Carols of Christmas Poinsettias.... and Three Tuesday Tips

Just realised I forgot to share this card made using the pre-released Carols of Christmas stamp set and Card Front Builder dies...

These are in the Autumn Winter catalogue which will be released 1st September... but this set is available to you to purchase now... Wood mount bundle here and Clear mount here...

Now I have to admit to 3 reasons why I didn't post this earlier...

(1) It is in a different colourway to all my other Carols of Christmas makes so it didn't fit in my series! 

(2) This is in Real Red and Tranquil Tide... and I wasn't going to share until I re-made it all in golds! But then everyone at Team Training liked the colours - so what do I know... so thought I should share in any case...

(3) I struggled to line up the die and stamped images to cut out my poinsettias! In fact I just couldn't do it really... and although they are die cut on this card... it took ages in trial and error.... so I resorted to fussy cutting for some more I now have in stock... yes they are in gold!

But then fast forward 2 weeks to Team Training last week...and suddenly I could see the how! It just came upon me in a flash... so I can happily share the trick with you too....

So Tip Number 1...

Stamp up your poinsettias with the arrow on the stamp pointing to the top....

Place the die over your poinsettia (aligned top of image to the top!!!!) with the corner/90 degree angle of the die to the centre at the bottom... 

Note that there are 2 of these dies.... so you can cut 2 corners of a mat at a time...

So I have now marked the relevant die with a B for bottom as a reminder... note that the Sizzix/number etching is upside down...

And cut! See not so hard.... 

I even managed to space and stamp my four demo poinsettias perfectly for all to (just) be cut out just right! Phew!

Tip Number 2... cutting a smaller poinsettia out! Same theory... but using the other corner die... so Sizzix etching right way up this time... just had to tilt the bottom angle a bit more up to the right to get it to line up...

And Tip Number 3... The new Mini Stampin Dimensionals are the bomb!! So perfectly sized... 

Pop them in the die cut area of where you want your flower to go... remove the protective cover... and pop your poinsettia on top... much quicker and easier to line up right than a flower with a 3D foam pad underneath...