Which Die Cutting and Embossing Machine Should I get

I was out shopping on Saturday and spotted some 8x8 embossing folders and thought "Ooh good I need some bigger folders than my 6x6" shop I popped one in my basket.

I got home all eager to start crafting and it is too big for my Big Shot, ahhh what do I do. I thought Christmas is nearly apon us I will drop some very unsubtle hints via email to hubby for one for Christmas but when I started looking round I don't know what to get. So my question my lovely crafting community what do you recommend?

My first thought was the Grand Calibre but whenever I see them on Create and Craft they are always talking about having to do things close to the edge or to turn the item round and run it through again to get the best coverage and it has kinda put me off. Also I have read that it won't take the chunkier dies.


 I was looking at the Joy Trouvaille from Creata which from the videos looks like it does a really good job but on the downsize might be a bit fragile.

Has anyone out there got one and if so what do you think? Does it handle most of the dies and embossing folders out?

The E-Bosser is more expensive but is it worth it, I would be lovely to have a lovely expensive machine but is it really worth it.

I am also quite interested in how people are getting on with the Jus-Cutz machine which claims to be the only machine you need but is £135, it would be great if it was so please let me know if you have managed to get your hands on one.

So please help me and let me know your experience with these machines it will make my Christmas so exciting. :-)

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Embossing and Felt Flowets

I I haven't really included Embossing in my cards but after playing today I think I will from now on.

I found a large pink felt flower in a discount bin in a local garden centre and and layering it with an embossed card immediately sprang to mind.

I really love the result, what do you think

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My first Card-io Stamp Card

I had bought a Cardio Stamps acrylic tube and some stamps at a Ross PaperCraft Show last year but felt that I didn't have the right accompanying stamps to use them, ie things to put the flowers in.

Anyway a couple of weeks ago, while watching Create and Craft they had a deal on with 45 stamps for £35, which included a set of stamping with vases and a watering can which I couldn't resist.

This morning I was mulling over what I could use to make a card for my daughter and son-in-law who are moving this weekend and I thought I would get them out for a play.

I am really pleased with my first attempt with them, it was so quick an easy I know them will become a go to when I want to make something pretty quick.

Cardio Stamping Card

 





 

 

It would be great if there where any tips about using Card-io Stamps that you have, please let us know.

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Create and Craft Club Members Gift - August

I don't usually get the members gifts but this Shabby Chic Paris Bookazine from Debbie Moore appealed to me.

As with the usual members gift all you pay is £2.99 for postage and I am over the moon with it.

The Bookazine is bursting with stunning cards ideas and 28 design sheets on really good quality soft sheen paper. There is also a CD enclosed with all the elements on so you can use them time and again.

There are some great card ideas for men's cards, which as I have mention on previous blogs I always find really hard.

So if you are looking for a great value craft goody head over to Create and Craft now.

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The Fire Alarm Technician

So I am chatting to the Service Technician who has come to my office today to service the Fire Alarm System, as his office has told me he was holiday last week I asked him if he went somewhere nice. No he says I am getting married in 3 weeks time so I was busy getting things organised.

So we start talking wedding prep, I was thinking a man who is helping plan his wedding this is great then he says I spent most of last week making all bits for the wedding, invitations, table settings and butterfly's for name tags for the tables.

He got his phone out and showed me the lovely Red and White butterfly themed invitations he had made with silver and red jewels, ribbon and die cuts and there were beautiful, he was a bit miffed one his mates came round and saw them being made took photo's and put them on facebook before he had chance to post them out.

He had made matching jewelled butterfly's which were individually named and would be placed on a wine glass on the tables and had planned out elaborate internally lit table centres.

We spent as much time talking about crafting as fire alarms, it made my day that you can find Paper Crafters in the most unexpected places.

Have you found Paper Crafters in unexpected places?

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Blog Candy GiveAway by Scrapbook Garden

I love the Scrapbook Garden Blog it has some stunning paper craft idea's and has inspired me to do a scrap book of my trip to Venice this year, I will post some pictures as soon as I have it done.

The blog also includes some great Blog Candy Give Away's as well.

Check out this months, its a lovely set of 6x6 Designer Paper Pad from the Lost & Found range (Madison Avenue) and has 24 sheets of double-sided designer cardstock paper - perfect for those female projects!  The equally fab Lace Borders are a lovely shade of pink to compliment the paper pad!

