A Cut Above Design Team

Lip Gloss or Fairy Floss

I am beyond thrilled to share some fantastic news with you all today! I've been selected to be part of the A Cut Above Design Team! This is such an exciting opportunity, and I couldn't wait to get started. If you love die cuts, you’re in for a treat! The monthly challenges are simple; Create a project with at least one die cut (defined by using a die cut machine, manual or electric, not a purchased pre-fabricated die cut). It can't get much simpler than that, right? I’ll be sharing my first project with the team, and I hope it inspires you to dive into your own die cutting adventures.

 For my first Design Team creation, I was inspired by a recent memory with my daughters. We were at a drone light show on the shore of the lake in Canberra, and they had the biggest cotton candy (or fairy floss as it's known here in Australia). Their giggles, sugary smiles, with the pink and blue fairy floss candy inspired this dreamy, pastel-colored layout.

The Die Cuts That Made the Magic Happen

Now, let’s talk about the star of the show— die cuts! These versatile little wonders are perfect for adding intricate details and dimension to any project. For this layout, I used three of my favorite die cuts: a fairy, a layered butterfly, and a bow. Each of these dies has so much personality and works beautifully to enhance the soft, whimsical theme of the layout. And the best part? You can easily customise them with glitter, which adds a whole new level of sparkle to the design.

The Bow Die Cut: You can never go wrong with a sweet little bow. I used a die for this bow to add a fun, playful touch around the stick of the Fairy Floss. Again, I added glitter for that sparkling effect. It’s such a cute little detail that really pulls everything together.

The Fairy Die Cut: This delicate fairy silhouette is perfect for any magical or dreamy theme. I die-cut it from soft pink cardstock, then added a touch of glitter to her wings and dress. It just gives her that extra bit of shimmer, like she’s ready to take flight off the page.

The Layered Butterfly Die Cut: This butterfly is all about texture! The intricate layers of the die cut give the butterfly dimension, and with a bit of glitter along the edges, it looks like it's fluttering right off the page. I cut it from a mix of pink and blue pattern paper to match the colour palette and give it a few sequins for that whimsical feel.

Why I Love Metal Die Cuts

If you haven’t already jumped on the metal die cut train, let me tell you—it’s a game changer! Whether you use manual or electronic die cutting machines, these dies make crafting so much easier and more fun. The precision and detail that comes with metal dies is unbeatable. Plus, they’re extremely versatile—you can use them for cards, layouts, tags, home décor, and so much more. They’re a must-have for any crafter looking to add a touch of elegance, whimsy, or fun to their projects.

Being part of the A Cut Above Design Team is a fantastic opportunity to get creative and share my love of die cutting with fellow crafters. The challenge is all about using die cuts—whether they’re manual or electronic—and I can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with! It’s going to be so fun to be part of this supportive, creative community. And if you’re feeling inspired, why not try using some metal dies in your next project? You can create beautiful and intricate designs with ease. 

Thank you so much for celebrating this new adventure with me. I can’t wait to share more projects with you as we go along, and stay tuned for more fun on the A Cut Above Challenge Blog!

Happy crafting, Tracey

P.S. If you love what I’ve created here, be sure to check out the other amazing projects from my fellow design team members. They’re full of inspiration, and I know you’ll love them as much as I do!