Cropadile 2 Big Bite

Reported By Julia Stainton

A popular theme on the scrapbooking market is manufacturers always trying to come up with great new eyelet setting tools. The wild success of the Crop-a-dile from We R Memory Keepers has prompted a new release from this company, the Crop-a-dile 2 Big Bite. Released just a few months ago for the CHA Anaheim 2008 show, this product looked exciting and able to take on all the limitations that the Crop-a-dile faced. The original Crop-a-dile is a fabulous tool and well loved by many including myself. It's main limitation was the size of its "bite". You could only punch and set just over one inch from the edge of your project or layer... hence the name of this latest offering...The Big Bite. As a huge fan of the Crop-a-dile, I just had to order this new tool and give it a try.

The Crop-a-dile Big Bite is a very large punch and eyelet setter. Sturdy and heavy, it can punch through almost anything you could wish to punch and with ease. Chipboard, fabric, leather, layers of cardstock, tin and thin metal all punch well with this tool. The increased size of the "bite" allows you to now punch and set over 6" from the edge...a huge improvement over the first model. This makes it a very handy tool to have for scrapbookers who tend to design in 12x12 layouts. Like the original model, this tool will set eyelets and snaps in two different sizes... 1/8" and 3/16". We R Memory Keepers has a great variety of designer and unique eyelets to give you lots of options with this setter. I especially love their Jewelled Snaps and the embossed sentiment ones as well. They can really add a special touch to your project. Also available for purchase separately is a great storage case for your Big Bite. It comes with a matching orange case, and a selection of metal grommets...a new feature for use with the Crop-a-dile.

When I first opened my new Big Bite...I did have a few difficulties getting it to work. First of all, the punching mechanisms did not line up with the holes that they should slide into. Apparently this seems to be an alignment problem that can happen with shipping. It does take some strength to slightly adjust the bite of the Big Bite so that they do line up but I was glad to find that it is a problem that is fairly easily solved. I also found, like the original Crop-a-dile, this product does have a bit of a learning curve to it. The pivoting setting bits are almost identical to the previous version. I discovered that you do need to use more pressure than the original Crop-a-dile to set your eyelets and brads. With this added pressure, I found myself crushing my first few eyelet setting attempts. If you purchase this product, I'd suggest practicing on scrap paper first until you get the hang of it.




When repeatedly punching holes with the Big Bite in a pattern, it is a little difficult to line up with precision. The original Crop-a-dile has a separate punch mechanism that makes it easy to see down the barrel to line up your punching. This new design requires you to really try to see from the side edge exactly where the punch will hit the paper. That being said...it is still possible as you can see in the above photo where I stamped a backgrounder stamp and then embellished the design with eyelets.



A detail I needed to adjust to in this new model is the sliding bar on the top of the unit. You slide this to use either the setter or the punch. It is very easy to use but I did have to keep reminding myself to move it each time. During a few uses, I almost forgot and punched a new hole in my project instead of setting my eyelet.





The feature I did find easier to use was the new orange plastic sliding ruler in the bite of the Big Bite. When punching with the original, if you wanted a constant depth of holes from the edge, you needed to set a metal sliding piece and screw it into place. I often found it difficult to screw as the metal piece would slip on me. The new orange plastic measuring strip is very easy to use and the slider bar clicks along and stays where you wish it to be. One thing to keep in mind when using this tool is to use the correct one of the three measuring bars. Depending on whether you are punching with the 3/16 or 1/8" holes or setting your eyelets, verify that you are measuring the correct scale. Always check the setting with every use!



I was hoping to find extra details about this product on the We R Memory Keepers web-site. Unfortunately, it hasn't been updated with this new product yet. When the original Crop-a-dile came out, there was a great on-line tutorial to help customers. I would love to have a helpful tip sheet to go with the Big Bite as well. If you need help remembering the correct combinations to use with each type of eyelet, the original Crop-a-dile on-line tip sheet can help you with that.

(layout sketch from www.pagemaps.com)

Pros:

• Very sturdy, quality tool that will last for years
• I love the easy to use measuring feature on the "bite" that allows you to punch up to 6". This allows you to set anywhere you wish on a 12x12 scrapbook layout
• This tool is fabulous for punching and setting those hard to punch products
• no parts to lose....love this! ;)
• Easy to punch holes and set eyelets for people with wrist and hand problems...you do need more pressure to set the holes than the original though
• Quiet
• will set a large variety of sizes and styles of eyelets and snaps

Cons:

• Some users may find the different settings confusing to use. Making sure the bits are at the correct setting was a challenge on the original and is the same design here.
• This design is not as easy to line up for precision punching as the original design. I had difficulty lining up the punch mechanism as this design makes it more difficult to see the area. It is also easier to make a mistake with punching settings on this design.
• Heavy and not very portable
• Practice is needed to find the correct pressure to use with this tool. Too heavy results in squashed eyelets.

Where to Purchase:

• Local Scrapbooking Store
• Scrappin Great Deals
• Creative Express
• Croppin Paradise

Cost: varies approximately 29.99 - 39.99 US/ 39.99CDN

Ease of Use: 6 out of 10

I'm enjoying this new version of the Crop-a-dile now that I've had some time to get used to the new format. Perhaps I am just a creature of habit, but I won't be getting rid of my original any time soon. For a quick eyelet though, the original is easiest for me to work with. I do love the reach of this newer model and the flexibility it gives me. I also love the durability and the ability to work quietly while small children are sleeping. And so, while the Big Bite won't be replacing my original Crop-a-dile, the new Big Bite along with its brother, will have a permanent place on my shelf. If you have this tool, how do you feel about it? Let us know by leaving a comment!

Creating Keepsakes Magazine

Reported By Julia Stainton

As one of the most popular scrapbooking magazines in the market today, Creating Keepsakes is one of my favorite magazines to read. Each issue is so jam packed with fabulous ideas that I go through it time and time again. While I'm not a subscriber, I'm wondering why not as I never miss an issue.

Creating Keepsakes is perfect for scrapbookers of all levels from beginner to expert. The fresh ideas, photography tips, techniques and even cool digital tips included in each issue always inspire me to get creating. And isn't that exactly what you purchase crafting magazines for? A great dose of new ideas and inspiration that you can jump off from and start creating again yourself.