If you haven't check it out yet head over to The Scrapbook Garden Blog.

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Travel Themed Birthday Card - Le Pashe Travel Bug

I love my Le Pashe CD and have found that I have used it a lot, particularly for men's cards and turned to it again for a card for the birthday of a close friend of ours.

Initially I wanted something with a Geocaching theme as he spends quite a bit of time with his son Geocaching  but couldn't find anything suitable, typically I did after I made his card but isn't that always the way.

Anyway I had this Travel Decoupage sheet already printed out, I had used the other decoupage for a "You Passed" card for my son in law when he passed his driving test and knowing our friend loves travel and driving this fitted the bill perfectly.

When teamed with a vintage map themed paper and some simple matt and layering I thought is looked quite sophisticated.

If you haven't checked out the Le Pashe CDs I highly recommend them or you can download this double design sheet for £2.00

Le Pashe Double Decoupage - Travel Bug

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Craftwork Cards - August Goody Box

I am very excited this morning I just got an email confirmation to say that my August Goody Box Order has been shipped today by Craftwork Cards.

When it arrives I will try and do an unboxing to show everyone what there is in there.

Also check out the Time Flies Mini Book that Linda from Craftwork Cards has created,  it is truly stunning. Even better she is giving it away this week, you have until Friday to enter.

Time Flies Mini Book from Craftwork Cards

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Card for the Gardeners in our lives

I don't know why cards for men are so hard, but for me at least they are so I was really pleased when inspiration struck, doesn't happen enough, when I was sorting through my stash for ideas for a fathers day card.

My father in law loves his garden and these Kanban Pottering About sheets were perfect.

I teamed them with a recycled card, a sheet of  Kanban wood effect paper and some twine from  the garden shed.

I was really pleased with the effect.

Kanban Pottering About

 

 

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Choccywoccydoodah - Most Amazing Cakes

Hi Ladies

I have been a bit remiss in my blogging lately and I know this isn't "Cardy" but I just have to share this with you all.

I was in Brighton this weekend and and wondered past Choccywoccydoodah, I pointed it out and said "Oh they are on the telly" took a quick picture of the shop and headed off to the pavilion. Anyway while my daugher and I were shoppng later on we came across another shop and the cakes just blew me away and what's more they have signs up in the shop telling you they are happy for your to take photo's, so I did.

While we were there a bride came in to collect the cake for her wedding the following day and it was stunning.

I apologise that these are not the greatest mages but wanted to share them with you.

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Christening Card for Little Boy

I have a christening at the end of the month and as well as a sampler I have done a card, now I cannot remember even seeing a Christening card let alone make one, but my sister assured me that you do indeed do Christening cards so this is what I came up with.

I bought the last Crafters Companion magazine so I took a look at the printed papers and elements that came with it and fell in love with this little duck decoupage sheet, so I teamed it with the Hunky Dory backing card which I also loved and matt and layered it with some papermania card.

I finished it with some embellishments from the stash and the daisy chain from my new EZ Punch

I might add some dark blue jewels into the centre of the daisy's on the daisy chain, what do you all think?

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Fabulous Card for Shoe Addicts

Recently Dawn Bibby was very kind to my sister when she was in hospital recovering from back surgery so I wanted to send her a thank you card.

As it was for Dawn, the queen of cardmaking, I was very nervous and wanted to send something different that she may not have seen before so I decided to use a design from Sandra Wright who owns a cardmaking shop near me.

So I headed to the store for inspiration and low and behold she had put all her shoe designs and templates on to a CD, which I quickly purchased and headed home full of inspiration, don't you just love it when that happens.

This is the card I made.




Everything was from the CD the papers, decopage and the template I only needed to add the ribbon and flower embellishments.

This is a card I made for my sister's birthday using the design sheets that Sandra had in store, this design is also on the CD.




Sandra's CD is now for sale of Create and Craft so head over and check it out, perfect for shoe and fashion addicts or if you want something a bit different.

Fabulous Shoe's CD

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Very Exciting Day - My Cards Featured on Another Blog

I am very excited today, I got an email from Tiny at Craftwork Cards to say they were featuring two of my cards on their blog!

