Monthly Archives: January 2012

Raising Money for Lifeline….

I don’t normally blog about my personal life….but I feel very strongly about this cause so have made an exception.

My little sister is in the RAAF (Royal Australian Airforce) and all the people around her are sent away at various times for various important jobs that make our lives nice and save. Including helping to evacuate and relocate Queenslanders when they where flooded last year, bringing emergency aid overseas, patrolling our borders – The list goes on and on.

My brother in law has been sent to a couple of not very nice places the past few years (including the clean up after the Tsunami in Indonesia, and twice to a very violent war zone. Everytime he is lucky enough to come back in one piece…BUT memories stay with you. These husbands, wifes, parents, brothers, sisters see things we will never see in our life. They are haunted by what they have seen and what they had to do. They might be soldiers trained in the field but they remain humans with human feelings and emotions.

When most come back home they need lots of counseling to help them get back to their normal lives. And Lifeline plays a very important role. If only the veterans from world War 1 and 2 had of had access to Lifeline – a lot of lives would have been saved!

ANYWAY, my little sister (she is not that little – she is in her 30’s!) has rounded up some of her colleagues from the RAAF, Army and Navy to walk to raise money. So far they have pencilled in 2 walks. One in Canberra in March and 1 in July in Nijmegen which is 4 days long – 50km per day!

Their aim is to raise $10 000 for Lifeline.
To help them raise money I have ordered in some non-Scrapbooking items and for each back pack sold I will donate $5, for every lunch bag $3.50 and $2 per bib. The products are already below RRP. This are not our normal line of stock – these have been purchased purely to help fundraise.

I have listed all of them online and there are limited amounts of each. To make the paper work a little easier for me could you please purchase them from my website even if you are coming in store to pay and pick up?
You can buy them here

Here are some of the products:

Sizzix Texture Boutique

A new tool we will be stocking although its not new on the market – the Sizzix texture boutique.

This is smaller to the Cuttlebug and BigShot and it only embosses – not die cut. It has some great features. They are due in store in about a week (in transit) . At the moment we only have the bundle coming as shown below, but can order the machine on its own which would be a bit cheaper. The bundle will cost $74.95.


What the manufacturer says:
Fun is in the cards for you! This amazing cardmaking and embellishing system creates cards for any occasion, while transforming ordinary cardstock into elegant embossed art with the help of Sizzix Textured Impressions, Texture Fades or Texture Trades Embossing Folders.
Resembling an ornate purse with a beaded handle (measuring 8″ x 5″ x 9″, plus 2 1/2″ handle), this fashionable cardmaker embosses and embellishes in just seconds, using Textured Impressions, Texture Fades or Texture Trades Embossing Folders and a pair of Embossing Pads. A tremendous value, this Beginner’s Kit offers everything needed to get started creating beautiful cards and embellishments.
The Texture Boutique Beginner’s Kit includes these products:
• Texture Boutique Embossing Machine
• Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – Flowers, Daisies (Small)
• Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – Flower & Dots Border (A2 Medium)
• Textured Impressions Embossing Folder – Swirls & Dots (A2 Large)
• 1 Pair of Standard Embossing Pads
• 1 Mylar Shim
• 10 White Cards
• 10 White Envelopes
• 10 Ivory Cards
• 10 Ivory Envelopes
• 40 Assorted Samples of Core’dinations ColorCore Cardstock
• 1 Sheet of Black Rub Ons
• 1 Sheet of White Rub Ons
• 1 Rub Ons Applicator
• 1 Sandpaper Sample
• 1 Idea Booklet
• 1 Instruction Booklet
Please note, the Texture Boutique Embossing Machine embosses only; it does not die-cut.

Click here for more info.

 What do you think?

Do you prefer the Cuttlebug or the Bigshot?

Do you own a Die Cutting machine? What made you choose the one you have? we sell both the Cuttlebug and the BigShot/Kick in store.
Here are a couple of different colours available from Sizzix. I have included the blurb from the manufacturer under each photo, but they are all pretty much the same – you just get to choose the colour. We will have the Pink and Black Big Shot and the Vintaj back in stock in about a week. (its in transit). All 3 costs the same – $149.00.


Sizzix BigShot Machine (Pink and Black)

There’s a big reason why we call our shape-cutting and embossing machine a Big Shot. It’s because the stylish black-and-pink Big Shot works with our smallest dies to our big 6″ wide plastic-backed treasures and embossing tools. If that wasn’t big enough, this portable roller machine cuts and embosses many different materials.

Included with the Big Shot are a pair of Standard Cutting Pads and the adjustable Multipurpose Platform, which makes all makes all Sizzix components thinner than a Bigz Die compatible with the Big Shot Machine and even works with other brands’ dies and embossing tools! The diagrams on the Multipurpose Platform offer easy guidelines about how to make the perfect Sizzix sandwich.
The Big Shot Machine measures approximately 14 1/4″ x 12 3/8″ x 6 5/8″ and features a three-year limited warranty.
For more info click here.

