Are you ready for spring?


This weekend has been very cold and snowy in Spain and, as I don't like cold weather, I decided to start this week stamping and die cutting a bunch of flowers to lift up my mood and make a nice card for spring.

Supply list:

• 655268 Sizzix Big Shot machine
• 657691 Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart, Stem & Leaves
• 657916 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 6/PK w/Stamps - Flowers, Daisies
• 658289 Sizzix framelits Die Set 6PK w/Stamps - Banners
• Inks: Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Color Box, Ranger Distress Ink, Versamark
• Cardstock: Core'dinations
• Adhesives: Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, Foam dots
• Others: Aladine black embossing powder, black gel pen, twine

The process is very simple: I have stamped and die cutted a bunch of flowers and then I have adhered them on the card base using foam dots. Then I have embossed the sentiment, die cut the banner and after cutting it in half I have glued it on the card. The last touch are some dash lines with a black gel pen and a little bow made of twine.

For me spring is all about flowers an bright colors. This card has put me in a very spring mood and a smile on my face so now I can say I'm so ready for spring!

I also wanted to tell you today that this past weekend I have been teaching some workshops at the craft fair Creativa Zaragoza using Sizzix products and demonstrating the Big Shot machine and I had the opportunity to meet there the talented and lovely designer Paula Pascual. It was a great pleasure to spend some time together!

Happy monday!

....................................

Este fin de semana ha sido muy frío y nevado en España y como a mí no me gusta nada el frío he decidido empezar la semana estampando y troquelando un montón de flores para levantar mi ánimo.

Materiales:

• 655268 Sizzix Big Shot machine
• 657691 Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart, Stem & Leaves
• 657916 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 6/PK w/Stamps - Flowers, Daisies
• 658289 Sizzix framelits Die Set 6PK w/Stamps - Banners
• Tintas: Hero Arts Shadow Ink, Color Box, Ranger Distress Ink, Versamark
• Cartulina: Core'dinations
• Adhesivos: Tombow Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, Foam dots
• Otros: Polvo de embossing negro de Aladine, rotulador negro, cordón

El proceso es muy simple: He estampado y troquelado unas cuantas flores y luego las he pegado a la base de la tarjeta con foam adhesivo. Después he puesto el título con embossing negro, he troquelado el banner y después de cortarlo por la mitad lo he pegado en la tarjeta. El último toque son algunas líneas de guión hechas con un bolígrafo de gel negro y una pequeño lazo hecho con cordón.

Para mí la primavera va de flores y colores brillantes, así que esta tarjeta me ha puesto de un humor muy primaveral y una sonrisa en la cara, así que ahora puedo decir que ¡estoy lista para la primavera!

Os quería contar también hoy que este pasado fin de semana he estado impartiendo talleres en la feria Creativa de Zaragoza usando productos Sizzix y demostrando la Big Shot y que tuve la oportunidad de conocer  en persona a la talentosa y encantadora diseñadora Paula Pascual. ¡Fue una gran placer poder compartir un rato juntas!

¡Feliz lunes!

a slow week

I can't believe how fast a week has gone! It was half term last week for us, so I had a very unproductive week work and crafting wise in order to spend time with my children. It was really quite lovely, sometimes it's nice to pull on the reins and slow down a little.

Sneakily I convinced my 7 year old that the Sizzix big shot is great fun, and together we started cutting some fabric I had bought especially to make quilt bindings. (I have a how to on binding a quilt if you click here)

Each of these fabrics is a half yard and I find I can get enough binding for a couple of nice sized baby quilts out of a half yard, or one large quilt (up to about 70" at each side). It's my plan to cut all of this stack into 2.5" strips and make into double fold quilt binding, so I have a rainbow of ready made colours on hand at any time. I'll do that this week, and get some pictures so I can share next week.

I also cut a few stacks of 2.5" squares for scrap quilts. It's great to have plenty of squares ready and waiting for the mood to grab and for some speedy sewing!

On my post from last week I had a question from Karen about the cutting mat/die sandwich for when you're using fabric. I took a little picture to show you, so I hope that helps you visually (which I find easier to grasp than when it's words!)

Time for me to go back to my marathon of strip cutting! Have a great week and remember - if you'd like me to explain anything or share any how to's, just leave me a comment and I'll do my best to help!

Katy

A Card Tutorial from Gerry

Hello Sizzix friends!

It`s Sunday and I`m here today to share with you

how I created a card using one of the new Thinlits die cuts
 as a base for a doily card.

