Becca Bit – Tight Mats

Okay, several of you have emailed to ask how I get such tight or thin mats on some of my Spellbinders Projects.  It’s a quick and easy fix and once I figured out the best way for “me” it’s a method that I use all the time.  I’ve tried tracing and and cutting by hand, but my manual cutting is not quite up to par with a kindergartner (thank you Grammar Girl!), lol!!  This is a brief one – if you blink you’ll miss it.

See you soon!!

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  • TammiMay 11, 2010 - 4:09 pm

    I just LOVE Becca’s bits. Thanks for that!
    xoxoxoReplyCancel

  • Sherry CheeverMay 11, 2010 - 4:09 pm

    Great tip Becca and fabulous video! That gap has bothered me and now I know what to do! Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • lois skiathitisMay 11, 2010 - 4:13 pm

    I flunked cutting 101. I so appreciate you showing us what you do to get the smaller mat. I just love your Becca Bits, Becca. As always TFS!!! :-DReplyCancel

  • Gerri KMay 11, 2010 - 4:13 pm

    Wow!! Finally, a method that will work for me! I’ve tried cutting down the mat freehand with scissors. I too am a remedial cutter. Thanks so much for sharing this.ReplyCancel

  • cookieMay 11, 2010 - 4:14 pm

    I’ve always wondered how you did that…. what a fantastic tip. I’m gonna save it for future reference… thanxxxxxxxxxxxxReplyCancel

  • Carla SutoMay 11, 2010 - 4:14 pm

    Thanks, Becca! I always wondered how your tight mats looked so perfect! Definitely going to give this a try!ReplyCancel

  • GraceMay 11, 2010 - 4:17 pm

    What a fabulous tip! I can’t believe how quickly and easily you did that Becca.
    Many thanks.ReplyCancel

  • Susan GMay 11, 2010 - 4:18 pm

    Great idea. Thanks for sharing that tip.ReplyCancel

  • Sabine E.May 11, 2010 - 4:19 pm

    Oh , how easy is that! Thanks Becca ! love your bits!ReplyCancel

  • EdnaMay 11, 2010 - 4:21 pm

    Interesting, hadn’t thought of doing that. Thanks for the tip. EdnaReplyCancel

  • Diana CrickMay 11, 2010 - 4:22 pm

    Great video clip, I always learn a lot from you…
    hugs, DianaReplyCancel

  • SandyMay 11, 2010 - 4:23 pm

    I use an exacto knife more than scissors. Don’t know why I didn’t think of that technique. Thanks, Becca.ReplyCancel

  • MehrllMay 11, 2010 - 4:24 pm

    Thanks for the tip. You did it so easily. I hope it goes that well for me.ReplyCancel

  • SparklesMay 11, 2010 - 4:28 pm

    Thanks so much for sharing that one – gives even more possibilities for our spellbinders! You are sooooo creative!ReplyCancel

  • RobMay 11, 2010 - 4:29 pm

    Thanks so much for this Becca, I just made a card yesterday and was thinking that I would love a tighter mat, so am off to try it out today.

    Cheers,ReplyCancel

  • Tracy McAlisterMay 11, 2010 - 4:32 pm

    Thank you for sharing beats free hand cutting any day. Another amazing Becca Tip Bit.ReplyCancel

  • LindaMay 11, 2010 - 4:38 pm

    Fabulous….it always looks so much better with the narrower mats I think…..thanks for sharing….now why didn’tIi think of that…der! LOL.ReplyCancel

  • SusanMay 11, 2010 - 4:39 pm

    Love the tip Becca I had tried trimming with scissors after attaching the top mat but could never get an even mat. You are the greatest and such an inspiration to so many.ReplyCancel

  • MichelleMay 11, 2010 - 4:43 pm

    Thanks for sharing this! What a fabulous idea! I prefer the tighter matsReplyCancel

  • Billie AMay 11, 2010 - 4:44 pm

    Love the Becca Bits they are so helpful. Thanks for taking the time you are so talented thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • Cheryl RandallMay 11, 2010 - 4:58 pm

    Becca

    I just wanted to take the time to tell you how much I appreciate your willingness to share these extra “tidbits” with all of us. I really do learn alot when you share them.

    Thank you for sharing with us.