Sizzix BIGKick Machine (periwinkle)

Give a great BIGkick to your creativity! The BIGkick works with our smallest dies to our big 6″ wide plastic-backed treasures and embossing tools. If that wasn’t big enough, this portable roller machine cuts and embosses many different materials.

Included with the BIGkick are a pair of Standard Cutting Pads and the adjustable Multipurpose Platform, which makes all Sizzix components thinner than a Bigz Die compatible with the BIGkick Machine and even works with other brands’ dies and embossing tools! The diagrams on the Multipurpose Platform offer easy guidelines about how to make the perfect Sizzix sandwich.
The BIGkick Machine measures approximately 12 1/4″ x 6″ x 14 1/2″ and features a three-year limited warranty.
Click here for more info.
VINTAJ BIGKICK
Included with the BIGkick are a pair of Standard Cutting Pads and the Solo Platform & Shim, which makes all Sizzix components thinner than a Bigz Die – including Sizzix DecoEtch and DecoEmboss Dies – compatible with the BIGkick Machine. Add a Solo Wafer-Thin Die Adapter (sold separately), and the BIGkick Machine can even work with Framelits as well as other brands’ dies and embossing tools! The diagrams on the Solo Platform, Shim and Adapter offer easy guidelines about how to make the perfect Sizzix sandwich.
The BIGkick Machine measures approximately 12 1/4″ x 6″ x 14 1/2″ and features a three-year limited warranty.
If you would like to know more on how to use the BigKick click here.
Cuttlebug from Provocraft
Here is the blurb from the manufacturer:
Using unique rolling technology, the Cuttlebug® can cut shapes, emboss shapes, or cut and then emboss shapes to add texture and dimension to your latest creative endeavors. 

Combine Cuttlebug® dies and embossing folders to easily create inspired, professional-quality designs for scrapbooking, school projects, home décor, and more. 
Features
  • Cuttlebug® accepts the dies you already own.
  • Cuttlebug® loves the materials you love, freeing you to cut and emboss from a wide range of crafting materials.
  • Compact fold-n-store profile allows storage in less space than other leading machines.
  • With a built-in pop-up handle, Cuttlebug® goes wherever you find inspiration.
Box contents include: Cuttlebug® Die Cutter & Embosser, 1 A Spacer, 2 B Cutting Pads, instruction booklet and 1 5×7 flower embossing folder.

             * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

We sell the cuttlebugs for the same price as the BigShot and BigKick at $149.00.
Personally I have the Cuttlebug, have used it for years and love it. I don’t know if I like the news version V2 as much though. The handle is not the same and so far only comes in the one green colour. (My cuttlebug is ivory with teal accents and a pretty teal swirl on the side). I presume that there will be limited edition colours released in the future.
When I bought the cuttlebug I hadn’t seen or used the BigShot, and I must say I actually prefer it. It seems to be a bit stronger. The down side – the side do not go up so it takes up more room when not in use.
You can use most dies on both brands, they both work the same. So it is really down to personal choice. I do like the new colours Sizzix have released though 🙂
Which do you prefer and why?

Gift Idea: Mini Baby Brag book

 Have you just had a baby, or your friend / sister has just had one or is due to have one? Looking for a perfect little gift to give to the Baby’s Grandparents?

How about making a mini brag book which showcases photos and important facts?

Here is a little book I made. (please excuse the photos – they where taken with my phone as my camera is on the blink at the moment.)


To make these all you need to do is cut 3 sheets of A5 card in half so you have 6 pieces measuring 4 x 5.75″.

Score along the top of each one at 1″ down.
Decorate all the pages, then make holes using the crop-a-dile (or a similar hole making tool) evenly spaced in at the top, using 2 8mm brads attach the pages together and you have a little mini brag book to fill with photos and give as gifts.

We have these in kit form in store. Kit includes:
* Idea sheet
* Templates
* 9 sheets of 6.25×6.25″ patterned paper
* 6 x A5 card
* Pack of 100 adhesive rhinestones
* 20 brads (10x 4mm and 10x 8mm)
* 2 ribbons
* 3 x acrylic stamp sets from Imaginisce.

All for only $19.50! We have them available in both pink and blue. There is enough in each kit to make 2 books + plenty of left overs.
Kits can be purchased by clicking here.

Buy in Bulk and Save!

Have you seen the new Kaisercraft Cardstock? Beautiful colours, great variety and a great price.

The recommended retail price is $0.80 per sheet. For this week only we have a special offer – buy a pack of 65 sheets (1 sheet per colour of their canvas textured range) for only $38.00 + FREE postage Australia wide! That works out at $0.58 per sheet. If you buy 2 or more lots I will include a pack of 8 sheets of their Premium cardstock range for FREE.

There are only 20 packs available.

Click here if you would like to purchase.