Many die cut machines quickly and accurately cut paper into a desired shape. The left over scraps can be incorporated into a card design, a scrapbook page, or another mixed media project. To use a particular die cut image repeatedly, I often create a stencil using a die cut machine ( I prefer to use the Cuttlebug). Instructions for creating a stencil are provided in the "Technique" section.
The post cards above were created using a stencil and a small floral stamp (I think I overdid the small flower). I started with heavy weight card stock cut 4" by 6" then inked the edges with a marker. I used a stencil and Copic markers to add the large flowers. The next two layers use scraps of patterned paper from a scrapbook project. The middle strip is 2" by 4.5".
The triangle is made from cutting a 3" square in half diagonally. The inner triangle is a 2.5" square cut from a page in a discarded book. Another strip 1.5" by 4" is layered on the middle strip.
The text is cut from the book. I like to find sentences which are more interesting when taken completely out of context. You could stamp a sentiment or type and print your own.
I stamped the images (Attainable Treasures) then cut them out using an oval shape cutter. I inked the edges before gluing to the card front.
Technique (very easy). Start with a manila folder (I save ones that are destined for the recycle bin) or a piece of card stock and cover both sides with packing tape. Choose the desired die cut image and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cutting out an image. That's it - you now have a stencil that you can used with acrylic paints, markers, pastels, or stencil inks.
Here are some more postcards using the same stencil and incorporating other scrap art materials.
In August 2010, my husband and I hosted a book signing party for his first published novel, Honest Faces. We thought it would be nice to give a small gift to those who purchased a book. Keeping the gift focused on reading, I remembered the tutorial Lisa Vollrath provided for making bookmarks from unused business reply envelopes. 
