Saturday, September 8, 2012

Indispensable

I want to say a word on behalf of an indispensable tool for papercrafters - the Big Shot.  I made cards before I had a Big Shot, but their quality increased exponentially after I got one.  I still remember how excited I was to open it up on Christmas morning!  I was away from home and all my craft supplies, and I could hardly wait to get home and use it.  And I have used it almost every day since then!  I can't imagine papercrafting without it.  The Big Shot can die cut and it can emboss using embossing folders, and you don't have to plug it in or program it.  You just turn the little handle!


If you are serious about making cards, you really need to get one.  Here's what I did.  I told my DH that I didn't care what else I got for Christmas, as long as I got a Big Shot.  And I gave him my demonstrator's phone number (I wasn't a demo then, just a VERY good customer!) and told him to call her.  Then I bugged him every now and then to make sure he remembered to call, and I even checked with my demonstrator to make sure he had contacted her!  I wasn't taking any chances! 

If you want a Big Shot you could take that approach, or you could show your hubby, or whoever your major present source happens to be, my Stampin' Up website and how to find a Big Shot on it!  Or you could withhold food or other vital necessities (wink!wink!) until you extract a promise from him.
Or you could butter him up with flattery and good food until he's softened up before you broach the subject.

Or... you could just order it for yourself!  A couple of mouse clicks later you could be the proud owner of a Big Shot!  Anyway, Christmas is coming.  Just saying!

And speaking of Christmas, I am still in the process of designing some cards for my Christmas Stamper's Dozen events.  I like using non-traditional colours in my Christmas cards and here's one I came up with using Midnight Muse and Sahara Sand along with Whisper White.  I saw Mary Fish
use a similar combination on a sympathy card and I liked the crisp look.



I know that the Snow Swirled stamp set has been around for a long time, but I have always loved its elegance and have just recently purchased it.  So I was really excited to use it for the first time.  The card base is Midnight Muse.  The Sahara Sand panel was stamped with the Merry Christmas greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes and then embossed using the Holiday Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and some Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse added along with one of the new Designer Ribbon Slides from the Holiday Catalogue.  The image panel was stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder.  I adhered it to a slightly larger Midnight Muse panel and used the Scallop Trim Corner punch to add the detail to each of the four corners, and to allow the eye to see a little more of the Holiday Frame embossed area.  A few Rhinestone Basic Jewels for added bling and we are done - simple, but elegant.

 
Have fun with this design, and if all else fails in the quest to obtain a Big Shot, try hypnosis:
 
"Look deep into my eyes. You are getting sleepy!  When you hear my fingers snapping, you will order me a Big Shot!"
 
Stamps:  Snow Swirled (w111690; c127799); Teeny Tiny Wishes (w115370; c127802)
Paper: Midnight Muse (126843), Sahara Sand (121043) and Whisper White (100730) card stock
Ink: Classic Stampin' Pad in Midnight Muse (126860); Versamark pad (102283)
Accessories:  3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Midnight Muse (126847); Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246); Designer Ribbon Slides (127834); Silver Stampin' Emboss Powder (109131)
Tools: Holiday Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (127820); Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439); Heat Tool (129053); Scallop Trim Corner punch (118870)
 


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