Drum Roll Please!!! Say Hello to the Doily Die!

They are absolutely to DIE for!! These awesome dies are simply amazing and let me try to do them justice as I describe them and show them to you here on this post and consecutive posts to come all this week... Pls. watch the videos that I have loaded up for you below to see how they are cut and so that you can begin to become comfortable with them.

You know, I wasn't completely sure that I liked doilies when they began to appear on cards and layouts last Christmas. I liked them on some of the work I saw but didn't care for them on other projects. I think it was that they were for the most part first, manufactered using flimsy/thin paper, and second there seemed an absence of vibrancy in color and texture for me coming mostly in white with some silver ones (didn't wow me). Then I discovered the Doily Dies made by Cheery Lynn and ordered a few to try --- Well... you can bet that I am now a collector of Cheery Lynn Dies in all of their formats. Over time I will collect them and Deb, over at OC Scrapbookers  is going to carry the designs beginning with an AWESOME preorder starting today. Okay... where do I begin?? I'm so excited to show you these dies. Lets try to get this video loaded so you can view them and see how to cut them as he demonstates.

Keep in mind, and let me clarify that some of the videos talk about fussing with cutting the dies by running them through your die cutting machine over and over, turning them around. This is an older video and well, if you are knowledgable and used to the die cutting machine that you use, you know that you only need to play with the shims enough to get a clean run through the first time. A little playing at the beginning to get the right fit of shim(s) may be needed but then you will get the hang of it for the particular die cutting machine you are currenty using. I've had a Cuttlebug for diecutting and embossing for years now but recently I acquired first a Vagabond (electric) diecutting machine for major projects (that means manufacturing for me) such as when I have orders for multiple cards like christmas cards or invitations for events. Then, I discovered the beauty of the Grand Calibur with its 81/2"x11" base plate size and how I can cut multiple dies in one run through which of course is perfect for my fondness of layering diecuts on projects.  So now, I use (almost exclusively) the Grand Calibur for many of my diecutting needs. I still love my Cuttlebug and will not part with it as I use it for workshops, (if interested, OC Scrapbookers has the best price on the Grand Calibur in Canada, check it out)  but I just love being able to do several diecuts at once on the Grand Calibur. The GC totally sold me on these doily dies because with only one run through, for cutting and embossing with the recommended metal shim, these exquisitely intricate dies cut like butter and every piercing and raised embossed image comes out crisp showing the deep complexity of each die. The thicker the paper you use, the more stunning and deeply etched is the finished result!! I am going to show you the diecuts by themselves to illustrate their beauty and then I'll show you them on a finished project.


French Pastry Doily Die

 



Here are the three Cheery Lynn Dies that I ordered to try out.  You will find my projects this week feature these 3 doily dies in my art in various ways.  I had fun today just cutting and cutting and getting used to them.  From time to time I put a die through more than once and mostly because I was loading too much on at once.




Italian Flourish Doily Die



English Tea Party Die





I had fun too cutting them out with various cardstock including glitter cardstock and various colors of foil cardstock, seeking that dimension and texture that I was looking for.  See how this one looks somewhat like a snowflake..  Well, you can imagine what I will want to do with that one come Winter...  I will post my own pictures of the various cuts I made today and then I'll top it off by posting a project to show another wonderful group of products!!

Stay tuned for the next post featuring my own pics and a project I did today with the doilies.  I'll be adding more on what I am doing with these beauties so that you can take advantage of my learning.  Feel free to email me and ask any questions  or comment on what you think so far.  I am interested in what you think...  So, go on over to OC Scrapbookers to see the preorder special price that Deb has put on in to celebrate the Cheery Lynn products.  Look for more very soon, maybe even later on tonight or early tomorrow morning...  later friends! 

Some of the Pre-order Spellbinder Nesties I got my little hands on....

