I feel a little bit like I've been in the desert and now I have a swimming pool to play in. Actually, Niagara Falls is probably a better analogy! Returning to paper can feel pretty intense at times. Although I think I did some amazing digital work (and deeply enjoyed it), there is just something about paper - the smell, the look, the feel. I am amazed at the proliferation of products in scrapbooking and card making, especially in an industry that is consolidating rather than expanding.
I am continuing to explore the wonderful world of Sizzix interactive dies that has exploded since I stopped doing paper. I had one of the original Sizzix machines - the bright red one with the black-knobbed lever. It was a bit dicey getting everything to cut well, so I became an expert in shims. I used Ellison large dies at my local scrapbooking store, often combining them with the small dies I had at home. There is something about creating die cuts that hooks me - the ease of creating shapes, the magic of elaborate swirls emerging from the other end of the machine, the wow factor of layering dies to create 3 dimensional designs. I graduated to a Big Shot with gratitude but stopped doing paper before the age of wafer thin steel dies. I did have QuicKutz dies, but the wafer thins of today are in a whole different league.
Today I decided to play with my Sizzix; I made a card for my daughter-in-law's birthday. It's one of the flip-its. I had fun playing with new papers from SEI and embellishments that came in kits from Studio Calico. The closed card looks like this:
I am continuing to explore the wonderful world of Sizzix interactive dies that has exploded since I stopped doing paper. I had one of the original Sizzix machines - the bright red one with the black-knobbed lever. It was a bit dicey getting everything to cut well, so I became an expert in shims. I used Ellison large dies at my local scrapbooking store, often combining them with the small dies I had at home. There is something about creating die cuts that hooks me - the ease of creating shapes, the magic of elaborate swirls emerging from the other end of the machine, the wow factor of layering dies to create 3 dimensional designs. I graduated to a Big Shot with gratitude but stopped doing paper before the age of wafer thin steel dies. I did have QuicKutz dies, but the wafer thins of today are in a whole different league.
Today I decided to play with my Sizzix; I made a card for my daughter-in-law's birthday. It's one of the flip-its. I had fun playing with new papers from SEI and embellishments that came in kits from Studio Calico. The closed card looks like this:
The center piece flips when the card is opened:
Scrapbook.com and Sizzix have a wealth of useful videos about these interactive cards. You'll see that I've also indulged in Tim Holtz rub-ons. I know that rub-ons are not everyone's favorite, but I really like them.
When I bought the die for this card, I bought the wrong label die (the die that goes on the part of the card that flips). You can buy a set that includes the card and the label dies, but it was pretty expensive. It seemed less expensive to buy them separately - and it can be, as long as you buy the correct set!
I make cards for someone in particular. I've wandered through many blogs of card-makers who make cards for the art of it, for the fun of it, or for the chance to show the rest of us how to do what they are doing. For example, I am a big fan of Jennifer McGuire's blog (jennifermcguireink.com), and I love watching her use techniques to make cards simply to demo the technique.
That's just not me. I have to think about the person and make something that is designed personally for that person. Part of the issue is that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). I only have a certain amount of time and energy, and I have to mete it out carefully. In addition, though, I enjoy the process of really feeling the person I am creating for, and choosing colors and themes and materials that feel like they fit the person and the occasion. The down side of all this is that I have supplies that I am really dying to use but there has not yet been the right match with my list of current birthdays!
Supplies:
Paper: SEI Mia Bella, Bazzill Basics
Die: Sizzix 658841 Flip-Its Ornate #2
Krylon Gold Leaf Pen
Rub-ons: Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs Botanical
Puffy Stickers: Twine+Ink Black Alpha Basically Awesome
Chipboard Hearts: Studio Calico
Epoxy Stickers: SEI Jocelyn
Adhesive: Hermadot*
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*I tried Ranger Collage Glue Stick for the first time and it did not hold the chipboard heart to the paper.
When I bought the die for this card, I bought the wrong label die (the die that goes on the part of the card that flips). You can buy a set that includes the card and the label dies, but it was pretty expensive. It seemed less expensive to buy them separately - and it can be, as long as you buy the correct set!
I make cards for someone in particular. I've wandered through many blogs of card-makers who make cards for the art of it, for the fun of it, or for the chance to show the rest of us how to do what they are doing. For example, I am a big fan of Jennifer McGuire's blog (jennifermcguireink.com), and I love watching her use techniques to make cards simply to demo the technique.
That's just not me. I have to think about the person and make something that is designed personally for that person. Part of the issue is that I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). I only have a certain amount of time and energy, and I have to mete it out carefully. In addition, though, I enjoy the process of really feeling the person I am creating for, and choosing colors and themes and materials that feel like they fit the person and the occasion. The down side of all this is that I have supplies that I am really dying to use but there has not yet been the right match with my list of current birthdays!
Supplies:
Paper: SEI Mia Bella, Bazzill Basics
Die: Sizzix 658841 Flip-Its Ornate #2
Krylon Gold Leaf Pen
Rub-ons: Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs Botanical
Puffy Stickers: Twine+Ink Black Alpha Basically Awesome
Chipboard Hearts: Studio Calico
Epoxy Stickers: SEI Jocelyn
Adhesive: Hermadot*
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
*I tried Ranger Collage Glue Stick for the first time and it did not hold the chipboard heart to the paper.