Each issue has a wide variety of columns that always appeal to me. April's issue is no exception. I love learning new techniques and ideas and have yet to be disappointed. This 132 page magazine is broken up into various categories...features, creativity starters, gathering place, monthly solutions, product ideas and expert techniques. I love the expert techniques and product ideas sections especially. Want a peek into April's Creating Keepsakes issue? Here are just a few of the things you'll find inside...

• Sweet Inspiration - layouts and ideas inspired by candy
• Get Caught Up - scrapbook 100 photos tonight
• The Art Cupboard - a very cool technique with paint and paper towel
• The Creative Life - quick baby shower ideas
• CK Hot Spot - beautiful bows...designs and ideas inspired by bows in fashion
• How We Create - pixels and paper with Jessica Sprague
• Five Product Challenge using vellum, stamps, marker, patterned paper and white cardstock
• Tools and Techniques - Stapler tricks to try
• Computer Tricks with Jessica Sprague - using digital templates
• Becky's Sketch - a great design with lots of white space
• Studio A - Ali Edwards gives fabulous seasoned advice for any scrapbooker...where was this list when I started????!!!
• C.D.'s Playground - darling handmade button ideas
• Through the Lens - Candice Stringham plays around with fun illusions you can create with your camera
  

What I especially like about this magazine is the clean look, variety of projects and styles. As a person of varied interests, I love the layouts, the digital tips, and especially the ideas taking scrapbooking products and using them for smaller albums and altered art. In the technique articles I love the clear, easy to follow instructions accompanied by photographs. One of my favorite columns each month is the Four Products ... Ways. I love the different uses and ideas that different designers use for the same products. April's issue has a little April Fool's spin and uses five products to each of the designers. The designs feature one altered project, a couple layouts and three card designs.

I also love the variety of scrapbooking styles featured in this issue. If you are interested in digital or hybrid designs, there are ideas and instructions for great projects for each. For those short of time, I just love the ideas of using a digital template for a smaller album. This is a fabulous concept and a very doable project in a short period of time. I love how classic and timeless it looks as well.

One of the challenges I feel that most scrapbookers face is deciding on a layout. This can take up a lot of time until you actually decide where you want to go with a design. Layout is also one of the key elements of a design and one that can make all the difference. I just love Becky Higgins Sketches each month and this month, there are a total of 30 sketches from various layouts in the magazine, all printed onto one easy to find and use page. I used one of the sketch layouts to create a scrapbooking page inspired by this issue. Also used as inspiration....the article on staples had me pulling out my stapler and having some fun. In an article written by Ali Edwards, she lists things she'd like to tell new scrapbookers. One of them was not to be afraid of using their handwriting on a layout. Now I must say, I'm petrified of doing that but since Ali said to, well....I gave in for at least one layout and hand wrote my journaling. Now my descendants will have a copy of my handwriting. They may need an expert to decipher it though!



Creating Keepsakes Magazine is owned by CK Media. CK Media also produces other fabulous magazines you are sure to have heard of... Simple Scrapbooks Magazine, Digital Scrapbooking Magazine and Paper Crafts Magazine. Creating Keepsakes has approximately 494,000 readers and you'll be inspired by layouts and ideas featuring Ali Edwards, Jessica Sprague, Becky Higgins and more. One of the fabulous things about this magazine is their on-line site, http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/. An on-line gallery, message boards, blogs, not to mention contests, videos and techniques make it a fabulous resource for community, questions and inspiration. Included in the magazine are usually links to free downloads that are fun and easy to use.

Creating Keepsakes is available at almost every magazine stand including your local craft store, scrapbooking stores or bookstores. You can also order it on-line from Creating Keepsakes in single issue or subscription from Creating Keepsakes or by issue at http://www.amazon.com/. Each issue retails at $5.99 US or $8.99 CDN. Subscription rates are $19.97 US per year for a US subscription. With twelve issues per year, this is a fabulous option and a wonderful treat to find in your mailbox each month.

As Creating Keepsakes Magazine says... "Our mission is to motivate and navigate our readers through the delightfully addicting process of preserving photos, memories and personal treasures." I think their mission statement says it all. I've been inspired and motivated by this magazine and I know I'll be returning to this issue, as well as the others I've collected, time and time again. As for addictions... reading each issue of Creating Keepsakes is right at the top of my list.

Is Creating Keepsakes one of your addictions? Do you have a favorite column? We'd love to hear what you think of this magazine!

EK Success Curvy Cutter

Reported by Julia Stainton

I just love my new circle cutter. I’ve been wanting to post this review & tutorial since I first bought it but time has been in short supply. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with it…from the first perfect cut with it…I’ve been so enthralled. The EK Success Curvy Cutter Circle Template is so slick and easy to use and I’m so impressed with its abilities. I’ve always loved circles and they are so hot and trendy right now in design. Usually I’d tend to stay away from circles as I just wasn’t happy using the shape cutter I had. It would leave spots where I had to trim. I do love the Nestabilites circles but I found I was limited in size of what would run through my die cut machine. With my new Curvy Cutter Circle Template, I’m just loving adding circles of all sizes as they are so quick and easy to incorporate.

What I like about the Curvy Cutter

• easy to use
• easy to position
• very quick to set up
• huge size variety of circles from 2.25″ to 7.5 inches …you can also cut outside the circles for greater flexibility and a full 12″ cut
• 1/8″ increments mean you can cut and mat with great flexibility
• two circle positioning templates make it easy to position your photo or paper in just the right place
• ergonomic handle swivels easily for cutting in a single motion
• no torn or ragged edges….a crisp perfect circle
• gripper feet keep the template easily in place
• works well on cardstock, photos, vellum etc.
• double sided blade means you can cut in both directions
• expandable….you can use the Curvy Cutter part with other templates such as the Oval Template and the rounded squares
• you can use the glass cutting mat for other applications such as free hand cutting etc.
  
