The new QuicKutz dies are out and are a big hit! If you have a party in your plans, you should really consider some of these new dies! I decided to take a few minutes and play with a couple over the weekend!

My neighbor’s birthday is the 4th of July. I was out of town for most of the weekend, but when I got back I wanted to give her a little something! I used the Gift Bag Cookie Cutter die, cutting it out with my Epic Six Tool. I stuck a flower and a button on the front, some candy inside and put it with a card and I was done! It made a cute gift in minutes!

Next, I used the Cracker Box die. This one is perfect for wedding or shower Thank You gifts! It goes together really quickly and you can embellish it with ribbon, flowers, tags, etc.! I used Petaloo Flowers to embellish mine and put some small candy inside!

This would be a fun treat to take to the office “Just Because”! Hmmm….. maybe I should take my own advise and make some to bring in to our office!   A little surprise treat always makes the day better!

I’m looking forward to playing with some of the other new dies and posting them!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

Pride can be such a confusing word! It can be good as far as taking pride in our family, appearance, etc, but it can be a detriment when it causes you to be stubborn about change! When Sizzix released the Big Shot Pro Machine I was NOT going to get another machine! I was determined not to cave in! I did not need it, did not have room to put it….. bad pride.  Thanks to several customers calling in to find out how to do things with this fabulous machine, I finally decided it would be helpful for me to have one so I could learn how to use it and would actually know how to help my customers, so I caved!

The Big Shot Pro Machine works with every Sizzix and Ellison design.  Constructed from industrial-strength materials, the Big Shot Pro Machine features a 13 inch wide opening to cut hundreds of materials. That is fantastic!

I can’t begin to describe how I already love this machine and I just got it last week! (Just so you know, I did have to put my order in and wait in line,  just like everyone else!) I had to do a little rearranging in my scrapbook room, but I did find a place all of its own, where it sits proudly waiting to go to work for me! I still have to figure something out to organize my Bigz Pro Dies but that will come as I work more with it.

That’s another thing, when we started getting those big dies in I fell for them right away! (Have I told you what a sucker I am?) I am tickled with how big they are! I am already planning my neighbor gifts for Christmas! They do not get any bigger than this! The Sizzix Bigz Pro inch dies are the largest dies ever. They cut hundreds of materials which include cardstock, chipboard, fabric, foam, magnet, leather, metallic foil, paper and sandpaper (in limited use). Designed exclusively for the Big Shot Pro Die Cutting Machine. These dies are great for cutting fast quilting designs too.

So here is my first finished project using this incredible machine and the Bigz Pro Die Box Popcorn #2. You have to cut 2 from the die to make the box, so make sure you have more than one piece of 12 x 12 paper! I also used Heartfelt Creations Bella Rose House, Bella Rose Leaves along with the Bella Rose die. I cut the house out with Spellbinders Labels One Small I was making this for my dad’s birthday,  and he has been saying how nice it would be to have a movie night, so I filled it with candy, popcorn and a gift certificate to the movies!

Well, that’s it for today! I hope you all have a wonderful, sunny weekend!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

Back Order Update: The Big Shot Pro is still back ordered, however, we have been randomly getting some in, so if you want one, get your order in so you can be in line!

The Magic of Oz Cling Stamps are already back ordered from Graphic 45, but we are trying frantically to get some in! We appreciate your patience!

Follow the yellow brick road all the way to the Emerald City with The Magic of Oz Paper Pads from Graphic 45, which will be available in June! Available in 12 x 12 and 8 x 8 sizes!

The Magic of Oz is an enchanting new paper collection inspired by L. Frank Baums classic childrens novel. Featuring a full cast of all your favorite characters including Dorothy, Toto, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and many more. Bring your wicked Halloween creations to life with every delightful page. Somewhere over the rainbow you will find a tapestry of rich colors and stunning images. Ruby reds, emerald greens, royal purples, and mustard seed yellows will have your imagination spinning like a tornado. There is no place like Graphic 45 for this seasons most bewitching paper collection!

I know that the your heels are clicking from over active brain activity thinking of spellbinding project ideas! My crystal ball tells me that you will be knocked unconscious with delight and swept away into Munchkin oblivion when you get this magical collection in your hands!

(Images were taken from Graphic 45‘s website)

Coordinating Hampton Arts Cling Stamps and Chipboard Die Cuts shown below will also be available in June!

Please note that these products are NOT available until sometime in June, therefore, make sure to place a separate order for these items! If you order this product with in stock items, your order will be held until all items have arrived!