    Cheryl RandallReplyCancel

  • Debbie PammentMay 11, 2010 - 5:01 pm

    oooh thanx Becca – I too hate to handcut around shapes – and often leave pencil marks too – so I’ll be giving this a go soon! You are soo inspiring!
    xXxReplyCancel

  • Tonya FMay 11, 2010 - 5:07 pm

    Becca,

    You are fantistic. I look forward to each post with another beautiful card or tip on how to do our craft better.ReplyCancel

  • MaryMay 11, 2010 - 5:08 pm

    Wow so simple and yet I never would have thought to do that in a million years. Thanks so much for sharing your ability to think outside the box Becca :)ReplyCancel

  • Marion (Australia)May 11, 2010 - 5:08 pm

    Wow! I couldn’t believe it when I saw this video. I have been thinking of this for the last few days and here it is. I can’t believe I didn’t think of doing this. Thanks so much for your time Becca. I am just going to do your sketch for Magnolia-licious so will do this nice tight mat.

    Hugs MarionReplyCancel

  • Patricia GessnerMay 11, 2010 - 5:10 pm

    Thank you so much Becca. I never would have thought of that!!!!ReplyCancel

  • ChinnuMay 11, 2010 - 5:11 pm

    Wow, so easy! Whodathunkit! Thanks for sharing, Becca. I love your Becca Bits. I’d been wanting to make a butterfly card like the one you’d made with the large embossed scallop punch… and finally did… it turned out so pretty! I decided I couldn’t give it away! LOL! Many many thanks for sharing your talent and tips with us.ReplyCancel

  • Lynne PhelpsMay 11, 2010 - 5:14 pm

    Smacking self in forehead thinking, why did I never think of that! Thanks so much for the lightbulb moment, LOL!!!ReplyCancel

  • LuAnn in AZMay 11, 2010 - 5:15 pm

    Love your Becca bits… thank you for sharing again and again. With practice, perhaps we can be more like you and our cards can look professional and pretty.ReplyCancel

  • Marilyn ClarkMay 11, 2010 - 5:19 pm

    Girlfriend, thanks for the video. Love your Becca Bits. I never thought of doing what you showed us. Creatively, you are on a different level than me. Thanks for taking the time to explain everything. God bless and have a great day.ReplyCancel

  • BernieMay 11, 2010 - 5:30 pm

    Thanks, Becca, for your wonderful videos and sharing your ideas. I need someone else to “think outside the box” for me since I am quite regimented.You are light years away from most of us with your talent.ReplyCancel

  • CarlaMay 11, 2010 - 5:31 pm

    Thank you Becca – this is really REALLY helpful. I love how that looks. Thank you also for your videos, you do a wonderful job and I really appreciate all your great tips. 8)ReplyCancel

  • Beth GrecoMay 11, 2010 - 5:32 pm

    Awesome Beccabit!!! I love that and can’t wait to try this. I always use scissors but don’t often like the look.
    BethReplyCancel

  • Linda CMay 11, 2010 - 5:32 pm

    Becca, your cards always look very professional. I had tried drawing around and cutting and I don’t always get the smooth edge. Great tip. Thanks for sharing. Linda CReplyCancel

  • sheenaMay 11, 2010 - 5:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing this Becca! I too am a remedial scissor user and tracing the dies and hand-cutting always looks terrible for me! I will definitely give this a try!ReplyCancel

  • bonnie weissMay 11, 2010 - 5:36 pm

    Love those Bits, Becca! Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • Jessica B.May 11, 2010 - 5:54 pm

    wow!! I never knew how people did that other than tracing and cutting by hand! how awesome, thanks for the great tip!!ReplyCancel

  • Tomi JoMay 11, 2010 - 6:17 pm

    Oh how I agree with all the rest of your “friends”—your bits are just great. I will try this for sure.
    Was just wondering—-on the basic shapes ie the square, circle etc.—if we had both the large and small could we use the ones that fit between the others—-hope that makes sence.
    You are great , Bless you, Tomi Jo
    Hope you can answer this question on the site.ReplyCancel

  • KateMay 11, 2010 - 6:18 pm

    Thanks so much for sharing! I love the look but never thought of doing that. You’re so smart!ReplyCancel

  • Sally McDonaldMay 11, 2010 - 6:24 pm

    WOW! Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • Shelly SchmidtMay 11, 2010 - 6:27 pm

    That is such a great tip- thanks for sharing it!ReplyCancel

  • DeniseMay 11, 2010 - 6:37 pm

    Great tip.. thanks so much!ReplyCancel

  • debbMay 11, 2010 - 6:51 pm

    Love this! Thank you Becca!ReplyCancel

  • SuziMay 11, 2010 - 7:50 pm

    Love it! Would never have thought of it. Will use it soon! Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • JannaMay 11, 2010 - 8:12 pm

    Why is it that something can be so obvious, and yet we overlook it every time? As others have already said, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Thanks for sharing your ideas and your beautiful cards!ReplyCancel

