Vendor Spotlight: Just Imagine Crafts/Kreaxions (Article 2 of 2)

Reported by Beth Silaika
Some days I feel like Tim "the Toolman" Taylor. I love my tools, arrrh arrrh arrhh!! This latest tool is the Kreaxions 4 in 1 punch (model 922) and optional star template. It comes with the punch, which you can use alone, or it can be used in conjunction with the A, B or C plates. Using the A, B, and C plates allows the punch to be so versatile.


For most paper crafters, there are two types of paper which you use frequently with punches. The lighter paper, which is around 70 lb weight, is much easier to use with punches. The heavier card stock is usually between 80 lb and 110 lbs. Stampin' Up! is around 90 lbs, so I decided to use that for my review, since it is a favorite of so many paper crafters.

If you use the punch without any of the plates, you get a nice design. On the left I used some paper which was provided to me by Kreations. It was a light weight card stock, around 70 lb weight, comparable to a nice designer paper. On the right, heavyweight card stock, Stampin' Up!, approximately 90 lb weight. The punch easily punched through the light card stock, but it took a little more effort to punch through the heavier card stock. I had to place the Stampin' Up! card stock on the desk and use my weight to push down to press through the paper.
That punch looks like the face of a jack-o-lantern, so I punched the design on a scrap piece of orange zest Papertrey Ink card stock (110 lb). Punching through this heavier 110 lb card stock took a little more effort, but the punch went through clean, without any jagged edges. Next, I punched the orange zest piece with a circle punch and then trimmed it to look like a pumpkin. I added some avocado scraps to complete the look. FABULOUS!!!

Next, I lined up all the plates to test their ability through the light and heavy card stock.

First, take one side of the plate and slide it in the side of the punch (as shown).

Second, slide in the second half of the plate and press the two plates together. They line up quite easily.

Here is the test with the A plate (white plates). It worked well with both weights of paper and although a little more "umph" was required to push through the heavier cardstock, the punch left no torn edges or jagged design.
On to Plate B, which is a corner design. This makes for a fun side for the edge of your card. You can even use this punch on a mat and tuck your photo in one, two or all four corners! FUN!
Plate C is one of my favorites, it makes a cute curved edge plus design. Oh the possibilities! So fun!!!

Here is a fun addition to the 4 in 1 punch....it is a Star Template Stencil Octagon which allows you to take your tool to the next level. First, you take the template and trim out your card stock. This is relatively easy, but a little time consuming, so I trimmed out three stars at once (you know, in case I made a mistake!).
Once you have your star trimmed out, you insert the "A" plates into your punch. Each point is inserted into the punch and you repeatedly punch each point out to create a fun design. Depending on how well the star was initially trimmed, you may have to trim a little portion of the edge off the border.
Depending on how well the star was initially trimmed, you may have to trim a little portion of the edge off the border. Here is the punched piece with the borders attached. I was able to easily trim them off and create a nice little "doily".
I was able to use the trimmed doily to create a fun focal point on a card. Simply add some buttons to the center and a sentiment to the bottom of the card - this was such a simple design.

Take a peek at the Just Imagine Crafts blog here for a video on how to use this Star Template Octagon! I really enjoyed playing with the Kreaxions 4 in 1 punch and I like the idea of being able to use one tool with a few tweaks to create many different looks. After a few punches however, the palm of my hand was a little sore. I guess I have gotten spoiled by my squeeze punches! I like the idea of the Star Octagon template too, but to create mass production of the template would be quite time consuming, so I will probably not be using it often. It will be one of those "unique" looks I use every once in a while on my cards.

Pros:

• The 4 in 1 punch gives you several different looks, all with one tool
• easy to use, plates are very simple to change
  
• inexpensive, less than $16 for the 4 in 1 punch and less than $3 for the Star Octagon template
• punches through many weights of paper without leaving jagged or torn edges

Cons:

• requires significant pressure to punch through heavier weight papers
• older style punch may make the palm of your hand sore

GIVEAWAY

The folks over at Just Imagine are giving three lucky readers a punch and their circle cutter.  To enter to win this prize, you need to make a comment on this post. To comment, just click below this article where it says "crafters have an opinion on this post" and answer this question...

Do you own punches?  What kinds of projects would you use these punches for?

One comment per person, per Vendor Spotlight: Just Imagine Crafts/Kreaxion article (this is 2 of 2), please. Winner will be randomly chosen on July 1st and announced here on the blog.

