Fiskars Oval Border Punch

For my Fiskars Friday post I am going to talk about the Oval Border Punches. I know they aren't new but it is a new tool for me.

I have started to play with my Fiskars Oval Border Punch. It comes with templates like the Circle Border Punches do. These are called a Thick and Thin Oval. One side of the punch you cut the Thick size Oval and the other side the Thin. I am showing in the picture the punch itself and both templates with each one cut out of paper. I drew in the lines all the way across and top to bottom so you could see easier. You need to have the marks to be able to line up the side mark with the mark on the punch. It takes 3 punches for each side. I was able to complete the Thick oval without to much trouble. But when I went to do the Thin side I couldn't line it up right. I think it has something to do with working from the left side. I need to give it some more tries.
Has anyone else punched with one of these Oval punches? If so if you have any hints please add a comment to this post. I will be back with more after some more practice.These are completed Thick and Thin Ovals using the Roses are Red Oval Border Punch. A fellow friend and Fiskateer, Sandi # 4159 and I worked for a few hours on just how to punch these out so they were still an oval when we got done and just what the steps were to accomplish this task. This is what we came up. Thank you Sandi for brain storming with me. If anyone else has another way or any other suggestions please comment here.

To Make The Thin Oval:

• Step 1 Put the point of the oval into the punch with the Right side aligned with the tick mark on the paper matching the mark on the punch. The Left side of the paper is aligned with the ridge titled Thin Oval Alignment. This is below the area with the design printed.
• Step 2: Turn the paper to the Left and match up the design and punch.
• Step 3: Turn the paper 1 more time aligning the design up and punch for the 3rd time. You now should have 1/2 of your oval punched.
• Step 4: Repeat steps 1,2, and 3 above just reversing and going the opposite direction.
• Note: If you want the designs to match up exactly before you do the second half of the oval you would have to turn th epaper over. The only thing with this is that that half of the design will the back side of the punch. It looks like a rougher edge. If you were to sand it down a little you couldn't use white core paper as that would show when you sanded.

I hope this makes sense to you. This punch in my opinion is not near as easy as the circle Border punches are. One other thing that makes the Oval not as easy or smooth to do is that you have to hand trace and hand cut with a template. The shape of the oval is not the same as the Oval cutter by Fiskars nor any other cutting system I have checked.

If you have a tool that you would like me to feature leave a comment here and I will do it if I can .

Also please stop by Debby's Dare for a weekly Fiskars Friday Post Here is her link:

http://debbysdares.blogspot.com/2009/03/fiskars-friday-on-thursday.html

Fiskars Friday's Post on Saturday

I'm sorry I am a bit late on the Fiskars Friday posting. But here is my trouble. I was planning on giving you a Demo on the Oval Border Punch. A friend of mine surprised me with one of these punches and I wanted to pass along some info on how to use it. Well I wasn't able to give it much time and so I don't have much to say except that I was able to get the Thick oval side to work but not the thin side.

So I am asking any of you out there to help me out for this posting. I know I am supposed to be giving you some tips and tricks but this time I need to reverse it and ask you. It is a beautiful punch but I need some pointers. Granted I haven't given it much time but let's see what you can tell me about this particular tool.

Thank you so much.

March and April Fiskars Demo's are scheduled

I will be doing a Fiskars demo/ Make-n-Take on March 11th from 12-2PM. It will be held at Pages in Progress in Tucson, AZ. This is a very nice scrapbook store which has been getting lot's of new product in. Here is a picture of the March project.



For April I will be doing another card. This one can be used for Easter. It will be April 8th 12-2PM at the same location. I am going to see about adding some more dates. I will let you know if I get more dates scheduled.

Here is a picture of that one.
We will be using 3 of the Spring Limited Edition squeeze punches for these projects. We will use the Large Chick, Easter Egg and Butterfly.

