fresh & fun

Today’s tutorial on Splitcoast is another oldie, but goodie: Gate Fold Card. I used a stamp from the stamp set Butterfly Beauty from Unity Stamp Company.

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I promise to use Stampin’ Up! stamps again on my next card.

I have been a bit sidetracked since those Unity stamps are on my stamp table in a little wicker basket. They will go in big SU clear cases, as soon as I receive them. They are already ordered.

I am sorry to say that I forgot to write down which Copics I used.

The Wasabi panels were stamped with the Tea Time Pattern background in Chocolate Chip and the edges were sponged.

The main image was stamped in Brown Palette Ink on an  Shimmery White oval cut with Oval Nestablities and layered on a Chocolate Scalloped oval that was created the same way.

Now…how I got those Unity Stamps early.

Nope, I am not on their design team. I am not on any design team. With being a single mother until the end of the year, working for SCS and the upkeep of this blog, I just can’t commit to something like that. Besides, I am first and formost still a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator who LOVES Stampin’ Up! products (I just don’t like the long summer lull of no new stamps!!!).

Splitcoast is introducing a new feature with today’s newsletter: Product Review.
Once a month a team of six stampers will review a product and tell you what they think about it. Our first product to review: Unity Stamp Companies great new Mounting system.

That’s how I got handles and some stamps before they are available! To check out the whole review team and what we thought about the product, click on product review. 

I get a lot of questions about these and figured I answer them in a blog post.

First of, what are they and where do I get them?

Nestabilities are die templates.

You can cut and emboss your cardstock with them. But it’s not only for cardstock. You can also use them on Fabric, Foam, Vellum, Chipboard and Magnet sheets.

They are made by Spellbinders and come with five staggered sizes in each package.

I bought mine at Ellen Hutson’s store. She developed the templates with Spellbinders.

How do I like them and how do I store my templates?

I love my Nestabilities.  I had Marvy Punches for scalloped ovals, circles and squares before, but I sold them as soon as I got these templates. They are easy to use, give me perfect results every time and they don’t take much room to store.

I store them in a CD traveling case.

I cut myself 4″ squares out of black cardstock and taped magnetic strips (bought at Walmart on a roll) in an X.

It makes it really easy to take the templates off an stick them back on. I saw other “Nestie” user use magnetic sheets in CD cases or DVD cases, one for each set. I didn’t have magnetic sheets and went this way. Works like a charm.

Here is how I store my cuttlebug, my cuttlebug embossing folder and my Nestabilities.

 They are all on my bookshelf right next to my stamping table.

I picked up the little basket last week at the Target Dollar Spot.

Cutting Shapes with Nestabilities and Cuttlebug

I can only tell you how to cut with the templates and the Cuttlebug. I don’t have another die cut machine. I picked the Cuttlebug because it folds up and is easy to store. I am running out of storage space in my room.  If you have a different die cut machine, check this post on Ellen’s blog.

Add first plate A, then Plate C on your cuttlebug. Place Nestabilities template on top of both plates. The site with the cutting line will face up. I staggered the plates so you could see the letters. Usually they are right on top of each other.

Add your cardstock over your template and place your B Plate on top of that. 

Your template will cut into your plate a little bit. That’s completely normal.

Run your “Sandwich Stack” through your Cuttlebug by turning the handle of the machine. Take off access cardstock.

If you don’t want to emboss your cardstock with inner scallops, you can pop your cardstock out of the template. Otherwise keep paper in the die.

Embossing with Nestabilities

Stack a B Plate over your A Plate.

Now add 2 sheets of cardstock to raise the die a bit or (like me) use two thin coasters.

Place your cut cardstock along with the template on top of the cardstock or coaster.

Place a Tan Embossing Mat and another B Plate on top of your sandwich and run through your Cuttlebug.

This step will give you a gorgeous embossed edge on your cut out.

Which ones should you buy first?

Well, I am not really the right person to ask this, since I bought the “I want it all” pack from Ellen last year. LOL

But if I had to buy one at a time, I would probably start with the squares or rectangles. If push comes to shuff, you can always add scallops to circles and ovals with your corner rounder. It’s a lot harder to get them right on squares and rectangles.

Patty Bennett is so sweet!

She sent me one of her regional swaps.

I absolutely love it.

You can see more of Patty’s amazing work as long as wonderful hints and tutorials on her blog.

I took some pictures last time I used my Crop-A-Dile to show off how easy it really is.

Click on more if you don’t know how to use it. It’s such an awesome tool. Even my boys were impressed!

(more…)

I just checked Linda’s Amuse blog and she has some!!!! You hear me????? Run over there and get you some!!!!

 http://amusenews.typepad.com/a_muse_news/2007/04/punch_update.html

I had several people ask me about the Versamagic Dew Drops I bought from Eclectic Paperie. These dew drops are versatile fast drying Chalk inks that have a soft matte look. They are archival safe and acid free. That’s what the package said.

I stamped all 36 colors on Confetti white and try to match up the colors with our Stampin’ Up! craft inks. Twice I couldn’t match it at all. I guess our retired colors mauve mist and mint melody would have matched with those colors. Twice I used classic ink.

The VersaMagic Dew Drops aren’t super fast drying as the package says. You will still have to hit it with a heat gun or set aside for a minute or two (proof: check the dark blue ink….smeared with me writing next to it ….being a lefty and all).

I love the way they stamp though. No bubbling and perfect coverage. They are wonderful to use on acrylic and rubber stamps. I am glad I have them.

Click on the thumbnail to make the image bigger. I hope you can see the colors well enough.