Sets of cards and Cuttlebug vs Big Shot

This is one of my favourite things to do when I have the time.

That is, make sets of cards.

I mean, I've got all the stuff out, so I might as well make more than one, right? And of course one card leads to another and another.

All these below are made using October Afternoon papers, Rock Candy Stickles on the Martha butterfly, a stamp I've had for yonks, Hero Arts ink (their yellowy chalk ink called, what's it called? Poppy, that's it) and some tiny type alphas. Not sure who makes the ones I used, but I like them because they put enough Hs and Is on the sheet for me. My original plan was to use all different sorts of alphas, but these worked best, and lucky for me I had enough for all the cards.

Oh, and hello, red buttons. I used red buttons. A staple in this crafting kitchen. Like denim, red buttons seem to go with everything.

I just noticed I used a variety of border punches along the bottom too. Some have two strips, some have one.

The one right above is from EK Success. The one above that is too. The one above that is Martha. I like some punches that have patterns in them and some that are just borders. I like punches, what can I say?

I also like decorative scissors. They really do rock when used sparingly. No cutting around the entire photo with deco scissors here. Just subtle use and you're good to go. I use the scallop ones the most - from Fiskars. I really am glad I didn't chuck them all out when they went out of fashion. I know some people did and they've had to re-purchase.

Ever chuck out anything you've then had to replace? I know of a lady who had a Cuttlebug, bought a Big Shot, sold her Cuttlebug, missed her Cuttlebug and bought another one! Now she's probably going to sell her Big Shot.

And on that. I have both the Big Shot and the Cuttlebug. I used the Cuttlebug for about 18 months. I got the Big Shot and used it exclusively for a while. Just recently I used the Cuttlebug again and loovved it. Realised I missed it.

It's cuter.

It's easier to use.

It's got the X-Factor. Remember I said that recently? It does.

That being said, the Sizzix rocks. It really does, but what I think puts me off the Sizzix sometimes is the mucking around with the spacer plate and the tabs and whatever.

And the shimming, oh the shimming when you're using Nestabilities (embossing them). I forget what to do a lot of the time and then when I have to teach someone else (Hi, Mum!), well, I can't remember and we have to figure it out all over again. The same applies with the Nestabilities in the Cuttlebug too, so that's the same between them. And Nestabilities aren't from Sizzix or Provo, so what do we expect, really? You've gotta do a bit of mucking around to make them work in a different company's machine. We're lucky they actually do work if we're truthful about it.

Anyway, stick with Cuttlebug brand dies and embossing folders in the Cuttlebug and it's dead easy.

Stick with the newest Sizzix stuff in the Big Shot and it's easy. Not dead easy, but easy.

Swap stuff between these two and it's easy.

Start adding different brands into either of them and the ole head can start swimming! Particularly if you add a lot of different brands. And particularly if you're embossing.

My point? There's just not as much swimming with the Cuttlebug.

My second point? The Big Shot is a smoother, sturdier machine.

My third point? This is why there's always debate about which is best.

My fourth point? I don't know of anyone who has regretted getting a Cuttlebug.

My fifth point? I think the Multi-purpose platform and all the flaps that come with it have caused some confusion with the Big Shot. I see why they did it that way, but still, confusion. Confusion can = regret.

My sixth point? The Big Shot can cut everything on the market. The Cuttlebug couldn't until recently - bring on their new 6 x 12 extender plates.

My seventh point? Spellbinders have blown Sizzix's "it cuts everything on the market" claim to fame with their new big dies that add onto their current ones. I linked you over to the new machine (Grand Calibur) and the new dies a week or so ago, I think it was. They cut up to 8 1/2 x 11. Very good, but they don't fit in the Cuttlebug or Big Shot, so am I going to buy a new machine? No. Obviously Spellbinders had to manufacture a new machine that would work with their new dies. It doesn't work with all the current dies on the market, so I'm not sure how many people will buy it. What do you think?

My eighth point? Provo was really generous when they included a C plate with their machine. That was purely so their customers could use other thin brands of dies in their machine, ie. Nestabilities and Papertrey Ink. They're the other brands I use and they work perfectly with the A, B and C plates.

