Soda Cans: Before and After Part 4

Today is day 4 of the Before & After Series. This series is running March 8- March 13. The purpose of this series is to show some common items that we all use, and then show them in a different way. This is not your standard "altered items" series of projects. Some of the posts are techniques, and some of them are full projects. My FAVORITE project will actually post on Saturday March 13th, and it will make you "jump on a chair and scream!" Check back tomorrow for a project that is a hint to the big project for Saturday.

Today we will look at a soda can. I used the metal from a soda can to create the metal accent on this Anniversary card and this Valentine's card.

I have made a video to show you how to do this technique. I hope you enjoy it.

I am thinking of some ideas to do a new series on metal! It will have to wait a week though. Next week I will be posting about my daughter's Stamp Camp with her friends! That is what she wanted to do for a birthday party, so we are doing several projects together! We are both very excited! I will show all the projects and photos next week.

I post every day. Every day. So come by and check out what is happening, or better yet, subscribe in the top right panel and receive email updates when I post! To view videos, you will have to visit my blog or YouTube.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Products used for today's project:

• Big Shot # 113439
• Texturz Plates #1 Backgrounds # 114512
• Texturz Impressions Pad (use instead of a cutting pad) #114614
• Texturz Impressions Silicone Rubber (for deep impressions) # 114615
• Craft and Rubber Scissors #103179
• Other: soda can, wire cutter pliers (raid your hubby's tool box)

Can There Be More? Fabric & Your Big Shot Part 5

There are so many possibilities for using your Big Shot and fabric that I can't even begin. I have tried the past few days to bring you just a few simple ideas, although predominantly for girls, that you could use. We can look into more ideas, if you book a workshop with me!! I hope you have enjoyed learning more about fabric and the Big Shot.

Here are some other ideas for using your Big Shot with fabric and the dies that can be used. I am sure that there are 100s more ideas, but here are a few:

• Quilting- scallop circle, scallop square, circles #2, pennant die, 5 point star, flower folds, and more.
• Appliqués- scallop circle, scallop square, circles #2, pennant die, snowflake, 5 point star (makes a flower too), flowers, leaves, Beautiful Butterflies, and more. The Build-a-Bear die works great for this too!
• Embellishments for scarves, shirts, tote bags, bibs, burp cloths, aprons, tea towels, and virtually anything else that will be still. You can use any of the dies for these applications!
• Home Decor: Add to pillows, curtains, sheets, and more!
• Wearables: Add to shirts, pants, pins, flip flops, and more! You can use any of the dies for these applications!
• What about boys?:
  • Use the Big Shot to cut letters to appliqué on a shirt, pillow, or duffle bag. You don't appliqué? Then use fusible webbing attached to the fabric, die cut the letter, then iron on!! Looks great!
  • The 5 point star looks great on a boys shirt, pillow, or duffle bag.
  • Leaves, snowflakes, and words always work for boys too! Cut a circle from orange fabric and sew on (or use fabric paint) the stripes for a basketball! Do this same technique for other balls.
  • Use the Pennant die and your teams colors to make a pennant for a shirt or pillow!
  • Use the stars#2 die and add stars, lots of stars, to a shirt or pillow. Even cutting these out and hanging them from a mobile would be a great gift for a baby boy!
  • Don't forget the Build-a-Bear die, which has all sorts of boy accessories for the bear! Little boys love these!
• Purses and Totes: I featured these in an earlier post. Click here to go to that post.

While I am not a seamstress in any way, I can sew straight lines, which is all that is required for these fabric projects: this one, this other one, this one too, and don't forget this one! If I can do it, I KNOW you can!!

You can't sew? You don't want to sew? Well, guess what? Many of these projects can be made without the first stitch! Some can be glued with fabric adhesive, Sticky Strip, Fusible Web or Heat-n-Bond, or Hot glue! Just ask me how!

I've got you interested now, don't I? Check out the Big Shot Bundle I have for you that will save you money off the catalog price, just click on the button to the right. Host a workshop, where we can use the big shot, and you could save even more! Contact me today!

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday, February 27th, was my anniversary! Fifteen years! Whoo-hoo!! I said the other night that it is a huge accomplishment and something to be proud of because putting up with my husband for 15 years is a BIG deal! Of course, if the truth be known, it is probably his putting up with me that is the biggest deal!!

