Rise Of The Robots!

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few "robot" projects I worked on this week using a variety of Stampin’ Up!® die sets, and inspired by a sheet of Stickah gold foil robot stickers I came across at Dollarama last weekend.  I certainly do love playing with die cuts, and it is definitely a fun challenge to use dies to make something that is a little bit different from the dies' original design! A little trimming - either with a paper trimmer or scissors - of die cuts, and combining die cuts made using a variety of dies, expand the possibilities of what can be done with your dies and thereby changes your perspective of your dies!  For my theme this week of trying to create some "not so killer" robots I used the following Stampin’ Up!® die sets:

• the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Trusty Tools dies (item 162722) - the tool box handle die makes great arms, and the ends of the open end wrench make great hands;

• the small clam shell die from the Online Exclusives Rolling Waves dies (item 167144) also makes great hands;

• the tote bag handle die from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Notes & Totes dies (item 165240) can be used for arms and antennae;

• the handle of the smaller of the two plant sign dies from the Online Exclusives Help Me Grow dies (item 167166) also makes a great antenna;

• the rounded ends of the Everyday Arches dies (item 164629) are great for heads;

• Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) - square dies for bodies, circle dies for heads and feet, and banner dies for a connecting "strip" between die cut square body sections and for a foot base;

• from the Gears & Textures dies (item 166853) I used strip dies for legs and arms, and for decorative elements on the bodies of the robots; the small gear die for the tops of antennae and for feet; a medium gear die and the screw die for a center body element; one of the gear dies for hair (okay, maybe not too many robots have hair, but there is always room for exercising creative expression!); the small hole "punch outs" from the hole punch strip die for the smallest circle elements; and the small circle die for the medium circle elements. For the largest circle elements I used the small circle (sun) die from the Sunset Coast dies (item 167780);

• from the Sunset Coast dies I also used the mesh die for a decorative body element (sandwiched between a square frame and back panel both cut using the Stylish Shapes dies);
• from the Bordered In Beauty dies (item 167556) I used two of the label dies for the base of one of the bodies; the bracket die for decorative elements; and the smallest label die for the base of a decorative element die cut or, ends trimmed, as "collars" used at shoulders and, on a head, as a base of an antenna, or trimmed lengthwise as a transition piece between a body and head;

• from the Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) I used the smallest rounded corner rectangle die for the body of the card robot; and

• from the retired Changing Leaves dies (item 164138) I used the smaller of the two stitched oval dies - head, transition element between head and body, foot bases, and decorative body element.

To complete the projects I also used the following Stampin’ Up!® Designer Series Papers, embossing folder, and stamp set:

• four patterned papers from the January 4-February 29 2024 Sale-A-Bration Trusty Toolbox 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (iterm 162978);

• white and gold grid patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Regal Distressed Patterns 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164037); 

• a Gorgeous Grape striped patterned paper from the retired Regals 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortment (item 163774 - featured in the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue); 

• on the card I used a strip trimmed from gold metallic paper that had been embossed using the recently retired Lovely Stripes 3D Embossing Folder (item 167179; and

• on the grid patterned Trusty Toolbox DSP used on the card I used Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678) for the first and second generation stamping of the splatter image from the Gears & Textures stamp set (item 166851).

On several of the robots I used gold metallic paper for die cut accents, and since I did not have any Stampin’ Up!® gold paper currently on hand I used some gold foil paper from a gold & silver glitter & foil paper pad picked up at Dollarama a few years ago.  I also used this gold foil paper for the embossed strip on the card.  On several of the gold metallic paper die cuts (i.e. Sunset Coast mesh die cut, and Gears & Textures circle die cuts) I added a little additional texture by running the paper through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine using one of my well-used cutting plates to "emboss" a slight texture onto the paper.

Just a brief summary of the additional basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) for trimming Designer Series Paper, trimming and cutting the watercolour paper framing mat, and for scoring the card fold line.  To ensure a crisp fold I also used my Bone Folder (item 102300) to burnish the card's folded scored line;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) for all die cutting and embossing;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the tacky putty tip is definitely a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

On with the projects!

For the first project I began with a white thrift store frame, glass removed, inside back dimensions of 7" x 5", and to complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• for the background panel I used one of the patterned Trusty Toolbox DSP papers to cover a medium weight cardboard panel that was trimmed to fit the inside back dimensions of the frame;
• the screwdriver patterned Trusty Toolbox DSP panel was trimmed to 5 3/4" x 3", and matted with a 5 7/8" x 3 1/8" piece of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045);
• for the robot die cuts I used Poppy Parade cardstock (item 119793), Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416), Smoky Slate cardstock (item 131202), and Basic Black cardstock - across the Smoky Slate cardstock Changing Leaves label die cut I added a 1/16" x 1 1/4" strip of Basic Black cardstock;
• I used one of the White Gel Pens (item 166642 - package of two) to add the tiny highlights in the Basic Black cardstock eye circles; and

• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) - trimmed as necessary - added behind the head, body, arm "joints", and foot base.

