Scallop Sizzix Album

Now say that title again. One more time..One last time..

Tongue twister isnt it?

But there is nothing twisted with these gorgeous Sizzix album dies. They cut through those multiple layers of papers so beautifull and they cut chipboard too. Yout must see the finish to believe. See all those die cut pages nestled between the album cover??

I cut a bunch of DCWV papers (Flower stack) amd fabriano papers with the Sizzix Scallop Rectangle #2 .
The center polka dots were stamped (Papertrey) on a frame die cut with Sizzox Decorative Frames. I chose the colours from the papers. Then added the layers of frames topped with this pretty bunch of felt flowers.


The nice thing about the Frames is that, you can add layers without adding bulk. The die actually cuts those skinny frames which can be layered within each other - alllowing you to build layers sans bulk. Awesome idea!!

What went in

• Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Scallop Rectangle Albums #2
• Sizzix Framelits Decorative Frames #2
•  Sizzix Bigz Die - Branch w/Leaves & Flower
• Papertrey Ink - Polka Dots Basics I
• Itsybitsy A4 felt sheets
• Memento inks
• DCWV papers from Joann

My plan is to stamp to my hearts content on the inside and get some pictures added in of the girls.

And when die cutting chipboard, always  and always - adhere your patterned paper to the chipboard before die cutting, You'd be saving yourself some heart ache with all those shoving around the glue paetterned paper over the base :)

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to ask any questions.

Cheers,

JC

PS: My quilt is simply waiting at home. With K starting schooling I seem to have no time at all for anything. I wish I could wiggle on my quilt. :)

A finish - A Child's Play - Frame-able art

Well, I spent the weekend trying to quilt that Blooms and Butterflies quilt I've been working on for months now.
I tried to do the "stitch in the ditch" - how boring to line up all those ditches with the stitches - especially given that my quilt is quite large - 68x88 inches - or something like that.

So, I tried a little bit of free motion quilting. What fun I say!! I think I will free motion quilt this one even though all the practice I've had is about 30 mins. After all, this needs to be fun for me too!

I thinking of the easy swirls - I wouldn't need to worry about all the overlapping :)

I hope I will have something to show you soon. But in the mean while, I wanted to post a finish. :) The finishes frame-able art K made last week.

Now to get this framed and send it to her grand-mum!!
What went in

• Tree  Sizzix Bigz Die - 657697 - Tree & Heart
• Flowers: Sizzix Sizzlits Die Set 3PK - Card Phrases Set #3
• Tiny butterflies: Sizzix Sizzlits Die Set 3PK - Card Phrases Set #2
• Handcut house, sun and grass

• Papers from DCWV
• Clouds Felt sticker from itsybitsy

• K's cute efforts

Thanks for stopping by
Cheers,
JC

A Child's play with Sizzix

Last weekend was crafty at our place. My 4yo girl K wanted to craft.
With the grandmom around, they both had fun making this frameable using those cute Sizzix dies and hand cut shapes.

We die cut two sets of this really adorable tree die and I trimmed one of them down slightly smaller.. The grass, house was free-hand cut and then K started assembling them. My MIL was super happy to help K with all that.

We cut a few other super cute shapes too (do you see that pretty pink flower in that bunch of die cuts?). Will post a picture of the complete framed art soon.


How cute this will look as a quilt!? Ideas ideas :)


What went in

• That adorable Sizzix tree Sizzix Bigz Die - 657697 - Tree & Heart
• Papers from DCWV
• K's cute efforts

One happy mum here :)

Cheers,
JC

Help me choose!

I started with this Blooms and Butterflies quilt for little K – hoping she’d use it for a long time. Take it with her to play dates, her grandparents’ and then college. Oh, she is four now. Grin :)

Here is where I am. Finished with the piecing of the fabric, put them together. Added one set of borders.

Now I for the next set, I am stumped

Do I use the “Yellow/Orange on white” which is on the right.. or the “White on yellow/orange”?

The Binding is going to be that dark blue on the right in the below photo. To pick out the blues in the squares.

 

I am more inclined on the white dominant border (the one on the right) – I think this lets the centre squares pop.
But I would love to hear your suggestion.

What do you think?

