First Anniversary Card

Each year for wedding anniversaries, people gift each other items made from a different material. For the first year, the gift is paper. One of my friends asked me to make a card for his wife using the newspapers from the day they were married. How romantic is that?!

I started by photocopying pages of the New York Times and The Times newspapers, so I could cut out sections and collage them onto a blank greetings card. They were married in New York so I wanted to try and incorporate some stories from the city in the design.

Once I had completed the collage, I cut out some details using the Sizzix Big Shot Plus to embellish the card.

Here is a list of the items I used to make the newspaper card:

Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit (Includes Heart Dies and Scalloped Trim)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set: Friendship Words Script

Newspapers

Blank Greetings Card

PVA Glue

Red Card Stock

Foam Sticky Pads

I hope you liked this card DIY today. I'm really enjoying using the word dies, they will be great for my Project Life scrapbook layouts. I'll be sure to share some soon!

 

Hello Unicorn

Hey everyone,

this week I wanna show you a simple card that I made with the new Bigz Die Tribal Hearts from Craft Asylum. I love the textured hearts. It is so easy to combine pretty colors and give them all a special look.

The unicorn and sentiment is printed on a journaling card that I found in my stash. I attached it to the blank card and added all the hearts in pretty pink and orange, but the hearts in the middle are made with gold foil.

The white "hello" is an easy way to get attention, especially with the copper twine in the background. It looks a little bit like unicorn hair, right? ;)

List of supplies:
Sizzix Bigz Die - Tribal Hearts #660495
Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit (White & Gray) #660515
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 3PK - Happiness Phrases #660804
Blank card, Cardstock in your favorite colors, glue and a journaling card of your choice

I hope you like my card. What kind of projects would you like to do with this Die? :) Tell me, I´m curious.

Have a nice day, xo Julia

Decorated Paper Drinking Straws

Planning summer parties is such a fun activity! I love throwing ice cream parties and making ice tea for my guests. At the moment we always have a jug of strawberry and cranberry ice tea in the fridge for hot summer days.

This week I wanted to do a DIY with some paper straws to make them more fun for a party.

I used the following products for my DIY. I wont list the steps as the photos show how easy these drinking straws are!

• Big Shot Plus Starter Kit
• Heart die from Starter Kit
• Mint cutting pads
• Magnetic Platform for wafer thin dies
• Die brush and foam pad
• Paper straws
• White card stock
• Glue Stick

I think these are so cute for my glass jars with ice tea. You could even write the guests names on the hearts so people know which drink is theirs.

Are you throwing any summer parties this year?

Baby basket

Hello Sizzix friends!
Happy thursday!
Do you have already downloaded Free New Baby Paper Downloads?

They are so beautiful, adorable and particularly suitable for babies.

Today we use them to create lovely baby basket to use as favors!

I used:

Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit 660515

Free New Baby Paper Downloads

Scissors

Glue

Chose two different pattern and die cut the boxes using the thinlits included in Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit 660515.

Decorate the boxes with different embellishments chosen from Free New Baby Paper Downloads.

I chose the stars banner for the handle of the basket.

I chose baby boy and baby girl banners to decorate the boxes. And again stripes, pois, hearts and more banners.

I think they are adorable!!!
See you next week!

Giovanna

-PER LE LETTRICI ITALIANE-

Ciao carissime amiche e buon giovedì!

Avete già scaricato le splendide Free New Baby Paper Downloads?

Sono bellissime, adorabili e particolarmente adatte a creazioni per i più piccoli!

Oggi vedremo come usarle per creare dei carinissimi cestini da usare come porta confetti!

Per questo progetto ho usato:

Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit 660515
Free New Baby Paper Downloads
Forbici
Colla

Scegliere due diversi pattern dalle carte che avrete scaricato e poi stampato su cartoncino bianco. Fustellare le scatoline con la fustella adatta inclusa nello starter kit della nuova big shot. Come vedete, acquistando soltanto lo starter kit è possibile già ottenere tante creazioni!! Basta davvero solo la fantasia!
Decorate le scatoline così ottenute scegliendo diversi abbellimenti dalle carte scaricate. Io scelto il banner con le stelle per creare il manico del cestino blu e il banner con i fiocchetti per il cestino rosa. E poi cuori, pois, strisce.....
Io penso siano davvero adorabili!!
Non credete anche voi???

Vi ringrazio per la visita!
Alla prossima!

Giovanna

A "Mother's Day" Card by Gerry van Gent

Happy Sunday Sizzix friends!

