I was delighted to create with a few items from the Spellbinders February 2024 release! (Affiliate links used throughout; thank you for your support!) Despite not having the BetterPress Letterpress System, I was able to use the plates with my current machine and a secret weapon (keep reading).
Supplies used:
Every Occasion Floral X and Sentiment BP-147
Every Occasion Floral Y and Sentiment BP-148
Every Occasion Floral W and Sentiment BP-146
My secret weapon for creating these gorgeous letterpress cards is the Sizzix Crease Pad (currently under $10 on Prime). While having the system would be easier, I think my projects turned out lovely! This idea was not my own - I discovered this alternative while googling how to use these plates without the system. I'm happy to say that it does work! Having the magnetic platform helped tremendously, keeping the plates in place so I could ink them and preventing them from shifting while rolling through my machine.
The sandwich I used for my Spellbinders Platinum machine is: Magnetic Platform, letterpress plates, paper, crease pad, then a cutting plate.
It is best to use pigment inks for the plates since water-based inks can bead up and create a splotchy look when pressed. The Delicata ink didn't show up very well, but I chose to use on a card anyway since the detail is very lovely in person.
VersaFine Clair inks worked beautifully!
While hard to capture in still photos, I did add Star Dust Stickles to the centers of all the flowers (on all cards). It added such a beautiful effect!
I chose to use simple layers to let those gorgeous letterpress designs shine!
I hope you will check out the BetterPress collection even if you don't have the system (like me). They really are so very lovely to work with.
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These are beautiful and a really interesting read! Michelle