What went in

• Sizzix Bigz Die - Flower #2
• Sizzix Bigz Die - Butterfly #3
• Sizzix Bigz Die - Flower Layers & Leaves
• Fabric from Commercial Cottons on Ebrahim Street, parallel Commercial Street
• Sewing machine - Bernette 20. I used the standard Satin Stitch foot for the zigzag appliqué. Will post details on this soon

Thanks for stopping by :)

Cheers,
JC

Quilting with Sizzix

I've found a new love.


When I started working with Sizzix products, I was primarily a paper crafter. A card maker to be specific. I picked Scrapbooking - combining my love for stamping with the gorgeous Sizzix dies to create fun scrapbooks - to make and to use.

Now, I've found a new love.

Quilting.

Sizzix has some awesome dies which will make cutting those strips child's play. Click here to see Quilting with Sizzix

Check out these HST dies - Half Square Triangles.
There are about 10 products available - of varied sizes of those cut finished squares - sizes starting from 2 1/2'' to 5'' squares.

What about basic squares, circles, drunkard's path shapes - in so many sizes.

Now you can spend more time quilting than aligning and cutting the fabric.

You have a variety of Appliques you can choose from - a gorgeous variety of flowers, critters like owl, puppies, butterflies, birds or this cute hedgehog.

This is the flowers die I used on this tea towel post.

There are many many more. Click here to view all the Quilting Dies available

There are a lot of distributors within India from whom you can pick up Sizzix products - the die cutting machine and the various dies. Or you can ask your friends to bring those dies from abroad. But I recommend buying the Bigshot machine here in India - it is bulky and so friends would be happier to bring the dies from abroad :)

Any questions, please feel free to ask. Glad to help :)

Cheers,
JC

Domesticated Goddess

The husband looks over my shoulders and is quietly shaking with laughter. I turn and ask him what has happened. He says, he is surprised to see me at my sewing machine. Something he never thought he would see me doing. He says I am a spanner and wrenches kinda girl and watching me sew is a sight indeed. Me being domesticated!! :)

Well, I understand what he says.. but he doesn't understand the age old adage "Once a crafter, always a crafter".

I picked up a sewing machine - a Bernette 20 - very recently and have been trying my hand on quilting.

The quilt I am making now is for K and I hope she will use it for years. Yes, it is a BIG one for a 4 year old girl. But, you know what mums are like - bigger, better. :o)

This quilt is going to be a Blooms and Butterflies quilt - with appliques all over. Which means, I need to learn to applique.

And what you see above is the result of that learning. And this one are the mistakes.

I'd die cut the flowers and leaves using the Sizzix Bigz Dies linked below and the sewed them to the tea towel using blanket stitches.

Lesson from last night: You can NOT speed up some stitches. One stitch at a time, saves nine seam-ripping.

Sounds familiar?

Thanks for stopping :)

What went in:

• Sizzix Flower Layers and Leaves
• Cotton fabric from local stores
• Bernette 20 sewing machine

Cheers,

JC

An Awesome Frame

Hello .. Glad to have you here :)
Here is a fun Fridge Magnet to give someone Awesome. Someone like you :)

This is something you can quickly mass produce to give to your co-workers or children's teachers too.

I die cut the biggest frame from the Sizzix Decorative Frame.
If you were smart you would stamp with the Papertrey Text stamp now. But well, I die cut the flowers with stems twice and glued them.. and then stamped the Papertrey Text by lifting the die cuts :)

I then stamped the sentiment and stuck those cute pearls.

I've added a longish strip of magnet to the back - so that it can be used as a Fridge magnet or a Computer magnet too :)

What went in:

• Sizzix Decorative Frames
• Sizzix Flowers: Sweet Treats for You
• Papertrey Ink Background Basic: Text Style

Entering this to

• Crafters Corner - Bingo: Center down and across :)

Thanks for stopping by :)
Cheers,

JC

Happy Birthday Blooms

This morning K woke up and told me it was her favourite teacher's birthday and she wanted to make a card.

Out came a couple of Sizzix dies and a few papers and we whipped up this card in minutes.
K insisted on doing circles with the Sizzix - meaning turning the handles - and she could with a little bit of assistance from me.

She could easily stick the papers and die cuts together and this card came together quickly and easily.

What went in

• Sizzix - Card Phrases Set #3
• Sizzix - Card, Ribbon Insert Cheers
• Sizzix - Bigz Die - Branch w/Leaves & Flower
• Fabriani Card stock
• ItsyBitsy - Half pearls sticker

My little K loves to colour images I stamp for her and the die cuts are quite easy for her too too.
Do you craft with your little ones? What do they like to do?

