Snow Angels 101

This week I have been playing with the new Instant Photo Cookie Cutter Die from the April Quickutz release. This is such a fun die and really much more versatile than it seems at first. You will need the the 12" platform and 12" cutting mat to cut this die, though, because it is a little longer than 4". I wouldn't want you to get it home and then be disappointed you couldn't use your new Instant Photo Die right away - although this is a great excuse to get the 12" platform if you haven't already!!

I tried to do something a little different than just use it as an instant photo replica (although it is REALLY cute like that!) By turning it on its side and using colored cardstock instead of white, you get an entirely different look. I also used Diesel Classic and Lemonade skinni mini.

Watch For It Wednesdays #8

Sizzix has some very nice embossing folders. They come in packages of two large OR one large
and three smaller folders. I recently got the Spring Flowers and Paisley Set.
I opened the package and was heading to the garbage can when the "lightbulb" went off. :)
It seemed a shame to throw away such a large heavy weight piece of plastic. I cut a piece from
the plastic and ran it thru my Big Shot with the Sizzix Bigz Scalloped Square die.

What to do with the pretty scalloped plastic square now????? The "lightbulb" went off again
(wow, two times in one day). :) I put the scalloped square in the Sizzix Textured Impression
Paisley folder and ran it thru my Big Shot.


The clear embossed plastic was pretty but I still wanted more! :) So the "lightbulb" went off
a third time (amazing I know). :) I colored the back of the plastic with a new color of alcohol ink called Citrus. Now I had a pretty embossed colored embellishment for a card. :)

I cut another Scalloped Square from white cardstock to put behind the plastic piece (so it would

show up better). Cut another scalloped square from some paisley print paper, added a flower,

sticker and some brads for a quick and easy card. The best part though was my "fancy"

embellishment was FREE (so to speak). :) Now I'll have to get all the Sizzix Textured Impressions just to get the plastic wrapper. (Wink, wink!!!!!) :)

It's a Girl Giraffe Card

Have you noticed this past year that giraffes and other zoo type animals have become so popular for baby items? I just love this CottageCutz Giraffe, he is so cute! (I know I say this about all the CottageCutz dies I work with, but it's true) For this card I used some cute baby girl paper that had giraffes on it and copied the colors into my diecut giraffe. I shaded him with some chalk and used some Kaiser pearls for his.....what do they call those things??? LOL!

I used some mounting tape to pop him off the card and then used the smallest Quickutz nesting flower die for the "it's a girl".

If your a Quickutz fan and you haven't tried some of these CottageCutz dies you are missing out.

Check them out and order a few before they're gone because they go quickly!

Butterfly "Art" Card

Do you ever go thru "phases"? :) Right now I am in a "butterfly phase." I can' t get enough of
butterfly dies, stamps, etc.!!!! I guess you could say I have started a butterfly collection. :) Today's card is a fast and easy one (the best kind, right?). It uses the
Sizzlits Butterfly and Flower #2 Hello Kitty set. The quote in the center is a rub-on by Autumn
Leaves. For a fun look to your dies, add text from an old book (the butterfly centers and center
of the card). All right, who else is going to collect butterflies with me? (Wink, wink.) :)

Birthday Card

I have been playing around with some of the COTTAGE CUTZ April release dies which I L-O-V-E and I have made this Birthday card using the
COTTAGE CUTZ CUPCAKE TIER 4x4 die and the GO KREATE ‘BOO, FOR YOU’ 4x4 die. I’ve also used the QUICKUTZ APRON KS-0559, QUICKUTZ CHEF’S HAT RS-0242 and the QUICKUTZ HAPPY BIRTHDAY REV-0157-S die for the title which I cut twice in black & green so that I could mount it and make it stand out a little. The little tongs are from the QUICKUTZ CHEF'S COSTUME revolution die. I have also inked my die cuts with TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS INKS and sprinkled some KAISERCRAFT RHINESTONES on top of the cupcakes to make them sparkle.

And the winner is...............

Drum roll please......................

The winner of this month's free die is.........................

Rebecca!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats to you and thanks for everyone who entered this month! Don't forget to enter next month!

Rebecca, you may contact Scrapping Cottage to choose your free die (excluding the alpha). Enjoy your shopping!!

LAST CHANCE!!!!

Don't miss out!! You have until midnight tonight to make a comment on this thread telling us which is your favorite die from the new April Quickutz Release for your chance to win a free die of your choice (excluding the alpha)!