So here is the card I made him! Click on the photos to enlarge them. A friend of mine came up with the idea to use the tools as letters, I just expanded on the idea and made it even more masculine! What do you think? My husband loved it! He is so supportive of my stamping and creating, but when I show him a finished project, he just beams! It makes me feel so good! He took this card and put it on the mantle, saying he was going to show it to his dad and brother! (This is a huge deal! He is one of those "I can't even act like I like something" sort of guys. He is Mr. Darcy true to form!)

Stamp sets: Totally Tool, Tres Chic, Woodgrain

Inks: Soft Suede, Basic Black marker, Bashful Blue Marker (the highlight around the tools

Paper: Soft suede, Whisper White

Accessories: Silver brads, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals,

Tools: Big Shot, Texturz Embossing Plates #1

Other: Metal from a soda can

Thanks for stopping by today! Sign up to receive email updates, so you will know when I make the video later this week about how to make the embossed metal using a soda can!

A Masculine Valentine's Card

Masculine cards… where is the inspiration? Well, as soon as I saw the diamond pattern on the Texturz Templates #1 for the Big Shot, I thought that it reminded me of Tread-plate. (You know that metal that men like on their tool boxes.)

Then low and behold I came across a website where a lady made a tool box using this texture plate and a soda can!! Now I haven't even tried to make the tool box yet, because I want to save it for Father's Day gifts, so you can come back to see that.

I will film a video on how to cut the soda can if you want (comment or email me to let me know if you want this video or not), but basically I used wire cutters to cut through the edge of the clean soda can. I then used my Craft and Rubber Scissors to cut the top and bottom off. Basically you cut straight down then you cut the top part off and then the bottom part. The Craft and Rubber Scissors make the edges not-so-sharp, but you should be careful anyway. I have no use for the top or bottom of the can yet, but the bottom of the can really looks promising. Perhaps you will see it in a future project too!

After you have cut out the center of the can, you are left with a sheet of metal. It will try to roll up on you, but that is ok. If you try to reverse roll it, you will either (a)cut yourself, (b)put a crease in the metal, or (c)all of the above. Learn from my mistakes people. Now, place the metal printed side down on the texturz plate. I taped mine down using removable scotch tape to make it lie flat. Run it through the Big Shot as directed on the multi-purpose platform.

It comes out like this (these photos are after I trimmed it to size):

I cut it to the size I needed and used it just as I would cardstock. Punch it, pierce it, tape it, glue it, or fold it.

For the card:

1. Cut a 3 x 3" piece of Whisper White and stamp a tool from the Totally Tool stamp set.
2. Use the Ticket Corner Punch to punch the corners. Hot Tip: Use the Crop-a-dile to punch off the corners of the Whisper White Cardstock if you do not have a Ticket Corner Punch!
3. Cut a piece of Real Red cardstock at 3.5 x 3.5" and attach the stamped image to it.
4. Add a Silver brad to each corner.
5. Cut a piece of the textured metal at 3.5 x 4". You will need to use your Craft blade or your Craft and Rubber Scissors to do this. Your paper cutter will not work.
6. Attach the metal to the card using SNAIL. Then attach the real red piece on top.
7. I stamped another image at the bottom of the card, just because I thought it needed something. On second thought, I would have cut the metal to fit the entire front and centered the red piece. Hindsight is 20-20. I'll remember it for Father's Day. (I am sure this style card will re-appear frequently!)

You don't have a Big Shot yet? Well, I have a bundle for you! You can customize the bundle with dies that you want and get a special price only available from me! Contact me today!

Thanks for stopping by today, and don't forget to email or comment to let me know if you want to see a video on how to cut the can and make the texture!

Page	Number	Item	Price
66	113256	Totally Tool	$17.95
155	100730	Whisper White cardstock 8.5 x 11"	$7.50
156	102482	Real Red cardstock 8.5 x 11"	$5.50
155	101179	Basic Black Ink	$5.95
179	104336	Silver Brads	$6.95
194	113439	Big Shot Die Cut Machine	$99.95*
194	114614	Texurz Impressions Pad	$5.95*
195	114512	Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates	$11.95

* denotes included in bundle price only available from me. Email or comment for more information.

Out of the Ordinary BIG SHOT Projects!

Today's post is part of a thread I started on Stampin' Up!'s new forum for Demonstrator's Only called Stampin' Connection! I asked ladies to talk about ways they use SU! products in unique and unusual ways, and I titled it: Out of the Oridnary Projects. We all know about boxes, cards, and scrapbooking, but what else is there?