Disclosure

Event Review - Chicago Craft Social

Reported by Julie Tiu
Spring 2009, there was a website with craft-loving friends wanting to get together with other craft-loving friends. Never mind that it was held in a sort-of-hard-to-find church space behind a strip mall (there are lucky ones who know of or attend this church). Actually, the space is an amazing open area with a kitchen perfect for feeding the masses. There were projects for every whim and people bringing amazing goods from their kitchens to share while we made things... like we were going over to an aunt's house, except this aunt could have 100+ people over without breaking a sweat. Fun people + fun projects + plenty of space = three fun evenings over 2009!

It didn't take long for the Chicago Craft Social (CCS) to grow in number of fans, guests and crafts. There was also a little change of guard within the event coordinator circle, but the party went off without a hitch! We have Craft Social event producer, Amanda Edwards, project leaders and sponsors to thank for a crazy-good fourth CCS evening.

(Picture caption: Amanda Edwards calling a raffle winner)

CCS Growing Up

This being the fourth event, it was no longer the "pot luck" evening, which works out for a lot of folks. I didn't have to worry about buying or cooking something along with bringing my supplies (I led a project table), and then worrying about forgetting my Tupperware and serving utensil. Gee, think that happened? The event team used a super website, Eventbrite.com, to track registrants! What an great tool! Easy, pain-free, pay with a credit card... love it. Alright, so a few people may have been put off by the increase in entrance fee (previously food or small donation), but really, for the amount of resources and supplies, both project and event, you would pay more elsewhere.

(Picture caption: Ooh! Wee! Raffle giveaways! Everyone received one raffle ticket for the chance to win these amazing gifts.)

(Picture caption: Snack time sponsored by local bakeries and even Chipotle donated the chips and salsa)

New at this event, a special charity table. CCS featured PROMISE, Salvation Army's outreach program and initiative to combat sex trafficking and exploitation of children. The project table dedicated to PROMISE had a resin pendant necklace craft with Caravan Beads and Briolette Beads & More, all to be donated to the girls residing at Anne's House.


Crafts and the People who Love Them

With twenty-one project tables, this might be the most crafting I've seen to date... and I've been at all four Socials. Though, I think this time around the "Do-Your-Own-Project" areas might have been scrapped, so to speak, to make room for the extra tables. The comments trailing around the room says it all, "This is soooooo cool!" and "Where do I start? I don't know where I want to go first?"

And, whoa, were there a lot of newcomers! There's a sort of deer-in-headlights look crossed with sheer excitement. Or maybe it's sensory overload with the chatting over the "ka-chunking" of equipment, like the one at the Button Collages table by Pinbackattack. And, even if you didn't get to visit this table, the Pinbackattack crew was generous to include a few buttons in everyone's take-home-goody bags. My goody bag had a package of Zots adhesive dots and shiny new 5" Titanium non-stick scissors from Westcott, too.

Being a project leader has been loads of fun, but the drawback is there isn't enough time to actually make any of the other crafts. You could try to do both. I just took a few minutes at a time to check out what every one was up to:

Button Madness with Pinbackattack and Beth Engelman from Mommy on a Shoestring.


Want an upcycled T-shirt tote? People had a great time at this table!

Fabric Tape. Versatile. Easy. I could so get hooked on this DIY craft.


A little wool felt, a little thread. Felt Magnets by OhMa Felt


Chirp. Chirp. Chirp. Collograph Prints with Jessica Taylor Caponigro.


These make me want to pull out my fabric scraps! Hexagon Quilting with Hannah Barbosa and Vogue Fabrics


Oh, happy paper... Decorative Switch Plates with Siu Martinez.

Flip Flop Fun! with Arcadia Knitting. Makes me feel fuzzy-comfy just looking at them.

Cute little journals upcycled from paper scraps, magazines, and chipboard at Xpedx's Bound Journals table!

Painted Glass sponsored by Plaid with Craft Critique's Sarah Moore

Holy scraps, Batman... Quilted Cards with Stampology Chicago's Donna Krueger

Upcycled Mini Books hosted by Marisa Pawelko for Westcott

Beautiful Kusuduma Origami Flowers

 CBear is getting sticky with ModPodge! It's a Fabric Candy Bowl sponsored by ModPodge Rocks

Copic Marker Tutorial with Craft Critique's Simone Collins

A festive 4th of July Banner

Crayons and thread? Who knew! Crayon Embroidery, too cute!

My eco-friendly project: Newspaper Seedling Pots and Trays... love helping out the environment!

Mokume Madness! Making necklaces, pendants and earrings with polymer clay. Thanks to Polyform!