WELCOME

I have had a lot of fun this week using some of the new QUICKUTZ APRIL RELEASE DIES and they are just great. My favourite die from this latest release is the QUICKUTZ 12” BANNER BORDER DIE CC-BDR-033. I fell in love with it when I first saw it, and now that I have used it I know that I made the right choice choosing this die. It looks terrific on 12” x12”page layouts and even more fantastic if you add just a little inking or shading to it. The photo at the bottom of this post shows what a difference just a little inking can do to a die cut. I used the TIM HOLTZ ‘walnut stain’ DISTRESS INK to make the banner look more 3 dimensional.
This layout would look great as the front page of a baby album, so I have not overcrowded it and instead used fewer die cuts to make the photo stand out more. As the saying goes “sometimes Less is more”, and that is what I have tried to achieve with my layout this week.
The titles are made with the GO KREATE ‘NORTON’ alphabet. This is a Fabulous alphabet because it looks great and you are actually getting 2 uni case alphabets (1 larger alphabet like the one I used for my title, and a second smaller uni case alphabet like the letters that I used to write the name Jacob. (The ‘J’ is from the Quickutz Monogram Alphabet set which I double mounted) The larger size of the Norton alphabet has also got the Punctuation and Numbers.
In this layout I have also used the new release QUICKUTZ CLIPBOARD REV-0195-S, the QUICKUTZ NOTEBOOK SHEET REV-0194-S which fits perfectly onto the the clipboard, the COTTAGE CUTZ WHEELBARROW OF FLOWERS, except I replaced the flowers with the GO-KREATE ‘BOO ON HIS BUM’ DIE . And finally I have used the QUICKUTZ RAINBOW & CLOUD.

So Happy!

Brackets, Brackets everywhere!!

The QuicKutz new Back to the Basics release is filled with brackets, banners, arrows and lots of fun!!

I have always loved to use brackets in my layouts! They are stylish, unique and innovative! In this layout, I used some border brackets very similar to the new release QuicKutz bracket ( I confess, I cheated.....I don't have the new BIG QuicKutz bracket yet so I have to love the idea of it until it arrives!! But when I get it.....I am going to go crazy!! LOL) :O)

New Quickutz nesting labels!

I am in love with the new Nesting Labels from the April Quickutz release!! Both sets are in the cookie cutter format and are so versatile! They would make a great addition to your collection no matter what type of paper crafting you enjoy.

Today, I am featuring the longer rectangular set of nesting labels. This set comes with three different sizes of labels. Not only are you able to cut out solid labels in these three different sizes, the dies are also designed so that you are able to cut out label borders as well. So in reality, you get six different cuts from this set!!

In my first project, I created a layout using SEI papers and the middle sized nesting label to create my title block. You can see what a great size this one is for creating titles.
For my second project, I have created a card using the largest nesting label and the middle sized label together.

Keep checking the blog regularly for even more new projects using the fabulous dies from this latest Quickutz release. Plus, don't forget to leave a comment here telling us which is your favorite die from this release for your chance to win a FREE DIE of your choice (excluding the alpha) from the April release. Happy Scrapping!!

Watch for it Wednesdays!! #7

One of the great things about Quickutz dies is that they are so well designed and allow for so much personal creativity and experimentation when assembling the different shapes together. However, occasionally, some shapes may seem a little harder to piece together than others. So here are a few tips to help make assembling your die cuts quick and easy! For my example, I have used the Anime Monkey from the March Release, but you could apply these tips to just about any of the dies.

First, make all the cuts you will need to assemble your shape and gather all the pieces together.

Next, start with the body of the monkey and place it directly on the card that came inside the Quickutz packaging so that it lays right on top. (If you no longer have your original packaging, you can always download the image and print it out from the Quickutz site.)

Now you can place some glue right at the top of the body where the nose/mouth piece will lay.Next, lift up the body and place the head piece down over the picture and add glue to the bottom of the head piece so you could place the body right back over the head piece.

Here is another trick I use when you need to attach pieces that don't have a back. I simply place a little piece of scotch tape across the opening of the ears. Now you can easily place the inside pieces of the ears into the openings. This tip is also helpful when you are assembling a die cut like this one that you want to be able to lift of the page or card with a pop dot.

