simple dreams

Create-a-cut™ Cards

CHA was just simply - WOW! The amazing eye-candy just had me drooling for hours. I had the luxury of exploring some of the amazing products when I was not at the booth and of course as per usual I was on the lookout for cool gadgets. I did find some new ones, but the "old ones" couldn't be outdone - LOL! I'll share some of the little gizmos that I have discovered as I find the time to find the links, etc. being that I was not so good about taking pictures. I was so enthralled that I completely spaced it most of the time - I guess I just spent too much time drooling.

Now that I'm back, I'm dragging myself around, barely able to keep my eyes open. I've seen pictures of myself floating around on other blogs and all I can think is YIKES, I needed more sleep, WAY more sleep! Perhaps even some sleep would have been good - LOL! I'm not good at pulling these late nighters/early riser occasions. EGADS but I look TIRED. That's what happens when I stay up until 2:00-2:30 and then get back up around 6:30-7:00 for weeks on end.

I have been able to get all of the orders put together that were placed while I was away and they head out in tomorrow's mail - yippie - you will be getting your goodies soon!!!!

I have also updated the store to show that the stencils are back in :D, more Wizard Charm embossing kits have arrived and I have some other delicious goodies on their way :D I hope I have a productive day tomorrow, because I'll be taking Sunday off to celebrate my little one's seventh birthday! I can't believe how big she has already gotten.

Following are a couple of projects that I created to showcase what the Create-a-Cut can do for cardmaking.

Can you tell that the scalloped blade is my favorite?!? To create this edge I cut the edge off of a sheet of vellum and a sheet of patterned cardstock. I also cut an edge from a plain piece of white cardstock to use as a template. Using this white sheet I used my embossing stylus to create the line in the vellum, the patterned cardstock and the blue cardstock in the tag. I then used this same paper as a template and punched the border design. Finally I took my little Fiskars handheld heart punch to create the decorative edge. This is one of the details that I adore - the ability to punch little designs along this curvy edge adds a little something special that you won't see every other place. Little Nicholas was stamped on a sheet of white cardstock and then I used the Making Memories Tag Punch kit to create the little tag. I am SO looking forward to the new punch kit (CHECK IT OUT) Making Memories is coming out with!!! No more hand cutting to fit in these adorable little tags. Then I added some Basic Grey ribbon for texture. This is a rather quick, simple little card to make.

This card I wanted to show how well the pieces fit together like a puzzle. The precision that you get with the Create-a-Cut trimmer allows you to piece together paper precisely. I ran the solid color paper through my Cuttlebug using a Fiskars texture plate together with the Wizard Charm Embossing kit. (I love how I can use my Cuttlebug with so many different textures and dies!!!) Then I cut the paper into strips using the small wavy blade, pieced it together and voila a different type of textured background. Using the new geraniums, together with some doublesided May Arts ribbon and hardware, I quickly pasted it down and then realized - OOPS - the ribbon is attached a little crooked. Darn, I hate when that happens. But with the very short time frame I just had to stick with it (ha, ha) and move on.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope to share more with you over the next few days, but as you have probably figured out by now I'm one hopping, busy lady and tonight I'm REALLY tired :D So that's all for now folks - see you tomorrow.

Lockhart Stamp Company Winter Release

Happy New Year everyone!!!

First off I would like to thank you all so much for your heartfelt responses!!! I have my fingers crossed, my toes crossed, my legs crossed - LOL - you get the picture! I am hopeful that our Credit Card company will be able to help replace my camera. I will be certain to let you all know what happens. BUT please, please, please remember to always be certain that you understand your "gear" so that you don't end up in a similar situation to mine!

Next I must tell you I am incredibly excited about the new releases!!! They are soooo cute and I do believe there is a little something for everyone. I can't seem to resist the cuteness factor of many of these images. The ideas are just rushing around inside my brain and I hope to get some time to get it all out Ü

Yesterday evening my niece and I went on a creating spree together - well we thought it was going to be a spree, but being that we both like things extremely well done our spree turned in to only one "very well designed" (said tongue in cheek, with a whole lot of laughter) card. Just a little background on my niece - she has studied graphic design focusing on the digital aspect of design and so between the two of us we have quite the design background - LOL! We are both what you might term perfectionists as well, so you can see where this story is leading. The card we designed is replicated below. The one we made last night is actually a wedding card and so the main image was the A Muse bride and groom, but being that I have my brand new untouched Lockhart stamps I just had to play with one of those today instead, when I remade our card from last night. This card we made only took HOURS to finalize on the details because we kept coming up with "better" ideas as we went - tee hee!