My ninth point? Die cutting and embossing rocks, so it's worth figuring out all the sandwiches you need for cutting and embossing all the dies you have.

My tenth point? Don't be like me and write these sandwich formulas on bits of paper that you've put in some hard-to-reach place. Put 'em where you can see them. Put 'em in a little book. Put 'em near the machine. Write them on the machine! Seriously, write 'em down and refer to them often. Now, if you'd only take your own advice, Debra.

My eleventh, and final, point? Get a die cutting machine, just don't ask me which one!

Oh, and after all that yakking on about die-cutting, I totally forgot about the cards!

Well, here they are with, wouldn't you know it? No die-cutting. 

:o)

Well, hello...

...the Cuttlebug's been re-designed!

Click here to see a video on it.

Whaddya reckon? Interesting. I like the newer green/cream combo. Not sure about the crank handle. I like the design.

In the video above, Maggie shows a lot of the new Cuttlebug folders, but they're hard to see properly. Click below for a better look in the catalogue.

Click here to see the Provo CHA catalogue - all the Cuttlebug stuff starts on page 29 - 35. Click the left hand corner (top or bottom) to turn the pages.

(If the above link doesn't work, go to www.provocraft.com and click on the CHA catalogue button on the front page)

Look at all the new folders they're coming out with! Gosh, I get where they're going with them, but I like choosing individual ones. What do you think?

My favourites (for one reason or another) are (which means I wouldn't necessarily purchase, but I like):

~ Robotz - cute set for little boy stuff. I'd cover some of the squares in the grid with punch art, or the child's name.

~ That giraffe is cute in Create A Critter. He's my kinda guy.

~ The pears in Preserves. Fruit is good.

~ The cupcake background in Once Upon a Princess. Would like to see in person if it's too much.

Note the different sizes of the folders. Two in the set are 5 x 7 and two are regular.

~ All the kitchen items (top left) in Retro Kitchen. What are the things on the yellow one to the right? The other 5 x 7. Flowers? Donuts? Mixing bowls? I'm guessing, I've no idea!

~ Nifty Fifties is fun. I love stuff from the fifties and those icons are right on. I like the hello one. Could crank out a lot of cute, easy cards with that.

That being said...how many cards can one crank out in one's lifetime anyway?! I could do this, I could do that. But will I, that's the burning question!

Listing one's favourites doesn't cost anything, so I'll continue on.

~ Bunting with the bird in Birthday Bash. Love this. Hate the bird. Don't hate, wish he wasn't there. Man, that would've been a winner. Could make it work, and would, if I could buy it individually. A bunting embossing folder = no brainer.

Are all these companion cartridges? Heard of those? They're sets of four that go with Cricut cartridges of the same name. I know Preserves, Once Upon a Princess etc are Cricut carts, but I don't know if all these are.

~ Love the tent in Paisley. My dancing clown from Book 2 page 36 would look mega cute under that big top.

I like the folders that enhance the punch art. Ones that go with.

Bunting with a chick (my chick) on it.

Tent with clown under it.

Stuff like that.

~ Gotta love the trucks/digger background in Boys Will Be Boys. Cute.

~ And the arrows background is a good idea too.

Just read the info at the bottom (it helps!) and they're all companion cartridges. If I bought the folders they'd be companions to me because I don't own a Cricut.

Would I buy all those folders above?

No.

Why?

One word.

Money.

Two words.

They don't come individually.

Can't make that many cards in my lifetime.

Okay, that was 12.

One word.

Will still keep looking around the joint to see what's out there though, because I love it.

Okay, that was 17.

Can't count today. Must be cuppa tea time!

Bye now, have a great day!

PS. I just got onto Photo Continental's site to check on my classes and guess what? They have some of the new folders in stock. Click here to check 'em out.

PPS. Urggh! I still can't tell what those icons are on the yellow folder in the Retro Kitchen collection!

XL dies in the Cuttlebug

Do you have a Cuttlebug?

I've had mine for two years and I love it.