Now you can easily continue assembling the rest of the die cut :)

Be sure to check out the new April Quickutz release in the store and don't forget to leave a comment here to be entered into the drawing for a free die of your choice from the new release (excludes the alpha).

Easter Morning

Here is another project using today's Quickutz release. I used the 12" Bracket border die.

I cut my patterned paper to fit the shape of the die by tracing it on my patterned paper and then cut out my brackets and placed it over the top. I shaded around the edges of my layout, brackets and my title with Tim Holtz Milled Lavendar distress ink. I used the Honeybee font for the title and the new Cookie Cutter Nesting Label for my journaling. I also used the Chocolate rabbit and Easter egg Quickutz dies. I used these great Kaiser pearls on the label.

Quickutz Media Notepad

I used my Bind-it-All, the Quickutz Media sheets and today's new release to make this notepad.

I took a sheet of the white chipboard and cut it in half then applied a half sheet of the cork to the front and then used my Bind-it-All to put the holes and the wire at the top. Then I decorated it with the Office Supplies Cookie Cutter set and the new 2x2 bracket die and the Chick-a-dee font.

On the inside I made a pocket and slipped a notepad in it so I can reuse this even when this pad of paper is gone.

Check in throughout the day for more projects using today's new Quickutz release.

New Quickutz April Release - Back to Basics!!

Come and check out all the great new shapes from the April - Back to Basics - Quickutz Release!! You are going to want to use these new shapes on every layout and card you make! Don't wait too long to place your order because these are going to go fast! And of course, don't forget to leave us a comment on THIS POST as to which of the new dies is your favorite for a chance to win your choice of one of the these fabulous new dies (alphabet excluded).

Tulip Time

Scrapping Cottage has gotten in another order of the Sizzix Tulips die. I knew I had to have this one when I saw the April releases. :) The card also uses Sizzix Clear Alphabet Stamps
which makes the sentiments a snap to create. The stamped birds are from the Mindy's Zoo set
by Autumn Leaves. I don't know about you but I'm ready for spring!!!! :)

I love anything with a scalloped edge and anything that is "Paris" themed. :) This is a fast and

easy card that is also FUN to make. It uses the Sizzix Bigz Eiffel Tower and the

Sizzix Scalloped Circle. The Eiffel Tower die has foam tape underneath which gives it extra

dimension and depth. The papers are by Graphic 45 and the rub-on by Karen Foster Design.

Be sure to check out all the great Sizzix products at Scrapping Cottage. All right, who wants to go to Paris with me now? :)

QUICKUTZ REVOLUTON DOLLS

This week I have chosen to work with the QUICKUTZ 4x4 DOLLS DIE REV-0193-D. I had so many ideas for this die, but time was limited so I decided to work on a double page layout and a card. Can you imagine what gorgeous stick puppets these cute little dolls would make if you attach them to the top of an ice-cream stick Or attached them to serviette rings, menus or place cards for an Oriental dinner setting. If you have a recipe box or book, why not add a little Oriental theme to your favorite Asian recipes using these gorgeous dolls to decorate your recipes. I could keep on going but will get to the two projects that I worked on this week.


The first project I worked on this week is a double page layout I did of my daughter on Christmas Day. She was given this little outfit by our dinner hosts and she wears it permanently so I thought this would be a great layout to document her love for this outfit and the perfect opportunity to use the QUICKUTZ DOLLS REV-0193-D.




In this layout, I have also used the following dies & products:-
KAISER CRAFT PEARLS for the centers of the flowers, KAISERCRAFT RHINESTONES for the buttons on the dolls dress & hair ties, TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS INKS, SIZZIX DECORATIVE ACCENT, QUICKUTZ 12” TREE CC-BDR-021, QUICKUTZ LIMITED EDITION CIRCLES REV-0072, QUICKUTZ NESTING FLOWERS CC-SHAPE-6-017, and finally for my title I used the classic 2x2 QUICKUTZ ZELDA ALPHABET die set.
Make sure that you check out the ZELDA COMPLETE GRAND ALPHABET SET (COLLECTORS EDITION) that is on Pre-order at THE SCRAPPING COTTAGE. It is a once off limited Edition Die set, so once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. The best part is that its is affordable (my credit card Thanks you :-) For only $99.95 you get the GRAND SIZE Upper Case, Lowercase, Numbers & punctuation all together in 1 set – Now that is what I call a fabulous deal. Don’t forget to Pre-order yours to make sure you don’t miss out. I’m sure my name must be somewhere up near the top of that list :-)