I just know that this collection will be a big hit! There really will be “No place like home” as that is where your Graphic 45 Magic of Oz Collection will be waiting for you!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

As summer fast approaches, the designers at My Mind’s Eye had the right idea when they named this line of 6″ x6″ paper pads! What better way to beat the heat than an ice cold drink with a Lime Twist?

There are 4 new paper pads with all new designs that are so delightful for spring and summer cards or mini albums! Each paper pad includes 24 sheets of 6×6 doublesided cardstock paper in 12 different spring time designs!

Fly A Kite entices us with spring time designs in brown, red, aqua, orange, turquoise and lime green. With circles, stripes, stars, kites and clouds, this unique paper collection will look great on any card or layout! Specifically designed for a little boy.

Happy Go Lucky shows off designs in purple, red, pink, grey, turquoise and lime green. With circles, stripes, flowers and speech bubbles specifically designed for girls!

Life of the Party stirs up fun with designs in pink, brown, aqua and lime green. With circles, stripes, flowers and cupcakes you’ll have everything you need for fun summer projects designed for girls!

Out of the Blue lets your imagination soar with designs in tan, grey, red, aqua and lime green. You’ll love the circles, stripes, trains, stars and hot air balloons that bring back memories of childhood play! Designed with boys in mind!

I chose two of these delightful paper pads to play with! The hardest part was choosing which patterns to design with! They are all so fun!

My butterfly card is made using the Happy Go Lucky Paper Pad, Spellibinders Labels Nineteen and Fanciful Flight dies.

My nephew is graduating from Kindergarten this month, so I decided to make a mini page with his graduation picture! I chose patterns from the Fly A Kite Paper Pad. QuicKutz Banana Split Skinnimini Alphabet for the title, Grad Cap, Diploma and Gold Seal completed the project of his shining star face!

Isn’t he cute? Only 12 more years until High School Graduation! The stars and the grade school alphabet pattern were a perfect combination for this mini page! Love it!

Well, I am taking a break for a few days! Off to South Carolina for my youngest son’s Basic Training graduation! I’ll be back on Monday! Have fun with your projects while I’m gone!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

Hoorah!!! We finally received the McGill Paper Blossoms Tool Kits today! For those of you who have been patiently waiting, we thank you so much for your patience! Your orders will be shipping right away!

These Tool Kits are extremely popular! This kit includes 3 dual tipped stylus tools and 1 straight reverse tweezers in a convenient storage case and snap closure.  It can be used to break down paper fibers to create flowers with a 3D effect or many other uses. Each of 3 ball stylus tools offers dual tipped ball stylus giving you the variety of sizes you need to create the desired look ready at your fingertips.  With easy to read identification for each tip, referencing the sizes is now easy…no more guessing.  Stylus and Tweezers offer you the variety of tip sizes so that your paper flower and leaves shapes are molded to a realistic shape.  The straight tweezers makes all small punch designs easier to hold and apply small parts allowing you to focus on your project all the way to the finest detail.

Use with the Paper Blossoms Craft Molding Mat which provides a nonskid cushioned surface to shape and mold paper flowers.  Its cushioned surface provides the density needed to break down the paper fibers in order to manipulate paper to your desired shape.  Ample workspace area allows to work on a multiple petals at the same time.  Perfect for making 3-D flowers. The mat size is 8″ x 5 3/4″ x 1/16″.

* Cushioned surface to apply different levels of pressure for molding paper shapes.
* Made of synthetic materials and rubber material for great resistance.
* Non Skid surface keeps projects in place
* Can be used for other crafting uses: Paper molding, Perforating crafts and Dry Embossing.

I hope that you enjoy using your kits!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

It is crunch time to get you gifts done for Mother’s Day if you haven’t already! Here’s an idea for a card box if your mom likes cards, but needs a place to store them, or you can fill the box with pre-made cards for her to use when needed! Of course I used roses, because that is what mom’s like! Right?

The paper I used for my tin box  is the Rustic Paper Stack from DCWV ( It is an exclusive to JoAnn Stores), and the Shimmer Stack for the roses. To cut the roses I used QuicKutz Roses die. Easy! I cut it out with my Cuttlebug Machine then rolled them up and glued them in place with some Zip Dry Paper Glue!

I used Spellbinders Lacey Ovals to cut a copper frame from the Precious Metals Premium Craft Foils, then topped with Classic Ovals Small stamped with a saying from Just Rite Stampers The Greatest Joy Borders & Centers Set! I finished it off with flowers from Petaloo Canterbury Collection Rose & Berries Branch and some ribbon!

This was a lot of fun! It took me a minute to practice making the roses with some regular paper, but found that the thicker card stock made it easier! Just roll it up with your fingers and let go for it to take shape, then glue it where you want it!