  • VioletMay 11, 2010 - 8:32 pm

    Thanks for sharing that. I’ve tried cutting around it to and it just looks, well, cut out. I’ll try your method. Nice tutorial.ReplyCancel

  • KarenMay 11, 2010 - 8:43 pm

    You are the best with sahring famtastic tips. I have tried to figure this out many times. You made it look so simple so :) Now to put it into action!ReplyCancel

  • Gloria WestermanMay 11, 2010 - 9:22 pm

    Wow,….I didn’t know that……I learn so much from you Becca…..thank you so much and I can’t wait to try this……ReplyCancel

  • EarlineMay 11, 2010 - 9:23 pm

    Thanks Becca so much for this technique going to try this one.ReplyCancel

  • SophiaMay 11, 2010 - 10:41 pm

    Thanks for the wonderful tip! You’re a genius!

    I can cut pretty good, but it’s tedious and I’m all about fast (and simple) tricks. I’m going to try this soon!ReplyCancel

  • RebekkaMay 11, 2010 - 11:11 pm

    Well I have to say “Thank You”.. But you know what?! I never noticed :). I thought you just had spell binders that I did not have, what I nut I am.ReplyCancel

  • BarbaraMay 11, 2010 - 11:18 pm

    Thank you for a great tip !! I also LOVE ” Becca Bits”ReplyCancel

  • Charmaine StackMay 11, 2010 - 11:40 pm

    Brilliant! And so fast, too!ReplyCancel

  • DorothyMay 12, 2010 - 12:53 am

    greetings from the uk Becca, you said this tip isnt new, but thank you so much as it is new to me, and like many others I have tried to cut it out with scissors and made a mess of it Dorothy xxReplyCancel

  • pat poskMay 12, 2010 - 1:42 am

    What a great Becca Bit…having the frame there really will help me to stay on the line better..Now why didn’t I think of that..
    I needed the Becca Bit to tell me.. ha ha ha ha

    patReplyCancel

  • HeatherMay 12, 2010 - 2:29 am

    Hi Becca – Thanks for the video, using the knife is much easier than cutting round the embossed image. Like everyone else says ‘why didn’t I think of that….’!!
    You are so savvy.
    HW(UK)ReplyCancel

  • Glenda BrooksMay 12, 2010 - 2:37 am

    I too love the look of tight mats, but it never entered my poor mind to do this! Thanks for the heads up!ReplyCancel

  • DebbieMay 12, 2010 - 4:04 am

    I love Becca Bits! This is a really great one. I wondered how you got your mats so much smaller. Thanks!ReplyCancel

  • KatMay 12, 2010 - 5:07 am

    Great tip! I love that you are able to show your readers how to get more milage out of their tools. These Becca Bits are fantastic!ReplyCancel

  • LaurieMay 12, 2010 - 5:29 am

    Becca, thanks so much. I’ve traced and hand cut with various results, but never thought of using the knife – great idea. Love your work!ReplyCancel

  • janeyMay 12, 2010 - 5:36 am

    As usual, you have provided a great tip that is ‘doable’ and is economical. Thanks, BeccaReplyCancel

  • MarshaMay 12, 2010 - 6:16 am

    Becca, thank you! This is a wonderful tip :DReplyCancel

  • KathyMay 12, 2010 - 6:49 am

    Thanks for this great tip. I just asked a group the other day how to get more out of the dies you have and now this tip. I have labels 8 and wished they had more sizes to make mats and now I know how to do it. This is a gem.ReplyCancel

  • mom2hMay 12, 2010 - 7:46 am

    I am a good cutter, if I do say so myself, but it is very hard to get smooth curves unless you have a guide, such as you demonstrated. Thanks for letting us in on this little secret. I love it and will use it soon!ReplyCancel

  • Beth SMay 12, 2010 - 7:47 am

    Hi Becca… Thanks for that great tip and tutorial. I’ve been trying to figure out how to do that for sometime now and like others when I tried cutting with scissors it just didn’t turn out right.ReplyCancel

  • mom2hMay 12, 2010 - 7:52 am

    Oh, yeah. One more way to get a thin mat/border/outline is to ink the edge of your die before you cut and emboss. Some folks call it a “letterpress” technique. That makes the inked outline on the actual size of the die…from the embossed border out to the edge. That’s good for times when you want a border, but don’t have the space to spare to make everything larger. Becca, I can’t remember if you showed this technique at some time, or if I saw it somewhere else.ReplyCancel

  • LizetteMay 12, 2010 - 8:03 am

    I have just had another one of those questions to myself :”why didn’t I think of that?” Thank you Becca for being the one who thinks of all these great ideas! Love them al! You are an inspiration and I am so happy that I am one of the lucky ones who discovered your blog!
    THANKS!!!!!
    Desert wishes
    LizetteReplyCancel

