Decorative Strips are cool!

 By Anna Dąbrowska

Hi again!
This time I want to share with you a fun idea for using new Tim Holtz Decorative Strips Dies. Of course - I'm a fan of them as I love all the grungy, heavy designs... but today I want to show how to use them in a delicate, even minimal way!
So, let's start - here are the dies that are my inspiration:

Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Harlequin Border (657825)

and Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Washer Border (657826)

When I made my first cutting with these dies I realized how much potential they have - not only as decorative strips of paper but also as a mask or stencil to build up a pattern on your page, before you'll start building the paper composition. For this project I cut out 1 strip with the Harlequin Border and one with Washer Border. 

I wanted my layout to be really clean and simple - so I've chosen a plain white background and delicate in color "Songbird" collection from Prima. As you see you don't have to use Tim Holtz designs only to dark, vintage or grungy projects - they work beautifully with all styles!
I used Harlequin strip as a part of composition - the Washer strip was my stencil - I loved its little holes and circles: the pattern it gave is very pretty!

To make my background I used my set of PanPastels applied with a sponge. They blend beautifully and give you maximum control on the process - there are no surprises as with mists or even inks... perfect choice for those of you, who don't like to be messy!

Here is the result - the background is ready! 

Now I cut my Washer strip into smaller pieces and used it as a part of the composition too - how easy and fun it is! Of course - I can't be THAT clean and that simple - I just had to make some nice splashes on my page  :) 

To finish this project I used only a bit of Prima stamps, some Twine, Washi tape and a chipboard ticket:)

I hope I inspired you a bit to find the "soft side" of Tim Holtz :) Masking is one of my favorite techniques - it is so fun and easy!
Happy masking - and see you soon!

Finn

Create a Cover Album

 By Loredana Bucaria


Hellooooo from Italy, how are you today?
It's time to show you a quick and very cool idea for a COVER ALBUM!! Ohh yes!


Materials you need:

• Eclips machine
• albums, bags & boxes cartridge  (code 656856)
• any heart shaped dies
• a patterned paper double side ( I used American Crafts hello sunshine)
• lace and ribbon by glitz design
• stamp and embellishments you prefer
• sewing machine 
• glue
• kraft masking tape for the Sizzix Textured 

  Impressions Embossing Folders 2PK - Clocks & Print Blocks Set (code 657663)

• Big shot machine (code 655268)

Sometimes we try to create so difficult covers for our albums, believing to do something cooler instead I think is very useful to create a simple cover for our minis, our treasures! I am completely crazy for mini albums. The eclips cartridge albums, bags & boxes is amazing!!! If you don't have it buy  it immediately!!! A lot of wonderful shapes to create!!!

Steps:

• CHOOSE THE ALBUM SIZE: choose a 12x12 inches paper ( i used a double side paper with a patterned on one side and a kraft color on the other one) and cut the album cover shape you like, I have chosen the square album in size 10.8 x 4.80 inches.

• Set the quantity of 2 (two rectangles)  in this way if the paper is thin you will have a more resistant cover. At this point you will simply have the cover of your mini! Very easy and funny!

• EMBOSS THE FRONT COVER: on the front cover use the embossing die to create a very cool effect:) I used the letters, so lovely!

• BUILD THE COVER: stick together the rectangles. Use the kraft masking tape for the back of the mini book.

• Use your favorite embellishments and stamps to complete the cover album.

A detail.....

I hope to have inspired you!

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Lory

Envelope album idea

 By Loredana Bucaria

Hi everyone! !

It's Lory here and today I want to show you a new project idea! An envelope mini album!

Materials you need:

• Eclips machine
• cards & envelopes cartridge ( code 656857)
• a sheet of kraft paper
• 11 doilies
• big shot machine
• framelits circle (code 657551)
• 10 pictures
• embellishments you love, stamps, labels, letters stickers, twine.

For last Christmas I made a lot of pictures to document my December!!! So I thought that a funny and quick way to have a complete story was to make a mini album in an envelope! The cards & envelopes cartridge has a lot of different amazing shapes to choose!

I have chosen the square envelope, so adorable!

This envelope is perfect to contain mini pages, I've thought to use doilies for the pages background and I used the circle framelits to cut circles and photos :) A lot of fun!

Take a look at my project!

Some details about the pages. Front side.

Back pages

Have a wonderful day!

Love,Lory.

Layout "My Love" by Karine Cazenave-Tapie

 By Karine Cazenave-Tapie

Hello,

Before beginning my step-by-step, I just would like to say that I'm very very happy and proud to join the Sizzix team !

I really L*O*V*E Sizzix products, there are SO versatile and creative tools :)

Hope you'll like my projects...So follow me on my first post here and Enjoy !

To built my layout" My love" I use 2 Sizzix dies :

-Framelits square with ornate edges

-Mini hearts Set by Tim Holtz

Material :

Kraft cardstock : American Crafts

Papers : Crate Paper

Alphabets : Sassafras Lass

Stickers : Crate Paper

Wood hearts: Studio Calico

Flower : K&Company

Stass : Hero Arts

Stamps : Craft Origine

Ink : Black Versafine

Dies : Sizzix

Others : tags, Divine Twine

I wanted to create a very soft layout with lots of little details. I chose a feminine collection even if I wanted to scrap my son :) with delicate dies.

Step 1 : Cut your frame in a green paper

It's better to use a double sided paper : you can use the other sided to frame your picture !