  

Things to note:

• This cutter does not work well with small scraps of paper
• The cutter is sold in two pieces…the circle template and the Curvy Cutter blade mechanism itself…you will need both
• This cutter works best with a glass cutting mat. Self healing mats are not recommended
• When cutting multiple circles…start at the smallest size and work out.
• This cutter is not inexpensive but I find it is well worth the money. Well made and flexible I know it will give me great cuts for years to come.

How to Use:
To cut thin circles…

1. Lay cardstock on glass mat.

2. Position circle template on top. Remove guide and place cutter in desired track.

3. Swivel blade around track.

4. Push blade in until it clicks at the next increment. Cut circle.

5. Repeat.

To position on photo and cut out…

1. Place photo on glass cutting mat.

2. Position circle template with positioning insert where desired on photo.

3. Adjust blade to correct size. Remove insert and place blade in track.

4. Press down on template to hold steady and swivel blade with other hand.

Quick Tip: When cutting rings of circles…I often cut out a full sheet of circles at once. This allows me to have some precut circles on hand and play around with which size best suits my design.

Where to find it…

• I purchased my cutter from my local scrapbook store.
• You can also find it at Michaels, Hobby Lobby and other craft stores
• On-line stores

Things to do with it…

• make a circle card
• make thin 1/8″ circles
• cut circle spotlights
• make circle windows
• cut out off-set circles
• line up the side of your card to create a semi-circle edge

If you have questions about this product…please feel free to ask. And be sure to leave comments and let us know what you think about it.

Edited to add...thanks so much for the response and questions. I wanted to answer the question about creating a circle card with this cutter. I'm happy to say that it worked extremely well cutting through a double thickness of cardstock weight patterned paper to create a darling circular card design. Thanks so much for the question as I'm loving this possibility!

CardMaker's Sketch Book

Reported by Julia Stainton


When card designing...one of my favorite things is to try out new layout ideas. Whether you follow the sketch directly or use it as a jumping off point for your creativity, card sketch ideas are a fabulous time saver. These helpful layouts also stretch your creativity to try out new ideas that you may never thought of yourself. The CardMaker's Sketch Book is a fabulous resource to add to your collection and is perfect for those times when you need to create a card but just do not know where to start. New papercrafter or experienced designer, we all have moments when we just want to get past the layout and get creating.

This paper-bound book collection of 45 sketches is sure to give you a myriad of ideas and become a much used book in your craft library. Edited by Tanya Fox, this book features original sketch layouts by Tami Mayberry. I first came across Tami's designs in many papercraft magazines and over the past year, Tami has been creating weekly layouts for Card Positioning Systems. This publication features four card designs for each sketch layout. These layouts give you great ideas on how to take a sketch and use it for different products and occasions. Card designs are high quality unique designs by designers whose names you will be familiar with... Sherry Wright, Lisa Johnson, Kim Hughes, Kathleen Paneitz, Julie Ebersole, Linda Beeson and many others.



This book is divided up into four main sections. Each of these sections feature sketch layouts for a specific card size. You'll find designs for 4" x9" cards as well as 5x5", 4.5" x 6" and 5.5" x 8". There are no sketch layouts specifically for what I think of as the most standard card designed out there...the A2 4.25 x 5.5" card size but that is really not a problem. I found that the 4.5x6 or 5.5x8 size layouts worked all worked well by just changing the proportion of the layouts. For that matter...changing a layout from a rectangle format to a square layout is really not that difficult. With a little practice, you can alter the layouts to meet your own needs. Each sketch layout is drawn in a clean linear format. My favorite way of designing from a sketch is to no look at the samples ahead of time. This allows my to keep my mind open to many possibilites.


The photographs of the card designs are beautiful clear shots and feature many color combos, styles and seasons on each page. No matter what your card making style, you are sure to find something here to inspire you. Some of the designs show you how you can flip a card layout 90° to get a new look. Don't be afraid to try and experiment. These are sketch layouts and not a mathematical equation. Many of the card designs feature patterned paper scrappy style designs but for the stamping enthusiast, there are still plenty of designs to look at for inspiration and these layouts work equally well for both mediums and styles of designing.



As part of this review, I decided that it would be good to try out a few sketch layouts in the different size cards and see how well I liked the actual sketches. I actually had a difficult time deciding which ones I'd like to do. 4 x 9 designs I love but find myself rarely creating them and I know I'll be having fun working my way through this book. If you are familiar with my design work, you'll know I love to create on a 5x5 card base. I'm always looking for new ideas for this card size and was delighted to find some great card layouts for these. You can see from my samples that I tried to make each sketch my own style. These sketch layouts work for stamping designs, and more scrappy style designs too. Keep in mind also that these layouts can be easily adapted for tags, artist trading cards, journals and other altered projects.

Tucked into the back of this book are four envelope templates so that you can create your own envelopes for each of your card designs....another great resource and lovely addition to the book. The one thing I would have loved to see included in this book is a double spread page of all the designs in miniature. This would make it super easy to scan for the perfect design for your needs. I'm hoping a CardMaker's Sketch Book 2 is planned for a future release!



I'd definitely recommend this book to any cardmaker. Perfect for beginners as well as all levels of cardmakers, the layouts in this book will not date even after the card sample designs and products are. Well worth your money at $14.95 US retail, you can also purchase this book on-line at Amazon for $10.17 For Canadian readers, here's another source...I purchased my copy from Chapters.Indigo.ca for $14.40 CDN Pick up or order a copy today. I know it is a resource you'll turn to time and time again.

My Mind's Eye paper line... I'm loving their vision

Reported by Julia Stainton

I adore paper in every shape, size and color but one of my absolute favorites is the beautiful patterned paper lines by My Mind's Eye. There are so many things I love about this paper, I hardly know where to start!

I first discovered My Mind's Eye in my local scrapbooking store a couple years ago. I was immediately drawn to the display of gorgeous papers. The colors, the style and selection grabbed me for a closer look. Since then I come back time and time again for these beautiful papers and it is rare that I leave the store without at least a few sheets in my shopping bag.