Entering this to

• Crafters Corner - Bingo: Center down: Pearls, Patterned Paper, Diecuts

Would love to hear from you. And thanks for stopping by. Much appreciated :)

Cheers, JC
PS: The Banner is a hand cut strip

CraftyJC's Pick your Giveaway - 2

Heylo all,
Time to sample some Frames from Sizzix.

You can choose from these frames. I'll send the in-lays as well

Choices
1. Sizzix Sizzlits Die - Frame - 657736 [4 pieces of this]
2. Sizzix Framelits Die Set - Instant Frames - 658608 [one piece each]
3. Sizzix Framelits Die Set - Decorative Frames - 657938 [one piece each]

You can choose if you want these in card stock or patterned paper

Help me spread the word.

What I want you to do:

- Please post a link to this giveaway on Facebook with your choice of the giveaway
- Post this on your blog with your choice of giveaway with your choice of the giveaway
- Link back to Mr. Linky in the bottom - one entry for your blogpost and another for facebook (e.g. Jaya-Blog and Jaya-FB)

Optional - Like Me on Facebook (http://Facebook.com/CraftyJC) and be a follower here too

Winner also wins Prime Time @ CraftyJC
The winner will have the option of sending me a picture and write-up of whatever is made with the giveaway and I'll post that here on my blog.

Giveaway closes on April 30th

As always, I'll certainly contact you if you win and we can discuss on if you want the giveaway as patterned paper or Card stock.

Good luck and I look forward to your choices :)
Please do leave comments on what you think of this giveaway. Feedback asking for changes are !MOST! welcome.

Cheers,
JC

A card in a book

Here is another version of my last post.
Did you notice how I “ground” my birdie? I love the tips I get at Simplicity. Thanks, Susan.
The colourful banner stamps is part of the Sizzix Banner Die. The stamps comes with matching dies.
So easy if you wanted a layered card here instead of this One-Layered cutie.

And here is its proud residence now. K’s Dora book :)

What went in:

• Sizzix Banners with Stamps - 658289
• Hero Arts - Happy Day Animals
• Fabriano card stock

Thanks for stopping by and God bless you.
Cheers,
JC

A Bookmark Card And My design interpretation

The Bookmark Card I recently got a set of gorgeous droolworthy products from Sizzix And I made these yesterday.



I cut cut an A4 card stock length-wise, scored it in half and folded it. I now had a typical sized card which I diecut using the biggest of the Sizzix Banners die set. I then stamped the backround Woodgrain pattern and that cute Bicycle.


TIP: Slide the banner die from the top of the folded side till the cutting edge of the die butts against the folded card. This ensures that you don't cut through the card and have two pieces left rather than a folded card. Now tape the die to the card with some masking tape (Washi tapes are way too expensive to use here!!)

Does that make sense? Or should I post some pictures?

And The Design Interpretation
Now, I had a gorgeous "floating" bicycle. Susan at Simplicity keeps talking about how important it is to ground objects. I racked my brains for ideas how to ground my bicycle. Here is where I wish I had some grass stamp.

Baker's Twine to my rescue - carefully pasted so that the bicycle glides on it - the black and white represents the black roads with the white markers on them. Grin : )

I purposely kept this One Layered since this card doubles up as a Bookmark too. Be back tomorrow with another Bookmark card, now in my daughter's book.

What went in:

• Sizzix Banners with Stamps - 658289
• Hero Arts - Woodgrain background
• Hero Arts - Bicycle

Thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear from you.

Cheers,
JC
PS: please forgive those pencil marks on the card.

CraftyJC's Pick your Giveaway - Winner

And we have a winner: Kunda from kunda's art- n-craft- blog
Kunda, I've left a commnet on your blog. Please email me and we can chat regarding what you want.
I'm glad you chose the Sizzix Mr. Owl - he is gorgeous!

Do drop in tomorrow for this month's giveaway.
What about Frames? Squares or Ovals..

Cheers,
JC

Hoot Hoot!! Notes

Hello everyone. Just another couple of days for CraftyJC's Pick your Giveaway.

Here is something I made with one of the giveaway options – one of my all-time favourites – Mr.Owl.

I covered the chipboard with paper and then Die cut the owl. I always find this is the easiest way to get paper neatly on chipboard or magnet. Then cut all other pieces in different colours and assemble the Owl.