Have fun making your Mother’s Day projects!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

Wow! Mother’s Day is right on our doorstep! Can you believe it? I can’t! I feel like we just barely had Easter…oh wait, we did! I don’t know about you, but I had better get crackin’ on a gift for Mom!

My mom is a scrapbooker, so she would like just about anything that has to do with scrapbooking! Why don’t you come shopping with me to see what I can find that would make great gifts for her special day!

She has tons of pictures to still put in albums as she has 10 children (I am the oldest) and 34 grandchildren, so I think I will start with the basics. Paper! She has 7 sons and lots of grandsons, so the All About Boys Paper Stack from DCWV or Alphabet Soup Boy from My Minds Eye are a great start for the boys! A Proper Gentleman 8×8 by Graphic 45 works well for all of her masculine photos.

For the feminine side, we will start with DCWV All About Girls Paper Stack,  Blossoms and Butterflies Paper Stack, Garden Party Paper Stack, or Pocket Full of Posies Paper Stack to name just a few!

She has a Cuttlebug, and loves die cutting! Let’s move over to the dies to see what we can find! Spellbinders dies are always a perfect gift! She and I have very similar taste, so I think I will go with a couple of my favorites! Labels Twenty, Lacey Circles, Lacey Squares, Lacey Ovals (okay, so I like lacey!), Floral Doily Accents and Floral Doily Motifs as well as the Parisian Accents and Parisian Motifs! Well, that is more than a couple, but maybe we can keep some of these in mind for her birthday or Christmas! I could shop forever in Spellbinders!

She would love Quickutz Anime Monkey to scrap some of her younger grandchildren! Or the Mixing Bowl and Spoon for those moments making cookies with the grandkids!

Heartfelt Creations, Just Rite Stampers and Sparkle N Sprinkle all have stamps that are fabulous to give her or buy for myself to make her card with! They all have stamps that coordinate with Spellbinders dies! Want2Scrap has Nestabling to go with!

Whew! This shopping trip could last a long time if we got into the nitty-gritty of adhesives, embossing folders, foils, flowers, etc.! I think I will let you shop for yourselves now! I have a pretty good idea of what I will end up with! Have fun!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

If you are looking for adorable paper for layouts, you really should look at My Mind’s Eye! Their patterns are refreshing and fun! The Good Day Sunshine Boy and Good Day Sunshine Girl 12 x 12 paper kits will make your summer layouts a breeze!

Boys love robots and just about anything mechanical. Lil Robots 12 x 12 paper kit says boy all over it! The patterns are of robots, gears, laser lines, microchips and geometrics in colors of taupe, red, orange, gray, chartreuse and three shades of blue!

For teenage girls who seem to draw hearts all over everything, we have State of  the Heart 12 x 12 paper and accessories kit! You can even let them scrapbook their own pictures of their current crush!

If card making is more your thing, you will find the new Stella and Rose Collection of 6 x 6 paper pads inspiring! Their are four different pads to the collection. They are; Hattie, Hazel, Gertie and Mabel! Each pad contains 24 sheets of double sided 6 x 6 paper! I honestly can’t pick a favorite! I love them all!

There’s more to look at, but I will let you look for yourself! That’s the fun of shopping!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

I get the question quite frequently about what adhesives to use. Well, that all depends on what type of project you are doing and what your preference is! We carry a variety of adhesives, such as 3L Scrapbook Adhesive, Scor-Tape, and Beacon Adhesive.

Lets start with 3L Scrapbook Adhesives! We carry Repositionable and Permanent Mounting Squares, E-Z Dots Repositionable Adhesive, E-Z Runner Permanent Tape, E-Z Runner Permanent Vellum Adhesive and Photo Corners in several color choices! These are fantastic for mounting Photos, paper to paper, or vellum to paper, among other things!

I can’t imagine paper crafting without Scor-Tape! We carry all sizes from 1/8″ rolls(currently on back order) to 8 1/2 x 11″ sheets! If you like working with ribbon, I guarantee that you will fall in love with this stuff! I think it is the best double sided tape on the market! There is no easier way to apply ribbon! The rolls come with 27 yards per roll! It is easy as well as clean! No messy glue sticking to your fingers!

Beacon Adhesives Zip-Dry Paper Glue is fast drying for fast results on almost all paper types & scrapbook embellishments such as rhinestones, beads, and glitter. It never wrinkles paper and dries crystal clear. It is mistake-proof and removes easily when wet without leaving any residue. Zip Dry bonds metal stampings, beads, glitter, wire and other embellishments to paper. It is acid and lignin free for archival quality. It has a special precision applicator top for accuracy. One bottle of Zip Dry goes for 2000 inches!