The first thing that drew me to this paper company was the colors and style of the papers. Beautiful up to the minute color combinations in classic styles...always with an up-to-date twist. My Mind's Eye markets a wide variety of lines that are sure to appeal to almost everyone. Lines such as Tres Jolie, Confetti, Bohemia, Signature Suite and Magnolia are huge favorites among papercrafters. While these lines are classic, they have a beautiful distressed look to them. There is always some form of visual texture to the lines. Some papers look as if they have been sanded, others painted or distressed in some other way. I love how this keeps each piece unique and also saves work if you love the distressed look.



The My Mind's Eye patterned paper is marketed in most of their lines as double-sided cardstock weight paper. I love the heavy sturdy weight of the paper and how a coordinating solid color is printed on the reverse side. Have you ever had the problem of purchasing patterned paper and needing to coordinate with plain cardstock but not finding the match? So frustrating. I love how this solves that problem. Within each line the papers are a fabulous mix of plaids, dots, paisleys etc. that I can never just buy one. They coordinate so beautifully that mixing patterned paper has never been easier.

A huge trend for patterned paper right now is actually altering it. Some paper lends itself well to this and others do not. My Mind's Eye patterned paper gets top marks from me for its flexibility in this area. If you like stamping, this paper is fabulous for it. A matte finish on this cardstock allows you to stamp on it with ease and no bleeding or resisting of the ink. My Mind's Eye patterned paper is also fabulous for sanding and embossing. The heavy weight means no sanding through the paper and its inner white core is a great look to show through. When using an embossing folder on the paper, a fun look is to first emboss it and then sand. The embossed pattern is highlighted by the inner core. If you like adding paint...this cardstock weight paper can stand up to it as well. Right now one of my favorite papercrafting projects is altered items. I love covering frames, boxes, you name it with patterned paper. The My Mind's Eye patterned paper adheres well and stands up to use if you are altering things that will be handled repeatedly.

I realize that I'm supposed to be reviewing the patterned paper here but I just cannot write this article without mentioning all the fabulous My Mind's Eye accessories. A huge part of my fascination with this line is the wonderful goodies that are marketed to coordinate with the patterned paper. Each particular line has its own accessories. Cardstock quotes and titles are great for both scrapbooking and cardmaking. Cardstock sticker border strips make adding panels and strips of paper so quick and easy. Journaling cards and matching die cut shapes are available in just about everything you can imagine. Also available are rhinestones, printed transparency strips and diecuts and adorable jars of buttons. Yes...I must confess, I have tried them all out and have come back for more.


My Mind's Eye paper and other products are all top quality, with an incredible attention to detail and imagination. I'm anxiously awaiting the release of their fabulous new lines. I know I'll be lining up in the stores as soon as they arrive. For a sneak peek at the upcoming releases you can check them out here. Classic, timeless, fresh and fabulous I just love My Mind's Eye. I know that for my upcoming projects, this is just what I'm picturing.... in my mind's eye.

Tonic Guillotine Paper Cutter ... a must have tool

Reported by Julia Stainton

I love papercrafting and I love papercrafting tools and gadgets. If you were to look at my desk...you'd know this for a fact! I use my crafting tools daily and they really get a great work-out! Out of all my wonderful tools, there is one that I really would not want to be without... my Tonic Guillotine Paper Trimmer.

The Tonic Guillotine Paper Trimmer is a fabulous tool and one I use on every design I create. A good paper cutter is an essential tool and I love its clean precise cuts as well as its other wonderful features. I first started looking for new paper trimmer options late last Spring. I was extremely frustrated with the paper trimmer I had. It was a track-type model with blades that needed replacing all the time. This was adding up in cost quite rapidly and I just was not satisfied with cleanness of its cuts and on occasion, there was some play in the track leaving my cut less than perfectly straight. Another problem I had was if I needed to slice off a small fraction of cardstock to make my matting perfectly balanced. I just could not do that with the product I had. The result would be a nasty distressed looking edge if you wanted to trim off less than 1/8th of an inch.

I discovered this Tonic Guillotine Paper Cutter at my local scrapbooking store. It came highly recommended by the owner and I had a coupon discount so I decided to give it a whirl. I have been so thrilled with its performance over the past 8 months and it has more than paid for itself in refill blades. That is because this guillotine trimmer never needs sharpening or its blade replaced. The stainless steel blade sharpens itself with each pass and always gives a perfect cut. This paper trimmer is portable and extremely lightweight but is designed so well. You can cut through 4 or 5 layers of cardstock with ease. Do you like using chipboard...this trimmer also cuts through chipboard, leather, transparencies, burlap...I've tried them all.

One of my main concerns when purchasing a guillotine type trimmer was safety. We've all heard stories of those big heavy paper cutters that they had in grade school...fabulous but perhaps a little scary. I have five children in the house so safety is quite a concern for me. Now this might sound a little strange but I actually tried to cut myself (with caution of course) with this trimmer. Actually, the blade is not sharp at all. The friction and engineering of this product delivers a sharp clean cut without a sharp blade. There are also safety features built in. For your left hand, there are two clear places where you press down on the safety bar and keep it out of the way. The paper trimmer is designed to trim perfectly when the safety bar is depressed and I love how it is clear and you can see through it for perfect paper positioning.

If this hasn't already convinced you...here is a list of features that I love...

• It's portable...the handle and measuring bar extension can be removed and stored under the trimmer for portability and easy storage.
• Metric and Imperial measurements on the trimmer
• 1/2" increments on a molded grid on the cutter base make it easy to use and line up
• Self Sharpening blade means no more replacements
• Extremely light and easy to carry with orange handle at top of cutter
• Comfortable soft handle when cutting
• Safety bar is clear and easy to see through
• non-skid rubber feet on bottom of trimmer
• sturdy high-impact plastic base
• 12"+ base allows for easy cutting of 12x12 papers. There is extra room allowed to fit in those patterned papers that are manufactured a little longer
• extremely well priced
• no replacement blades to buy

Hints for using the Tonic Paper Cutter

To use the Tonic Guillotine Paper Cutter, simply slide the paper under the safety bar. Press down on oval spots with your left hand and slice with your right to get a precision cut. When you are cutting, you will always get a perfect 90° corner if you make sure your paper is butted right up to the top of the cutter. As there is no measuring device to the right of the blade...if you wish to trim off a certain small amount...simply measure the paper, subtract the amount you wish to trim off and then re-line it back up at the new measurement on the left side. It is very simple to get the hang of after a few tries. The one thing you cannot do with this Tonic Guillotine Paper Trimmer is score your paper. My old paper trimmer had a scoring blade option but I did find that with the play in the track, this was often not a good solution. If you wish to score your paper, I suggest scoring using a bone folder with a ruler or investing in a scoring board.