I will not go on any more but just share the picture of the final product and then do a little explaining.

front of card and coordinating envelope

pocket inside of card to hold cash, check or gift card Ü

So what do you think? was it worth the hours of love we put into it? (insert big grin).

It started with the piece of vellum I had created weeks ago when I was playing with my Cuttlebug. I had ran it through the Cuttlebug using the Fiskars texture plate and Wizard Charm Kit. I LOVE how vellum looks embossed and have since ran my CB folders through with vellum inside, brass templates, etc. We wanted the card to be simply elegant and it had to start someplace, so this was it.

The bride's dress is a soft white and so I started gathering things to make a soft monochromatic card. We used the Memory Box eggshell notecard and envelope; Iridescents, Cryogen White CS, and Worldwin 48# Vellum. I then started pulling out the embellishments that I thought would lend themselves to this feeling of understated elegance - thus the Making Memories Pearls and May Arts ribbon.

We worked using the rule of thirds to establish the face of this card. If you dissect the card front and place your focal point where the vertical and horizontal thirds meet it will be an interesting diversion from the perfectly centered image that balances an image symmetrically.

We used the Create-a-Cut scallop blade to once again add a quick touch of elegance to the vellum and felt like we hit the stroke of genius (OK - so I'm saying this sitting here LOL) when I pulled out the Interference Gold Pearl Ex to bring that special twinkle to the interior of the card and to the envelope. The Swirls stamp is once again from the Rhonna Farrar clear stamps put out by Autumn Leaves. I must say I love these stamps and many of you have asked me where I found them. Unfortunately I am having a hard time finding a place for you to find them. I purchased mine when I was in MN this fall at Archivers. I have since seen them in the 2 Peas store, but they always seem to be sold out. If I get wind of a resource I'll either snap a bunch up and put them in my store, or let you know where you can find them, because they truly work magic with so many of the Lockhart images :D

One last thing is the font selected - it is Existence Light. I am truly a font-a-holic Ü This one just had the perfect simple, yet elegant, touch to it and Tara was able to work magic with the placement and sizing. I'm proud of the work that we accomplished together and hope that you gain a little "insight" into the creative process we shared in last night. Lots of giggles, different supplies set aside that we thought might be good, and a lot of kerning and experimenting with type and here is the end result :D

Wizard Charm Embossing Kit Update

Thank you all so much for your support and enthusiasm regarding the information I have shared regarding the use of the Wizard Charm Embossing kit together with your brass stencils and Cuttlebug (or other cutting/embossing systems). Unfortunately we have done it again - LOL! We have completely wiped out the manufacturer of these kits! But more are on their way via the slow boat :D In speaking with the Spellbinder owner it appears that more should be hitting the stores sometime mid-January. So patience girls - we must have patience.  So 'til then perhaps we can focus our attention on other aspects of this fun little machine. I have some other things "up my sleeve" and hope that I can get enough time to share these with you soon!

Cuttlebug and Texture Plates

WOW - it's been a busy and wonderful weekend around our house. Our Christmas tree is in the house, my DH has the outside lights all up and much of the Christmas shopping has been completed. Very little creating has taken place other than a couple of things for upcoming publication calls.

Many of you have been asking me about the texture plates and I hope that it is alright with you that I post the answer here to save some time. I truly appreciate your enthusiasm and hope to keep creating new, fun things with my CB.

To use the Fiskars texture plates I make the following sandwich:

• Plate A,
• Fiskars texture plate,
• cardstock or paper,
• tan Wizard pad,
• black Wizard pad (Editted Yet Again - The Wizard kits once again have a black pad and a tan pad),
• (sometimes a very lightweight piece of chipboard or another piece of cardstock - run it through the first time without and see what type of impression you get. If it isn't very deep then add a shim of cardstock or chipboard),
• Plate B.

