Friday, August 26, 2011

More Big Shot Techniques


Well, I thought I'd better pop-in to share some cards and let you know that I'm still breathing. Not crafting much due to never-ending work and there are times when I feel I should just pack away my craft stuff and give it all up. However, I recently embraced sleep deprivation and put together some cards using my Big Shot. There seems to be no limit on techniques to try with this machine.

In the card above, I've used dry embossing through the Big Shot combined with heat embossing. I also stripe-embossed the satin ribbon in the Big Shot (with thanks to Angela Sargeant for this idea). I tried the "faux suede" technique (basically de-laminating cardstock into thinner layers with a rough surface by tearing, along with some scrunching and sponge-inking) and cut out the flower petals and leaves. A die-cut "Hi" finished it off but a stamped greeting would have done the job too.

Did you know you can emboss aluminium foil? Thanks to Clare McIllhattan for this idea. Clare's foil was smoother than mine...must get a tip on "how-to smooth" from Clare. And you can cut and emboss fabric with the Big Shot. Picture me in a local needlecraft store feeling like a fish-outta-water. Imagine the look I got when I told the saleslady (aka superb needle crafter) that I was going to cut up her lovely pink fabric into scraps and die-cut it into a butterfly for a card:



I sure do admire the works of needle-crafters. I just can't do it myself. Each to their own I say.

Next is a card front that has been what I term selectively embossed. I managed to leave the centre panel of the card un-embossed ready for stamping. Quite tricky but once I got the hang of it, I was away. I finished up stamping a solid daisy in white ink and using my pencils to add colour (termed "Black Magic" colouring within some circles).



Do you like the frame around the main image? I used two nesting dies through the machine at same time and dry embossed them afterwards to get the grooves in the frame. I snuck a little green "faux bow" in there too.

Anyway, hope you found this interesting. I'm currently helping my cherub with a school project and the best thing about it is using my alphabet die-cuts to make the poster title (I know, I'm easily amused).

Thanks for looking. Please get in contact if you have any questions.

Love from Crafty Kim

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Stampin' Up! Retiring Items - Update


Just letting the SU! faithful what 2011 catalogue items are sold out:

Metallic Eyelets
Jumbo Eyelets (in both colours)
Sanded Background stamp
Full Calendar Stamps
Bashful Blue 12x12
Night of Navy 12 x 12
Chocolate Chip 12 x 12
Early Espresso 12x12
Spiral Punch
Small Oval punch
Photo Corner Punch
Star Punch

To view the Full Retirement List, please click HERE.

Please contact me on 0402 347 010 or email me with any questions or orders. I have copies of new catalogue for sale as well :)

Thanks for considering.

Love from Crafty Kim

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Soccer Mad

Got a soccer-crazed person in your world? I've got several! Recently my son went to a joint birthday party for two of his friends (great idea - why didn't I think of that?). It was hosted at an indoor soccer venue. It was the usual pre-party rush so I kept it simple. I enjoyed using my new background stamp (I'm a sucker for background stamps). It is called "envelope" or some such. I was thinking more like "criss-cross" but it is named after the blue printed lining of business envelopes. Ring a bell for you? Anyway, whatever it is called, I like it.

So, two colours for two boys, along with co-ordinating envelopes:



Thanks for looking,

Love from Crafty Kim