stamping with Maggie

Nestability Dies - What Machines are Compatible?

simple dreams: Nestability Dies - What Machines are Compatible?.
Just in case my explanation yesterday was insufficient. I have added a link and copied the stacking order to use nestabilities in the Sizzix  Bigshot machine.

Big Shot by Ellison Design™
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders™ die.

How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in Big Shot™:
Cutting Sandwich

1.Thick white pad

2. Acrylic mat

3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock
5. Acrylic mat

6. Roll through Big Shot

Cutting Sandwich with Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat

1.Thick white pad

2. Acrylic mat

3. Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat

4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock

6. Acrylic mat

7. Roll through Big Shot

Embossing Sandwich
1.Thick white pad, Tab1

2. Acrylic mat

3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock

5. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad

6. Acrylic mat

7. Roll through Big Shot

Or Embossing Sandwich 2

1.Big Shot Impressions Starter Kit White and Black Mat

2. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
3. Paper or cardstock

4. Big Shot Impressions Starter Kit Black Impression Mat

6. Acrylic mat

7. Roll through Big Shot

Embossing Sandwich with Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
1.Thick white pad, Tab1

2. Acrylic mat

3. Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat

4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock

6. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad

7. Acrylic mat

8. Roll through Big Shot

*Shim with extra pieces of cardstock if needed

My Bigshot and nestabilities

I was very excited when Stampin' Up started selling the Sizzix Big shot machine. I have had sizzix for 10 years and even though, I have over time, added Quickutz and a Cricut machine to my tool chest, I couldn't part with the simplicity of my sizzix machine. I grab a die, piece of paper, pull the lever, and presto, instant gratification. There are no fancy computer programs to learn,no electricity,and no blades,sticky mats to use. And the Bigshot will do all of my dies , and more of them at a time.
But I was especially thrilled to learn I could add nestabilities to my collection. I have been very interested in the cards and scrapbooks, I have seen done with them. I bought the concentric ovals and circles. Talk about easy! Cutting and embossing with the same die. I love them.

When using the nestabilities, use the complete multipurpose platform that comes with the Bigshot machine.

I cut my paper 3 1/2 inches wide for the next to last circle and 4 1/2 inches wide for the last circle. Lay the acrylic mat on top of the platform. lay the nestbility, with the cutting edge face up, on the acrylic mat. Lay the paper on top of the nestability. Finish the stack with the last acrylic mat .

Once the cut is made, you can emboss the oval by stacking everything as before. One Exception, before adding the last acrylic sheet, add a silicone embossing mat, and then the acrylic mat.

I used the Bigshot and Nestability to create the card at the bottom. I used loads of love stamp set and the accessories, and the new pocket silhouettes stamp set. I used craft, chocolate chip, and very vanilla cardstock for the card. I used markers,ink and watercolor crayons to give it an outdoorsy,distressed look for fall. This card is for my Greentown library card class this month.

 

Mounting stamps the easy way tutorial

Maggie and her sweet, adoring, instruction reading,  husband (that would be me) stamped through the process of aligning solid and out-line stamps using the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. Here is our pictorial tutorial of the process as we came to understand it.

First, we mounted the solid stamp just as usual, and then stamped the image on Whisper White paper.

Second, we placed the SAMJ next to the stamp BEFORE lifting the stamp off of the page. This leaves the SAMJ  on the page for aligning the next block.

With the SAMJ held in place, the solid stamp is then lifted off the page.

The unmounted out-line stamp is then aligned over the first image. This should be done as Jen Bailey pointed out with the backing peeled off. This is a little tricky with the sticky exposed, but essential to keep from  moving the  stamp while trying to remove the backing. A good sense of humor helps with this step, kind of like trying to let go of a piece of tape.

The final step is to press the block for the out-line stamp down onto the carefully positioned out-line stamp using the SAMJ that should still be in the same spot from when it was positioned on the first stamp.  OK, maybe that was a bit much. Anyway, we hope that the pictures are of help to all the visual learners out there.

Challenge 14 - bouncing the brayer

I have been planning this all week. I was excited to try a new technique that I found on splitcoast stampers called bouncing brayer.tutorial here  Our blogger challenge this week  was to use a spectrum pad located on page 186 of the fall and winter Stampin" Up catalog. Sounded like a perfect combination to give this all a try. But I have struggled a bit getting the look I want for this beautiful stamp set " holy Triptych" from page 11 of the Holiday mini catalog.

Still yet to come a tutorial for mounting your stamp sets using Jen Bailey's great idea and the Stamp a ma jig.

I used the spectrum stamp pad Blue frost, whisper white cardstock, and my brayer to play, and this is the paper I was finally happy with to use. I tried the

I tried the bouncing brayer on vellum several times before I was pleased with the "rays"

I stamped and embossed the nativity on the front of the vellum, but didn't like the dark spot directly behind the image.

I re did the bouncing brayer on a new piece of vellum to place the "rays " more as coming from the nativity, and then started making the card.

Funky Phresh Papier Kreations by Nathalia Castellon: Quick Cards

Link: Funky Phresh Papier Kreations by Nathalia Castellon: Quick Cards. Wow this is one of the best tutorials I have ever seen. I made these using the Stampin' up
designer paper fall flowers and really rust cardstock. It worked and other than keeping my place on the computer as I worked, It was the most specific and easy to follow directions, I have ever read.  I loved her samples but suggest that just about any colors and papers and stamps would look great.

 

I made these using the Stampin' up
designer paper fall flowers and really rust cardstock. It worked and other than keeping my place on the computer as I worked, It was the most specific and easy to follow directions, I have ever read. I would like to alter the dimensions a bit to utilize regular sized envelopes, although there is also a gift envelope template and instructions on her website.       

Nutmeg Stamping: Snow Kissed Tree

Link: Nutmeg Stamping: Snow Kissed Tree.  I thought this was really neat. I hope you check it out.  Stefanie Summerer explains the crayon resist technique and shows a wonderful sample of a Christmas tree.

Paper Bag photo album tutorial

Everyone loved the album last night and I had  a lot of question about how to make these photo albums. They are very easy and can be adapted to any occasion.

Begin with the number of lunch bags you want in your album- I used 3. Arrange them so that the open and closed ends are alternated. Glue down the bottom flap and fold in half.

Use the Crop - a -dile to punch your holes in the folded side of your album.  Could anything be sweeter than the crop-a-dile for punching? I don't think so. It really works! I used 5 holes.

Bind your album using any fiber or method that you like. I wanted a vintage, distressed look for the book so I used linen twine.  But ribbon is beautiful. It would look great to sew it straight down the fold, but I sure didn't want to get the ol' machine out of dry dock. Heavy brads would be great too!

Stamp and color your images. I watercolored and spritzed everything, because that is what I like, but use your creativity to decide on the decorations for your pages.  I kept mats to 4X5. The inside pages were 5x5. 

I think you will love making these and if you make one, Please send me a picture! I would love to see yours and I will even post them.  Have Fun and enjoy.

How do you use a crop-a-dile

I have had several customers ask me how to use this tool. And if I thought it was worth it. YES! This is a great video clip tutorial. watch Then let me know if you have any questions maggie@stampingwithmaggie.com  I am sure you will love this new tool from Stampin'Up.  It's worth every penny. 29.95