Still being new to cardmaking I am so pleased to know that others like my cards, I only make them for friends and family and they pretty much always say nice things about your cards, so its great to know somebody else likes them too.



Well I have a golden anniversary card to make by tomorrow and absolutly no idea what to make, I had it in my mind as soon as I saw the Vines of Passion die on Create and Craft, but the estimated delivery date is the 26th and the anniversary is tomorrow. So when I get home tonight I will look again at the array of paper I left all over my floor in the hope insiration would strike and hope that it in fact does.

I hope you all have a wonderful and crafty weekend both at the NEC and at home.

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Mothers Day Card

I was so excited when I got my Crisalis CD last week, I knew I wanted to use it for Mothers Day.



I new I wanted it to primarily be white and I saw the rose paper I used for the background and fell in love with it, you can't see it in the picture by it has glitter on the rose buds.

I went shopped to my local market and found a haberdashery with all sorts of lace to choose from, I picked the Daisy type one so it didn't over power the rest of the card.

While wandering around the craft store at my local garden centre I saw the die for the corner flourishes and thought prefer, then it was a case of matt and layering it all and adding some embellishments.

The other thing I used on this card is the All Purpose Collall glue they have been raving about on Create and Craft, I bought some from Crafters Companion whilse it was get on offer, it is great. It allowed me to have a little bit of movement when placing things down, it if came out the side is was so easy to clean up and it saved so much time that I would usually have spent with double sided tape. Vicky and I are both converts.

I added some parchement and lace inside just to give it a more luxurious feel.

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Baby Boy Congratulations Card

Some friends have recently had a baby boy which gave me a great opportunity to make a baby card. :-)

I had a 6X6 Papermania blue pad already that I bought for a friends 50th so that provided me with the perfect back ground.

For the centre I used DoCrafts Doilie Die Cut in Blue over the Marianne CR1201 Die Cut in White.

On the Marianne I used the Tiny Tiny Fingers, Ten Tiny Toes stamp that came free in one of the craft magazines last year. I coloured the hands and feet with my spectrum Pens and embossed the letters.

A ribbon bow and some peel offs for the corners and it was finished.

To be honest I wasn't a fan of peel offs until I went to the Ross Paper Show and had a chat with a lovely young lady on the Keepsake Cards stand and she converted me to just how versatile they were, so thanks Keepsake Cards you opened my eyes.

I hope you like it.

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DoCarfts Chronology Birthday Card

Vicky my daughter also loves to make birthday cards and she has a very different style to me, she particularly likes DoCrafts Chronology and Tim Holtz.

She has just made this card for Alex the 11 year old I make the Kanban Extreme Sports card for.




To make this card she used:

Chronology 6 x 6 Paper Pack
Chronology Gear Embellishments,
Chronology Craft Stamp
Black stick on Sentiments
Tim Holtz Distress Ink

She rubbed the Distress Ink around the edges of the card to give it that grungy effect.

I also like the stitching around the Sentiment just to give it finished look

It was a very simple idea but I think it is a stunning card and very different from the type of cards I do.

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Chandelier Birthday Card - Craftwork Cards Goody Bags

As promised in the Bird Cage Card Blog I have done a Chandelier card from the same CraftWork Cards Boehemian Goody Bag.

I just love this pack because it is so well designed you can simply enhance the paperwork design and create a stunning card.



All I did on this card was add a drop of silver embossing powder on each of the chanelier pendants and emboss the chain at the top of the card. Its works brilliantly because the when you look at the card the embossing reflects the light and makes the chandelier sparkle. I also did one where I put little clear stone stick on's on each of the pendant drops.

The flowers came from the goody bag, they are die cut so you simply pop them out and layer them up, I used a little crystal flowers that I got free in a card pack.

The tag at the top was also part of the pack, I used a stick on sentiment and some metalllic cord I purchased from the range, I used foam pads just to raise the tag and give the card depth.

Above the chandelier the was a strip of lace pattern, so instead of cutting that off, I folded it over on to the back of the card, to give it a professional finish.

Inside the card, I added a parchment insert with a simple Happy Birthday Stick on Sentiment.

This kit enables even the newest cardmaker to make stunning cards, I will definately be buying the Craftwork Cards Goody Bags again.