Hopefully this will help get you started on your road to success. I have also heard of machines popping apart with the use of Sizzix dies. I guess I'm feeling extremely lucky right now being my little machine is still holding tough, even after the stuff I've run through it. I am LOVING this little gadget!!!

I do believe that the Wizard Charm Embossing kit is essential to running these other items through the CB and getting a good impression. I'm going to try and order some of these and put them into my store so that anyone trying to find them can continue to create to the fullest extent that this little bug will allow.

ETA: Spellbinders has created a new packet of Tan Embossing Mats - these are perfect for using in the Cuttlebug and other manufacturer's machines to emboss with the Nestabilties, Fiskars Texture plates, brass stencils etc. Please see the compatibility charts for information regarding your machine.

Cuttlebug Wizardry

It worked! I'm SO excited!!! I had this idea that if I could find the Wizard Charm Embossing kit by Spellbinders I could perform magic on brass stencils with my little Cuttlebug. At my LSS, Make an Impression, I measured the plate in the folder and it was the magical 6" width - you should have seen the grin that resulted. So I hurried home with my little kit and pulled out one of my brass stencils and...

I used a tiny piece of removable tape to hold the stencil in place. I'm going to have to use a different type of removable adhesive though, because even the tape left a slight impression in the paper - LOL.

These are the wizard pads - two come in the package. ETA: New wizard kits come with two tan pads, rather the tan and black pad. Please replace the black pad with the tan pad wherever I have it listed as a suggestion.

Position your sandwich (a) spacer, brass stencil, paper, tan Wizard pad, black Wizard pad, chipboard shim, (b) cutting pad. Crank Ü

Now I just need to figure out how I want to embellish and use this.

Then I started thinking - pretty scary right?!? LOL! What else do I have that I could sandwich for texture? Hmmm, this is a "charm" embossing kit. Oh WOW, what about letters?!? So that is precisely what I sandwiched next.

I sandwiched them with duct tape

and paper - I can hardly wait to try some other materials such as vellum, thin metal... Can you imagine the possibilities? I'm also thinking I want to find some Paper Glide - this is supposed to enhance your dry embossed image detail. I love crisp details!

OH WOW - what about those Fiskars texture plates I have sitting in the drawer that I purchased years ago and did "NOTHING" with!

OK, so now I'm thinking about all the stuff hanging around here that I'm going to be able to squish in my cute little Cuttlebug to create texture and interest on my projects. Paper clips, chipboard, textured ribbon like ric rac, coins - man what else did we do paper rubbings with when we were kids? Oh yeah baby - this is one cool little tool. RUN, don't walk to your nearest store on Black Friday Ü

If you have been squishing everything in sight to see what type of impression it will leave please chim in below and share with the blogging world your miraculous finds and fantasmagorical ideas Ü

So I took a couple of the things I sandwiched and made a card to express my feelings at this time of year.

Once again I am thankful for so much! There is so much I am grateful for: family, friends, hope, faith, the many of you who have been here sending your thoughts and prayers my family's way. Please know that I am thankful for you! Your support and encouragement - they mean the world to me - I appreciate you! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day!!!

Cuttlebug Updates

I thought I would post the additional information I discovered regarding the uses of the Cuttlebug (CB). After creating with my sister, Betty over the phone she taught me what I will need to do in order to use my CB with my brass stencils. I am SO excited being that I have some absolutely gorgeous stencils.

Create a "sandwich" as follows:

• CB A pad
• CB B pad
• computer mouse pad which is fabric on one side and a rubbery material on the other. This mouse pad should be slightly less than 1/4" thick. Place the mouse pad rubbery side up.
• paper (less expensive paper only needs one pass through, Stampin' Up! and other heavier weight papers need 2-3 passes to get a crisp clean image)
• CB B pad

I can hardly wait to find an inexpensive mouse pad. I looked high and low and the only one we have I didn't dare cut up - LOL! I'm also going to see if I can find a Spellbinder Wizard Rubber Mat - I think that will be the perfect selection as well.

For those who own a Sizzix, you will be thrilled to know that the CB embossing folders and die cuts work with it too. I tested this for a friend yesterday and it worked great - it just took a LOT more work.