Use scraps to just about cover the smaller pieces rather than use large pieces of those precious papers.

 

Now, this tip is something you are gonna thank me for :D

The easiest way to hang such things is using these paper clips. I got these for Rs.3.50/- in Landmark.
Just attach the paper clip, thread it with a piece if twine or ribbon – Voila!! You have a frame to hang.
You can easily hang the loop of the paper clip itself onto a nail on the wall

I took of the backing of a post-it notes stack and attached it to Mr. Owl and clipped the pen on.
You may add a piece double sided tape to the last paper for a firmer grip.

You can hang this from your fan speed regulator knob like I’ve done in our house or the Fridge’s handle. Or even slap on a piece of magnet and stick it to your fridge.

And you have an easy and colourful way to write down those to-buy list in the Kitchen

What went in:

• 657694 – Owl from Sizzix
• Paper clip from Landmark
• Some old DCWV papers

I hope you enjoyed this fun little post.
And you can get your hands on a couple of these Mr. Owl die cuts – just enter the give away (closes March 31st)

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
JC

Exclusive Mother's Day Projects from Sizzix

Click here to view six gorgeous layouts and ideas to create your own Mother's Day cards - which can be easily used for any other ocassion too.

These layouts and card ideas use the new range, Fresh Moments, by the uber creative Paula Pascual.

Click here to view her new range Fresh Moments

Happy Crafting. And don't forget to enter the Pick you giveaway - some gorgeous Sizzix Bigz diecuts.

Cheers,

Jaya

CraftyJC's Pick your Giveaway

We all love giveaways. We all love choices.
Put these both together and we have this killer combination - don't you agree?

This is what you get to choose from these Giveaways
- one from a set of about three choices (Sizzix diecuts or Sizzix embossed papers)
- your choice of colour of the diecut pieces
- and sometimes material also if a Bigz die is featured.one from a set of about three choices (Sizzix diecuts or embossed papers)

This first giveaway features a choice from these cute creatures

1. 657692 - Hedgehog
2. 657694 - Owl
3. 657686 - Butterfly 

 What you will be getting

 - two chipboard diecut pieces

 - two patterned paper diecut pieces

 - two white paper diecut pieces

Ideas on what do with these:

 - You can cover the chipboard the patterned paper, add small pages and you have a mini-book

 - Use Chipboards as an embellishment to a notebook or scrapbook

 - Fridge magnet

 What I want you to do:

 - Help me spread the word. Please post a link to this giveaway in your blog/facebook

 - Post this on your blog with your choice of giveaway.

 - Link back to Mr. Linky in the bottom - one entry for your blogpost and another for facebook (e.g. Jaya-Blog and Jaya-FB)

**** For this first challenge, International friends are welcome. ****

Your blog post will please have these details

 - Link to this giveaway

 - Your choice of cute creature

 - Colour choice of patterned paper - please specify two choices. If I don't have that colour, I will send your something close to what you've asked for. If you want some extra papers, happy to help :) We can discuss later over email

 - As always, I'll certainly contact you if you win.

[ETA] What if you don't have a blog?
No problem at all. You are still welcome to join in. Just add your name here.
If you win, I'll contact you to get your details. If you do have a facebook account, do link up this giveaway there.

Good luck and I look forward to your choices :) Please do leave comments on what you think of this giveaway. Feedback asking for changes are !MOST! welcome

Cheers,
Jaya

Love in a Pocket

Hello and happy Valentine's Day.
We sure do need more love all around. Don't you agree? What with so much hatred and war and crime against children.

Here is a card and a quick and easy Pocket Card how-to.

This is how the pocket looks like inside

A little bit of how-to on how to make this 5 mins pocket gift card. As easy as 1-2-3 :)

If you make anything like this, please leave a link here. I'd LOVE to visit.

Cheers and LOTS of love,
Jaya
PS: Apologies for the not-so-nice pictures

Love these Message on Magnets

I love the fact that the Sizzix Bigz dies cut more than just paper. Like this for instance. I die cut magnetic sheets!
And made these super cool magnets – which are mini scenes by themselves

The finished magnet is the same same size as what you see here. See how those fine die cuts sit so nicely with each other without crowding each other!
Aren’t those birds super cute?
 
And the word collage is a die cut too.
I’ve kept a theme of love and swirls on the flower trio. But this is something you can easily adapt to any theme.
Since the entire base is a magnet – you can easily use it for displaying on your fridge or the CPU in office.