I have shown you jewelry, tiles, and earrings this week. Other people have gone as far as making necklaces and bracelets too! I will be working on some of these projects in the future too! There are people who alter candles, tins, and other containers.

One thing I wanted to find out was more ways to use the existing Big Shot dies! We should all get our money's worth from our dies.

People have used the Top Note die to make boxes, purses, bags, cards, toppers for bags, and even faces of critters such as reindeer, snowmen, and Santa. But what about a Photo Wallet? The first photo shows a red photo wallet made from the Top Note die. This project is on my TO DO board! Photo courtesy of Amanda C.

The next two photos are of a great use for the Fancy Favor Die! The Fancy Favor die creates a small gift bag perfect for a small gift. In this instance, Sherry H. connected several of them together to create a desk organizer! How terrific is that?! Great idea, Sherry!! I have the Fancy Favor die and will be making one of these very soon. If you would like one, but you do not have the die, please contact me about ordering a Creative Kit complete with everything you need to make your own. You can even pick the colors of cardstock and the embellishments used!

The next two photos are using the Box #2 die. This idea comes from Amanda C again! She first change the orientation of the box, which usually stands tall and opens from the small side, then she added a second altered Box #2 to the inside as the rest of the "tackle box"! What a great idea! This is a project I will definitely revisit for Father's Day and for my hubby's and Daddy's B'days! Can't wait!

Next is a photo that is from Yvonne M. She used the Fancy Favor die and placed two of them together with a larger tab for a handle to make a baby gift carrier! This application can be used MANY ways! Great idea!

Finally, the last photo is one by Janet W. She used the Fancy Favor die, cut it on a slant and filled it with index cards she had stamped by hand! Terrific idea for personalized note cards! Plus she added some Jumbo Paper Clips turned into Bookmarks! These ideas are on the TO DO board too.

So, your Hot Tip for the day is to look at your Big Shot dies, everything you are about to throw away, and all your craft supplies and ask yourself, "What ELSE could I do with this?" Have fun!!
Ask me about a special customizable Big Shot Bundle available only from me!! Thanks for stopping by today.

Bracelets! & Masculine Cards Hot Tip!

Today is a very quick post. It is my birthday, and I have to go to the grocery store. Whoo hoo!! Fun. Fun. LOL
I showed photos of some bracelets that I made for my uncle to take on a mission trip to Venezuela to give to the girls in the orphanage on a previous post. Here is a photo of a few of the girls and their bracelets.

Today's hot tip is for a masculine card! Cut the top and bottom off of a soda can. Run the sheet of aluminum you are left with through the Big Shot using the Texturz Templates #1 with the diamond shapes. You will be left with a very masculine accent for a card or framed piece! The soda can metal can also be punched with your punches, which will also sharpen the punches!! Double good!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Father's Day Craft Ideas

Oh, Boy! Hmm... maybe that should be Oh, Dad! I have looked for unique father's day crafts to make as a gift for my hubby. He is a wonderful father and superb hubby. He is always building something or welding something. His latest endeavor was to build a Grill/Smoker from a 250 gallon Propane tank. It is huge! I will post pictures one day. It is one its way to cook 350 Boston Butts (Pork Shoulders) as a benefit for a guy he works with whose wife has had sever medical problems (other grills will be involved.)

So back to the point of the post. I have found two awesome crafts by two very creative women. First, Lori McCroskey, who designs Clearly Dollar Stamps, has a great treadplate-looking toolbox made from cardstock and embossing powder. Check it out here. The detailed photos Lori provides are so great, she leaves nothing to chance. I love the tiny closure that is a photo hanger she attached with brads! She plans to add a card and candy to the box. I also think this box would make a great "cell phone charger" box if it was made with foam core board. If you haven't seen one of these charger boxes, check this one out at SplitCoastStampers.com or SCS as most crafters call it.

If anyone out there wants to take on the challenge of making this box into a cell phone charger box, post a link with your comment. But if you make this box anyway, just post a link in the comment, because I would like to see it. Even better, comment on Lori's site too!

The second father's day crafty gift I found was at Alpha+Mom by Brenda Ponnay.
Check it out here. She used mini altoid tins (you could use full size tins, too) and connected two of them together just like a real red toolbox. Brenda has complete instructions and very nice photos showing how she made these.

Again, if you make one, send me a link in the comment, and I will let Brenda know. Or better yet, give her a shout yourself.

Which one will I make? Not sure. I love them both. I don't like Altoids, but I could buy the candy for the tin. I will post photos of whatever I make and the card too!
Thanks for stopping by!