Did you check our Free New Baby Paper Downloads?
They are so adorable and cute! And, yes, they are especially
designed for new-borns....but today I used the softness
they radiate to create a sweet card for Mother's Day.

660515 Sizzix Big Shot Plus Starter Kit Machine

660473 Sizzix Thinlits Die Set Decorative Trim #2

Free New Baby Paper Downloads 

*        *        *

Card size: 15cm x 15cm

I chose two different patterns for the background.

Then decorated the card with different embellishments which 

I cut out from the embellishment sheet - heart border, letters, 3 circles.

N.B. I made my own banner from the heart border. I simply

cut out small triangles in both ends of the border.

{660473} Decorative Trim #2

I used one to the hearts from the Decorative Trim #2 to adhere

in the middle of one of the round shapes.

The other Decorative Trim #2 I used to decorate the heart banner. 

I found in my stash some matching pattern papers and used as add-ons.

Added a matching button as well for more cuteness :-)

OTHER PRODUCTS I USED:

Megs Garden pattern papers

white cardstock

a green button

*       *       *

Thank you for your visit!

Gerry

Bedroom door sign and Bookmarks for girls by Anna

Hello! It's Anna here. How are you doing on this pretty Friday morning?

Today I made this simple personalised door sign, perfect for a child's bedroom, for any princess in your life!
It's a very satisfying, relatively simple project and super charming...
 

 

 

Let me show you how it’s done!

 

 

I started with a sheet of cardboard and a piece of fabric.

I die cut the names of my nieces from Alphanumeric Thinlits Set.

Extra dimension was added with various felt hearts die-cut with Bigz Die Heartfelt by Tim Holtz.

If you want add stitches.

 

 

I used a mix of pale colours including lilac, pink, aqua, but it can be personalised with a special name and colour scheme.

A perfect gift for all occasions, ideal for a new baby, that can be hung from a bedroom door or perhaps above a bed.

An idea for your craft room door, also ;)

Furthermore, with my “negative” die-cut names, I created two fun bookmarks:

 

 

 
It's quick and easy to make a personalised bookmark with this fabulous die set!
All this productivity has made me weary! I think it's time for a coffee! :D
Enjoy the weekend! ♥
 
Bedroom door sign - Items used:
Sizzix Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 102PK - Alphanumeric (1" Tall) (660210)
Sizzix Bigz Die – Heartfelt (660233)
cardstock
cardboard
polka dots fabric
scraps of felt and fabric
glitter foam sheet
laces
sequins
sewing machine and thread
double-sided tape
 
Bookmarks - Items used:
Sizzix Big Shot Machine (657900)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 102PK - Alphanumeric (1" Tall) (660210)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 20PK - Arrow Base w/Layering Shapes (660103)
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 20PK - Notebook Base w/Layering Shapes (660110)
cardstocks
patterned papers
scraps of felt
twine
wooden beads
 

**************************************

Per le amiche italiane! :)

Ciao, sono Anna. Cosa state facendo di bello in questo venerdì? Vi state preparando per un week end creativo? Bè, spero di darvi alcune ispirazioni...

Oggi ho usato alcune nuove fustelle tra cui Alphanumeric Thinlits Set. E' un nuovo set di fustelle sottili, progettato da Tim Holtz, che ha il pregio di poter scrivere sia in “positivo” che in “negativo”, in quanto si possono posizionare le singole lettere sul cartoncino. Ovvero ci sono più pezzi di una stessa lettera, per cui è possibile scrivere una frase breve, senza problemi.

Ho pensato quindi di giocare con questo alfabeto per creare due progetti differenti.

Nelle foto in alto, vi mostro dunque la targa, che ho realizzato per la nuova camera delle mie nipoti. Devo dire che questo è un progetto relativamente semplice, ma che regala grande soddisfazione! Lasciate che vi mostri come si fa...

Ho iniziato con un rettangolo di cartone di recupero (non butto via niente!!!) ed un pezzo di tessuto a pois un po' più grande.

Come vi dicevo, ho tagliato i nomi con Alphanumeric Thinlits Set. Ho fissato le lettere con la colla ed ho aggiunto delle cuciture per impreziosire.

Allo stesso modo ho cucito una fila di cuori in feltro differenti, fustellati con la Bigz Heartfelt, sempre di Tim Holtz. Adoro questa fustella!!! Ho già in mente altre idee da fare con lei :)

Ho usato un mix di colori tenui, tra cui lilla, rosa, verde acqua, ma ovviamente, se vi piace l'idea, potete personalizzare a piacere con una diversa combinazione di colori.