A love note on the fridge, maybe? :) Or let the magnets be your love note


What went in – not much for the amount of stuff you see there!

• 655268 - Sizzix Big Shot
• 657051 - Sizzix Bigz Die - Flower Layers #6  - The base flower magnet. The same as I used in the hair clips here
• 657523 - Card Phrases Set #2  - The butterflies, birds and hearts come from this one set
• 657524 - Card Phrases Set #3 – for those swirls. I cut them into half
• Magnets from Itsy Bitsy  
• DCWV Patterned Papers
• Ranger stickles. Yumm

TIP OF THE DAY:When you die cut anything which you want to cover with paper – first cover that magnet or chipboard or anything with paper first and then die cut – saves you lot of pain in trying to align. I am nothing if I don’t learn from mistakes I say ;)
Challenges

• Craft Us Crazy – Get to Cutting
• Sentimental Sundays – Love is in the air
• Itsy Bitsy – Patterned Papers

Thanks for stopping by – do pop in over to the Sizzix websites to view their blogs. And here are some gorgeous free papers too from Sizzix.
Cheers,
Jaya

Free Valentine Day Paper on Sizzix

Gorgeous Free Valentine Day Paper on Sizzix. I think you can use many of these through the year.

Yummm!!

Click here Sizzix Papers to download them.

I've got mine.

Cheers,

Jaya

xx

Two Little Flowers

One named Arpana and the other named.. well, don't have a name yet :)

Did you know, the Sizzix Bigz dies cut more than just paper? And with such fabulous results too!

My 4yo daughter K and I went shopping the other day and she wanted to pick these hair clips everywhere. I kept promising her I'll make her some in her favouring Pink.

What are promises if they aren't kept, eh? ;)

Here is a easy hair clip you can make in 10 mins or less.

The how to

1. Die cut the entire die with two felt pieces - I chose Pink and Orange
2. Cut a smaller piece of Green felt for just the size of the biggest flower - yes, I am very careful like that
3. Glue Pink+Orange+Pink flowers together using Hot Glue Gun and top it with a white button
4. Cut out two leaves with the Green felt flower and stick it on the back with hot glue again
5. Glue the entire thing together on to an over-sized tic-tac clip
6. Clip on to you little flower's soft hair and click a picture

So pretty isn't it?

Here is the Sizzix Die I used

What went in

• 655268 - Sizzix Big Shot
• 657051 - Sizzix Bigz Die - Flower Layers #6
• Felt  and Glue Gun from Itsy Bitsy

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers,
JC

Roses are red too!

Hello and Happy New Year. May God bless you with a healthy, happy New Year filled with His peace.
My first post of the year. Thanks for the applause :)
I’d embossed some white Fabriano card stocks with gorgeous Sizzix folders and left them on my messy table for inspiration. And this is what I came up with.


I love the strip of Scalloped border from Sizzix – Border and Hydrangeas. These work so well with Scrapbook layouts as well as cards. Don’t you think?
I’m stamping a sentiment directly on the Patterned Paper – it took away the stress of adding another strip of paper.
NOTE: If you want to emboss – always stamp and then emboss :)

Once I photographed this, I wanted to see what a bit more of green can do to this and this is where I arrived at

Though the green strip adds a bit more colour, I think right now I prefer the first version. What’s your take?
What went in

• Sizzix die cut border -  Border and Hydrangeas
• Sizzix embossing folder - Psychedelic Dreams Set by Rachael Bright
• Sentiment from Papertrey ink – Happy Hexagons
• Pebbles – Ever After
• Memento inks and glitter
• My staple Fabriano Elle Erre White card stock

Linking to challenges

• All Sorts Challenges: Flower Power
• Totally Paper Crafts: Emboss Time
• A Gem of a Challenge: Emboss it
• Aud Sentiments: Bingo: Die Cut, Happy and Flowers

My new year resolution is not to buy anything other than Fabriano Elle Erre card stock and Memento inks if I run out of basics. And also to craft for pleasure. No deadlines this year. What is your crafty resolution?
For sale:
I got the Pebbles Ever After stamp for the roses. If you’d like to buy the other two stamps (flower branch and castle only), please email me (mail.craftyjcATgmailDOTcom)and we can talk.

Thanks for stopping by.
Cheers
Jaya