The 2nd project I want to share is this Card I made also using the QUICKUTZ DOLLS REV-0193-D. I used the dolls die for the doll and also used the dolls body to make the tulips.
I have used this example as I have been asked how I make my die cuts if the back sides of them are visible. You will see in my pictures that the Tulips go off the edge of the card and will be visible from the back, so I have cut the die cuts out twice, stuck them back to back and decorated them before I attached them to the card. How you decorate the back will depend on what die cut you are using. For example if you want to use the Doll so that it shows the front & back you will cut the face twice- one in beige and one in black so that the black side looks like hair on the back of the head.
The bottom picture is a view of the card lying flat and also a close up view showing the back of the die cuts.


To make this card I also used the CUTTLEBUG EMBOSSING FOLDER – FLORAL SCREEN to emboss my cardstock before I started.
I then cut out the QUICKUTZ FLOWER REV-0034 die and embossed it with the same CuttleBug embossing folder and attached it to the bottom of my card, making sure that just over half of the flower can be seen. The top section of the flower is glued to the inside front cover of the card. I have cut this flower out twice, the second one in black to stick back to back with the white flower so that when you open the card all you see is a large black flower. All the glue, tape etc that you used to attach the flower to the card is hidden between the 2 layers of the flower.
The bowl is cut from the SIZZIX Fish & Fishbowl die, Stems are cut with the wavy blade from my paper trimmer, and the words on the front of the bowl which read ‘Harmony’ are cut from the QUICKUTZ HARMONY die. I inked my die cuts with TIM HOLTZ DISTRESSED INK and used KAISERCRAFT RHINESTONES for the front of the dolls dress and her hair bow.
Once everything is attached, fold the flowery flap at the bottom upwards and it turns that section of your card into a doily / stand.

A Pirate's Life!!

Welcome Aboard, Matey! Look alive, you're gettin' ready to cast off on one of the most magnificent ships to ever sail the open sea! The Scrapping Cottage's Exclusive Pirate Ship will leave you fully equipped to take on your next pirate or high seas adventure project!!! X marks the spot! Find all of your treasures at The Scrapping Cottage!!

Anime Monkey Fun

I have been playing with the Quickutz Anime Monkey this week. In my first project, I completed a layout with pictures from the Animal Kingdom at Disney World and my monkey was more traditional with just some inking on the edges and Star Dust Stickles on the eyes for a touch. Then I wanted to have a little more fun and starting cutting him out in different colors. Once I hit pink, I knew I had to make a card with this pink monkey. Again I used stickles on the eyes and I also traced the word congrats with my Candy Cane Stickles.

WATCH FOR IT WEDNESDAY #6

"Owl" admit it - I like to put catchy sentiments on my cards to go with the diecut I'm using. So here's a TIP for you.

Make a list of all the cute sentiments or quotes you like and either find a diecut or stamp that goes with it or take a diecut/stamp and make a list. I've taken this cute CottageCutz Owl (he's 2 1/2" high) and made a card with it, then looked at my "Owl" list to see what saying I wanted to use.

Here is a list of sentiments I've collected to go with my owl diecuts:

YOU WHOO....

YOU'RE SUCH A HOOT!

OWL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
LOOK WHOO'S TURNING....
THANKS FOR GIVING A HOOT!
HOPE OWL IS WELL

OWL MISS YOU
HI Y'OWL

So Beary Cute!

This week I chose to work with the adorable CottageCutz Bear. He is so dang cute and so versatile for all those different cards and projects you want to do.

He's perfect for all those fun bear sayings and sentiments you've heard through the years.

He is so quick and easy to put together too! He has 6 pieces: the body, head, muzzle, nose and eyes all on 3x3 die. So whether you need a manly card, or something for a special friend this bear is perfect!

I have a new favorite Sizzix die. :) It is the XL Card Die, Scallop #2. This die is one of the May

releases. This die cuts the complete card giving you a scalloped edge front. I hope that you can

see how the card looks from my photos (I tried to take them so that the flap was up a little bit to

give you an idea of how the card works.) The "Surprise" card uses Sizzix dies and also a rub-on.

The frog images on the other three cards are the Penny Black (Clear Stamp Set Called Toadily).

This stamp set is so much fun to color!!!! Be sure to check out all the great new products at Scrapping Cottage too (new KaiserCraft bling, new ink pad, new dies, etc.). :)