I've always thought the Sizzix XL dies didn't fit through the thing and never thought to check. Megan (one of the ladies who comes to my classes at PC) mentioned to me that the dies go through, it's the plates that don't.

What? I thought. Really? I've gotta check that!

(The XL dies are the really long ones that do treat boxes, card bases and other things. Some of the designs are continuous down the die and some have various, individual shapes on them)

Here's me checking the die situation...

Here's the Cuttlebug, here's the Sizzix XL die.

Will it go through?

Um, yeah...

Why have I not checked this before?

And Megan was right - the plates don't fit. That's a Sizzix extender plate and it's definitely too wide.

I've been telling people right and wrong information this whole time!

Can I use those dies in my Cuttlebug? No, they're too wide.

Now I know they're not too wide, the plates are.

This is what should've happened: Can I use those dies in my Cuttlebug? Not with ease! The plates are too wide, but you could use your regular plates and cut the die in stages. If you want. If it doesn't annoy you.

Would you do that?

Cut it in stages?

Things have changed a bit in the last month because Provo has come out with 13" x 6" plates, so now you really can cut XL dies in your Cuttlebug!

Pretty nifty if you ask me.

A couple of things to note:

~ The Cuttlebug plates are 4 cm shorter than the extender plates from Sizzix, so some of the XL designs may not cut out fully. Something to check on before you buy.

~ I have heard that some people have shaved the edge off the Sizzix extender plate to make it fit. Whatever works!

Anyway, hopefully that helps someone out there and a big thanks to Megan for the tip in the first place (Hey, Megan! Hey, Jackie!).

Have a great weekend, friends!

:o)

Easter bits and bobs

Hi, I'm back with some Easter projects today.

Now, you've seen these boxes before. I make them a lot because they're good. They're easy to make, they fit a decent amount of treats and they're forgiving when you make them. A good formula, I reckon.

Click here and Erin will show you how to make them. I got the stack idea from her. She was giving brownies, I gave chocolate Easter eggs the same size as regular eggs.

Ye good olde curling ribbon always comes in handy!

And of course, punches, they're always handy.

Here's a little treat box, come basket, come bag thingy.

It houses about two or three of those small eggs. I just made it up as I went along. Not the easiest thing I've put together, that's for sure. Just being honest :o). Not that it was hard necessarily, it was just fanangaly. Try finding that word in the dictionary!

You know what fanangaly is, right? It means that you made it and you probably wouldn't make it again because it didn't come together easily enough to warrant another go. I bet you're thinking of a fanangaly project of your own. Yep, that one you did once and probably won't do again :o)

This little basket wasn't fananagaly...it was fine.

It's essentially the base of a box and instead of cutting to make the normal tabs, I cut down the middle of the tab square and just joined those bits together.

Clear as mud?

Sorry! Hard to explain!

Does this pic help?

Instead of cutting in to make a square tab (that you would normally attach sticky tape to and then stick to the long side to make the side of the box), you cut from the corner of the card to the point where all the score lines meet and that'll give you two triangular tabs. Glue those two together and that gives you the slant.

Trust me, it's not hard in real life, it's just hard to explain in words. And I didn't take a photo of it in bits or anything. Rats.

So, the last two little projects might've put you off making anything (sorry about that!), but this one's easy, easy, easy.

I did these at Christmas too. They're just any shape folded over a treat bag and decorated at will.

I decorated the decorations out of mine and went for glitter, embossing, eggs and butterflies.

Actually, I sprayed Vanilla Smooch over the embossed eggs too, so, make that glitter, embossing, eggs, Smooch and butterflies.

Don't think I could've fit anything else on there!

Here's a non-fat version for you - use real eggs.

(These are organic, free-range, top-notch, premium eggs, ie. they're from our chooks. Thanks, girls)

Another idea I heard about recently would work too - buy refillable eggs and put notes in them. For example, little jokes, riddles or "things I appreciate about you", stuff like that.

To finish today we're going to focus on the fake parsley in the box.

It's the Martha Stewart loopy border punch punched in two greens then rolled up and glued.

Okay, have a fab day!

Valentine's Day cards

Hello again everyone,

Today I have a couple of Valentine's Day cards to show you.