SUPPLIES LIST:

{655268} Sizzix Big Shot Machine

{658947} Sizzix Thinlits Die - Doily & Doily Border

{658951} Sizzix Thinlits Die- Ornate Hanging Sign

{658605} Sizzix Thinlits Die- Doilies, Lovely

{658607} Sizzix Thinlits Die - Flowers, Intricate

{657906} Sizzix Framelits Die Set - Frame, Snowflake

{657524} Sizzix Sizzlits Medium Die - Card Phrases Set #3

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1:

As a base for your card prepare folded in two white cardstock with size 13 x 13 cm.

Place on top the Thinlits Doily Die...

Make sure that the doily die comes above the top folded part of the cardstock!

In this way the two doilies will be connected to each other!

This is what the result should be once it's ready.

STEP 2:

Use pattern paper to die-cut different embellishments for your card.

N.B. The ornate part of the Hanging Sign Die was cut twice 

- Once using pattern paper and once using white cardstock.

- Remove parts of both sides so they won't come out of the card

N.B. I didn`t use all the die-cuts you see on the photo below.

STEP 3:

Create your own background on front of the card by using a floral

stamp, embossing ink, embossing powder and ink (of your choice).

Add Liquid Pearls for decoration.

I left the back side of the card natural i.e. white.

STEP 4:

Decorate your card with the die-cuts.

Adhere by using not only glue but also foam squares

which will give a perfect dimension on your card.

STEP 5:

Die-cut the phrase "For  You" once using white cardstock

and once using black cardstock.

Use the black die-cut phrase as a shadow.

Other Products I used:

Prima Marketing - "Meadow Lark" Collection

Prima Marketing - "Sunrise Sunset" Cling Stamp

Hallo Sizzix vrienden!

Het is zondag vandaag en ik wil graag een kaart met jullie delen.

Ik heb een van de nieuwe Thinlits stansjes als basis gebruikt om deze kaart te creëren.

SUPPLIES LIST:

{655268} Sizzix Big Shot Machine

{658947} Sizzix Thinlits Die - Doily & Doily Border

{658951} Sizzix Thinlits Die- Ornate Hanging Sign

{658605} Sizzix Thinlits Die- Doilies, Lovely

{658607} Sizzix Thinlits Die - Flowers, Intricate

{657906} Sizzix Framelits Die Set - Frame, Snowflake

{657524} Sizzix Sizzlits Medium Die - Card Phrases Set #3

INSTRUCTIES:

STAP 1:

Bereid als basis voor je kaart een gevouwde witte cardstock voor met maat 13x13cm.

Plaats het Thinlits Doily Die op de dubbele cardstock

* * *

Zorg er voor dat de doily stans boven de cardstock geplaatst wordt. 

Op deze manier zijn de twee doilies met elkaar verbonden.

* * *

Dit is wat het resultaat zou moeten zijn als het klaar is.

STAP 2:

Gebruik patroon papier om verschillende gestanst embellishments te stansen voor je kaart.

N.B. Het ornaat stukje van het Hanging Sign Die is twee keer gestanst

- een keer met patroon papier en een keer met witte cardstock

- verwijder de kleine eind stukjes 

* * *

N.B. Ik heb niet alle gestanste stukjes op de foto hieronder gebruikt.

STAP 3:

Maak je eigen achtergrond op de voorkant van de kaart met behulp van een florale stamp, 

embossing inkt, embossing poeder en inkt (naar keuze).

Bijvoegen Liquid Pearls om te versieren.

* * *

Ik heb de achterkant van de kaart wit gelaten.

STAP 4:

Versier je kaart met de uitgestanste stukjes.

Gebruik niet alleen lijm maar ook vierkantjes van foam.

 - op deze manier krijg je meer dimensie.

STAP 5:

Stans een keer de uitdrukking "For  You" op wit papier en een keer op zwart papier.

Gebruik de zwarte uitdrukking als een schaduw.

* * *

I Hope you enjoyed my card tutorial today!

Have a Sizzix Sunday!

Gerry

Create the background



Hi everybody! I hope you are having a fabulous weekend! Today I am going to show you how to use Sizzix dies to create a lovely background. The papers are from Maja Design. Sizzix have several die sets which enables you to use matching dies on your pages.

These are the dies I used for my background and they are all a part of a die-set (657902).

I cut out one large frame and five of the smaller frames. I also used seven hearts. Then I glued them like this.

To add more dimension and detail to the background I used my sewing machine to add stitches.

The larger frame became the photoframe and lifts the photo from the back.

Then I decorated the page with some flowers and some Sizzix flourishes.

