Video of Album for my Mom

This is one of my first Youtube videos.  Please keep that in mind when you watch it.  Hopefully I will get better with filming.  Thanks!

Embellishments for Mom's Album

So I have been working on the embellishments for the family album for my mom.  I have quite a few added to the base pages I posted not long ago.  Tim Holtz was definitely the way to go.  Thanks to everyone from the Frugal Scrapper Yahoo Group for the suggestions.  I used Wild Orchid Crafts flowers and some Stampers Best Stamps as well as some Tim Holtz stamps.  The Sizzix dies awesome.  I love them.  I am very happy with the way this is coming together.  I made rosettes with my Martha Stewart score board and topped them with buttons for the sister pages and Tim Holtz gears for the brother pages.  I still need to add the names and come up with some pictures.  Lots left to do to finish this.  I will post the full album when I finish it.  Until then enjoy pictures of the embellishments.

Hope for my Big Shot?

Well, I contacted Sizzix customer service today.  They said it sounded like I need a new crankshaft.  Lucky for me it was only $5.00 shipped.  I of course ordered it.  It should be here soon with instructions on how to change it out.  I was worried that if there was a repair, it would be expensive.  Lucky for me it is hopefully an inexpensive repair.  Hopefully I will be cranking away in just a few days.  I hope that this fixes the problem for me.  I have been using my fuse to finish cutting out the project I was working on.

My Poor Big Shot

I picked up my Big Shot to cut out some letters this evening.  Things are terrible.  My Big Shot is making all kinds of squeaking and popping noises.  I have never had it make this fuss before.  I was only cutting some sizzlets.  I was using my platform on the correct tab (I checked).  But it is just not behaving properly.  I guess it is a good thing I bought the Fuse.  Looks like my Big Shot is on its last leg.  It makes me sad.  I love my Big Shot.  I guess I am off to look at some solutions for attempting to fix it.  It is several years old.  It was my first die cutting machine.  I have used it often.  I hope there is help for it.  I will miss it if not.

Sizzix Pro Dies in the Fuse

I got my pro die and accessories on Friday.  I had very little time to play with them over the weekend, however, I did play a little.  Using the cutting plate, die, crease pad sandwich, I was able to cut medium weight chipbard perfectly.  There is no forcing the die through or anything.  The tension seems to be perfect.  I got one of the mini album dies.  It has the 3 page sizes.  I will be using them to create some of my album covers.  I hate trying to cut chipboard covers.  They always seem to end up crooked.  I have been reading about cutters that handle chipboard with no problem.  Fiskars is presenting one at CHA.  I will have to look into it.  I can not wait to get some more pro dies.  I have seen a bunch of them on sale recently.  Maybe this means there are more being released in the near future.  I wonder what Fiskars is going to come out with in the way of large dies.

My Fuse - Some Good News for Me

So, as anyone who reads my blog knows, I have the new Fiskars Fuse.  I really wanted a Big Shot Pro, but couldn't afford the lump sum purchase price.  The fuse was available on flex pay, so I went for it.  I love the cuts I have done so far, but I really want to do some large (sizzix pro die) cuts.  I don't have any large dies yet, but I have one ordered.  I searched the fuse manual and was set for disappointment.  The pro dies were not listed in the compatibility section.  I was prepared to send my new toy back and wait until I could afford the other one.  I was so sad.  Then, I came upon a post.  http://forum.make-the-cut.com/discussion/25564/fiskars-fuse/p1  She has tested the pro dies and they work. So happy I don't have to send my new toy back.  My cutting plates, adapter and die are due to be delivered tomorrow.  I am so excited to play this weekend.  Now I have got to go home and clean that craft room.  Boy is it a mess.

Sizzix dies in the Fuse

I received my Fiskar Fuse today.  I cut one thing at work and then put it up until I got home.  I had a burning question I just had to find the answer for. I had to know if my Sizzix dies would fit or would I need the adapters.  Well, I cut the Tim Holtz Tick Tock with my usual plates I have for my Big Shot.  It worked.  The fit actually seemed a little looser than when I run it through the Big Shot, but the cut was perfect.  This is wonderful for me.  I haven't tried any Spellbinders or Sizzlets yet. So, back to the craft room for me.

Another Mini Album

 I love how this mini turned out.  I have really been enjoying making the mini albums.  This one is a paper bag album. 

 The flourish is a sizzix die.  I used chipboard, painted it black, applied crackle accent, and then used some gold rub n buff.  As you can tell I used some Tim Holtz corners, hitch post, and chain.

 The glitter frame is from Making Memories.  The lock and key is a sizzix die.  I used gold embossing powder on the key.  I painted the lock black and used some black embossing powder.  I didn't cover the whole lock with embossing powers so it would look a bit distressed.

 I love the Tim Holtz alteration dies.  I painted them black and used some rub n buff.  I picked up a bunch of shipping tags at Staples.  I used distress ink on the edges and to stamp my images.

   The little key was painted black and then crackle accent was applied and then some rub nn buff.  I also used rub n buff on the flower.  I made the stick pen from some crystals and pearls from my stash.

 I even made a little fold out that fits in the pocket.

 I used a border cut out from my stash and used some more tags.

 I cut a dollie into four sections and applied rub n buff.  Does anyone else love the Tim Holtz dies?  I think I am slowly collecting them all.  I adhered the bottom and one side of the bird cage so a picture or tag could be slipped in behind.  I used gold embossing powder on the bird cage and added a small rose from I am roses.

 I painted the lock and key with black paint and applied a small amount of rub and buff. 

 Tim Holtz on the edge die, I just love this one.  Once again black paint with rub n buff and some I am Roses flowers

 Another hitch was used on the back cover for the closure.

Two tags are in every bag.  One side has a bold pattern for a picture and the other is plain for journaling or pictures.

Valentine's Day Mini Album

I have been working on some mini albums lately.  I have been watching so many youtube videos on these.  This is one I made for Valentine's Day.

 For the cover I used some white prima flowers and sprayed one with some homemade glimmer mist made with Rangers Perfect Pearls.  I sprayed the pinker one with Cherry Blossom Walnut Ink.  I just love this color.  I added some Making Memories resin roses to the center of the flowers.  The tag is from Making Memories.  I cut the bottom off so it would fit.  The heart and the doves are from Making Memories.  The pin holding it on is from Tim Hotz.

 I used some more Making Memories to make the pockets.  I used one of the Tim Holz Alterations Dies to make the inserts..  I used a Martha Stewart punch for the binding.  I don't remember who I learned the binding from.  I have watched so many versions of how to bind pages.

 The flowers are from I am Roses.  I added some craft string pearls and some lace ribbon.

The clock accents are from Making Memories.

The Paris accent is from Making Memories. 

 The resin rose and the accents are from Making Memories.

 Each of the pages have a tag inside.  The front is a perfect place for a picture and the back is great for journaling or another picture.