Step 2 : Underline your frame

Glue your frame on your background.

Use a black pen and draw your frame to add more contrast.

Step 3: Add some volume

I love using 3D foam to add some relief under my picture.

Step 4 : Embellish with hearts

I used one of my favorite dies, mini hearts set designed by Tim Holz ! I use them in practically each of my creations :)

Step 5 : The final touch !

To finish my layout, I add my tittle, ticket, flower, button and tags

A creation very simple to realize in a minimum of time but very pleasant to built !

Do you want to taste with me ?

Karine Cazenave-Tapie

http://karinecazenave.typepad.com/

 By Celine  Navarro

Hello everyone!
I've been using the Framelits a lot lately, especially BIG Framelits that focuse on the most important thing on a layout : the photo!


For this layout, you'll love circle and scallopped circle.

The scallopped circle needs to be bigger than the circle, so that it makes like a flower.


Use the scallopped circle on patterned paper.


Use the circle on the photograph of your choice.

Now glue your photo on the scallopped circle and mount the whole detail with 3D foam tabs.

On this layout, I also cut into two other different patterned papers and glued buttons in the middle of my "flower".

Now think of all the possibilities that you have with the Framelits, with sizes and shapes! :D


Enjoy!


Celine Navarro

I'm thinking of you - Card

 By Loredana Bucaria

Hi everyone! How are you? It's really already march? My God, time flies, please help me to stop it!!!LOL .. In the air you can already feel the first spring smells... I love Spring!!! The colors, the sunny days, the warm!! Everything looks so soft!!! LOL


Ok let's go .. I love to speak ... LOL


Today I want to show you a new card idea:) that I hope will inspire you.


Materials I used:

• Eclips Machine.. I'm crazyyyyy for this tool!!!
• Eclips cartridge cards & envelopes ( code 656857)
• Framelits scallop circle ( code 657552)
• Framelits circle (code 657551)
• Big shot Machine
• Maraschino baker's twine
• stamps american crafts 
• embellishments : american crafts butterfly, prima flower, brads, letter stickers.
• 3d double side tape

Ok! Ready? Go!

To use the Eclips Machine is very simple! Inser the cartridge in your console and choose the card you want to cut, you will save a lot of time and will have a lot of fun!!!

1. Cut the card in the format you prefer

2. With the framelits create a window. You will have a hole in the front cover :)

3. With two different framelits , two scallop circles or a scallop circle and a normal circle in two different sizes make a little frame.

4. Simply adhere the circle frame to your window with 3d double side tape and scrap the card!

It's very simple and easy! I love to make simple cards for last minute occasions!!!

A detail

Have a wonderful day!

Love, Lory

Folders and ink - so much fun!

 By Anna Dąbrowska

Hi there! I'd like to share with you one of my favorite ways of playing with Sizzix Embossing Folders: making customized patterned paper for our creations: layouts, cards, tags...simply everything! Sometimes you've got a perfect sheet of plain paper - and you'd like to have a matching paper too... this is how I do it for myself using folders - the effects are not only patterned, but also amazingly textural... what can be better than that?


I've started with 2 embossing folders taken from 2 great sets: Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 2PK - Vintage Buttons Set (657672): and Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing Folders 2PK - Sewing & Measuring Tape Set (657671), I prepared some ink and a roller too. 

There are 2 ways of adding ink on the folder: 

And here are 2 different effect you get thanks to that! (of course with letters and numbers one of the embossed papers will have "mirror" problem ;) - but it doesn't matter with any other  patterns. For my creation - it really doesn't matter:))

I do really love this dimensional look!

If we have our folder already dirty in ink - we can use it for stamping the background too!
Roller (and adding a piece of foam under the paper) will be helpful  - make sure you press the folder hard enough to transfer the pattern!

And here is the final result - ready to go! You can think about using other colors of ink to make more variations of your customized paper of course! How fun is that?

Now you can use your newly made papers to build your composition:

And here is the final result - layout made  on the customized background with customized patterned, embossed paper:

I wish you all happy creating and great fun with your dies and folders - see you soon!

xoxo

Finn

Photo Love Layout: border creation!

 By Loredana Bucaria

Hi everyone!
How are you?
I am sooo excited to show you what I've created today:) So happy for this page!
You have to know that I am completely in love with the Eclips machine and its dies!!! You can imagine my happiness when I received it! OMG!!!!! It's an awesome machine, you can create a lot of things, a lot of ideas for gifts, layouts, mini albums! And you can also choose the size you prefer for everything! I am crazy for it!!!!

So today a page in which I' ve used it to create a lovely border.

Do you want to create a cool page? Great! Use the eclips machine!!!

Materials you need:

• Cardstock or a patterned paper ( I used bazzill yellow card stock)
• Holiday cartridge for the Eclips Machine
• Eclips Machine
• Tags by elle's studio
• Patterned papers American crafts
• Stamps studio calico
• Buttons and badge studio calico
• Glue or double side tape
• 3D double side tape

I want to show you the page immediately!

Isn't it lovely?

Here the  border.....

Let me give you a little tip for the border :)

I love the outline border and when you choose it you have the heart inside and the outlined border! So lovely! I decided to use both ;) How? Simply taking one of the hearts and put little pieces of 3D double side tape on it:) Very cool effect!!! Don't you think?

The Eclips Machine has a lot of different and amazing uses, so try it!! It's an incredible tool to have in your hands! Your imagination will fly!!!

Love, Lory