I'm thrilled with my Tonic Guillotine Paper Cutter and would highly recommend it. When paper crafting, nothing spoils a design quicker than sloppy looking construction and good clean precise cuts are essential. I also allow my older children to use this cutter for school projects etc. They are always thrilled with how great this posters and projects look and it is easy and safe enough for them to use. If you are thinking of purchasing a paper cutter, this Tonic Cutter is well worth the investment and will serve you well for many, many years. This paper cutter is also available in a full 12" base model and is perfect for paper crafters who use large sheets of paper and do not need the portability option. The Tonic Guillotine Paper Cutters can be found at your local scrapbook store as well as many on-line scrapbooking supply stores.

Dear Santa...a papercrafter's list

Reported by Julia Stainton

Dear Santa,

This year I've been a very good girl. Busy crafting all year long, sharing my creativity with my family, friends. You didn't notice the occasional cobweb or dishes in the sink while I was oh so busy, right?

And so...I'd like to ask for a few small items just for me... {wink} OK... I don't expect it all for Christmas. I won't be greedy. But this is called a wish list, not an "I'm actually going to get it" List, right?

1. Bamboo Fun Med digital Drawing Tablet: I've had one of these tablets on my wishlist for months now. So cool...you can use them as a mouse, for drawing, adding notes, just about anything. I'm really looking forward to trying out drawing some images and doing a little digital scrapbooking. It looks like so much fun! This medium sized tablet is priced at $199.0 and you can also purchase the smaller sized version for $99.99. The Bamboo Fun Medium tablet comes with software including Adobe Photoshop Elements, Corel Painter Essentials and Nik Color Efex Pro making it a great value for your money.


2. Spellbinders Nestabilities - I love these Spellbinders Nestabilities dies. The Spellbinders Wizard is a die cutting machine, perfect for crafting. My favorite dies are the scalloped shapes. I have the ovals and squares but I'd really love a set of the circle dies and the rectangle sets as well. These Nestabilities dies are perfectly scaled to fit within each other and come as scalloped and plain shapes that work together. Matting is simple and easy. To make it even better, you can also emboss with these dies making them oh so wonderful! I love circle and scalloped punches but they have their limitations. The Nestabilities take up less space and you can die cut your shape into the design wherever you wish, as long as your surface will fit through your die cut machine. Another wonderful thing is the flexibility of these dies. They work really well with other die-cutting systems if you already own one. Sets retail starting at $24.99

3. True Color Ott Light - I love designing and crafting but oft-times, it can be late at night. Poor lighting can make matching colors difficult...not to mention the strain on your eyes. Ott lights are fabulous lamps that really limit eye strain and the colors stay true as in daylight hours. I'm really hoping Santa will see this list and bring me one for Christmas! Available online, as well as craft stores, these lamps come in a wide variety of styles to choose from. The portable version starts at $79.95 and is easy to take with you. One of these lamps should keep my colors true and keep me designing well into the night.



4. Robin's Nest Dew Drops - I just came across these darling little embellishments a few weeks ago. They are a beautiful embellishments and come in a wide array of colors. This would be a fabulous stocking stuffer and I can think of so many projects I could use these on. I think my biggest problem with these little beauties is which ones to choose! The Robin's Nest Dew Drops are tiny little transparent "pebbles" that are sooooooo pretty. They can be added to flower centers, adhered to a design and used in the same instances you would use brads or eyelets or used as water droplets on design. The Dew Drops are packaged in nail-polish style bottles and are easy to attach to your design with clear adhesive. My friend Ellen actually counted them for me. At more than 560 dew drops per bottle, this is a seriously fabulous and inexpensive embellishment at $4.99 a bottle.


5. May Arts ribbon - OK yes...I have lots of this. I'll admit it. But for a ribbon addict like me, you can never have enough! The wide variety of ribbons available from May Arts just keeps me coming back for more. May Arts ribbon is available for purchase from many on-line and retail stores and retails at $1.50 for 3 yards and up.Beautiful rich colors, velvets, double-sided ribbons, irridescent, ric rak...a stocking full of this ribbon would be absolutely fabulous for Christmas this year. Hmmmm...I wonder just how much ribbon you can get in one stocking....


Things to give...

I'm sharing some of my favorite items that would make super gifts if you still have some shopping to do. Ranging from rather expensive to perfect for the stocking...these items come highly recommended by me. :) Products I use almost daily and would not want to be without.

1. Rebel XT digital SLR camera - I just adore this camera. I honestly don't know where to begin. This camera has so many fabulous features. I love the digital SLR version, the lenses and accessories perfectly work together with my original Rebel SLR camera. I love the flexibility. I can change my lenses, my settings, the camera can work in a total automatic mode or if I want to take it up a bit, use a variety of manual settings. If you've never used a digital SLR camera, you will be amazed at the speed you can take photos at. My original digital camera was quite an expensive point and shoot style camera. I was so frustrated with it. I have small children and just could never get the hang of getting it to focus before they were off doing something else. You know how fast those little ones move! My suggestion is...visit your local camera store and try it out. They can explain all the features to you.