Wow!  This project shows you several products and tools on one project that came together in a about an hour's time.  The design popped into my head after I had looked at a previously stamped the image colored up with Copics in which I added a previously cut Spellbinder's Butterfly Circle diecut.  When I noticed the matching colors to the the pattern paper I had in my stash I concluded that this was an excellent match.  The pattern paper is from My Mind's Eye called the Bohemia Collection which features colors of purple, lilac, teal, and purplish/browns.  The colors are amazing and compliment the stamp I colored with Copic Alchohol markers.  I like busy projects sometimes and this one is full of details and layers.  For this post, I am very excited to bring you some of my new Spellbinders that are part of the pre-orders you can see up on Debs webstore home page.  Butterfly Circles and Nested Butterflies Two are two of the Spellbinder Sets featured on this card as well as Monarch Butterflies punched from the Martha Stewart punch line.  Behind the Spellbinders Butterfly Circles I cut a 5"x5" square with another selection from the Martha Stewart line - Butterfly Punch Around the Page punches.  I cut some Spellbinders Butterfly Nested Two dies and layered them up on an embossed image from the set.  I just embossed the same die in purple cardstock that I used to cut the butterfly in cream velvet paper -- once embossed I fussy cut it out and layered it up under the cream velvet so you can see the hint of purple under the cutout.   This technique just embosses and shows the all the lines as embossed but now cut out!  Amazing effect on some intricate dies and works well for layering under the cutout diecut.  I cut the smallest of the three dies in cream velvet and layered it on top for dimension, adding some bling for texture and sparkle.  In the center, I stamped one of the four stamp selections from the Just Rite's 31/4" round Butterfly Garden ribbed set.  This is a birthday card for some lucky recipient and will be a delight to give away.  Inside the card you will notice the beautiful embossed cardstock liner.  I embossed the Teal cardstock inside the card with one of the new    Cuttlebug 5"x7" folders called Kassie's Brocade. Layered on the card too are some Prima flowers that are simply devine!! Stay tuned to see some of the flowers that I will be making myself very shortly... and come on back tomorow to get in on the best product ever!!  Hope you like this card and I hope you let me know your thoughts.  I love to hear what you think and maybe what you want to see me do in future..   as I say, more very soon - stay tuned for a very awesome preorder coming up....................  Click on the link above to visit the best webstore with the best customer service in Ontario Canada!!!

A Card About Change - Just Rite Stamps and Spellbinders

Hello My Wonderful Blogging Friends

Happy Sunday.. this summer has been just beautiful so far.  It has been a little warm lately, but it is summer and I am thankful for each season and what it brings us.  Here in Northeastern Ontario Canada, we enjoy each season and its distinct and variable weather.  Love, love, love it!!
For today, I wanted to clean up on what I have left of the projects that I had in the queue so I can begin again working with some of various sets in my Spellbinder collection and with my Just Rite stamp collection!  For this card I chose a pattern paper collection from the Bo Bunny named Gabrielle with its rich shades of teal, coral, cream and regal chocolate brown.  Then I chose a stamp from Just Rite's ribbed collections - the 31/4" round Butterfly Garden set JB-09915. This stamp set is amazing and fits in with the season we're in right now and all of the wonderful butterflies we are seeing in the scrapbooking and stamping world right now.  I colored the stamp up subtlety with Copic markers, trying to infuse the blue-green that is part of the pattern paper into the stamp colors.  I cut the stamped image out with Spellbinders Standard Circle Nestabilities large and in behind it I chose to use another die-cut from one of the newer Spellbinders sets, the Eyelet Circles Nestabilities, cutting it in a creamy/golden yellow bazzill cardstock.   This is another of the 6"x9" cards I often make so I chose to put a sentiment on the bottom too, focusing on best wishes for the card recipient with changes as indicated on the butterfly image.  The sentiment on the tag is from Just Rite's Vistorian Nested Frames and Sentiments -  JB 09-205.  The tag is one of the three tags from Spellbinders Tags Two.  I used a Martha Stewart Wildflowers Border punch to  cut a border from one of the patterns from the collection in order to add dimension to the separation of chocolate embossed cardstock on top and another pattern paper choice on the bottom.  Often, it takes time to choose how to layer and add dimension to the projects... but that is so much a part of the fun of doing it for me.  I love to design!  So my friends... next I will be coming up with some new stuff!  Our friendly neighborhood web-store will be working with me to introduce what I call a dynamite product!!  Go on over and visit right now to see what has been put up and what is going up for pre-order from CHA!  So much and then some!!  As for my input, remember my promise on doilies? -- I can't wait to feature these lovely beauts!! I can hardly wait to bring them to you and Deb will have input too ... stay tuned!!!