655268 Sizzix Big Shot Machine

656538 Sizzix Sizzlits Die Set 3PK – Decorative Flourishes Set

657902 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 4PK – Frame, Fancy Oval

Papers from Maja Design (Vintage Summer Basics collection)

See you next Sunday!


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

Hej på er! Jag hoppas att ni har en underbar helg! Idag ska jag visa er hur ni kan använda Sizzix dies för att skapa en fin bakgrund. Pappren kommer från Maja Design.  Sizzix har flera olika die sets som gör det möjligt för dig att använda matchande dies på dina layouter.

Jag använde dies från die-set 657902 som du kan se ovan. Jag skar ut en stor ram och fem av den mindre ramen. Jag använde också sju hjärtan. Sen limmade jag på de små ramarna och hjärtana på sidan. För att lägga till lite mer dimension och detaljer till bakgrunden så använde jag min symaskin för att lägga till stygn. Den större ramen blev till fotomatta och lyfter fotot från bakgrunden. Sen dekorerade jag layouten med lite blommor och några Sizzix flourishes.

Vi ses nästa söndag!

Little Red Riding Hood Doll

Hi again!

I don't know about you guys, but often I look at the Sizzix dies with different eyes.
I adore Little Red Riding Hood! Here is a tutorial I put together for this little doll. How cute! It was so much fun to make it, I hope you love it as much as I do!

Items used:
Sizzix Big shot machine (655268)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart, Stem & Leaves (657691)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Circles (656333)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Owl #2 (657694)
felt: cream, red, brown, white, pink
scrap of fabric
polyester stuffing
iron-on interfacing
ruler, scissors etc
yarn
sewing machine

How to make:

1- Use your Sizzix Machine and Sizzix Bigz Die - Circles (656333) to make the doll’s face with cream felt. Use Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart, Stem & Leaves (657691) to cut out red hearts (hood), white and brown leaves. Lastly, cut a little circle pink to make the cheeks with Sizzix Bigz Die - Owl #2 (657694).
Cut 2 of each piece.

2- To make the cape: take a piece of red felt 18x8 cm and fold in three parts, as shown in photo. Place the folded felt on the heart die 657691 and cut. Before making this, carry out a test with paper.

3- If you are using cotton fabric for the dress, make sure you use thick interfacing or batting. Cut two triangles. Sew the white leaves to make the collar.
4- Sew the cream circle into the red heart. Hand stitch the face. Make two braids with wool and sew to the back of doll’s head. Sew on the bangs.
5- Add the head to the dress, front and back. Sew the head front to the head back.
6- Stuff the head with fluff.
8- Cut and sew arms and legs together.

9- Sew the dress front to the dress back making sure you sew the arms inside as you go around.
10- Stuff the dress with fluff.
11- Sew the dress and the legs. Add the cape.
12- Use your Sizzix Machine and Sizzix Bigz Die - Circles (656333) to make the basket with brown felt. Cut a piece of the circle. Use the small part to make the handle. Sew the basket. Add the little scrap of fabric to make the napkin.

Ta-da you have your very own sweet Little Red Riding Hood Doll!
I shall be back Friday to share with you another Sizzix project.

Happy crafting!

**************************************
  Per le amiche italiane! :)

Non so voi, ma spesso mi viene da guardare le fustelle Sizzix con occhi differenti. E' così che un cuore diventa un cappuccio, un cerchio un viso o un cestino, delle foglie si trasformano in capelli... Ecco comparire nella mia mente… un mondo di fiaba con Cappuccetto Rosso!
Quindi oggi sono qui a condividere con voi un tutorial per creare questa dolce bambolina. E' stato un progettino molto divertente da fare, spero che vi piaccia tanto quanto è piaciuto a me!
Prepariamoci quindi a lavorare con feltro e stoffa oggi!

Materiali:

Sizzix Big shot machine (655268)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart, Stem & Leaves (657691)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Circles (656333)
Sizzix Bigz Die - Owl #2 (657694)

feltro nei colori: panna, rosso, marrone, bianco, rosa
ritagli di stoffa
cotone lanato o lana marrone
ovatta sintetica per imbottire
tela termoadesiva
righello, forbici ecc
fili in tono
macchina da cucire

Procedimento:

Io ho usato in gran parte la macchina da cucire, ma voi potete cucire a mano o incollare, secondo le vostre preferenze.