2. Tonic Paper Trimmer: My Tonic Paper Cutter is probably my most used tool. I love it! Clean, professional cuts, this paper cutter is easy to use and is portable to boot! If you hate continually purchasing refill blades or getting raggedy looking edges, this cutter is for you. I was so impressed to find that this trimmer can slice off just the slightest sliver of paper if you need the smallest of changes to the size of your layer. To be honest...when trying out this paper trimmer, I was a little concerned with how sharp it would be. I have small children in the house and craft near their play area. While this trimmer cuts cleanly, it is not sharp. I actually tried it out on my finger and was really pleased that it was very safe. Additional features of comfort grip handles, safety guards, a handle, convenient storage on the reverse side and even a 13" cutting surface that makes this trimmer friendly for those scrapbooking papers with a title on the edge. This trimmer is exceptionally well engineered. Smaller and larger versions of this trimmer are available as well. This portable 12" trimmer sells for approximately $38.99

3. Crop-a-dile: This We R Memory Keepers tool took the crafting industry by storm a few seasons ago. It's bright pink comfort grip handles and super heavy duty construction have papercrafters dusting off their eyelets and snaps and putting them back into their designs. I just love the flexibility of the tool. It is so easy to set eyelets and snaps in various sizes silently without strain. I have quite a few friends with wrist and hand difficulties and they have all had great success in using this product. The Crop-a-dile is now also available in green with a case for storage and portability. The Crop-a-dile is available on-line and in craft stores everywhere and retails at approximately $29.99 If you decide to purchase this tool, you won't want to miss the We R Memory Keepers Designer Eyelets and Snaps that are gorgeous embellishments and will make this present extra special.

4. Autumn Leaves Buttons - Buttons are so hot right now and so easy to add to crafting projects. Scrapbooking, cards, altered items, sewing projects...you name it, you'll find buttons. I love the texture and color they add to a design and buttons are super easy to group together for a bold look. Paired up with stitching, real or faux, buttons look fabulous. One of my recent favorite finds is this great Bag-O-Buttons from the foof-a-la line by Autumn Leaves. Each bag contains 6 oz. of beautiful buttons in coordinating colors in large variety of sizes. They come in a convenient little plastic bag that is resealable, very portable and easy to store. These buttons are sold in three color lines for $6.00 each. Mini versions of these packages are also available in other color lines at a lower price making it easy to fill in those little spaces in a Christmas stocking.

5. Rhinestone Singles: Bling, bling, bling...what is Christmas without a little sparkle?! I love these little packages of rhinestones. Perfect for adding to projects, they add just the right touch of sparkle. Easy to apply, these rhinestone Singles by Me and My Big Ideas, come in single color packs of varying sizes. In fact, each package contains ninety-six rhinestones. These embellishments are high quality, have a great sparkle and their multi-faceted shape is still slim enough to use on scrapbooks and card designs without adding a lot of bulk. With names like Fern, Poppy, Iris, Freesia, Hibiscus... I just couldn't resist buying one of each. These Rhinestone Singles packages retail for $3.99 and can be found in crafting stores or on-line. If Santa needs a little extra something to slide right into a stocking, this is a great little product to fill that hole.

Whatever you decide to buy and whatever Santa brings you this year...I wish you all the merriest of Christmases!

A Merry Little Christmas Frame

Reported by Julia Stainton

As far back as I can remember...I've always love crafting for Christmas. Cut-out snowflakes, construction paper chains, paper angels, you name it...I'm sure I've done it. I was the child with stars in her eyes and glue, paint and glitter on her hands. Everywhere else too, I'm afraid. I still love crafting for Christmas, putting my own touch of creativity into gifts and decorations. As a busy mother of five though...my time is limited. I enjoy making things that are not only decorative but functional as well. And yes...I do not need projects that will take a week. I love projects that I can make quickly and will last for more than one season of storage.

Holiday frames are a natural for me. It is that time of the year where we are sure to take pictures to treasure and what better place to keep them, than in a Christmas frame? I can replace my year-round family portrait with a holiday one, perhaps even a special visit from Santa. This adds decoration to the walls and keeps my project safe out of the way of those darling little hands. I told you, I'm a practical girl now! I'd like to know...Exactly how many times can a Christmas Tree be rearranged during the month of December?!

When I start crafting a quick project, I love to pull out one of my favorite paper company's products. I just love Cosmo Cricket's great warm, homey look. It is perfect for the holidays and comes with a fabulous pre-distressed look that is so popular right now. Cosmo Cricket does all the work for you with their coordinating papers and accessories. I love Cosmo Cricket's Buck Naked Chipboard Ornaments. So darling, this chipboard line has a great variety of shapes and is so sturdy. Perfect for altered projects, and of course, frames. What I really like is the matching die cut paper shapes. I purchased this matching sheet and all I have to do is punch out the shapes and adhere them directly to the chipboard. So easy. So quick and it looks great. I just love the added dimension it gives to a project. Also fabulous is their Strip Tease sheets of patterned paper which feature strips of different patterns between great sentiments and quotes. So fun for adding to a scrapbook page, or in this case...an altered frame. Are you sensing a trend here? Strip Tease...Buck Naked...what is it with this company? (wink) I think they like having a lot of fun with their products! Take time to check out their web-site too. You'll find a fun sense of humor there as well.

To make this altered frame I started off with a 12x12 Jenn wood frame from Provocraft that I picked up at Michael's. Add some glue, sandpaper and a few other supplies and it was really quick to put together. Here's what you need...



Supply list:
Frame: Jenn 12x12 Wood Frame by Provocraft
Patterned Paper: Be Good Strip Tease and Believe from Be Good line by Cosmo Cricket (you may want to purchase other sheets for other projects as well as you are going to LOVE this line)
Die Cut Sheet: Be Good Button Fashions by Cosmo Cricket
Chipboard: Buck Naked Chipboard Ornaments by Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Bravo Burgundy by Stampin Up - or other burgundy or brown dye ink
Others: Chocolate Velvet Ribbon by May Arts, brad, sewing machine - optional, adhesive, Jolly Dovey Rub-ons - Cosmo Cricket

Instructions:

1. Apply glue liberally and smoothly to wood surface. Adhere paper and smooth out with hands. Cut out center panel. Sand edges of frame for a smooth finish.

2. Adhere paper die-cuts to chipboard shapes as desired. Sponge edges of frame and die-cuts with ink.


3. Cut desired panel from Striptease paper sheet. Zig Zag stitch panel if desired. Sponge edges and glue to frame front.


4. Embellish chipboard shapes with brads, ribbon etc. and adhere to frame front.


5. Apply LOVE rub-on transfer.


5. Insert photo, hang on wall and enjoy.

Now I can tell you...if you start this project, you are going to want to make more. The Cosmo Cricket die-cut sheets and matching Buck Naked Ornaments have so many pieces you can just keep going. Alter another frame, make mini frames, put them on cards, boxes, mantles, hang them on the tree...I know you can have a lot of fun with this product. Now that mine are out...I'm just going to keep on creating and having fun with them. You can purchase the Be Good line of Cosmo Cricket products at your local scrapbooking supply store or on-line from many sources.

