Merry Christmas to Everyone!!

I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Fiskars Friday 12/12/2008 Gift Tag

Fiskars Friday Dec 12th 2008

Holiday Gift Tag

Well this week really flew by for me I don't know about you. I did a Fiskars Demo at my LSS this week and we did a Make N Take project of a Gift Tag. I thought I would share this because I demonstrated a new Fiskars tool and also showed an interesting way of using the circle squeeze punches.

SUPPLIES:
Heidi Grace "Winter" paper line
Heidi Grace Glitter Icon Stickers
Heidi Grace clear stamp set "Winter
Fiskars Trimmer
Fiskars Squeeze Punches- Round n Round (Circle) in X-LG, LG and Med. size
Fiskars Stamp Press
Fiskars 1/8" Hand Circle Punch
Fiskars Tape runner
Fiskars Foam Dots
Fiskars scallop edge decorative scissors
Fiskars Twist N Flip Corner Rounder (this is the new tool
Misc pink and blue ink, and ribbon , and adhesive remover

Making the Gift Tag:

The interesting trick with the squeeze punches is that by using the 3 sizes and punching into a strip of paper 2 1/2 x 5" we ended up with a snowman and a leaning snowman at that. How was this done you ask? You take the strip of paper and using the X-LG punch first punch by putting the paper into the punch from the right side. Then take the LG punch and come in again from the right side and punch partially into the space of the previous punch. Now you take the last punch and come in again from the right side and partially down into the previous punch and punch this last one. WOW did you get that?! Here are pictures to hopefully explain this better.

Now lightly trace the outline of the snowman onto the pink base which is 2 1/2 x 6 1/2 " with the bottom edges of these 2 papers flush.

Using 3 of the snowflakes from Heidi Grace's Winter stamp set you remove the blue snowman punched paper and stamp using pink ink. Stamp small, medium and large snowflakes in all 3 spaces of the snowman. The largest snowflake was stamped twice by rotating the design to better fill in the space.

Glue the blue paper onto the the base. The stripe paper 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 on the top portion of the tag.

Using the new twist n Flip Corner rounder on the smaller of the 2 sizes which is 1/4" round the upper corners of the tag. This tool has both the 1/4" and 1/2" sizes of corner rounds in one tool. You just turn the blue piece on top of the tool and voila you have the other size.

As shown here it is in the larger of the 2 sizes.

There is a trick to using this tool I have found. The paper goes in from the top and side and goes quite a ways down in order to reach the area that actually punches. See next picture. This was the problem that occurred with each person I demonstrated this to. If you put the paper in from the top it seems to stop or catch and you think you are at the right point. But it actually goes in much deeper. I found if you came in from the side instead it seemed to go all the way in without catching. This is the only one that I have so I am not sure if this is a concern with all of them or just mine for some reason. It is easy to punch and has a nice design for holding it in your hand. Plus you don't have to carry 2 around with you.

Take the 3/4" x 2 1/2 " dark pink paper and using the scallop scissors along 1 long edge. Adhere this to the bottom edge of the tag.

Stamp "Frosty" with blue ink above the scalloped strip on the left side of the tag.

Cut out the white paper with "feelin" on it into strips and glue above "Frosty"

Adhere Holly stickers where stripe paper and blue snowflake paper meet.

Adhere strip of ribbon across this paper seam.

Tie a bow and put a foam dot on back of it. Adhere to ribbon strip.

Using the 1/8" hand circle punch and make a hole at the top. Place a piece of string through this hole.

Your tag is Done!! Here is the tag from the steps shown.

This design was by Janna Wilson provided by Fiskars Thank You. (I tweaked it a little.)

Here are some pictures of some crafters who came to my demo busy making there tags. I teach 4 ata time and that seems to work out well for everyone.

Check out these sites for more Fiskars Friday posts:

http://fromichelle.blogspot.com/2008/12/calling-all-fiskateers-for-fiska-link.html

http://debbysdares.blogspot.com/2008/12/well-its-about-time.html

Keepsakes by Melissa

I have added a new site to my blog list. It is Creating From the Heart by keepsakes by Melissa. Check it out !!! She has an offer for some blog candy right now. But hurry not much time left. She is a very talented papercrafter. She has beautiful work on her blog. You don't want to miss it.

Check it out here:
http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/

Stamp Press Tutorial

I was asked about the stamp press. This is a wonderful tool by Fiskars for stamping with any acrylic stamps and even unmounted rubber stamps. It works the best with acrylic stamps because you can see exactly where you are stamping. The stamp press is clear and the stamps are clear. The Stamp Press comes in 2 sizes.

There are quite a few markings on the large one. You have lines , inch marks, bold lines and grid all to assist you in lining up where you want to stamp. The smaller one has markings too but just the grid. No inch marks. The smaller one was designed for card making. It is more portable and sized for cards.