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Boys Birthday Card

Its been such a busy week, I have a 11 year old boys birthday, a 15th girls birthday and a new baby, so I have had to really get into the zone for making cards this week.

So this is what I came up with for the boys, as with a lot of my most recent cards I bought this from the Ross Papercraft Show in Hull and it is Kanban Extreme Sports Topper.

I saw this paper and new it was perfect for this birthday.


It was quick and easy to do, simply matt and layers with some black card and put the 2 die which are also matt and layered with Black Card on foam pads to give the card a bit of depth.

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Stunning Birthday Card with Bird Cage Theme

I think this must be the most stunning card I have made so far.

I bought a Craftwork Cards Bohemian Goody Bag when I went to the Ross Papercraft show in Hull and I have so far made 2 stunning cards with it, although I forgot to take a picture of the Chandelier, themed card so I will have to make another one.

The kit was amazing with stunning papers, a pack of Candi's, die cut flowers plus more, it was all pale lilacs with Bird Cages and Chandelier themes all presented in a handy plastic folderr.  It took my breath away when I saw it. Definiately my favourite kit.

I simply used a glue pen on the bird cage on the paper an embossed it in silver and added purple gems top and bottom. The board Bird Cage on the right I embossed with an enamel powder.

This is the first time I have made a card with embossing on it and I am so pleased with the result, don't know why I hadn't done it before.

I will make another Chandelier card and post the picture, I used the same techniques keeping it very simple and it looked stunning.

Definitly one of my favourite craft companies now.

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Craft SuperStore - Tenner Goodie Box

I got my email from Craft Superstore this morning and I just could not resist the tenner box, now I have bought several of these before and never been dissapointed. In fact thats where most of my christmas stocking fillers came from.

I think this weeks box is a real cracker, the box is usuall £9.99 on its own so if you need some extra storage boxes I would get it while you can and get all the other free goodies for free.

The box contains:

• Papermania Capsule Cranberry & Apple 12 x 12 Paper Pack 
• Papermania A4 Metallic Decoupage (2PK),
• Capsule Collection Self Adhesive Daisy Chains 
• Pack of Stiki-dots (Large size/96 dots), 
• Anita’s Acrylic Craft Paint, Stamp,
• Papermania Mini Aperture Box Card Kit ‘WHITE/SQUARE (6 PK with Cards, Expandable Envelopes and Clear Acetate Inserts. Cards 10cm x 10cm x 1cm), 
• Chipboard Album (6Pcs/15cm x 15cm)
• Papermania Solutions 12x12" Stack n' Store Box - a sturdy, stackable plastic storage box with a hinged clip-on lid. This clear polypropylene box measures 356 x 356 x 86mm.

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Birthday Card for a Shoe Addict

If you live in Lincolnshire or North Lincolnshire, you must pay a visit to the House of Zandra in Gainsborough.

This fab card shop is an absolute gem, it stocks a large range of beautiful papers, stamps and embellishments, well you name it and they will have it.

They also have their own range of stamps, decoupage sheets and templates, including this shoe card which is perfect for any shoe addicts that you may know.

To accompany this card there is a template to make an easel version, I was rushed for time so I just decoupaged it onto a card, which whilst still fab didn't do it the justice it deserved.

I noticed that this design had been picked by one of the big craft shows to use use in its advertising.

House of Zandra also run courses just about everyday of the week apart from Sunday, I have spent many a happy hour there learning new techniques, the courses are so popular people come from Sheffield and Rotherham every week. I can't recommend these enough but be prepared to go on a waiting list to attend but well worth the wait.

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Bugs Bunny Birthday Card

When Create and Craft had a special offer for Looney Tunes TV Cards Double CD ROM and Rupert I couldn't resist them.

I haven't used the rupert card yet but I just loved this Bug Bunny image for my Great Nephews Birthday.

Although you can't see it properly Bugs and the Sentiment are Decoupaged, it was a quick and easy card for a little boy or even a big boy who hasn't grown up yet.

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Great Papercraft Blogsite

Stumbled across a great craft blog site Welcome to the scrapbook garden.

As well as some great articles they have an awesome blog give away this month, which includes some amazing wildlife stamps.



So head over and check them out.

I will be posting some pictures of the goodies I bought at yesterdays Ross Papercraft show in Hull

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