Thrifty Thursdays - Using Your Stash - Die Cuts

There's nothing thriftier then finding new ways to use products you already have!  Today's post is a new spin on your current die cut machine or punches - using them as masks or stencils!  For this project I used my silhouette (because I have thousands of shapes saved for it) but any die cut machine will work - circuit, epic, cuttlebug, big shot , etc. 

 To start this project you need to cut out a couple shapes - I used scrap paper  and cut the shapes with my silhouette then cut the paper down so I had a stencil.  This is a great technique for reusing the left over piece from a die cut (don't just throw it away!).  Place the stencil over a tag (or your paper) and spay with glimmer mist.  I also used it with paint (in the last photo).  If you want a cleaner/crisper outline - trace the image with a black pen.

  

I really like the silhouette for this technique because they have all sorts of backgrounds you can cut out (and download instantly!).  I used this diamond pattern by first spraying with one color, moving the stencil to cover the sprayed portion and spraying with a second color.

And finally if you don't have a die cut machine - no worries!  You can still do this technique!  Get out your circle punches (i used two sizes) punch them randomly on a sheet of paper and use as a stencil for a glimmer mist spray.  Or just punch one hole and use paint or distress ink stain to get perfect circles! 

Look around your house for every day objects you may be able to do this technique with - doilies make a lovely mask for a spray!  Or cut out your own shapes - remember when you used to make paper snowflakes as a kid?  Try making them and using them as a mask!  So many possibilities!