For the second project I began with an 8 1/4" x 3 1/4" x 3/4" deep wood panel purchased at a local thrift store for the princely sum of $0.45 (you have to appreciate a bargain when they are so hard to come by!) I covered the front of the panel with the Trusty Toolbox DSP, using a fine-grit sanding sponge to distress the edges of the DSP.  I used strips of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) to cover the sides, top, and bottom of the panel.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• for the robot die cuts, in addition to the gold foil paper, I used Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986), Gorgeous Grape cardstock (item 146987), Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229), and Basic Black cardstock (item 121045); and
• before gluing the completed robot to the front of the panel I added to the bottom of the front of the panel a 3/4" x 3 1/4" strip of Basic Black cardstock over which I glued the 1/2" x 3 1/4" strip of Gorgeous Grape DSP.

For the third project I began with a black frame from Dollarama, glass removed, inside back dimensions of 7" x 5".  After using the Paper Trimmer to cut the just less than 7" x 5" watercolour paper framing mat with 3/4" wide borders, I flicked over the mat a paint brush used to mix Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088) with a little water.  I used double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) to adhere the Regal Distressed Patterns Specialty DSP to a medium weight cardboard panel trimmed to fit the frame's inside back dimensions.  To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• for the robot die cuts, in addition to the gold foil paper, I used Coastal Cabana cardstock (item 131297) and Pretty Peacock cardstock (item 150880); and
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430), and Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108), all trimmed as necessary, to attach the completed robot onto the framed background panel.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 5" top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• a 3 1/2" x 4 5/8" piece of Trusty Toolbox DSP, matted with a 3 5/8" x 4 3/4" piece of Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679) - I used double-sided tape (Tear & Tape Adhesive - item 154031) to attach the DSP panel to the matting cardstock panel;
• in addition to the gold foil paper (including the 1/16" wide strips added to the body and head) I used Lost Lagoon cardstock and Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for the robot die cuts; and
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430), trimmed as necessary, to attach the completed robot to the card front.

To the inside panel I added a 1/2" x 4 3/8" strip of the stamped Trusty Toolbox DSP.  On the card front I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the holes for and to set the two gold eyelets (purchased at my local papercrafting shop).

And finally . . . 

For my Archie project this week, shared at the bottom of this blog post, I used another long-retired Stampin’ Up!® stamp set that I lucked into at the Craft Destash Market my sister and I attended a few weekends ago.  I used VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink to stamp the image from the Pretty Kitty stamp set (item 141864 - featured in the 2018-2019 Annual Catalogue) on watercolour paper, and used Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669), Real Red ink (item 147084), Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), and Gray Granite ink (item 147118), each mixed with a little water and applied with a small paint brush, to colour the image.  I used the 2 3/8" square die from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to die cut the image square, and matted it with Basic Black cardstock (item 121045), allowing for a 1/16" border on all sides.  I added splatters using my retired Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid, and a few little dots using one of the White Gel Pens.  For the base of the 4" square top-fold card I used Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229).  To the card front I added a 3 1/2" square of Cherry Cobbler and gold grid patterned paper from the retiring Regal Distressed Patterns 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164037), matted with a 3 5/8" square of Basic Black cardstock.  Under the matted image square, which was attached using Black Stampin' Dimensionals (Black Stampin' Dimensionals Combo  Pack - item 150893) I added a 1/4" x 3" strip of Basic Black cardstock.  On the inside of the card I added the sentiment, stamped on watercolour paper using VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink and die cut using one of the Stylish Shapes banner dies, under which I added a 3/4" x 4" strip of Basic Black cardstock.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun playing with my robots, and although the combination of die cuts that I used barely scratches the surface of endless possibilities I hope that you may be inspired to look a little differently at your dies!

Unfortunately the following products that I used this week are not currently available for ordering but I have included below the dates by which Stampin' Up! expects the products to again be available:

• Everyday Arches dies (item 164629) - week of July 6, 2026; and
• White Gel Pens (item 166642) - week of July 13, 2026.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin’ Up!® products I have used in my projects, and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business, and would be very pleased to be your demonstrator! If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com), and I will try my best to help!  The digital version of the May-August 2026 Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website.  If visiting the online store don't forget to check out the full range of Online Exclusives Products - including all the new products released last month - as well as the Last Chance Products Listing!  A reminder that all Last Chance Products are available only while supplies last!

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

"Wherever a cat sits, there shall happiness be found."

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