eeeeek!! I can FIX my dies!!

Ok so you probably all have a sizzix die you wished the inner cutting shape would just disappear! you know the flowers with the holes in the centers and here is a good example. a perfectly good heart messed up by turning it into a frame :P booooo!

I have always wished I could change this and it's only taken me what 6 years?? LOL

So here is how it works

Take a die you hate, but want to *LOVE*. like this one!



Flip it over and make sure it has the holes in it on the back (I don't have my newer style original dies with the full back covering so I'm not sure if this will work on those, but once I get mine back I will be updating! UPDATE: Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the link to the newer dies) using a pair of needlenose pliers push the steel rule die out the opposite side. BE CAREFUL OF THE BLADES ON THE FRONT SIDE!!! they are sharp and you will cut yourself if you don't take precautions. Try a dishcloth or a hot pad to protect your hand.



Once it is out it will look like this


Use the pliers again and push the middle part of the die out.


Put the outer die shape back into carrier. you can do this best by pushing on the plastic rim portion of the dies frame. try not to touch the blade or chip it with the pliers. I've pulled back the foam so you can see where the plastic rim is I am talking about.



The funny part about this is that the die actually cuts BETTER now than it did before. I'd be careful about chipboard getting stuck. I haven't tried that yet. if it does you can just pop the die apart like you did when you were disassembling it in a worse case scenario. the paper I tried didn't get stuck and I was actually able to cut 8 sheets and I probably could have done more.


Now I have to go look for more dies I can "fix"! Please share if you get any cool results while reassembling them. :)

ADDED: 3/20 there is a discussion about this going on here at Two Peas in a Bucket check out what others have said about taking apart their dies. Edited: You can also learn about altering the wood dies on THIS post.

I see there are others joining in on the fun from other message boards. :) if you discover any great tips *please* share, or post a link in the comments section. THANKS!

Cricut Bag

So I have a Cricut new-users class coming up next saturday and realized I needed a way take this thing with me. It's pretty heavy and awkward! I don't know if they make a bag for them but I'm sure it was more expensive than my $5 vintage sheets LOL

I threw this together last night. It only took me a few hours and some problem solving! I've never made a bag or anything that required a liner so that was a bit of a mental challenge to figure the inside-out workings of it.

The worst part was putting the handles on. There HAS to be an easier way then I went about it. Pinning them on and sorta eyeballing it unfortunatley AFTER I had put the side pleats all in. That made it hrad to tell what was on there straight or measure anything.

Making it myself I was able to get some nice pockets in there for the power cord and the tool kit. I probably should have tried making a bag with a proven pattern the first time.

Oh and this was the first large-ish sewing project I have had a chance to do with the Kenmore Mini Ultra I got for Christmas. :) Man I love that thing!

some sneaks peeks...

of the projects I designed for Paperie Arte!
:)
I hope all of you attending enjoy making them as much as I did. :)

And *NOW* I have to buy more Alcohol Inks!

This is what happens when we all put our minds together. ;) I have fabulous creative buddies!!! Imagine what we could do if we all lived in the same state?! Watch out Prima! hehe!



See Cool huh?? So go check out Nancy's blog Scraps & Ink cause she's the only one of us that took the time to document our brilliance ;)

Always Kiss Me Goodnight

So here is the sign I have been trying to get made for almost a year! LOL




Rob got me this DCWV wall quote for our anniversary last year. The shape is loosely based on the DB stamp shape which is still one of my favorites!



again my favorite silver leaf Krylon pen I used to outline it ;) oh and I got to use my Black & Decker mouse sander that Dh got me for xmas. OMG I LOVE that thing! it is really light weight and easy to hold. my hands are kind of small and I have a hard time with most drills and stuff but this is *perfect*. now I just wish I had the guts to distress the letters on here :P

After seeing the silvery aqua I used (the border) I am debating painting our bed this color. our walls are like kraft paper color in our bedroom and the nightstands are white with the blue on the drawers and nickel cupped drawer pulls. I have shabby chic trays that sit on top of the nightstands. they are white and I painted the flat inset surface this aqua too. undecided still. I guess we still have some time to decide since we aren't painting it until we have a box spring delivered.

Tag 11

Tim's Tag

stole a few moments to finish this one. not one of my favorites of mine but it's done. :P one more to go! may have to wait until after Xmas!

Mine

Tag 10

Tim's tag

Mine



Instead of putting the ink directly on the foil with the pens I used a pen ONLY as a you would an H2O brush. a light wash of black to the background just to give it a slight pewter look and then dabbed black lightly over the surface like you'd see on a vintage mercury glass ornament. do this with the alcohol inks so that if you use too much you can erase it with blending solution.

tops of letters got a snow effect of Frosted Lace stickles and iridescent "buffalo" type snow.

I like mine *much* better than Tim's LOL! actually I almost skipped this tag but promised myself to do all 12 this year. there were a few nights I wanted to throw in the towel too! Now, I'm sad there are only two left!

Tag 9 - My favorite!

Tim's tag

Mine

This is a picture of me screaming on Santa's lap. It is the only picture I have of me on Santa's lap so I am going to guess it either traumatized me or my Mother! LOL Maybe Both! My Mom tells me my grandma made my Mom go through with it even though I was pitching a fit. I (obviously) don't remember all this but I am glad she got this picture.



OH! and I didn't have the filmstrip stuff actually. I just made my own with a free digital frame thingy I had. printed it on transparency and then inked a bit using alcohol inks on a Q-Tip! so easy!

Now you may all covet my vintage woodgrain DYMO tape hehehe! No 1970's holiday is complete without a little woodgrain right??!

Tag 8

Tim's tag


Mine
the day before he posted this I was at the craft store with those keys in my hand...and put them down! don't you HATE THAT? ugh! two trips to the craft store so far. And I would just like to say more stores need to remember to carry the black alcohol ink! they all carry the collections and I don't think pitch black even COMES in a collection. does it??





I had to improv on the key a bit with a cute charm and some alcohol inks. the hitching post thingy I didn't have either so mine is a pony bead and a full sized brad painted with a Krylon Leafing pen (have I mentioned how much I LOVE these pens??!!!) Every year I say I am going to remember to buy some of the "right" bells and forget :P I am not going back to the craft store!!