Fiskars Friday January 16th

My entry today is a bit different from previous weeks. But I wanted to bring this up again and show you what I made to contribute. It isn't much but in my heart I wanted so much to do something. What I am referring to is the blog that one of the Lead Fiskateers ,Chery, posted back on Dec 13th. You can find it here http://www.fiskateers.com/blog/2008/12/13/christmas-a-time-for-giving-help-meet-an-urgent-need/. So I chose the Baby Girl category being I have a number of items for this and went on to make these 2 pages. They are ready for her to put the pictures and journaling on. I left quite a bit a space for journaling as that is such an important part. I don't know if they are still needing help but you can contact Cheryl from the link in this post if you are interested.

Fiskars Friday Jan 9th 2009

For this weeks Fiskars Friday I wanted to give you some tips when using the USX (Ultra Shape Express). This is the new USX. If any of you have the original USX this one is a HUGE Improvement and works like a charm. There is no comparison. The new one is far superior and has brought the USX back into the well used and fun tool to use category for me.

• Always orient your blade by running it along your self healing mat to get it to swivel in the direction you want to go.
• When placing your template down onto the paper to have the correct side you should be able to read the word Fiskars on the template.


• Take detailed edges and designs slowly to avoid any jumping or skipping of the USX tool.


• Don't press down hard on the tool. Let the blade do the work. Just have a firm even pressure as you glide around the deign.


• When doing the border designs on the templates to prevent rocking of the template and tipping of the USX, not staying level as you are going around try this little trick. Take another template of the same thickness. Place it next to the template you are going to be using leaving enough room for the USX to be able to move in between them. But you also do want it close enough so that one edge of the USX is riding on one template and the other edge on the one you are cutting. This will balance out the USX and give you a nice even smooth cutting maneuvers. I have found this tip to work really nice and is very helpful.


• Give the USX a try. It is a great little tool!!!



• This picture shows how to use 2 templates in order to level out your USX. Especially helpful in doing the borders but any shape close to the edge this will work for. Give it a try!.

Check out these Links also for more Fiskars Friday's Posts

http://debbysdares.blogspot.com/2009/01/fiskars-friday-sort-of-on-thursday.html

Fiskars Jan Demo/Make N Take at my LSS

I will be making this 6x6 card on Jan 21st from 12-2 PM at my LSS called Pages in Progress.

It is using Heidi Grace's Winter Line papers, and embellishemnts. It also features the XL Seal of Approval squeeze punch. Currently they are backordered so I am not sure if I will have one in time but we will get it done in another way then. I hope you can stop by. I also woll answer any questions you have about other Fiskar products. It is a great way of learning and having fun at the same time. Plus it is FREE!!!

See you there.

Thanksgiving Treat Bag/Favor Make n Take

For this weeks Fiskars Link Friday I am going to share with you my Nov Demo that I did at my LSS yesterday. I put it in 2 parts. Be sure to check the post below this one for Part 2.

It was a Make n Take style Demo with a project given to me by Stephanie Hamen at Fiskars. I changed a few things in it however because of the tools I wanted to have them use. Would you like me to add pictures of the steps if I post a project like this?



I used the following tools:


Fiskars 12" portable trimmer cutting and scoring blade

That's Amore squeeze punch medium

Round n Round Squeeze Punch medium

Leaf Border Punch

Stamp Factory,

Fingertip tweezers

Texture plates using the Cuddlebug.

Directions:
1. Cut a piece of cardstock 5" x 5 1/2". Replace cutting blade with scoring blade and score the 5" side in half at 2 1/2".

2.Use Leaf border punch on each edge of cardstock piece you just scored in half.

3. Using the Stamp Factory stamp the word Gratitude on front Rt or Lt bottom above the leaf punched area.

4. Using the Cuddlebug choose Texture Plate of your choice and emboss this same piece we have been working on. HINT: to get a deeper crisper embossed design use a fine Mister and spray lightly the paper on the side you are embossing. Then using the following sandwich run it through the machine. A plate, Texture plate, cardstock right side down, 2 silicone pads, B plate. Another HINT: You can use a piece of Plumbers Gasket in place of the silicone pads. This can be bought at Lowe's in the Plumbing Dept. It is red in color and 6x6 in size. It is very inexpensive costing approx. $1.34 for one.