1 - Usare la macchina Sizzix e la fustella Bigz Die - Circles (656333) per creare il viso della bambolina con il feltro panna. Utilizzare la fustella 657691 per tagliare i cuori rossi e le foglie bianche (saranno il colletto) e marroni (la frangia dei capelli). Infine, tagliare un cerchietto rosa per realizzare le guance con Sizzix Bigz Die - Owl # 2 (657694). Tagliare due per ogni pezzo.
2 - Per fare la mantella: prendere un pezzo di feltro rosso di circa 18x8 cm e piegarlo in tre parti, seguendo un po’ l'inclinazione della fustella cuore, come mostrato nella foto. Posizionare il feltro ripiegato sulla fustella cuore 657691 e tagliare. Prima è meglio effettuare una prova con la carta per vedere di realizzare la forma della mantella desiderata.
3 - Se per il vestito si utilizza tessuto di cotone, assicurarsi di stirare la tela termoadesiva, per renderlo più rigido. Dal tessuto prescelto tagliare due triangoli e smussare l'angolo in alto. Cucire le foglie bianche per creare il colletto.
4 - Per il davanti: cucire il cerchio panna sopra il cuore rosso posizionato a testa in giù. Ricamare il viso, creando occhi e bocca e cucendo le guance. Fare due trecce di lana e appuntarle nella parte posteriore della testa della bambolina. Cucire la frangia. Per il retro: cucire il cerchio panna sul cuore rosso, se si vuole aggiungere tra questi un cerchio rosso, per creare meglio il cappuccio.
5 - Cucire la testa al vestito, sia per il davanti che per il dietro. Cucire insieme le due parti della testa, davanti e dietro.
6 - Riempire la testa con l'imbottitura.
8 - Braccia e gambe sono delle strisce semplici di feltro, scegliete voi la lunghezza desiderata. Dal feltro panna tagliare le braccia, da quello marrone tagliare le lunghe gambe, due pezzi ciascuno. Se volete usate anche del tessuto a righe per le calze, da posizionare sopra. Cucire insieme le parti per renderle doppie e più rigide.
9 - Cucire il vestito (davanti con dietro) facendo attenzione a cucire assieme anche le braccia, posizionate per una piccola parte all'interno.
10 - Riempire il vestito con l'ovatta sintetica.
11 - Cucire la parte bassa del vestito con le gambe. Appuntare la mantella sotto al colletto.
12 - Usare la macchina Sizzix per tagliare due cerchi marroni che serviranno a creare il cestino della merenda. Ai cerchi di feltro marrone tagliare la parte superiore, come in foto. Utilizzare la parte piccola per fare il manico, ritagliando una strisciolina. Cucire il cestino, assemblando assieme le due parti di cerchio, arricciando un po' il bordo in alto. Fissare il manico. Aggiungere un quadratino di stoffa per fare il tovagliolo e se volete un po' d'imbottitura per tenere bello gonfio il cestino.

Ta-daaaa! Ecco che avete la vostra dolcissima Cappuccetto Rosso!

Per oggi finisce qui, tornerò venerdì per condividere con voi un altro progetto Sizzix, questa volta con la carta ;)

Happy Crafting!

Texture, lyers and whites - layout

Hi,it's great to see you again!
From time to time it is good to have some white space on your project - to give some air, some space to "breathe", balance to the composition... but what can ve do to make the white space less boring, less plain? How about some gesso and a home made, Sizzix die-based stencil technique? This is what I did to the project below:


In the background you can see white alphabet pattern, done with gesso applied through the leftover from cutting one of Tim Holtz alphabets. It gives just a bit of thecture, delicant element to the composition. More visible are elements  gathered close to the photo - paper rosettes and   a picture wheel, which is layered directly under the photo.
Here are the dies numbers:
- 658558Sizzix Bigz Die - Picture Wheel
- 657177Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Mini Paper Rosettes (2 Sizes) 
Having these elements on the project you don't that many embellishments anymore = no flowers, no lace is needed!

I finished the project just with paper, epoxy stickers, wood elements and metal breads and establishments - Mechanicals (all from Prima). Free hand pencil doodling going perfectly with the pattern on papers and some thread give the project modern, artistic look.

I hope you found some inspiration - Sizzix provides so many elements to choose from that embellishments on your projects can be really reduced to minimum... the imagination is the limit!
xoxox
Finn

Sampler beginnings



Hello again, hope you've enjoyed the week. I was fortunate to be at the Stitches Trade Event at the NEC at the weekend, I am so excited about the new fabrics that will be coming into a shop near you later this year! There are delightful retro prints, vibrant geometric in bold colours and delicious muted prints. I think the fabrics available keep getting better year on year and I look forward to m in this using some of them in this blog as the year goes by.