Penso possa essere un regalo adatto a molte occasioni, come la nascita di un bebé... ma anche un regalo per se stesse, creando finalmente la targa della propria craft room ;)

Il secondo progetto, è nato nel tentativo di utilizzare i nomi fustellati in "negativo", così ho creato due simpatici segnalibri. Come vedete, con questo favoloso alfabeto, è piuttosto facile realizzare un segnalibro personalizzato. Io li ho poi abbelliti con cuori in feltro, ritagliati sempre con la Heartfelt, e altri piccoli dettagli fustellati con altre Thinlits.

Bene, tutta questa produttività mi ha reso piuttosto stanca, penso sia ora di un buon caffè! :D Come mi piacerebbe prenderlo insieme a voi!

Buon week-end! ♥

 

Targa con nomi per camera - Materiali:

Sizzix Big Shot Machine (657900)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 102PK - Alphanumeric (1" Tall) (660210)

Sizzix Bigz Die – Heartfelt (660233)

cartoncino

cartone

stoffa a pois

ritagli di feltro e stoffa

gomma crepla glitter

pizzi

paillettes

macchina da cucire e filo

colla e scotch biadesivo

 

Segnalibri - Materiali:

Sizzix Big Shot Machine (657900)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 102PK - Alphanumeric (1" Tall) (660210)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 20PK - Arrow Base w/Layering Shapes (660103)

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 20PK - Notebook Base w/Layering Shapes (660110)

cartoncini vari

carte per scrapbooking

ritagli di feltro

spago colorato

perline di legno

Mixed Media Hearts

Mixed media projects were making a big splash at the Creativeworld trade fair in Frankfurt which we attended last week to show off all our new products, I shall share some of the photo's with you in a couple of weeks time.

Mixed media can sometimes look a bit scary if you have never tried it before, what I want to do today is try to explain a few simple techniques using Sizzix dies together with inks, paints, stains and waxes to create some stunning effects which are really much easier than they may at first appear.

Becoming proficient with mixed media techniques is all about experimenting and not being afraid to make mistakes because if you believe the old maxim then that is how we learn. As the famous inventor Thomas Edison once said in reference to his attempts to create the first light bulb " I have not failed, I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work". 

The dies I am using today are from the new Tim Holtz collection, click on each link below to check out the individual dies/sets:

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Scribbles & Splat
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Mixed Media
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 7PK - Handwritten Love
Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 102PK - Alphanumeric (1" Tall)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Heartfelt

As well as the dies I used a selection of Ranger products including Distress Paints, Distress Stains, Distress Embossing Powders. I also used various gilding wax products, and stamps etc.

This is a quite a big blog post so let's cut the preamble and get under way!!

I strarted by die-cutting the scribbled heart and attaching it to a piece of mount board which is a very heavy weight card. I placed this face down over the largest heart on my 'Heartfelt' Bigz die which cuts no less than 11 different hearts. and with one pass through the Big Shot I now have a beautiful heart ready to decorate. As you will see further down the page I am trying to create textures using a faux embossing technique.

As you can see below, I die cut a selection of different patterns and textures from kraft card (any card will do!) prior to attaching to the mount board and die cutting.

Below are a selection of die-cut hearts which have been painted with white acrylic, this gives me a great surface on which to make a mess...... I mean, create bespoke embellishments of unrivalled beauty, each one as unique and individual as a snowflake (Whatever Pete!!!)

1. Here I painted the heart with black acrylic and applied pewter gilding wax with my finger which brings out the detail beautifully.

2. I painted over this heart with a couple of different shades of green acrylic which I dried with my heat tool before applying a dark blue stain which I then blotted with kitchen roll so that it gives extra definition between the cracks. Next, I applied white acrylic applied with a dry brush technique to pick out the detail before applying the subtle stamped image.

3. For this heart I used Alcohol inks mixing reds and oranges, I applied the same dry brush technique to lift the detail before applying Perfect Pearls powder to give a pearlised lustre.

4.Here I scrunched up some tissue paper before partially flattening it and attaching to the mount board. I  die-cut the heart and applied a couple of shades of brown acrylic. Once it was dry with the help of my trusty heat tool I applied a dark brown stain before blotting the excess. After another blast with my heat tool I applied a little gold gilding wax with my fingertip.

5.The texture was created as with the previous heart but I used green and blue alcohol ink to add colour and once dry I finished off using pewter gilding wax to pick out the detail.

6.I applied a few shades of green and blue acrylic in a really slapdash manner before applying a deep green stain and blotting away the excess where it gets in the cracks. to enhance the die cut detail I again used a little of the pewter gilding wax.