Hopefully I will have some pictures to share soon. I have a serious case of Cuttlebugitis that's for certain!

The "Bug" has Bitten!

You all made me do it!!! You are all enablers!!! I have a serious case of "Cuttlebugitis"!!! Read here for more information and you will see why you should RUN, not walk, to Michael's this week and purchase this little green wonder!!!

There is a coupon in this weeks paper once again and it does not have an exclusion on it! You may have to talk to the manager, being that I had to "discuss" at length that the Cuttlebug is an entirely different product than the Cricut. There is a sticker on the Cuttlebug box that says it is made by the same manufacturer as the Cricut and they are trying to tell us that due to this reason we can not use the coupon. This is WRONG - do not leave the store without using your coupon to purchase it. They must honor this coupon and I do believe that if you are on the fence, jump over right now and use that coupon before the Cuttlebug is added to the exclusion clause.

So... I have Cuttlebugitis BIG time! Julie made me want a "crank" style diecutter when she brought over her Big Shot, but I was patient - I waited and waited and waited... Well that is I waited until I saw the thread over at SCS and realized that the coupon from Michael's was burning a hole in my pocket. I realized that if I didn't run to the store right away they might be out, or they might start putting an exclusion clause on the coupon, or... Well I just had to have it!

Yes girls - it is FABULOUS! I picked it up late yesterday afternoon and look what I cranked out in a matter of minutes this a.m.

Look closely at the pale chartreuse flowers. First, I used one of the Cuttlebug embossing folders on the Memory Box cardstock and then I cut it out using my Sizzix Paper Sculpting, Daisy. I can hardly wait to get more of the embossing folders. I love the fact that the Memory Box cardstock has a white core - when dry embossing like this you can then just take your Lucky Squirrel sander and remove the color from the surface with ease, getting a beautiful contrast with the paper below. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to put these little goodies into a card form over the next couple of days.

Here is a comparison of the footprint to my "OLD" Sizzix - I say old because I don't know that I'll ever use it again. Craft garage sale here it comes!

The Cuttlebug takes up FAR LESS room. Even when open it only uses about the same space as the Sizzix "did" (teehee - I've already removed it Ü). The suction is incredible! Even when cranking the chipboard through, it stayed securely in place. I do believe it is important to have a clean smooth surface on which to attach it, but it holds PERFECTLY!

Yippie skippie! It takes the Sizzix dies! I measured the bed and a 6x6 piece of paper needs to have about 1/16" trimmed off the edge to fit through properly. After I took this picture I realized that I could fit these dies in "sideways" and they would still fit perfectly - so the tray is a wonderful width!

When you crank your dies through the machine you will hear some snap, crackle and popping - but it's all OK. Just keep crankin'. I had to take a picture of my cutting pad just to memorialize that virgin cut (and share the effects that you should not be concerned about). Replacement cutting pads are not expensive and I do believe that these will last for quit some time.

So here are the first things I have tried:

• felt

• chipboard

• Sizzlets

I thought I'd share this photo to show how I laid out four letters simultaneously using different patterns of paper behind each. The look of different papers together intrigues me and so I'm looking forward to layering these patterns together to create some little words Ü

My adventure with the Sizzlets hasn't been perfect, but I know I'll get there. The directions that come with it do NOT work with the Sizzlets. I think they must work with the Quickcutz, but being that I don't have any of these I can't tell you. The depth of the Sizzlet is to thick to use with the optional C cutting board. So I tried it with the B cutting board and as you can see it did not cut out all my letters. Then I tried inserting an additional piece of cardstock - it still did not cut out the detailed letters. Finally, I tried inserting a thin piece of chipboard - this did work, but I can't recommend it being that I had to crank so hard I was wondering if I was going to snap my handle off. I had to finish it, because I had started and was in the middle. But believe me, I was holding my breath while trying this. I do believe that this will work beautifully as well, once I get the correct size determined to add as my additional layer. I'm just not quite there yet.

That's all I have time for right now. I hope you find this helpful and if you have any hints, suggestions or products you have tried your Cuttlebug on I would so appreciate and love it if you would post your comments below!!!

Thanks and have a wonderful day!