Tip - Die Cutting Stamped Images

Here's an easy tip for die cutting your stamped images with open type dies (like Nestabillities).

Use a post it note or piece of painter's masking tape to hold the die over the image EXACTLY where you want it while you run it through your die cutting machine.

Isn't that a great idea?  I saw it on Jennifer McGuire's blog.

Until Next Time!
Marie

Extend the use of your Open type dies!

Do you want to see something that will inspire you to use your open type dies and off cuts from other dies in new ways?

Check out THIS VIDEO from Sarah Gough.

Until Next Time!
Marie

Easter Egg Nest

Don't you just love this little nest I made? 

It's not my original idea but after I saw it I just had to make one!

It uses the Sizzix Scallop Circle die but if you don't have that you might be able to improvise with a large Spellbinders Nestibillity Scalloped Circle die.

If you would like to learn how to make one of these click HERE for the video from the super creative Brenda Quintana.

While making my nest I came up with these TIPS for you:

• To make the "grass" I cut thin strips of scrap cardstock (4 inches long) with scissors and then rolled them around my index finger to curl.
• When I glued the 1 3/4 inch circle to my scalloped circle I glued it to the bottom of the nest rather than on the top as Brenda shows in the video.
• After I was finished making the nest I rolled the scalloped edge back so that it was a bit "fluted" rather than straight up.

Holiday Vignettes

Some people are so creative that their paper crafting spills out into their home decor. 

I don't mean leaving a mess in the dining room or using your coffee table to scrap! 

I'm talking about intentionally creating paper crafts that compliment your home for the current holiday or season and making little "scenes".

It's called a Holiday Vignette!

When the kids were little I used to decorate for the holidays a lot more than I do now.  Now I barely get the Christmas tree and lights up, throw up a few gravestones for Halloween, hide chocolate in my laundry room for Valentines Day - oh wait I do that last one all year round - but I don't do anything more than that these days.

By the time I think of it or get the inspiration it's too late!

So I thought it might be inspiring to check out what others are doing for each holiday or season in the way of paper craft decorating.  I'd like to do this for every holiday or season - but we'll see how it goes...

First up is SPING and Easter.
 
I saw this great "planter box" idea from Kathy Tolleson. 
I think it would look great on a dining table, on the fireplace mantle or even in a window - don't you think?
 
 

How about this bird house from Claudia Rosa.

This flower garland is a great way to use up scraps in your die cutting machine! 

This one is made of fabric by Kayte Terry but you can make it from paper too I'm sure!

Here's another garland or banner for Easter: 

If you click HERE you will go to the blog post by Jenny where she shows you how to make it.

How about a die cut door wreath?

I hope these ideas will help you get inspired to decorate for the seaosn using your paper craft supplies and get you on your way to making your own special holiday vignettes for your home!

Saturday & Sunday Shop - Die Storage Solution

First off I want to say THANKS to everyone who has emailed me and left comments wishing me a speedy recovery.  I am feeling a bit better but having some muscle and nerve pain which I'm dealing with by taking drugs and going to physio therapy.  I hope to be back to my regular schedule soon!

Next off I want to show you my NEW Nestabilities die storage solution. 

I used to keep my dies in a small CD wallet like this

but I quickly outgrew it and needed something bigger.

I found this one - Check this out!

It's a CD storage BINDER from Case Logic.  This one holds 320 cds and has lots of room for my dies.

I got it at Staples but I've seen them around at other stores like Walmart, Target, London Drugs etc.

I really like that it has a zipper,

a handle

and the inside has some pockets to store magnet sheets, rubber, and shims.

I like to keep the original upc tag from the dies in the pocket with them

For larger dies I use the bottom pockets only.

9/30/10 Edited to add:  Someone asked what I have the dies attached to.  I keep the backing cardboard that comes with the packaging.  It has a bit of double stick tape on it and it's just enough to keep the dies from sliding around.  For the larger dies it gives some protection against bending.


I keep it by my Big Shot in my craft room but with the handle and zipper the whole binder can travel with me to crops or classes.

I really like this storage solution but I need to make up some side index tabs so that I can find the dies more easily!

Playing with Sizzix Die Cuts

I'm experimenting as I prepare for an upcoming Big Shot - Next Step class.

This is for people that have their own Big Shot and want to learn more than the basic die cutting and embossing.

I thought it might be nice to throw in a few of the Sizzlit paper piecing dies to show how to "finish" them off. I think that some people might buy these dies and don't use them or avoid them all together because they never look as nice as the example on the packaging.

I'd like to show you in today's post how I've finished off mine.

Here is the Sizzlit Girl in Ballerina Costume:


Isn't she cute?

On the left she's just cut out of plain white paper. You could do this and colour her in with your markers - working with just 1 layer.

OR you could run her through your Big Shot a few more times with different coloured cardstock and piece her together like I've done on the right.

I first cut her out completely in Blush Blossom cardstock and then cut her tutu out of pink and her hair out of black. I didn't use a big piece of pink - just a piece big enough to cover her entire tutu area. Same for the hair - just a small piece of black was all I needed.

This is a great way to use up all those carstock scraps you've been saving!!

I pieced all the parts together using the Sakura Quickie Glue pen. I added some shadowing with a pink & blush marker and some highlights with the white gel pen.

Here's a close-up:

Next up is the Sizzlit Boy with Skateboard :

Again I cut him out of white plain paper first to show you how it looks as a single layer.

I followed the same process as for the Ballerina. The base is Blush Blossom and then I cut coloured pieces and added them to the base. The t-shirt, shorts, skateboard and helmet were all cut using small scraps of paper.

While I was working on these my 13 year old son walked into the room. Once he saw what I was doing he wanted to give it a try.

Mine is on the left and my son's skater is on the right. I think he did a fantastic job!

A close up of mine:

I used coordinated markers to shade and a white gel pen to highlight. I like to use the Sakura Clear Gelly Glaze pen to add gloss (helmet) and the Black Gelly Glaze pen to add glossy black accents (eyes, pads, shoes & wheels).

Here's my son's Skater Boy:

I'm not sure I'll use these particular dies in the class - it's hard to work with these in a sharing class situation. I only have 1 die and you need to run it through multiple times to cut each coloured piece. That would take up too much class time!

I'll bring them along for "Show and Tell" and explain the process for sure!

This next die was a quick one to cut. Here is the Sizzix Medium Bunny die:

This one was definately easier than the previous Sizzlits dies!

It actually doesn't look too bad cut out of solid pink but I think it looks better with added shading and highlights.

I hope you've enjoyed this post - I had fun making them!