Organization

This post is in response to yesterday's Chic n' Scratch post by Angie Kennedy Juda. I am always looking for ways to reorganize the craft room. There is so much stuff and crafting is easier when you can get to your stash quickly and without a lot of hassle. 

Whenever I see a blog about Ikea products in the craft room I kind of cheer inside. It's like a reaffirmation that I made a good choice. Well Angie got the shelves that I've been using and loving for years and the cheer went up. I read that she got them in Chicago. Well so did I. Maybe Angie would like to take it a step further and add another layer to each shelf. 

I got these small shelves at the Container Store, they are designed for stacking/interlocking with other shelves but they fit perfectly in the cubbies of the Ikea shelving. I don't know if the small shelves are available online because I got mine in a store, but the larger shelves are.

You can see the little pieces of wood at the bottom of the shelves this raises them up just enough to get the mid-size stamp set storage under the shelf. The labels on the side are just printed off the computer. I put the name and number of stamps in each set on the side. I do this because I am old and going blind and I couldn't read the clear labels that come with the stamps. On the back of each box is a larger label with the name, number of stamps, order number and any notes that make it more sellable, such as coordinating stamps and punches. This is also a good reminder to me when I'm staring at a set wonder what I will do with it today.

Hope this helps someone, 

Katie

Versatile Versamark class at Buona Beef 

in Hoffman Estates this Saturday from 11-1pm. 

Come join us. Call for details 224-456-3050.

What is a Cuttlebug?

My friend Cali asked "What is a Cuttlebug?" So I thought I would answer her here instead of a direct email because some of my other readers are not paper crafters or are new paper crafters and they need to know too.

The Cuttlebug is a die-cutting/embossing tool by Provo Craft. It is designed to make cutting dies and embossing easy, and boy did they succeed. It's very lightweight, at only 7 pounds, and easily portable because it has a built in handle on top. The sides, that you run the dies or embossing folders through, fold up so it is quite small - which is important in my small and now overcrowded craft room.


This is a picture of my Cuttlebug, in the open position, 

disregard all other clutter.

I've been experimenting with what can go through this machine. It says it will work with any other manufacturers dies and so far it has. I have only one QuicKuts die, a discounted experiment, that worked great.  I own several Sizzlits dies from Sizzix, as well as one of their Bigz dies from Stampin' Up! and all go through the machine fine.

The surprising thing for some is that the Fiskars texture plates go through fine too. I found the Cuttlebug Sandwich Stacks file on Splitcoast Stampers and looked around the house for fun foam and found none but I did have an old, unusable mouse pad (I have an optical mouse) and cut it to size. It worked well, spritz the card stock with water and it works great. Here are some sample, they texture was either rubbed over with an ink pad or sanded off to make the texture more pronounced:

links:

provo craft's Cuttlebug site

Craft Critique's review of the Cuttlebug by Amy Westerman

I love my Cuttlebug and Fall

I've been preparing for my Brayer class this weekend by brayering most anything that doesn't move. But this is my favorite. I inked up the brayer with the colors of fall, transferred the ink to a leaf and then brayered the leaf onto whisper white card stock. I liked the look but wasn't thrilled that the leaves moved and gave me ghosties. Then I thought what happens if I do it again. Again a nice soft look.

Hmm what happens if I do it through the Cuttlebug? POW 

Great rich color and super details of the leaves. What happens if I do it a second time through the Bug? Again great detail and a softer color. I chose that one to make the card below. Hope you like it. 

Experiment with your Bug, you can put a lot of non-stamping things through it to get really cool effects on cardstock.

Links:
There is a Cuttlebug Challenge site that recently started up. I love to look but rarely have time to do anyone's challenges.

Mel has a lot of great ideas on her blog for the Cuttlebug. 

Class 2

It's a Scrap Challenge Here too

I've been challenging myself to use up my scraps. Just like Becca Ross in Australia I have a stash of pre-stamped, pre-colored, pre-punched goodies that never made it into cards. I've been trying to work my way through them too. I guess great minds think alike.

The link above (entry title) shows what she came up with. The images below shows a couple of the things I came up with. There are more to come (camera battery died mid-snap) so keep a look out.



The first is one of my favorites. I love the crab from Crab and Co. in Kiwi Kiss -- kind of freaked my son out though, "A crab? In Green? Crabs are red!" The texture on the background was created with a crumpled piece of wax paper and kiwi kiss ink on kiwi kiss card stock. The blue is Baja Breeze card stock with white polka dot stamped on using a background stamp. The dew drops are fakes, see the post "Cheap Lucky Me – Dew Tell.", and glued on with Crystal Effects.

The second used Baja Breeze as a background and I love the way it goes with Old Olive. Punched the leaves out with the 5-petal flower punch, the flowers are old Stampin' Up! but because I don't own the set I can't tell you what to be looking for on e-bay if you want them. The left bloom is on dimensionals. The sentiment is a rub-on. It's from the Sale-a-Bration Mini and is no longer available from Stampin' Up!

If you are interested in getting the stamps or card stock used in these cards you can now order them from me on-line by clicking here. The next 4 people to order online will receive a gift from me (not in their order, but in their mailbox). It just may be a package of those Sale-A-Bration rub-ons.

Later,
K

Libby's Little Addiction: The Candidates...

Libby's Little Addiction: The Candidates...

I love this. Thanks for the explanation