On my little walkabouts, I somehow missed the Tissue Paper Votive Holder table?! But, yes, there were crafters making those too!

What keeps me coming back, having been at all four Socials? Like so many with a busy life caring for others, I like to have some time to myself, and while I could so easily go to a local craft-mega-mart on a Friday night, I haven't. I look forward to the Craft Social for the variety of projects, for getting chatty with a new community of new friends, seeing the looks on the faces of newcomers when they meet someone whose blog they are following and being there when they learn a new skill. Cheers!
Well done, Craft Social, well done.

Are you ready to come to the next Chicago Craft Social?  Have you been to one?  Share your thoughts!

Vendor Spotlight: Just Imagine Crafts/Kreaxions

Reported by Kandi Phillips

Just Imagine Crafts is the only US distributor for the Kreaxions crafting line, which includes unique 4-in-1 punches, a 10 inch circle cutter, and other tools for paper crafting.

The Kreaxion 4-in-1 punches are designed to give you several options for punching corners as well as borders. The punches come with three inserts (A, B and C), and by changing out each of these inserts you can get two different corners and one border. By using the punch alone without inserts you can achieve an entirely different border. Here you can see each of the options available with this punch (#922), marked as to which insert was used.


I love having the option to completely customize my crafting projects with only one punch. On the Just Imagine Crafts blog, you can watch a video here on how to use the punch and inserts to add exquisite details to your craft projects.

One of the fun things you can do with these punches is using the A insert and the Star Stencil Octagon to make a lacy doily to accent any scrapbook page or card. A video of how to make the doily is also on the Just Imagine Crafts blog here. The doily is the perfect accent for the flower blossom on my card, and adds a unique embellishment quickly and easily.


The only thing I didn’t like about this punch is the punch body itself. It was like the punches I had a few years back, where you had to press hard from the top to punch through the paper. Although this one isn’t as bad as previous punches I’ve owned, it did require some pushing on a surface. Whereas I’m used to holding punches in one hand and punching clean through.

Another great tool for any crafter is the Kreaxion 10 inch circle cutter. Many times I hear crafters trace dinner plates to get a large circle for a scrapbook page, but with this tool you can make a perfect circle in half the time! At first I had problems with this tool. I watched the video on the Just Imagine Crafts blog here, but still had issues in getting a perfect circle. As instructed, I rotated the paper and not the cutter, but wound up with jagged edges on my circles.


After a few more tries, I was getting comfortable with moving just the paper itself and I was getting more even circles.


I decided to change out the blade, and finally got some great circles. The circle cutter has a space for extra blades; it also comes with four replacement blades and two pencil leads. I definitely think this has a learning curve associated with it, but before long I was cutting perfect circles. I also tried tracing circles with the pencil leads and found this to be a great tool for seeing exactly how big the circle is before you decide to cut it out.

The circle cutter is also designed to cut photos. There is a sharp point in the center to aid anchoring in the blade and for cutting your circles, but this is remedied with a small plastic piece to cover the point when cutting pictures. I did notice, though, that there were four small dots after I was done cutting my circle. So, I didn’t attempt cutting any photos with mine.


Now that I felt confident in cutting circles, I decided to try cutting out stamped shapes for a card. I was able to adjust the size quickly and cut these circles out in a matter of minutes to build my card.



Since the point created a hole in the center of my circles it was perfect for adding a brad, and I knew it was exactly in the center of the circle.

Images copyright Skipping Stones Design

I then used the circle cutter to cut a small circle for my scrapbook page. I love how it layered right over my chipboard circle and was the perfect place to add embellishments. And it really accentuated the brads. The best part is how quickly I cut the circle out, and that this tool takes up hardly any room on my craft table.



Overall, I was impressed with the many functions the Kreaxion 4-in-1 punches and the Kreaxion 10 inch circle cutter had to offer. I would be curious to see what other looks can be achieved with the number of punches available.


Pros:

• 4-in-1 punch gives you two corners and two borders

• Circle cutter takes up hardly any space and is a time saver


• Circle cutter comes with four extra blades and two pencil leads

Cons:

• Older style punch shape requires more pressure to punch through


• Circle cutter blades may need to be changed often depending on thickness of cardstock you are cutting

GIVEAWAY!
Just Imagine Crafts has given us 3 sets of 3 punches and 3 circle cutters for 3 of our readers! To be entered to win, leave a comment on any Vendor Spotlight: Just Imagine article (there will be 2), and tell us what projects you have in mind for using their tools. One comment, per person, per article, please. Winner will be randomly selected on July1st, or thereabouts.

Disclosure