An Eclectic Group of Products used on this card!

Happy Summer Days...

How are we all doing this fine and hot, hot day?  I am staying cool here in the house laying low and out of the hot and humid weather.  My summer visitors are all gone now and I am just settling and resting from the hustle and bustle - I haven't really stopped since school was out at the end of June.  Now I'm going to have some me time and get to work on some fun stuff.  I am posting another card tonight and on this card I used a few unrelated products. This stamp is another one that I borrowed from a friend as I found it very interesting and thought it would be different to use.  It's a Lablanche Silicone Stamp (Deb can get them in).  I inked the stamp up with Momento Black ink - which is the best ink to use when coloring the stamped image with Copic alcohol markers.  I was intrigued with the crispness of the image as I wanted to practice coloring with Copics and knew that this image would test my coloring abilities.  I layered up the stamped image with a randomly torn piece of pattern script paper, well distressed with Ranger Antique Linen Distress ink.  The flower on the top part of the card is one given to me by my friend who was working on a Glimmer Mist technique flower..  She Glimmer Misted some paper with layers of various colors of Glimmer Mist letting the paper dry between layers.  Once the paper was glimmered up and dry she punched several flowers out of the paper and then layered them up.  She scrunched them up and distressed them with Ranger Distress inks.  She offered me one and I chose this color to go on this card.  It is quite shimmery and shows up better in person.  The sentiment is a stamp from JustRite's 31/4" round Butterfly Garden Collection.  The Spellbinders are Labels Nineteen, Labels Six, and on each end of the Label Six I put an Accent #1 from the Tulips Pendants set to make it look dimensional and ornate.  Last but not least, the butterfly on the bottom left corner is a butterfly stamp I had in my stash.  I stamped it on vellum twice and cut it out, colored it on the backside with pastel colored copic markers, and layered it up. I traced the edge with a glue pen and stuck some gliter on it for a sparkly effect!  So there you have it!  These products and so much more can be found at my favourite webstore OC Scrapbookers n More...click on link above the go to the store and see what preorders she is loading on the site.  No time like the present to get ready for the fall cropping season!!  Can't wait!!

Grand Nestie Card

Hello Blogging Friends...

I'm posting another card tonight that I made a couple of months ago featuring a Grand Nestie that I used as the card base.  The shape of this Grand Nestability Labels Four is classic and it can be easily made using the Grand Calibur (email Deb for a great price on this machine and dies) and the largest of the dies in the nested set!  I placed the die strategically onto the folded cardstock so that the top side of the card will utilize the fold in the cardstock.  The Grand Nestabilities are amazing and can be used for cards, for journalling tags on layouts or wonderful layering shapes for matting underneath pictures on layouts.  So many wonderful uses... love, love, love them.   On the inside of the card, I cut the next size down from the largest die and ink distressed it and now it is ready for a stamped or printed verse.  This is a friendship card and the stamped sentiment is a Waltzingmouse stamp - not available in Canada :(   but the grand nesties are available at my favourite LSS ( click on link above and email Deb for more information) I also used Spellbinders Fleurs De Lis pendant, some Prima flowers and Prima Flourish bling and pearls.  Inside is an open slate and can be dressed up and personalized for that special friend who needs cheering up.  Stay tuned for more projects... 

