Monika Manenti

My first card with a die cut

22 August 2023

A red beetle with black dots sits on a leaf. In the back ground green and yellow hues mingle

This card is in the gallery because it marks a turning point. It was not the first card I made but it is the first card with more than an image. Up to this point I just glued small paintings or drawings on a card base and sent the cards to family and friends.

I made the card in the Fall of 2021, shortly after I had bought my die-cutting machine. At this time I was not aware of all the card making channels on Youtube and the many techniques that are available. To be honest, I did not really know what I would use the die cuts for and resisted the temptation to buy the die-cutting machine for a few weeks. But one day I decided to treat myself and bought it after all. I played around a bit and felt really proud of myself for daring to combine the die-cut beetle with the watercolor painting in the background.

Looking back to that day after more than three years of card making and many hours of watching card making tutorials, I have to smile about my naïveté. What has stayed with me through all the time is the joy of going through my supplies and finding new ways to use them.