It's not as big a holiday over here as it is overseas, but we celebrate it nonetheless, just in a very understated Australian way. Like, laid back. Like, maybe too laid back, lol.

Here's a fun one. It's a favourite because it's got a cupcake on it. Just love 'em.

Supplies:

• Cupcake punch - McGill
• Scallop Square punch - Marvy (green)
• Square punch - Marvy (purple)
• Background - Cuttlebug Love Language Combo set (includes word dies and the hearts folder)
• Stickles on the square

Love that hearts background - it's really sweet. I particularly like the grid backgrounds with a little design on them like this one.

Here's the cupcake punch - remember it? You get a star and a candle to use too.

A couple of tips:

- Because there's 5 things that need to be punched out in the design, it needs a good punch so it can work best. Be confident and give it a good one!

- Line your punch up in from the edge of the paper as far as it'll go and give it that good, solid punch with two hands. That is, punch quickly and it'll go through great. Too slow and it may not work.

- If you have your paper too close to the edge of the design, it can jam in your punch. This goes for other designs too, and other brands. Done that before? (It usually happens with the big designs)

Here's the envelope I made to go with the card. It's red Bazzill (Pomegranate - my favourite red), which is the same as the background red on the card.

I'm really into putting faux stamps on my envelopes nowadays...

How many years have I had that stamp punch? Oh, about 7, I suppose.

How many times have I used it on a card in those 7 years? Oh, about 7 (if I'm lucky), I suppose.

How many times have I used it recently? Stacks!

Will you be using it more in the future? Yep!

It's a keeper :o)

And the square inside is CP2: Square from Carl. Above the stamp punch is white and so's the square inside it. You can see the difference on the bottom card below. The stamp is red and the square inside is white.

Love that cupcake punch.

I posted this card a little while ago. Just wanted to remind you of it to show how versatile the punch is...and that you can make cupcakes using blue, yellow and orange if you want.

Here's the card again. Cute. Gosh, I love cute.

I don't believe I've ever used two different shades of red on a card before. Two blues - yep. Two greens - yep. Two yellows - definitely. Two reds - nup, until now.

Can't remember the name of the red - it's either Ruby Slipper or Red Devil.

Don't you love the Cuttlebug? Embossing is just so fun to add to a card.

This heart folder is obviously a perfect choice for Valentine's Day, so I had to break it out. And the words come from the Love Language Combo set from above.

Simple card that one, simple.

I am very much into scallop squares with something inside at the moment. Am going to make a few today for my sister-in-law who needs some thank you cards. I'll be using a Cuttlebug background and a scallop square - nice. And fun.

And lastly, the envelope to match.

I make all my envelopes on the Crafters Companion - it's the quickest way to make them, I've found. And quicker too because I've made templates for my most used envelope sizes, so I don't have to look them up in the book each time. Honestly, I can make an envelope in two minutes - it's so fab.

Okay, see you tomorrow!

:o)

What would we do without...

...the holly leaf punch?

I mean, really, come on! It gets a work out at Christmas time like no other.

A lot of people don't like to buy seasonal punches because they think they'll only use them once a year. Not true!

Well, it's sort of true. They do only get used once a year, but during that time they get hammered and gain purchase worthy status before you can blink an eye!

The holly leaf punch is one of those that has had PW status for years now. Like, years.

Hello, holly leaf punch! Thank you for all your good work over the years. I'm happy to award you with the seasonal punch of the year...again!

(Punch takes trophy and bows in gratitude. Punches live to be used, you know)

Applause!

Cue slideshow.

Pause slideshow.

This is how the holly leaf comes - with three leaves attached together. You can use it as is, or cut it apart to suit your project.

Good, hey?

Resume slideshow.

As you can see, folks, the holly leaf punch transcends all times and dates.

It's classic, yet modern.

It's stoic, yet versatile.

It's sleek and stylish.

Okay, it's not sleek, that's not the right word. It's stylish though, you've gotta give it that.

Summary: You can use the holly leaf punch on all your Christmas cards until you depart from this earth.

:o)