricut Personal just delete the bottom two designs and use a half sheet of paper. I am using SCAL2 and a Cricut Expression and the oval end perforations did not cut all the way through but I think it has more to do with my finicky Cricut than the cutting file 🙂
***FYI SCAL3 does NOT work with Cricut Machines****
Now Let’s put it together! You want to decorate the cardfront with the strip first. Then you need to stamp your sentiment on the card base. For placement I centered my cardfront on the card base and made little pencil marks on the edge at the top and bottom of the strip. Then I stamped my sentiments. Put a strip of adhesive on both sides of the pull-strip, this will keep the card from tearing when the strip is removed.
Since it is What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday I snapped a pic of mine:
I hope you try this technique it is so much fun! Thanks for stropping by and til next time happy crafting!
What a great idea.
LikeLike
Way cool!
LikeLike
Wow, what a great card! Love the pull strip and the stamp set is gorgeous too! Thanks for the free file!
LikeLike
What a fab idea and a beautiful card. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Have a great WOYWW and a fab week, Luv Karen #11
LikeLike
Very pretty card, and a fun idea! Thanks!
LikeLike
Now that is really creative, I love that idea, thanks for sharing.
Eliza #103
LikeLike
Wow! Thank you for sharing the “how to!”. I so wanted that die, but it wasn’t available… I am not that computer savy, but will ask hubby for that end of it. Great blog by the way…
LikeLike
super clever!
LikeLike
LIndsay!!!
Uber great technique!!! This is such a lovely card, too!! I love how you ‘pulled’ everything together with the 3 colors of brads—simply fab!! be blessed
~Beyond Measure
Tammy
LikeLike
Thanks for the great tips!! And your card is so pretty!
LikeLike
fabulous busy desk. Lovely card.
#84
LikeLike
I love you card…so very sweet! A great demonstration of your technique too! Happy WOYWW #122
LikeLike
What a great idea! and fun to boot. Thank you for sharing this with us 🙂
LikeLike
Oooh that’s fab, I just want to pull that strip now! Great idea and tutorial, thanks. Take care & enjoy this weeks WOYWW snoop! Zo xx 17
LikeLike
Great itea! Any changce you can save it as a SVG file so those of us with MTC can use it too?
LikeLike
Hi Judy, I think you can import a scut file in MTC 🙂 If I export it as an SVG it will change the perforations to a solid line:)
LikeLike
I have the latest version of MTC, and when I try to import the file it saids “Failed to load this SCUT file”. I can change the solid line back into perforations myself.
Thanks
LikeLike
Here is a SVG file: http://www.4shared.com/file/LAl2DIdt/zipstrip.html
You need to break it apart then change the pull strip’s line style to perforated, hope if works for you in MTC:)
LikeLike
wow, I LOVE this, all the prep work and planning and the tools I want those kind of tools!!!!!
Beautiful work you do!
LikeLike
This is gorgeous – Hazel, WOYWW #85 x
LikeLike
Well you are so clever! I too have looked at the die and need it do more to justify the price..but your alternatives are sweet…and the finished card is gorgeous.
LikeLike
What a cool idea, a tear away strip… Happy WOYWW! *Rachel #165
LikeLike
I love the pull strip concept! Fantastic project!
I found you on Julia’s blog with your WOYWW link. What a fun discovery!
Happy Crafting!
Nadia (#169)
LikeLike
Great card, thanks for sharing
Lisa #112
xx
LikeLike
Thank you so much for generously sharing this very clever file. Looks like great fun! Cant wait to give it a try. Jeanette
LikeLike
you are clever,loved the finished card,will be back to try the file on my cricut,thanks for sharing
have a fab crafty week and
happy woyww
kay #51
LikeLike
Very cute and clever. Thanks for sharing your technique!
LikeLike
Your card is so pretty! I have had my eye on that die but have not wanted to spend the money. Thank you for the idea on how to do this on my own w/o the die. You are always so clever!
LikeLike
That’s a cool idea and the colours are so pretty! Happy belated WOYWW #45
LikeLike