Be Good to yourself this Christmas and take some time to enjoy yourself and to create some Cosmo Cricket holiday treasures.

Wholly Cow - A Basic Grey Rub-on Transfer Review

Reported by Julia Stainton

Rub-on Transfers...I love using them! So clean, crisp, quick and easy to use, I love their distinctive look. Add that to the ornate but hip look of Basic Grey and I am sold. I admit it. I'm a Basic Grey rub-on addict and I own at least 3/4 of their rub-on transfers. Considering Basic Grey has about eighty-one rub-on transfer packages listed on their site, I think yes...it does count as a serious addiction.

Now what is it that I just love about Basic Grey's Wholy Cow Rub-on Transfers? First of all, the style. A fabulous mix of clean, ornate, and vintage, these rub-ons are totally hip and transcend a myrid of styles. While many rub-on manufacturers limit themselves to sentiments, Basic Grey has a fabulous mix of images and words and there seems to be a rub-on for every occasion imaginable. Sentiments, images, seasonal rub-ons, alphabets, borders, flourishes...you name it, Basic Grey makes it. I love it that many of the sentiments are also combined with an image making a beautiful statement. The rub-on transfers also come with a range of sizes in each package making it easy to find a design to suit your needs.



Another thing I love about Basic Grey Wholy Cow rub-on transfers is their flexibility. These rub-ons are designed to work well for cardmaking and altered papercrafts as well as the scrapbooking market. Many papercraft companies design their transfers primarily for scrapbooking which can be difficult to use in smaller projects. It may be the size or the phrasing but some rub-on transfers can be very difficult to use in other projects. As I am primarily a designer of cards and small altered projects, I love this flexibility. The scale is perfect for my needs as well as the phrasing.


Basic Grey Wholy Cow Rub-ons are also extremely flexible in the surfaces you can use them on. Unlike stamps that tend to limit themselves to flat surfaces, rub-on transfers are easy to apply to curved surfaces. Don't just stop at applying them to paper either. Think frames, painted surfaces, chipboard, metal, acetate, even glass. I've had great success applying the Basic Grey rub-on transfers to all these surfaces. Glass especially can be a difficult surface to apply rub-on transfers to...believe me I know this. While some rub-on transfers make you grit your teeth while applying to glass...Basic Grey rub-ons transfer very easily.



When creating scrapbook layouts or card designs with multi-layers, using rub-on tranfers can give you a very clean, graphic look. In digital scrapbooking, I love the look of text and flourishes spanning across layers of the design. Using rub-on transfers, it is easy to create this look and span different layers of paper without getting a gap in the image. As long as there is not a huge difference in the thickness of the layers, the rub-ons will hold together for a smooth look.

Basic Grey rub-on transfers are also extremely flexible in use for light and dark backgrounds. Most Wholy Cow Rub-on Transfers are available in both black and white transfers for each style. I love the look of the white transfers on black or dark designs. It gives a very different special look that is very unique and professional. Instead of being limited to using light surfaces, those dark ones really pop with the addition of white rub-ons. Just released with Basic Grey's last line, Figgy Pudding, a new color of rub-on has been added to the white and black options. I love the new brown rub-ons...a great vintage look alternative.




If you've never tried rub-on transfers before, Basic Grey's line is extremely easy to use. Simply remove from package, cut around your shape, remove paper backing, hold firmly in place and apply to your surface. These rub-on transfers come with a popsicle stick in the package that you can use for burnishing your transfer onto your surface. Truly, this is all you will need. I have tried lots of other rub-on transfer manufacturers with different degrees of success. Some are very difficult to apply without a metal stylus-type tool. The Basic Grey transfers apply easily and because of this, it is very rare for the transfer to slip while applying to your design. If you do make an error while applying your rub-ons...they are easily removed with an adhesive eraser.


To store your rub-on transfers, I would suggest carefully sliding the remaining transfers back into their package and storing them carefully. My method of choice is to hang them up with a clip-type storage unit to prevent them from getting creased in a drawer. Keep the backing on your rub-ons until ready to use as they will stick to the wrapping if you don't.

Basic Grey Rub-on Transfers are a great alternative to other tranditional ways of adding embellishment and sentiments. These rub-ons are acid and lingin free and are perfectly safe for adding to your heirloom or long-term projects. The price is fabulous, retailing at approximately $3.50 US a package. Perfect for projects where you don't what to repeat the same image over and over... this buys a lot of projects from one single sheet. Basic Grey Wholy Cow Rub-on transfers are a staple in my craft room and I'm looking forward to seeing what will be released next. If you are interested in giving rub-ons a try, why not try out Basic Grey. I know you'll love them...wholy cow, I do!

Kitchen Sink Stamps: I'm Impressed

Reported by Julia Stainton

Don't forget to head on over to THIS POST at the Kitchen Sink News to enter a contest to win some FREE stamps! (See Monday's post for all the contest details.) You have until tonight at Midnight (PST) to enter.


Well I must admit, I've never had quite so much fun with the Kitchen Sink! Doing dishes is not my favorite thing but not too long ago the fresh fun style of Kitchen Sink Stamps caught my eye and I just had to go check them out. What I found was fresh, up to the minute designs that would work so well in today's market. I couldn't wait to try them out to see if they would live up to my first impressions. After all, if you have been stamping for any length of time, you'll know that all stamps are not created equal. The quality of the product and the image quality can vary greatly. A stamp can have a really fabulous design, but if it is not easy to work with, well... it tends to get pushed to the back of the drawer really quickly.

The stamps I chose to work with are the Three Step Daisy and Thanks with Style. Beautifully packaged, I was so excited when they arrived in the mail. One thing I really liked right away was how the clear stamps were adhered to a printed, in color no less, acrylic sheet. This makes the sets so easy to use, especially the three step daisy. The colors of the daisies work from lightest to darkest so that you know exactly which step to use the darker ink on. This is a great feature for new stampers. Another thing I like about this is it is so easy to see whether you are missing a stamp when it is time to pack the set away. I've had clear stamps go missing before unfortunately and this is a great way to overcome that.