7.I coloured  this heart using two shades of metallic Distress Paint. Once dry I applied black Distress Stain. I also blotted a little white acrylic onto the heart before rubbing away most of it with kitchen towel. Finally, I brought out the detail in the letters with gold gilding wax.

8.I applied an embossing ink pad to the surface before sprinkling with Distress embossing powder which was fixed with a heat tool. I painted with red, brown and orange acrylics and dried with my heat tool. Next I applied a dark blue stain, most of which I blotted away before applying some gold gilding wax to enhance he detail. Notice the wonderful rust texture left by the embossing powder.

9.I love this one and it is the easiest of the lot, simply apply a slightly watered down solution of black acrylic paint before wiping over with a piece of kitchen roll, dry with the heat tool and stamp the text.... simple!

10.I took a plain mount board heart and covered it with black acrylic paint. Once dry, I stamped the leafy branch image using an embossing ink pad before applying clear embossing powder and fixing with my heat tool. Next I applied a thin layer of pale Distress Paint (Victorian Velvet is perfect). While the paint was still damp I very gently rubbed over the embossed motif with a damp piece of kitchen roll thereby removing the paint before it had a chance to fully dry (timing is everything with this technique!) Finally, I stamped into the top left corner using a white ink pad to leave a very subtle image.

11.Here I painted the die-cut heart using shades of green and blue acrylic and dried the paint with my heat tool. Next, I applied metallic Distress Paint before spritzing with clean water, I started to dry with my heat tool and half way through I placed a sheet of kitchen roll flat against the heart and pressed down firmly. When I lifted off the kitchen roll some of the metallic paint has remained and some has been lifted. Timing again is very important with this technique and if you want to see how it is done then why not check out Creative Chemistry 102, a great series of technique demo's from the master himself Mr.Tim Holtz. I finished by adding some stamped detail.

12.Last but by no means least... I attached the metal cogs using assorted faux screw head brads before applying a coat of white acrylic. Next, I applied a couple of shades of metallic Distress Paint which I dried with my heat tool. I applied black Distress Stain which gets into the cracks and adds definition before blotting most of it away with kitchen roll. Finally, I enhanced the detail with a little white acrylic applied with a dry brush technique

 
I attached the hearts to the glass on the front of a box frame and I'm going to take it around trade and retail shows with me to explain some of the several mixed media techniques that can be used to enhance our marvellous die-cuts.

Take it easy, see you all next week!

Dinner for 2

 

As promised last week - here is a quick make for Valentine's day - yes you can still make something!

2 coasters and matching serviettes - really are a quick make - especially if you do what I did - and buy ready made serviettes and use one to make the coasters.

I used my trusty Big Shot machine http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/657900/sizzix-big-shot-machine-only-powder-blue-teal , and Bigz Die - 



http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/660117/sizzix-bigz-l-die-circle-5  - I cut 4 x 5" circles from a serviette and 2 x 5" circles of wadding.
I stitched 2 pieces of fabric and 1 piece of wadding ( on top ) together and clipped the seam and trimmed the wadding -

I then cut a small opening through a one layer of fabric,

to be able to turn the coaster right side out -



to create a smooth edge I ran a crochet hook around the seam on the inside, and then pressed flat.
Using die http://www.sizzix.co.uk/product/659962/sizzix-bigz-die-hearts-4 , - I cut 2 sets of 3 hearts from white textured fabric, which I had already applied fusible web to.
I fused the 2 small hearts onto the coasters - making sure that I covered the opening with the heart, and then I stitched the hearts in place.

For the serviettes I fused a large and a medium heart in the corner of each serviette and then machine stitched them in place to match the coasters.
Now how easy was that?
Not really into Valentine's day -well this could be a pretty little gift for an engagement or even a  wedding present.
I'm not going to be at home for Valentine's day - I'll be at the NEC getting ready for the trade show - Stitches, which starts on Sunday 15th. Maybe I'll see you there, and if not I may have some photos of new fabrics for later in the year, who knows?
What will I be sewing next? probably some baby quilts - with 3 great nephews due in the next few weeks and another grandchild in May - it looks like I'm going to be busy with quilts as gifts - but at least they're small.
Also as promised last week  - I couldn't decide how to quilt it and after a couple of false starts I decided to just stitch in the corners of the squares and rectangles so that it's almost invisible. Then to stitch around the unfinished edges so that the wool will fray out a little for a lovely soft edge.

I'm so pleased to have completed this ( and before the cold weather has completely gone ), and I guess I should call it a throw as it is only 2 layers and a quilt always has . I shall be nice and snug under it what ever I call it anyway!!!

Hope you like it.
Angela