Paper-piecing is a great way to add some colour and interest to an intricate or scenic die. In case you aren't familiar with paper-piecing (which is also a quilting technique), it's cutting a die multiple times in multiple colours and then gluing and layering the pieces on certain areas of the die to create a colourful effect.

Paper-piecing is a great technique for using up scraps in your stash. And besides adding interest to your projects, it's also very therapeutic to glue and layer all the colours onto your die cut. It can be a little time-consuming as well, but you can always use double sided tape or double sided adhesive sheets and take a paper-piecing shortcut.

5 Paper-Piecing Tips

1. Plan which colour you want as your base layer. Usually it's easiest to stick to white because if you run out of a certain coloured card stock, you can always use coloured markers or pencils to colour certain portions of your die.

2. Be mindful of making your layers too thick. It's easy to get carried away with paper piecing and add too many layers (sometimes accidentally). You can make thicker layers if you want certain elements to pop, but try to stick to only one single layer to top your base layer.

3. Use patterned paper for interest. It'll make certain elements of your die really pop!

4. Use a glue that gives you a bit of wiggle room... A glue grace period! You don't want to use an adhesive that dries instantly because it does take time to line up your paper pieces on different sections of your die. Liquid glues with a fine tip are best for paper-piecing!

5. Use tweezers and a die pick or craft pick for precision. Some of the pieces you'll be layering will be small and an awkward shape, so having a tool to help you pick them up will make a world of difference!

 

Watch the full tutorial on how to create this card using the Pretty Quick Papercut Birds collection: