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So, I’ve also been playing with a Cuttlebug for the past week. It’s a cute little embosser and die-cutter – again, designed for paper crafting, but I fed a bunch of other things into it instead.
Above is a wallet I made by laminating fabric to duct tape and then embossing them. You would think that, in the fifty or so prototypes it took to get this to work, I’d have taken a photo of the machine. But I didn’t! So here’s a manufacturer’s photo:
It’s super easy and fun to use. The embossing area is about the size of a standard greeting card, though, so you have to get creative with your hacks.
My yellow duct tape was a little translucent, so I laminated it to some apple-green fabric to create contrast. That’s transparent duct tape at the edges – my new favorite thing!
Here you can see the fabric interior. I had to starch the fabric heavily to help it hold the emboss. The starch prevents the duct tape from sticking initially, but when you put fabric and duct through the Cuttlebug, they bond beautifully.
If y’all are interested, I’ll be glad to make a tutorial after Maker Faire.
Now here’s an idea that really intrigues me – this is what the fabric side looks like after embossing. Cool, huh? And it really holds the emboss nicely. But – there’s that size limit again!
What would you do with this, using pieces no more than 6″ wide? Let’s crowdsource!
A couple other things I’ve run out of time to explore: the Cuttlebug does a dandy job embossing metal. This is a piece of tooling foil, and I got similar results with layered kitchen aluminum foil.
Even more intriguingly, you can emboss Friendly Felt! Imagine adding some embroidery to this, or a little seed beading, or maybe some fabric paint. I have a stack of FF sheets awaiting my return…
…And by the way, playing cards also emboss nicely. Here I colored the raised design with a Sharpie.
ACK! I leave for Maker Faire tomorrow! I hope to see you at the Provo Craft booth this weekend!
I had no idea the Cuttlebug was so versatile. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Have fun at Maker Faire. While you’re there, my son is doing his 4th ALC fund raising ride between LA and SF! There sure is a lot happening in your area.
I had no idea the Cuttlebug was so versatile. Thanks for all the great ideas.
Have fun at Maker Faire. While you’re there, my son is doing his 4th ALC fund raising ride between LA and SF! There sure is a lot happening in your area.
Ooooh I love the felt and the foil. It never would’ve thought about putting felt through the machine. Thanks!!!!
Ooooh I love the felt and the foil. It never would’ve thought about putting felt through the machine. Thanks!!!!
oh that is so cool! now i totally want one. great.
oh that is so cool! now i totally want one. great.
that embossing thingy looks cooool. thank you for making Tools I do Not Need into stuff I want! ;-)
that embossing thingy looks cooool. thank you for making Tools I do Not Need into stuff I want! ;-)
Wow, you’re amazing. Love all the results (the non-fail ones, anyway! ;) ). Hope you have a great weekend at MF!
Wow, you’re amazing. Love all the results (the non-fail ones, anyway! ;) ). Hope you have a great weekend at MF!
that foil is suh-weet! so pretty!
that foil is suh-weet! so pretty!
I can’t decide if I like the wallet or the felt more. I embossed some tin to make a border or design on a magnetic note board and that worked nicely. But the duct tape is super nifty!
I can’t decide if I like the wallet or the felt more. I embossed some tin to make a border or design on a magnetic note board and that worked nicely. But the duct tape is super nifty!
Oh that is so very cool! Love the wallet! I’ve been wanting to get one of those machines for trying with polymer clay. Heard it works. If it doesn’t can always use it for duct tape!
Oh that is so very cool! Love the wallet! I’ve been wanting to get one of those machines for trying with polymer clay. Heard it works. If it doesn’t can always use it for duct tape!