The larger size has a removable plate in the center. You can use the stamp press with and without that plate. The plate is useful for when you are doing a lot of one design. Such as invitations, cards wedding etc. You can set up all the stamps you will be using on that plate for an invitation for example. You can put the Who , what, where plus a birthday cake for instance. Get all those stamps lined up on the press where you want them and then you can stamp over and over without having to re do the placement of the stamps. If you don't finish in one setting and need to stamp something else then you just remove that plate set it aside and use the press without the plate for your other projects. When you are ready to work on the invites again put the plate back in place and continue stamping. You can purchase extra of these plates also. It just snaps into place.

Here is a brief 1 2 3 on how to use either of the Stamp Presses.

Step1: Place your stamp on your project where you want it. I have placed this stamp in the bottom right corner of a 3x3 card. I am leaving my card open so my paper is flat when stamping.

Step 2: Using the grid and any of the lines on the stamp press and line up your press over your stamp on your card. In this view I ma using the top and right side bold lines and lining them up against my card top and right sides. Press down as if you were stamping. This will pick the stamp up onto the press. Now we will go ink it up.

Step 3: Ink up your stamp. This is my stamp inked and notice the ink on the plate along side the stamp. You will see that you can have ink on the plate itself and only the ink on the stamp will end up on your project.

Step 4: Turn your press over and re line up on your card base with the lines you used in Step 2. So I am moving the press to line up my bold lines with my top and right sides of the card

Now with your hands on both sides of the press push down evenly. The press has sponge feet and it will automatically go down evenly if you are pressing on both sides at once. Give it a firm press. Sometimes I will walk my fingers over top of the stamp while it is firmly pressed down to give it a little extra pressure. I do this especially for a large stamp and a solid style stamp. This is a little habit of mine. You might find you don't need to do this. Once you have pressed firmly now let go and let the stamp press rise back up. Your project may still be stuck to the stamp. That is OK. Just peel off the card carefully from the stamp.

Step 5: The finished stamped image. Notice all that extra ink that was on the plate is not on my project. Only the stamped image is here. You get a nice crisp stamped image each and every time. This tool has been a life saver to me and my stamping. I now can get perfect stamping all the time. I would not stamp without this tool. Also you don't need a number of different size blocks. The large one will accomodate quite a few stamps and large ones. This tool can be used if onky stamping 1 little stamp or mutiples.

Tip: one more tip and a very important tip. The stamp press is made with sponge feet. If you were to store this resting on it's feet that will crush and could even get distorted of not pressed evenly. You need to store your press either upside down so the feet are up or hang it. I have found I like to hang mine. Then I never have to worry about the feet getting ruined. I use my Fiskars Craft Drill with the largest bit and drill a hole in one side and hang it from that. One other way of storing would be to keep the package it came in and store it in that tray upside down with the feet sticking up. Here are pictures of my drilled holes. Actually there is a little bit of a funny story with that. I don't know if you will be able to see it but I have both sizes of the Stamp Press. I was going to drill the larger one first. My husband asked me what I was doing and he said that drill won't work. Give it to me and I will use my drill. I was worried it would splinter using his power drill. He said not to worry. Well guess what?! It splintered!!! So I let it go and didn't say anything about having a second one to do. I used my Fiskars craft drill on it and it worked just fine. If you haven't used the drill yet don't underestimate what it can do. It is a very easy to use and good drill.

This was my husbands drill. Notice the rough edges.This is the one done with my Fiskars Drill. I think it is a much cleaner hole. LOL
If you have any other questions post here and I will try and answer them. I hope you enjoy your Stamp Press as much as I do.

Fiskars Friday 12/5/08 Rotary Cutter

My Fiska Friday post is a little different today. I am showing the sewing side of Fiskar Tools. This is just one of many Fiskars Rotary Cutter. It has a interchangeable blades for different edges. It is designed for fabric mainly but can be used for paper also. My suggestion if using it for paper to label those blades for paper use and have another set of blades for sewing use. That way you will get a nice clean cut in your fabric every time.

You use a acrylic ruler with the rotary cutter and it can be used free hand to make your cuts in the fabric. The examples I will be showing that I made after cutting with my rotary cutter are outfits for my Granddaughter's 1st Birthday.

I don't have it yet but Fiskars came out with a new very sleek and ergonamically designed Rotary Cutter. We got a chance to see it and try it out while in San Antonio last year for the Nifty Fifty. That is a cadillac of rotary cutters!! Give that one a look while you are in the stores shopping this month. For all you sewers and quilters that would be a great gift to receive.

Be sure to check out these Fiskar friday posts also

http://debbysdares.blogspot.com/2008/12/fiskars-friday-on-thursday.html