15 April 2013

UK Scrappers - blog hop!


Welcome to the UKS Spring BlogHop! 

You may have come to me from the lovely MiniOwner at  http://miniowner.blogspot.com/  

Thanks very much for stopping by!

If you lose your way, or have dropped in on me directly and want to follow the hop, you can see the full list with all the links here
  http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/boards/...d.php?t=339546)

First, an apology.

Due to computer gremlins, I've not been able to post up my completed blog for the hop. What you see below is just the start!

But I didn't want to miss out, so here's the deal. Now that you're here, have a read and leave a comment below. And make a note in your diary is you're so inclined, to pay another visit later in the week, when I plan to post the full blog.

If you come back again and leave (another!) comment, I'll enter you in a draw for a random goody bag.

So ... here's chapter 1 of ...

IT'S A KIND OF (DIE) MAGIC

When I first started crafting, I don’t think die cutting for the amateur had even been invented (yes, I probably am that old!).

These days, there are lots of bits of kit out there to choose from – and lots of prices, too.

But whether you’re a Spellbinders devotee, a CraftRobo wizard, a Cuttlebugger (I hope that’s not rude!) or a lover of the good old big red original Sizzix machine, the great thing is that that there are zillions of dies out there.

And for every die, there’s a myriad of uses. And yes, I think they’re just magic!

Depending on the die type, they can cut and/or emboss paper, card, material metal, chipboard, vinyl, satin, felt and a whole host of other materials.

For example, I’ve cut snowflakes out of flattened Diet Coke cans and used them as Christmas decorations. I’ve cut and embossed shapes from tomato puree tubes (have you seen the fabulous colours these tubes are inside?!).  I’ve cut flowers from felt and stuck them on shop-branded paper-bags-with-handles (to hide the logos and other retailer gubbins).

I’ve made tin can roses from the lovely Tim Holz Tattered Florals die, and from the same die, produced felt floral brooches. I’ve cut treble clefs and musical notes to help decorate my husband’s (now defunct) music shop, from metals, mirror card and old sheet music.

Of course, I’ve used all sorts of dies in my card making, most recently, a bird on a branch die from Marianne’s Designs.

Strangely, although I originally purchased my die cutting kit for scrapbooking, I’ve hardly used it in this way – most of my creations seem to be in the card making category. But I have used dies to create lettering, frames and perfect shapes (my hand cutting looks more like a 5-year-old’s efforts than a ‘mature’ adult’s!) for my layouts.

I want to encourage us all to unlock the creativity that’s lurking in your dies and think anew about how we can use them in our layouts, cards and other craft projects. I’ve found some great ideas out there in cyberspace which I’d like to share with you. I hope they inspire you – if they do, I’d love to see the results!
So. Here are 10 things you could do with different dies, a bit of space on your craft desk, and a bit of time to play!

1) A flower die: cut your shape from card and set aside the blossom. Use what’s left as a stencil! You could sponge ink or chalk, rub over with pan pastels or spray with Glimmer Mist. This is a great way of making a background for a card or scrapbook layout.
See here for an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=wJ3fPPIi-SY&feature=endscreen

Of course, this could work with all kinds of shapes, including abstract ones.

2) Get in touch with your inner blossom … and get sewing: 
http://www.sewcando.com/2010/07/how-to-make-die-cut-fabric-flowers.html
I think these would look great on a layout or a card. Follow the link for the 'how to' instructions
.



3) Frame something!
On a layout …. thanks MiniOwner!


Or on a card ….


What's the betting the flower accent is also die cut!? This fab card was created by the clever Dawn McVey, and you can check out more of her work here:



DON'T FORGET TO RETURN TO MOLE'S MUSINGS IN A COUPLE OF DAYS TIME TO READ THE REST AND ENTER THE DRAW FOR THE CRAFTY GOODY BAG!

So now, all you need to do now is leave me a comment
before you hop on over to Nabview's blog:

73 comments:

  1. Thanks for the inspiration.. I'm very good a buying dies but don't seem to use them very often!

    Looking forward to part two.

    Thanks

    Wizbit (Liz)

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  2. LOL I thought that LO looked familiar. I'll definitely be back! I'm liking the ideas already.
    Sue x

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  3. Great post, I WILL be back :)

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  4. Brilliant post already :) I will definitely be back. I love my bigshot and eclips to bits :)

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  5. Love the ideas already, will be back later on in the week

    Beanpie 11 aka Debbie

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  6. Just sorted my dies, so great to see new ideas for using them.

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  7. Some lovely inspiration there.

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  8. Some fabulous ideas and just what I needed to start using my dies more.
    will be back for the next installment

    Uks Lelly

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  9. Great ideas and I will be back for the next post

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  10. If I can find my desk I'll have a play later on. Thanks for the inspiration. tigerlady

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  11. LOL...tomato puree tube, hadn't thought of that. Ingenious!

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  12. will be coming back such great ideas thank you

    scrappybluecat uks

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  13. Great ideas .. thanks for bringing them all together. I too will be back (now where have I heard that before!!)

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  14. Some great ideas here - I will be popping back to see the whole thing. Thanks for sharing PaulineD UKS xxx

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  15. Such super ideas and I'll pop back later in the week to see what else you have in store:)

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  16. fab ideas thanks for sharing :)
    from Boland x

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  17. Some great ideas there - thanks for sharing. I've added you to my blogger feed so I will be back to see the rest of your blog hop post :)
    chrisrydal x

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  18. Great ideas for a die cutting again I will be back to see the conclusion later in the week.

