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.

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

Watch for it Wednesday #5!

Distressing Paper with Die Cut Shapes!

Here is another way to use your awesome die cuts!

I hope you have as much fun with it as I did!

First you will need to choose some patterned paper. (this works best with dark or bright colors!) You will also need to cut out some of your favorite die cuts! This technique works well with CottageCutz, QuicKutz, Sizzix, or just about die cut. Finally, you will need some sandpaper and a great imagination!

After you have cut out the die cuts you will be using, arrange them in the way that you would like them to appear on your patterned paper.

Place your patterned paper, face up, over the shapes. Gently sand over the shapes, one at a time focusing on the edges, until they emerge on your patterned paper. Keep sanding until you get a look that you are happy with. Try sanding the edges of your paper to complete the "distressed" look!

This fun technique is a fantastic way to design your own patterned paper to complement your die cuts! It can be used for cards, layouts, tags....the possibilities are endless!

Go have fun with this and let us know what you think!

Watch for it Wednesday #4

Have you ever thought that you would like to try something different on your cards or scrapbook pages? Well, why not try inking with items that you find around your home to give your projects a fabulous unique look.
I inked a piece of paper to use on the front of my card by inking the textured side of a kitchen dish sponge to give my paper a grid appearance.

This is the technique I used:-


1. Cut out your piece of paper that you want to ink to the size that you need it.
2. With an ink pad (you could also use paint) ink the textured side of a kitchen sponge cloth so that it has a really good coating of ink.
3. Place the kitchen sponge (inked face down) onto the paper that you want to ink and firmly push the sponge down, so that the ink transfers over to the paper, being careful not to let the sponge move so that the ink is not smudged on the paper underneath.


4. Carefully remove the sponge and you are now left with your inked piece of paper. Remember to let your paper dry. Time will differ depending on what you use to ink or paint with. I like to use TIM HOLTZ DISTRESS INK because it dries pretty much straight away.
5. Once the inked paper is dry, decorate or place it onto your project as needed.


To finish making my card, I also used some 3D adhesive foam squares, wire mesh, the COTTAGE CUTZ WEATHERVANE ROOSTER and the GO KREATE ‘SKIPTON’ COMPACT ALPHABET. Both of these dies are available for sale at THE SCRAPPING COTTAGE.

Watch For It Wednesdays! #3

Have you ever tried chalking your diecuts? If not, you are missing out on a FUN and EASY way to add depth and life to your diecuts. :) Look at my photo of the new Sizzix Easter Basket die to

see "before chalking" and "after chalking." All you do is take a Q-tip and rub it on the chalk and

then rub it on your diecut. You can add as much or as little color as you want. I did a card for you to see it finished and put together. The card is also a Sizzix die. It is the Sizzix Bigz XL

Scalloped Card.

Watch for it Wednesdays! #2

This week I would like to share a tip for a quick and easy way to make a folded shaped card. Cut your cardstock into the size card you want and fold it in half. Make sure your card is larger than the shaped die you plan to use. Next, place the folded edge of the card slightly below the cutting edge of your metal die.

Now, when you roll your card and die through your cutter, you will have a shaped card with the folded edge still intact. I used the Quickutz Cookie Cutter Nesting Flowers to create my scalloped edge card.

WATCH FOR IT WEDNESDAY #1

Each Wednesday we will be posting a simple Tip or Technique to help you out on those scrappy related projects. We're calling it "Watch for it Wednesday"

This week I'd like to show you how to add just a little detail on your diecuts. I keep a bottle of white Acrylic paint handy to add little white dots in the center of the eyes. I shake up the paint and unscrew the lid and then dip the pointed end of my Quickstik in the little bit of paint in the lid and then dot it right on the diecut. This way there is no paint mess. I do this on almost all my diecuts that have eyes. It's quick and easy and makes the diecut come to life. On this owl I also took my Zig pen and detailed his nose just a bit to make it stand out as well.