How to Use the Decorate the Season Registration Press Plate

Hello, cardmaking friends! It’s Mona Tóth here, and I’m so happy to be back on the Spellbinders blog with another detailed step-by-step tutorial.

Today I’m sharing a winter card featuring the beautiful Decorate the Season Registration Press Plate from Mugs and Kisses collection by Spellbinders. I have also used the Mugs Friends dies to add a bit of sparkling, warm touch to the project.

This was my first time using a Registration Press Plate, and wow, I was amazed by how easy it was to use. And the result was amazing! After this, I’ll definitely use registration plates more frequently.

Create the BetterPress background

1. Start by taping a cardstock from Porcelain BetterPress A2 Cotton Card Panels onto the BetterPress clear top plate with Best Ever Craft Tape.
   
2. Tape the registration template that comes with the Press Plate to the A2 rectangle of the magnetic insert on chase with craft tape.
3. The green rectangle lines of the registration template should align with the A2 rectangle of the magnetic insert.
   
4. Place the press plates onto the magnetic insert and align them with the magentas registration lines.
   
5. Place all three press plates in the following order from top: bear, Christmas tree, Santa (these are on the right side of the plates)
   
6. Once all the plates are in place, ink them with French Blue BetterPress Ink from Nature Tones BetterPress Ink Mini Set.

   TIP: Repeatedly push the ink a pouncing kind of movement to the plate firmly but not too strongly, until you have a continuous layer of ink.

   
7. Place the clear top plate with the cotton card inside on the chase.
8. You can’t go wrong because the four magnets at the corners keep it in place.
9. Don’t push it down.
   
10. Place the BetterPress system and slowly run it through the Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine. Don’t push it down, the machine will collect the BetterPress when you start the process.
    
11. Lift the clear top plate to reveal the beautiful print.
    

    TIP: The first print was already gorgeous, but I wanted to see what it would look like with one more layer. So I repeated the same process once more.

12. Ink the plates with French Blue BetterPress Ink again.
    
13. Place the clear top plate with the cotton card inside on the chase the same way as previously.
    
14. Run it through your die-cutting machine, and after lifting the clear plate, you will have a beautiful darker blue print.
    

    TIP: Here you can see the difference between the prints. The second print gave the design a slightly darker, richer look, which I really loved. If you want deeper colors, you can absolutely press it twice. But if you prefer the softer, lighter version, one impression is already enough.

    
    

Add the sentiment

1. Place the “Sending Merry Little Wishes” sentiment plate to the lowest green coordinating line.
   
2. Ink it with Tawny Brown BetterPress Ink from the same Nature Tones BetterPress Ink Mini Set.
   
3. Place the clear top plate with the cotton card inside on the chase.
   
4. Run it through the Platinum SIX Die Cutting Machine.
   
5. Lift the clear plate to see your printing result. For me, one layer of brown was enough.
   
6. Peel away the craft tape gently, taking care not to tear the cotton cardstock.
   

   TIP: I really loved the warm brown tone here because it breaks up the blue and adds a little cozy warmth to the design.

Add some pencil coloring

At this point, the card panel is already beautiful on its own, so additional coloring is completely optional. But I wanted to bring in a bit more playfulness, so I added some light coloring with blue and brown Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils.

1. Use a light brown pencil (I have used Raw Umber) to add a little warmer brown shades.
   
2. Use a light turquoise pencil (I have used Light Cobalt Turquoise) to add a bit of warm blue for a color shift.
   
3. Use a light blue, cool toned pencil (I have used Sky Blue) to add lighter blue shades
   
4. Use a darker blue pencil with a cool tone (I have used Light Ultramarine) to add darker blue shades.
   
5. Add some final details with Turquoise.
   

I kept it very simple and only colored a few of the small images. Just enough to give the design a little extra life without taking away from the clean BetterPress look. If you prefer, you can leave the panel exactly as it is and skip this coloring entirely.

Die cut and adhere the frame

1. Let’s create a thin frame. Use Layer 1 4.25 x 5.50 in. and Layer 2 4.00 x 5.25 in. from Precision Layering A2 A Etched Dies.
2. Place the dies to Cascade ColorWheel Cardstock with the cutting edge facing the cardstock and fix them with craft tape.
   
3. Create the die-cutting sandwich for the Platinum SIX die-cutting Machine. Place the plates in this order from bottom to top: Platform A, Platform B, Cutting Plate C, cardstock with the dies, second Cutting Plate C.
   
4. After die-cutting, you will have this clean, thin frame.
   
5. Apply Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue on the thin frame and adhere it to the card front.
   

   This soft blue frame works beautifully with the French Blue ink and helps define the card front.

Add final touches to the card

1. Place the star die from the Mug Friends die set on Glitter Metallic cardstock from Rose Gold Assortment Treasured Cardstock.
2. Place the die with the cutting edge facing the cardstock and fix them with craft tape.
   
3. Die-cut the star three times and use White Foam Adhesive Micro Squares on their back side.
4. Remove the parchment paper from the foam adhesive.
5. Adhere the stars to their wished place.
   
6. Add some gems from the Gold Mix Color Essentials Gems to add a warm, glittery look to the card.
   

   After this step the card looked to me still a little empty so I decided to add more glittery embellishments.

7. Die-cut two more stars and two snowflakes from the Mug Friends die set from the same Glitter Metallic cardstock.

   TIP: leave the stars and snowflakes for the last step. That way you can place them exactly where they look best, or where the card needs a little more balance.

   
8. Use micro squares for the stars and liquid glue for the snowflakes.
   
9. Place the snowflakes around the edges of the card.
10. The Reverse Tweezers can help you with the precise positioning.
    
11. Cut off the hanging parts of the snowflakes.
    
12. Reuse the cut off snowflake parts by adhering them to the card with liquid glue.
    
13. Adhere the finished card to a white A2 card base.
    

    I have to say again, the Decorate the Season Press Plate from this collection. It was such a joy to see these details.

    

Thank you so much for spending a little creative time with me today. I hope this tutorial inspires you to get crafty. For more inspiration and easy-to-follow photography tips for cardmakers, check my Instagram and let's be friends. I wish you an amazing crafty day! Mona

Other Supplies

Faber-Castell polychromos pencils: Raw Umber, Light Cobalt Turquoise, Sky Blue, Light Ultramarine, white A2 card base