Now to the beginning of our sampler quilt.

Over the weeks some blocks will need a background fabric to be sewn onto - so choose a variety of fabrics, usually lighter ones, for the backing - you will need 8 1/2" squares for this.



Today I am going to start with the Dresden Plate.

For this you will need 2 fabrics - one for the front of the plate and one quite fine for the backing.

Both pieces need to be about 18" x 6".

You will also need a small piece for the centre.

Using the Big Shot machine and die 657165, I cut 12 'petals' from each fabric.

Match one piece of backing, right sides together with a front petal.

Pin at the notches - as shown below -



and stitch a 1/4" seam around the curved edge -

snip the seam allowance, as shown below, to remove excess fabric.





Turn the petals right side out and press the curved edge.

                                                                    

With Right sides together pin 2 of the 'petals' together -

     

and stitch  a 1/4" seam, back stitching at the end.

Press the seam flat open. Join all 12 'petals' together in the same way to create a plate, and press.

 To cut a 1 1/4" circle I used die 658314, placing a small piece of yellow fabric over one of the circles on the die, and rolling it through the Big Shot.

By hand I stitched a 1/4" seam around the circle and then pined it to the centre of the plate and slip stitched it in place. Pin the plate onto a background square -



and slip stitch in place. 

So 1 block done - several more to go!

Enjoy your week.

Angela

.



Love cards from Janna Werner

Hello everyone, my name is Janna Werner. I am a 34 year old full-time artist from Germany and this is my first post on the Sizzix blog. I am very excited to be here and hope to inspire you with my modern-experimental (scrapbooking) style.

Today I´d like to share three cards that I created with patterned paper and emebellishments from Crate Paper, as well as with some of my favorite Sizzix dies.

supply list:
655268 Sizzix Big Shot machine
656624 Sizzix On The Edge Die - Scrollwork
656638 Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart Wings
656641 Sizzix  Movers & Shapers Die - Ornamental
657188 Sizzix Bigz Die - Tiny Tabs & Tags
paper: Crate Paper
embellishments: Crate Paper
other: sewing machine, adhesive, white Cardstock (American Crafts)


Here you can see each of the cards:

On this card I used the Heart Wings and the Tiny Tabs & Tags dies, definitely two of my favorite dies. Instead of using the posisitve of the Heart Wings die, I took the negative shape and adhered a piece of patterned paper in the back.

For this card I used the Movers & Shapers Die - Ornamental, cut it in two part and put those on top of each other, using a sewing machine to adhere them.

The last card was made by using the On The Edge Die - Scrollwork and, again, adding stitching for highlightening that part.

Have a great and crafty day, everyone!
Janna

******

Hallo ihr Lieben! Mein Name ist Janna Werner, ich bin eine 34jährige Vollzeit-Künstlerin aus Deutschland. Dies ist mein erster Post auf dem Sizzix Blog. Ich freue mich sehr, hier zu sein und hoffe, euch auf die eine oder andere Weise mit meinem modern-experimentellen (Scrapbooking) Stil inspirieren zu können.

Heute möchte ich euch drei Karten zeigen, die ich mit Patterned Paper und Embellishments von Crate Paper und einige meiner Lieblingsdies von Sizzix hergestellt habe.

Materialliste:
655268 Sizzix Big Shot machine
656624 Sizzix On The Edge Die - Scrollwork
656638 Sizzix Bigz Die - Heart Wings
656641 Sizzix  Movers & Shapers Die - Ornamental
657188 Sizzix Bigz Die - Tiny Tabs & Tags
Papier: Crate Paper
Embellishments: Crate Paper
Anderes: Nähmaschine, Kleber, weißer Cardstock (American Crafts)

Oben seht ihr die drei Karten. Bei der ersten Karte habe ich die Heart Wings und Tiny Tabs & Tags Dies verwendet. Unbedingt zwei meiner liebsten Dies. Anstatt das Positiv der Heart Wings Die zu nutzen, habe ich die negative Form genommen und ein Stück Patterned Paper dahinter befestigt.

Für die zweite Karte habe ich die Movers & Shapers - Ornamental Die verwendet. Die Form habe ich in zwei Teile geschnitten, aufeinandergelegt und dann mithilfe der Nähmaschine befestigt.

Die letzte Karte ist mit der On The Edge - Scrollwork Die entstanden. Auch hier habe ich die Nähmaschine eingesetzt, um die Teile zu befestigen und zu highlighten.


Habt einen schönen Tag!
Janna