What to do with your Cricut Boxes

Hello Everyone
I am back to show you an altered project that I made this Spring using several tools like the Cricut Cutting system and Spellbinders Cutting system using several spellbinders that came out earlier this year.  First of all let me say,  for all of you who have put your Cricut Cartridges into a better storage system for carrying around from crop to crop in either a Gypsy and/or physically into a stack-able storage system like I did, you have all of those nifty boxes with magnetic lids left over.  I have over 60 cartridges and so now that I've emptied and stored my carts and booklets in the storage system I have that many of those nifty boxes.  I knew they would come in handy for altering into colorful and varied card containers so I kept them and maybe I can make some Christmas Gifts with them.  For this first one I chose an older floral pattern paper from K and Company that I had for years which has several patterns all in the same color family.  I covered the box and decorated it  Zva Creative pearls and several flowers that are cut from the Creative Memories Cricut Cartridge called Reminisce Accents.  This cartridge is simply amazing and comes equipped with features that allow you to layer your designs 3 times for extra depth and dimension.   Wow!!  I have tried out various images from this cartridge and varied the cuts for layouts and cards -- I love this cartridge and find it very versatile for several themes.
The cards are 3"x3" in size and I've made the matching envelopes for each one, 12 cards in total in a 3"x3" size just fit snuggly into this box.  On the cards, I have added various stamped sentiments and all are in the Thank You theme.  I added a few new Spellbinders sets like Standard Circles large, Lacey Circles, Floral Doily Motifs and Fleurs De Lis Doily Accents.  The insides are decorated with thank you sentiments stamped on a background as well.  The cards took a lot of cutting but with the Grand Calibur (email Deb at OC Scrapbookers to find out her fantastic price on the Calibur) and its large size bed for cutting multiple Spellbinders, it was a cinch!!  Visit the store link above to take a look at the great products and email Deb to be put on her Newsletter contact list so you can find out about her wonderful pre-order sales and the crops coming up beginning in September.  Stay tuned for more of these projects as I have several in the queue...  Doily die-cuts coming very shortly with more Just Rite Stamps colored up with Copic Markers.!! Wow!!!!

Copics, a Just Rite Stamp and more Spellbinder die cuts!!

Hello Again Bloggin' Friends...
I'm back to feature a card with a few of my favorite products -- Spellbinder Dies, Just Rite Stamps and Copic Alcohol markers!  The embellishments are also a favorite with me; pearls, pearls and more pearls!!  So let me start with the paper, this is a collection that I love and used on the grad card below.  A Kaiser Craft pattern paper collection in shades of brown and blue.  The shade of blue in this paper is simply amazing - somewhere between a blue and a green, in the teal blue color family.  I stamped up this Just Rite stamp from the JB09840 Birdhouses Set, in their ribbed 31/4" round style and I stamped it in Momento Black ink on Copic Xpress It cardstock.  This combination of cardstock and ink is the best combination to get the best results when coloring with Copic markers.  Momento ink is the best ink to stamp any image that you plan to color up with alcohol markers as it will not bleed once dry.  I know that several of you got in on the Copic pre-order sale and now have your Copics in hand so I will be posting a series of Just Rite images colored up with my new combinations of markers that I ordered, just to show you all some of what you can do with these amazing combinations of products!  The work that can be achieved is fantastic and I am eagerly seeking to achieve some wonderful designs and looking forward to the process of getting there.  

I used multiple Spellbinder dies to layer up the stamped image and to stamp the sentiment.  I cut the stamped image with Spellbinders Standard Circles. Under the stamped and colored image I used Spellbinders Standard  Scallop Circle.  Further, under the scallop circle I placed a die cut from Spellbinders Eyelet Circles set which just set it off on a whimsical note.  I matched the color of the flowers to the card stock as best I could and then set it on top of a paper border with Kaiser Craft pearls.  The sentiment I featured on one of the three choices you can find in Spellbinders Tags 2 and under it I placed a selection from Spellbinders Long Classic Scallop Rectangles.  I inked distressed the tag with Twilight Blue ink from Close To My Heart and then used a brown pearl sequence from Zva Creative.  Click up on the link above for the best place to shop for all the products you see on this card and more...   I hope you like this card... stay tuned, much more to come!!