Hopefully, this will help answer some of your questions! I personally use all of these products and they are all fantastic! If you are just beginning to get into paper crafting, or a consider yourself a pro,  adhesives are a must have!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

I like to travel whenever I get the chance. It doesn’t matter if it is by car, airplane or boat for that matter! If I can get away for a while and relax, then I am in good shape! That is why I like the new Basic Grey’s Wander 6×6 Paper Pad! It is designed for the traveler in you! It has fun designs with cars, planes, and even maps!

Here are a couple of examples giving you a sneak peak at just a few designs that this cute pad has to offer:

I used QuicKutz English Rose Alphabet for the numbers and brackets.

Such a cinch! I ripped, inked on the tear, and added a Making Memories embellishment on a frame using Spellbinders new CHA release Fleur De Lis Rectangles! Easy, breezy! This is really fun paper!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

Introducing the brand new Basic Grey 6×6 Hello Luscious and Life of the Party Paper Pads! I tell you, I can’t seem to get caught up with getting all of this adorable paper! The manufacturers are putting it out faster than my paycheck can keep up! Oh well, they keep my mind spinning with ideas!

Here are two projects using these new paper pads:

I used three different patterns from Hello Luscious Paper Pad for this first card. Using the Spellbinders Floral Doily Accent for the paper embellishment and Petaloo’s Canterbury Collection Rose and Berries Branch (Mauve). I just cut off a piece of it for my card and tied a ribbon around the stem! The stamp is from Stampin’ Up!

This is a birthday card for my youngest son, who just went into Basic Training! (Go ARMY N.G.!)  I used the Life of the Party Paper Pad. I spruced it up with Petaloo’s Canterbury Collection Sunflower Leaf Branch and Sunflower Pick. My little 2×2 Owl is from QuicKutz as well as the Dragonfly Alphabet that I used for my title! I finished it off with tiny google eyes on the O’s and in between branches!

Well, that’s it! What do you think? I love the woodgrain in this paper! That’s not all! There are patterns that you can use for school, birthday, etc. in this pad! Both of these paper pads are darling! I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

Those of you who have been around paper crafting for a while have most likely heard of Paper Glide and Cutter Glide, but for those who are new to this craft, you are probably wondering what they are and what they are used for! They are amazing products that can make your hobby less stressful! These are just two of the amazing products by Inspired Crafts that we have 40% off!

Paper Glide:

Inspired Crafts Paper Glide is an acid-free, dry embossing paper mist. It works great when you are cutting and embossing with The Spellbinders Wizard and other die cutting machines. Paper Glide is especially great for crafters with wrist weakness and hand pain. Less pressure is required to create excellent dry embossed images. Also, kids are enjoying dry embossing, since it’s so easy.

Gliding stylus action creates the best embossed images sharper edges and cleaner images.

No “missed spots” or waxy residue, which can cause adhesives to fail.

Permanent “Treatment”

Will not affect inks or dyes

Dries to an invisible finish

Punches work better on treated paper Scoring and folding is excellent. (no more cracking “binding”) It works great with your Scor-Pal and for creasing and folding all types of cardstock.

As a reminder, Paper Glide is a bonding formula, much like hairspray, spray paint, etc. As such, it is strongly recommended to keep the bottle cap on the sprayer after each use, to keep residue from building up at the opening of the fine-mist sprayer. You can also place a small moist cotton ball inside the clear cap to keep it moist at all times. This really makes a difference!

Cutter Glide:

Inspired Crafts Cutter Glide formula is now being offered in a new, unbreakable brush-tipped bottle, which is perfect for one-handed application with no mess. There is also 10% more formula in this tube than the previous! We are also including the Inspired Crafts EZ tool cleaner in a new two ounce spray bottle offering now twice the amount of product in a more user friendly and refillable container. Apply Cutter Glide to your blade edges after cleaning with the EZ Tool Cleaner. Cutter Glide bonds to the surface after it dries and leaves no oily residue. Use a blow dryer to dry quickly.

This product can be safely used on scissors, knives, rotary blades, trimmers, electronic die cutting blades and will also fix your jammed craft punches.

I used this on one of my punches that I had not used in a long time because it was sooooo hard to push! It worked great! I can now use that punch that I was contemplating thowing away!

Another great product we have reduced 40% is Beacon Adhesive Zip Dry Paper Glue! I love this adhesive!

The Zip Dry Paper Glue is fast drying for fast results on almost all paper types. It never wrinkles paper and dries crystal clear. It is mistake-proof and removes easily when wet without leaving any residue. Zip Dry bonds metal stampings, beads, glitter, wire and other embellishments to paper. It is acid and lignin free for archival quality. It has a special precision applicator top for accuracy. One bottle of Zip Dry goes for 2000 inches.

