Sunday, April 12, 2015

Another Tuesday Morning Sketch...on Sunday

Once again, a last minute upload.

For some reason the cards I make for the Tuesday Morning entries are some of my least favorite cards!

Today I think I figured it out. First, I am used to making smaller cards. For some reason I find myself making 5 X 7 ish cards for this and it kind of throws me off.

Second, I hardly ever use digi stamps but for some reason I have been using them for this project.

Don't judge me, it is just a wacky mindset I started with, and as of today, I quit! From now on I am going to use my normal size cards and my normal ink and see what happens.

So, here it is, my card for the week:

Once again a shiny card for a little girl! I do love coloring the images like this. No idea where the image came from, if you know, please let me know so I can give credit. The inks are everything from water color pencils to gelatos to Stampin' Up ink and markers. The flower is a combo of  the die I broke last week and some punches. The only thing I am consistent on is the paper. I almost always use Stampin' Up paper and that is why I am a demonstrator! I have never met a paper I like as much as Stampin' Up!

Well, thanks for stopping by!

hugs!

Linda

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Sometimes Frugal Does NOT Work Out!


WARNING : DO NOT use long dies with short platforms.!!

There is an artist crafter I love and have learned a lot from. She posts videos on saving money and helping you get the most for your money in the crafting world. Most of her advice is good, this one is a great big error and I am really trying to not be angry and think mean thoughts. I don't have companies showering me with free supplies, I have to buy everyone.

Hopefully this will save a die or two.

This morning I was making a card.I was in a hurry.

using my favorite go-to die:

Yup, Jim Holtz, Tattered Flower Garland. It makes 16 flower shapes at one time and 4 sizes of leaves.

One run through the big shot and bam!! a garden. (Also has a coordinating Tattered Flower bigger die and they all play so nice together) So, I  you can see why I love this baby, right?

Well, back to the short story that I am making long...hey, we crafters like to embellish, right?
 I'm cutting out flowers for a special card this morning and had the regular platform in the big shot (not the extended platform), and I remember the video where these crafters said you could just use the regular on and turn it around and run it through the other way, or run it partway through. So I thought...why not? what could I lose?

Turns out...a lot. My very precious, handy and versatile die went through up to the end of the platform, and then CRACK!! Not the kind of crack that dies make going through the big shot, but the kind of crack they make when they, well, crack.
Can you see it there? all the way through to the plastic backing and even on part of that, though trying to get the picture was hard. Right through the leaves. It kind of worked after that but it is not going to last long and I could cry. The kicker is the extended platform was right next to me, and I thought just to try this out here cause the video sounded so confident.

So..DO NOT USE LONG DIES ON SHORT PLATFORMS unless you really like to ruin your dies.

So, now I'm thinking the truly frugal way is to get good baseline equipment and use it properly. The point they were making is that it is a waste to buy the extended platform if you have only a couple longer dies, but here is what I think.

well. excuse the table. tornado hit. glad I survived.

What I think is I am going to use the extended platform for more regular dies at one time. Do you know how many labels or flowers or spellbinders you can get on the platform and run thru? Seriously, two passes and you will have a stack of all sizes to stamp on or glue on or whatever! So, instead of thinking of it as useful only for the extended, think of it as a regular tool for everyday multi-piece cutting!

A true time saver.

have a good day, sorry so long

Linda

Oh, btw. I am a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, one without a website (though you could still order on line) I am very generous with anyone who orders with me as the demo and if you want the info please leave a message and I will replay really fast with it! Thanks!