5. Using the circle squeeze punch punch out 5 circles total using 3 different colors of CS.

6. Using the heart squeeze punch and the eggplant paper punch out 1 heart.

7. Arrange circles across the front of the topper and adhere with Fiskars tape runner.

8. Place a foam dot on the heart punch and adhere that to center circle.

9. Fill treat bag with your choice of candy etc.

10. Adhere topper to the treat bag by folding it over the bag and adhere using the tape runner.


I hope you enjoyed the project!!

Fiska Link Friday Another Tip on Acrylic Stamps

Fiska Link Friday Another Tip on Acrylic Stamps


Hi Everyone on another Fiska Link Friday.Well I have had a very busy week celebrating the " Birthday " Celebration of the 1st year in business for our LSS. They have been having events daily all week and it will end on Sat with a Supermarket Sweep Contest.We've had so much fun. One lucky person will get 1 minute to run the store and fill a basket with as much product as they possibly can. Doesn't that sound like the prize to win?!! Wish me luck. I would love to win that. Of course I can't do the running so I have a stand in runner.

Well on to to my Fiskars Friday offering. I have another tip on using the acrylic stamps. You know how certain ink colors stain the stamps more so than others? Especially the reds, blues, purples or example. Well although having stained stamps means they are a well used loved stamp if you don't want them to stain or to keep the staining to a minimum here is a tip.

Before stamping with your color of choice. Take your stamp and ink it in a Versamark pad first. Then go right away to the ink color pad and ink it with the color. Now stamp the image. When you clean the stamp you will have a clean non stained stamp as a result. I tried this with a very red color. My stamp was as clear as brand new when I was done.

So if it really bothers you to have stained stamps and you don't mind inking it in the Versmark first then this could work for you.Give it a try. See what you think. I haven't tried all colors but I think it should be fairly successful.

Have a good Fiska-Link Friday!!! See you next week.

Check out these links too

Debby's Dare Make a Giving Box with this tutorial! http://debbysdares.blogspot.com/2008/11/fiskars-friday-on-thursday.html



Michelle's got some Fiskar sneaks! Check out some sneak peeks of Michelle's Christmas House ATCs! http://fromichelle.blogspot.com/2008/11/fiska-links-friday-again.html

Fiska Friday Link for 11/7/08

This is my first Fiskateer Fiska-Friday Link .
I am posting a tip on how to get good ink coverage on your new acrylic Fiskars, Cloud 9 and actually any acrylic stamps. I will try and post something for you each week.

Tip for Acrylic Stamps

Have you ever had trouble with ink beading up on new Fiskars or any acrylic stamps? I have had this happen when I have a new stamp set and use a stamp for the first time. When I go to ink the stamp the ink is like it is repeling it. It only stays on in dots resulting in a bad stamped image. I have found that if you do one of these options you will have a much improved image.

1. Take a good pencil eraser and rub it over your new stamps first before inking. Wipe off any excess eraser dust. Now ink your stamp up and stamp a practice one first. It should be a nice clean and fully inked image.

2. Another option is you can take a piece of brown paper bag and rub that over your new stamps. Then ink and stamp as usual. Again your image will be a nice solid inked image.

The reason this happens is because in production often times a film is left on the stamps. By removing that with one of these options the ink is able to grab and give a crisp and clean solid image.

I hope you find this useful. It has sure helped me with my stamps.
Check out the rest of my blog while you're here. I would love to have you leave a comment on any of my projects. Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Here are some other Fiska Link Friday posts
http://debbysdares.blogspot.com/2008/11/hershey-continues-and-rock-paper.html
http://fromichelle.blogspot.com/2008/11/its-fiska-link-friday.html