  • Debbi ClouserMay 12, 2010 - 10:02 am

    Love this tip! So glad creative types like you are there to help some of us who need it!ReplyCancel

  • Julie EMay 12, 2010 - 10:20 am

    Thanks! I have always thought that the sizes needed to be closer together – now you have solved that problem!ReplyCancel

  • kraftychicMay 12, 2010 - 10:42 am

    Great tip Becca! TFS!ReplyCancel

  • LesleyMay 12, 2010 - 12:44 pm

    I always wondered how that was achieved! So wanted slimmer mats for my labels sets. Thanks.ReplyCancel

  • lorililacMay 12, 2010 - 1:12 pm

    Becca ! Thank You SOOOO Much ! I’ve been looking for help!

    You’re WOnderful !ReplyCancel

  • Jean McGeeMay 12, 2010 - 1:51 pm

    OH OH OH OH! ! ! ! Thank you soooooo much for that tip WOW!!!!
    Ditto with the “why didn’t I think of that?” That’s like a DUH!!!! I am anxious to use that tip. Thanks again for sharing alllllll of your B-U-T-FUUUULLLLL cards.
    Jean McGeeReplyCancel

  • Carrie CMay 12, 2010 - 3:07 pm

    Thanks for sharing a great tip!ReplyCancel

  • Val WMay 12, 2010 - 3:11 pm

    Thanks for sharing that tip. I will certainly use it, as my collection of Spellbinder nestiblilities grows. I usually like to have the narrower mat, so this will work great.ReplyCancel

  • Linda wMay 12, 2010 - 4:12 pm

    Left handed crafters have always got to come up with ways that do not involve cutting with scissors. Thanks for this great idea Becca.

    stamp on…ReplyCancel

  • HeatherMay 13, 2010 - 2:49 pm

    Genius!
    I’ve done that the blonde way : trace around that very edge with a just sharpened pencil ‘then’ cut it out all squiggely-like by hand :D
    Go figure. It’s natural so I can’t hide it-lol!
    Thanks for sharing your oh so useful Becca Bits!ReplyCancel

  • Ann WallMay 14, 2010 - 4:22 am

    Thanks for all your “Becca Bits” you seem to come up with all the solutions that I am looking for!!!

    Ann in the U.K.ReplyCancel

  • CynthiaMay 14, 2010 - 8:42 am

    Love it, girlfriend! I will be using this tip to the max, as I love Spellbinders. Blessings!ReplyCancel

  • Joan KMay 14, 2010 - 7:32 pm

    What a great tip! Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • ZacksNanaMay 17, 2010 - 1:22 pm

    WOW! You sure made quick work of that!
    Thanks for the ‘Spellbind’ ing video tutorial.ReplyCancel

  • Dream «May 17, 2010 - 9:31 pm

    […] the labels #9 nesties.  Then I used Becca’s technique to cut the 1/8″ mat below it. (see Becca’s tutorial here)   The gold panel was punched with a Fiskars punch around the edges.  And I added some coppery […]ReplyCancel

  • JaquiMay 19, 2010 - 12:16 pm

    What a fantastic tututorial. I’ll definately be following this for my cards from now on. Brilliant.ReplyCancel

  • TraciMay 20, 2010 - 8:52 am

    Dang! This is so simple! Thanks, Becca! Now I have another great technique to add to my “arsenal”….you rock!ReplyCancel

  • […] on how to create the tight mat around the Labels Eight die cut, I have a tutorial for that HERE.  If you’d like to know how to make a double tied bow, I have a tutorial for that […]ReplyCancel

  • MarianJune 1, 2010 - 8:29 am

    Thanks so much. I have always admired that matting and suspected that you did it that way, but really wondered HOW…how could it be so neat!
    TFS…as usual…gorgeous :)ReplyCancel

  • […] that I thought would fit well with a flower girl.  I cut a Spellbinders Labels Ten panel and cut a tight mat to frame her with.  Lastly, I took two ribbons – the lace ribbon is slightly wider than […]ReplyCancel

  • Peggy DollarJune 30, 2010 - 11:38 am

    Becca, you are my favorite person of all on the Splitcoast site. You make the most incredible cards, you have amazing ideas and techniques that you generously share and your sweet spirit comes through in everything you say on your blog. Thank you for sharing your many gifts with all of us.

    PeggyReplyCancel

  • donna mikasaAugust 16, 2010 - 3:05 pm

    What a great tutorial, Becca! Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • Lorie B.December 2, 2010 - 8:32 pm

    Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks. You are such a talented and generous person! :o)ReplyCancel

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