When I opened my package, I was pleased to see that the photopolymer stamps had were nice and thick and very sticky. A good adhesion to an acrylic block is essential for clear stamps. The stamps also were a good thickness and firm to touch. One difficulty many have with using polymer stamps is getting a good impression and that is really what I was most interested in. How exactly would these stamps perform? Would the ink bead up? Would the I get a crisp impression? I pulled out my cardstock and my inks and went to work.



I decided to get right to the heart of the matter and try my dye inks out right away. I started up with my Thank You set and inked a few of the designs up with Stampin Up dye ink and I was so impressed...a clean impression stamped right away. Usually I have to season clear stamps a bit by inking them a few times or rubbing their surface with an eraser. I didn't have to do that at all! Ink...stamp...done. The polymer stamps were a great firm quality and it was so easy to get a great impression first time around. I was really impressed. I mean...really! These stamps also work extremely well with watermark, craft and chalk inks. Maria also sells mini chalk ink pads as well as acrylic blocks right on the web-site for your convenience.



Another thing I really love about these stamps is their fresh funky style. They are so unique and really stand out. My teenage daughter is more of a scrapbooker and is totally not into stamps. When these arrived in the mail, she was there and actually perked up seeing these. With designs so trendy, I think I actually may get her stamping one of these days! For my above design, I decided to try out the Thank You set with some cool colors and flocking that is so hot right now. I love its funky look and all those cool flourishes. I can think up lots of fun ways to use these sets and you don't really even need an image.



While designing with my two sets and also looking at the designs on the Kitchen Sink Stamps web-site, I was also impressed with how well thought out and designed these sets were. The flexibility of each set is fabulous. Each set includes a multitude of ways to use it and included in the sets with sentiments, are numerous sentiments for different uses and occasions. The style of these sets works well with simply stamping techniques or for combining with patterned paper, whatever your style may be. I also love how you can play up the style of these stamps in a very modern or also, traditional way.


I really enjoyed using both the 3 Step Daisy set and the Thanks with Style set from Kitchen Sink stamps. I've been on the lookout recently for a great solid floral set and this one is fabulous. I especially love the variety of image sizes with both sets. They work so well together. When stamping the daisy set, it was very easy to line up the layers of the daisy stamp. Marked right on the sheet is the sections on which the daisies line up making it easy to follow. When using the daisies, it was fun to experiment with different color combinations to make each one as unique as nature itself.


The Kitchen Sink stamps were really fun and easy to work with and I was really impressed with their quality. I just can't wait to see their soon to be released Christmas sets. Kitchen Sink Stamps are perfect for card designing as well as scrapbooking. I know that more of the Kitchen Sink stamps have now made my wishlist and they will be designs I'll turn to again in the very near future. Seeing some of the previous days samples have convinced me I definitely need that fun alphabet as well. These stamps are now a staple in my craft room. Try them out. You won't be disappointed.

Basic Grey Undressed Chipboard

Reported by Julia Stainton

There is something about chipboard. What is it, I'm not quite sure. I'm addicted to it. The dimension, the extra texture, the feel of it, or perhaps even a combo of all three, chipboard always lures me in. I plead guilty to having boxes of it but I have to tell you, the chipboard I am most addicted to, comes from Basic Grey.

Basic Grey Undressed Chipboard is a fabulous chipboard product. Since I first came across Basic Grey chipboard about a year ago, I've been well-hooked on it. With each new release, it just keeps getting better and better. More selection, unique shapes, great details...I'm afraid that I just can't resist! Basic Grey always has a wonderful array of chipboard shapes, alphabet styles, funky punctuation and hardware to choose from, all in a hip, up to the minute style.

Basic Grey chipboard is wonderful for quite a few reasons. There are a great variety of shapes, monograms, sizes, weights to suit every need. I love having that flexibility and quality to choose from when I am designing. If you need large monograms and a heavy chipboard, Basic Grey has it. If you need a slimmer chipboard and smaller letters for a title, Basic Grey has that available too. Just released a few weeks ago, Basic Grey also has a new line of small chipboard albums. I just couldn't wait to get my hands on them. Actually, I just had to buy them all!

One of the things I like most about Basic Grey chipboard is that is all comes "undressed". Nothing fancy on it, just the plain, bare, naked chipboard. I've purchased cool "dressed" chipboard in colors and patterns from other companies but I just keep coming back to the plain Basic Grey undressed variety. Why? It is SO flexible! I can stamp on it, ink it, embossed it, glitter it, cover it with patterned paper, leave it bare, paint it, bead it...whatever I wish.

For holidays, I just love the Basic Grey Undressed Holiday Chipboard package. The shapes are so fun but elegant and perfect for getting into the holiday spirit. With a combination of larger and smaller shapes, this product is perfect for scrapbooking your holiday memories, creating special Christmas card designs, and crafting holiday decorations for your home. My favorite quick glitzy look for this product is to cover it with white craft ink and then emboss with a sparkling clear glitter embossing powder.



Basic Grey has just released some great new chipboard shapes that are so unique and totally coordinate with their latest paper lines. I couldn't wait to try them out but was wondering how difficult they would be to work with. I was so excited to discover that the chipboard shapes perfectly match up with the die cut sheets from their paper lines. For example... the Infuse die cut sheets of gorgeous flowers and branches is the perfect cut to adhere right on your chipboard. I tried it out to make sure that they really did line up well and was so pleased with how well they did and how easy it made it to get really great covered chipboard. No cutting or sanding needed it you decide to go this route. Just adhere together and attach to your design. This brings me to another exciting feature...the finer chipboard packages that come in four sheets such as these...they all come with adhesive on the back of the chipboard shapes and letters. Once again...so easy (and the best part, no mess) to simply remove the backing and adhere to your design project. For the design below, I also inked the edges of my die cut covered chipboard to highlight the dimension of the shapes.
The new chipboard albums that have just been released by Basic Grey are fabulous mini albums. If you need to create a small album as a gift or simply a smaller scrapbooking project,