    Meg baby UKS

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  19. some fabulous ideas :)

    leigh11 xx

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  20. great ideas for my ever-growing die collection :-)
    *here be dragons*

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  21. Great ideas. Have bookmarked so will definitely be back. UKS sue1952

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  22. Some great ideas - I have only recently bought a Big Kick and have very few dies (so far ...) but have stored away some great ideas TFS
    Shame about the gremlins - will be back to read more, Jimjams x

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  23. Some great ideas, I need to get the Cricut out and play! Thank you. UKS - Sharon1973

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  24. Lol, I'm a cuttlebugger and I a bit hope it is rude! Well done on getting up a post despite your problems xxx

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  25. aww some food for thought there, so thanks for that (Maria in France on UKS)

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  26. I love my Bigshot but don't use it enough ... thanks for the ideas :) Kitty Crafts UKS

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  27. Tanks for sharing. Hope it sorts itself out soon. KJJC uks name

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  28. Thanks for the inspiration - will have to have another look at all my die cuts! UKS Name: AllycatD

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  29. Can't wait to read the rest! (UKS TinkerHamilton)

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  30. I rally don't die cut enough so thank you for the inspiration :) Will be back for the next installment. UKS - Julesaroony

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  31. Can't wait for the next instalment! Love the flower on the card it's gorgeous. I hope to wipe the dust off some of my dies now! Thanks for sharing. Sian aka Violaceous :)

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  32. Thank you for these ideas, I'll be back later for the next installment

    Chris55 - UKS

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  33. oooh I must come back to read about more fab ideas for my diecutting! thanks xxx

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  34. Great ideas & I shall be returning for the rest of them :)
    K (aka Sylphraven)

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  35. Thanks for sharing, look forward to the rest! x

    UKS - Clairewill

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  36. Lots of fab ideas - thank you :)

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  37. Great ideas, I didn't realise you could cut fabric with the dies. UKS - Scrappyyo

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  38. Great ideas - I LOVE my dies and always need more ! - I'll be back ;)
    Soojay

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  39. When we first purchased a die cutter we used each die only as it came, but thanks to ideas such as yours we're learning that it's so much more than just a simple shape cutter. We'll definitely be back to learn more. Thanks.

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  40. love it :) will be back to learn more xx

    purplybunny (uks)

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  41. Lots of interesting stuff here - I'll be back!

    Toni xx
    (misteejay)

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  42. Just recently got a Big Shot so I'm die cutting for England! lol Thanks for the great ideas. Mary x

    scarymary555

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  43. Some lovely ideas..thanks for sharing and will pop back later in the week..UKS...Bubbleblitt

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  44. thank you for sharing your idea - see you later in the wk---alibi

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  45. A great start to your inspirational post - love your creative use of dies and must use mine more. Thanks! Audrey uks poetcrafty xxx

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  46. love it all - especially the worded flower. great.

    TFS

    Cantstopstampin

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  47. In the words of Arnie.... "I'll be back!"

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  48. Thank you...will be back! UKS - Tagsie

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  49. Thanks, I will pop back to find out more! - Cassia

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  50. Will return! Hugs Sarah (UKS Butterbee)

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  51. Thanks for the inspiration. Like the idea of cutting frames :) (uks Jacqui200284)

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  52. Thanks, I don't make a lot of use of my big shot, but some great ideas there to tempt me into using it more, JoPink

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  53. Thanks for this post. I really need to start making more use of my dies, especially all the flower dies and the ideas here are my starting point.

    NIKIG(UKS)

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  54. Wow loving the flowers quite stunning.

    Fran (Hedgie)

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  55. Thanks for the inspiration joanne

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  56. I find having my Big Shot out and close to hand encourages me to use my dies more ... great post Mole! I'll try and like back to something I'm quite proud of later this week. I look forward to reading the rest!
    Ali (Alibri) x

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  57. I will be back to read the rest later this week :)

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  58. Loving the metal ideas with cans and tubes, I've embossed them but not thought of cutting, a bear of little brain eh!

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  59. Love the blooms on a t-shirt!

    I would love to see how on earth you clean out a tomato puree tube!!!
    Will visit again soon to see the rest...

    Stacey Scrapred on UKS

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  60. some really inspiring stuff, I love the flowers on the little pink shirt, I'll definitely be checking out that blog

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  61. good die cutting ideas thanks
    uks - darm

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  62. Fabulous work! Really clear photos... def popping back again! jenx uks wear crafts

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  63. Love the ideas! Fab!
    Laura Godfrey

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  64. I know we crafters are supposed to be creative and lateral thinking, but it's so good to have a little nudge towards different ways of using the tools and stash we already have - thanks. (Eileen C)

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  65. Thank you Mole, good prompt to get more from my dies!

    UKS name Fizzydrink

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  66. Thanks for all the tips - I'm failing new to die cutting but obviously need to buy more dies - thanks for enabling!!!!
    UKS - mumof4girls

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  67. Some lovely ideas here. Thanks
    UKS Meggie

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  68. Loving the 'teaser' I just love all the the things you can do with dies, but like you tend to use them on cards, must try harder with layouts! UKS Jolene.

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  69. Thanks for the encouragement to have a fresh look at dies. I love mine but know I don't use them to anything like their potential!

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  70. Some great ideas - thanks. How did we manage before dies I wonder. I have a stack of those tomatoe puree tubes too. Gill x UKS name Seaside Crafter.

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  71. Lovely ideas - can't wait for the rest :)
    UKS PinkSparklyScrapper x

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