7 of Our Favourite Metal Dies for Card Making
- Read time: 6 minutes
- Written by: Crafter's Companion
Die cutting is a fun and versatile craft and a firm favourite here at Crafter’s Companion. There’s nothing quite like receiving a handmade card and we have all the tools you need to get crafting and tell them exactly how you feel.
Read on to find out about our favourite metal dies for card making. And how you can use them to create your own gorgeous cards for friends and loved ones.
What are dies?
Dies are used to cut out shapes from a multitude of different materials. They are metal shapes with a sharp cutting edge on one side which is applied to your material to cut out the shape.
Dies are used in combination with a die cutting machine which uses a combination of rollers and cutting plates to put pressure on the die and your chosen material to cut out a shape with neat, precise outlines. The finished shape is called a die cut.
What is a metal die used for?
Die cutting produces intricate and detailed designs that simply could not be cut out using scissors or craft knives.
Because die cuts can be created in all different shapes and sizes, they’re perfect for a whole host of different occasions. From words (also called sentiments) and numbers to delicate lace borders and blooming florals, you can create any design for any occasion.
Make beautiful birthday cards, excellent Easter designs, creative Christmas decorations, and much more to help your friends and family celebrate in style. If you’re just starting out in the wonderful world of cardmaking, you can find more information in our Beginners Guide to Cardmaking.
Without further ado, here are some of our favourite Gemini Metal Dies for cardmaking.
1. Create-a-card dies
Create-a-Card Dies are sets of dies designed to fill the front of a card blank with a delicate and highly detailed die-cut design. And there are a range of styles to choose from. Choose between full scenes and designs with beautiful floral details, Christmas scenes, and romantic moments or die-cut panels to add a slice of die-cut beauty to your card design. Layer them up with contrasting colours and fun patterns to create jaw-dropping designs.
2. Mini Dies
Mini Dies are perfectly sized to use with the Gemini Mini machine. You can find a full range of dies to be used with this manual die-cutting machine which is ideal for beginners or those who don’t have a large crafting space. Designs include sentiments, alphabets and numbers, and themed decorative sets – perfect for exploring die-cutting and cardmaking. These sets offer a great opportunity to have fun with colours and combinations. Check out our full range of mini dies for more inspiration!
3. Edge’able Dies
Edge’able Dies are applied to the edge of your material to cut out beautiful borders and designs along the bottom, top, or sides of your cards. Perfect for adding an intricate touch of beauty or using to create decorative borders. Use them to create pretty invitations or place settings as well, not just for cards!
Edge’ables Dies are available in a range of different styles such as lacy patterns, delicate designs, and curved shapes as well as sentiments to create cards with a die-cut message sitting along the top. Not sure where to begin? Pick up a cardmaking craft kit with sentiment Edge’ables to get started with this kind of die.
4. Sentiment Dies
Put your message in the spotlight by cutting out a Sentiment Die! Sentiments are the best way to celebrate a milestone moment, wish someone a happy birthday and tell your recipient exactly how you feel. They are available in a range of stunning fonts and styles that just couldn’t be possible with scissors or a craft knife. The perfect way to give your handmade cards a professional look and feel while retaining that hand-crafted charm.
There are a number of options when it comes to sentiment dies. Brush lettering-style Gemini Expressions sentiments create messages for just about every recipient and occasion. And Gemini Expressions Pop-out sentiments combine together to create interactive cards with messages that pop out when opened.
Prefer to create your own sentiments from scratch? Use our range of alphabet dies (in upper and lower case) and number dies to spell out customised messages, monograms and even special dates!
5. Stamp & Die Sets
Stamp and Die Sets include matching dies and stamps to create a cohesive design and something special in just a few steps. Cut out the outline shape using the die before adding detail with the corresponding stamp. Choose from a range of themes and designs to create beautiful, detailed centrepieces and add colour to your design using Spectrum Noir Classique or TriBlend markers for the perfect handmade card.
Check out our How To Guide for more information on getting started with stamping.
6. Frames
Frame dies add a beautiful, intricate frame to your creations and are a versatile way to make your project really stand out. They’re great for invites and home decor and come in a range of different styles such as Ornate , Lacy, Floral , Festive, and much more. There are also interchangeable designs which allow you to switch out the sentiment to create a customised card to match your occasion.
7. Dies to create interactive cards
If you’re a more experienced crafter, or fancy a bit more of a challenge, there are dies to create fun, interactive cards. Spiral Pop-Out Dies add a fun pop-out element to any celebration card. Unique Penny Slider sets create cards with innovative moveable elements. There are plenty of different ways to make your cards stand out from the crowd – literally!
Of course, this is just a handful of our favourite Gemini Metal Dies, and just a few examples of what can be created with them. The creative possibilies are almost endless!
Browse the full Papercraft Die section for even more ideas and inspiration. And don’t forget to show us your die-cut cards and creations on Facebook UK, Facebook USA, Twitter, Instagram UK, Instagram US, Pinterest UK or Pinterest US using the hashtag #crafterscompanion