Helpful Hints:

Glue dries very fast. Apply only one item at a time for best results.
Snip applicator tip as close to top as possible to achieve a fine line of glue.
Apply a thin bead of glue from the edge to avoid seeing the page.
If glue thickens, think with a few drops of paint thinner and turpentine.
Avoid evaporation by always replacing applicator tip with flat cap.
Keep surfaces to be bonded clear and free from dust.
Always use adequate ventilation.

Check out these and many more products on our site!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie

We are so excited to be stocking the new Graphic 45 Metal Staples! If you are into vintage, then you will want to make sure you take a look at these! There are Alphabet Sticker Staples, Chipboard Button Staples, Black Policy Envelope Staples, Envelope Tag Staples and much more!

I did a bit of playing last night with the Graphic 45 Curtain Call 12×12 Paper Pad, using the Chipboard Button Staples and one of the Metal Tag Staples. There are 3 of each size. I used one of the large pieces. I added a doily which brings back childhood memories of when my mom used to crochet doilies! The enhanced photo is of my mom and her little sister who both wanted to be actresses when they were little! I found the key in the old treadle sewing machine that we inherited from my husband’s grandmother! Cool! You never know what my be lurking around your house waiting to be included in a layout!

My title is cut from QuicKuz English Rose Alphabet on a mat cut from the Spellbinder’s CHA release Grand Large Labels #2 die (due in March!)

I really don’t like using a lot of adhesives on photos, especially older photos, so I like to attach them with photo corners! I used 3L Black Photo corners on this page to match the paper!

I hope you get a chance to browse the new Metal Staples! These make  some really fun embellishments for all kinds of projects!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

I think that this will be an official Paper Blog Week for me! We just got in our shipment of the brand new My Mind’s Eye 6×6 paper pads! The Stella Rose Collection has four beautiful 6×6 double sided paper pads which are Gertie, Hattie, Hazel and Mabel. Though the names may be a bit old fashioned, the paper is fresh and vibrant! Again, I had a hard time choosing which one to focus on for my projects!

I decided to make these cards using the Gertie paper pad. On the first I also used a piece of  Hardware from Stampin’ Up and the stamp set You Inspire Me from Just Rite Stampers.

On the second, I used Spellbinder’s CHA Releases Labels Twenty (dies #1 & 5) and Creative Page Tabs (both due to arrive in March!). Of coarse, I used 1/8″ Scor-Tape to apply the ric-rac and button.

I can’t wait to use the other paper pads in this collection! They are all darling!

FYI-If you are waiting for pending orders, we appreciate your patience! We are finally receiving shipments trickling in from all of our manufacturers, as they have all been behind since CHA! We are filling orders as fast as we can!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’

Carrie

Scratch Valentine’s off the calendar! Get out the green! We’re looking onward to March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day! Believe it or not, its right around the corner!  Even if you are not officially Irish, it is great fun to join in on the celebration!

There are so many fun things you can do to “Go Green” Irish style! Banners, hats, pins, cupcake wrappers, and the list goes on!

I whipped up a couple of cards last night to show you today. Here goes! For the “Pot o’ Gold” card I used a Quickutz 2×2 Cauldron. The gold is from Spellbinder’s Precious Metals Premium Craft Foil which I roughed up a bit on the back with a stylus to give it texture. I placed the cauldron on a frame using dies #1 and #2 S4-311 Labels Nineteen. I gave texture to the card with the Houndstooth Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. The font is from Dragonfly Mini Unicase Alphabet Set with one of the RS-0655 Clovers under one of the O’s!

We all want to be wished a little luck now and then, so with my next card, I wanted a Lucky Horseshoe and a 4 leaf Clover by Quickutz! After all, I need all the luck I can get! I placed them in a frame cut from die #2 of the new release S4-306 Wonky Rectangles. I just embossed the bottom edge of the card using one of the embossing strips from Frills Cuttlebug Ebossing Folders then put a simple strip of patterned paper above to cover the line that the folder left. For the finishing touch, I added the title using Quickutz 4×8 License Plate Mini Alphabet! Done!

I really enjoyed making St. Patrick’s Day cards! I have never really gone all out to decorate for this holiday before, but I am thinking it would be so much fun to make a St. Patty’s Day banner and table centerpiece! Who knows… I may just go crazy with green this month! Feel free to join in! Check out our products under our St. Patrick’s Day theme!

Thanks and Happy Scrappin’!

Carrie