Calendar Ideas

Dear loyal QuicKutz community,

Theron, here. As my blog entry this week, I decided to share something very special with you: my beautiful family!

Actually, my wife Katie deserves all the credit. She put together this awesome 2009 calendar using mostly QuicKutz products. Check out her talents, take some ideas and comment on the pictures if you'd like.

I now present to you, the Anderson family: Theron, Katie, Lucy and Claire.

Enjoy!
Theron

Fun Fall Project Ideas

Hello everyone,

Happy Wednesday!

Let me just start this entry by saying, “Hello, my name is Andrea and I am a fully functioning QuicKutz Addict.”

I have been addicted to QK since 2004 when I started working at my LSS and found my first supplier. When my (then) fiancé gave me my first Squeeze (no, not a physical embrace but the pink Squeeze with the Olivia font included – sigh), I felt the joy that only QK can bring.

Since then, I have branched out to many other QK products which I love. I'd like to tell you about a couple of fun QK fall projects I’ve been working on lately.

First, I saw a cute “BOO” table top decoration idea in a magazine and I decided to challenge myself to create something similar using only QK products. I can happily say that I was successful! I used both my Silhouette and my Revolution to create my projects. I used the fence, crow, cat and spider web dies and then spelled out “BOO” on my Silhouette. I think it turned out great!

Secondly, I recently finished two fall layouts that were super fun and easy to create using the QK’s latest released dies and a couple of Silhouette images. Note on my first layout how I used die-cut shapes as masks for a color spray. I then used my actual die-cut shapes and offset them from my sprayed image so that I could have a nice background. This technique really adds some extra punch to cards or pages.

One of my favorite masking techniques is to use my actual metal die and then fit my die-cut shape into the outline–you can see I’ve done this on my Halloween layout.

If you are having a Halloween party, don’t forget to look at your Silhouette shapes. I used the 3-D coffin for a little treat box, the 3-D pumpkins with a battery votive inside and, of course, there’s the cupcake wrapper! So spooktastic!

Lastly, I had to share this wedding gift idea I created for a couple who were recently married. I used my Silhouette machine, cut their last name initial from vinyl, and etched it onto a glass vase I'd bought for them. I love the classy look initials bring. I hope a personal, handmade gift will really tell them how much they mean to me!

It was lovely sharing with all of you other QK addicts! I would love to hear any questions or comments that you may have–ideas are always appreciated, as well. If you would like to keep up with me and my QK antics, please visit my blog at http://andreayokley-jessup.blogspot.com

Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit!

QK Smiles,
Andrea Yokley-Jessup, QuicKutz Ambassador

Mastering the Art of Masking and Misting

Misting is all the rage right now in the scrapbook world and here at QuicKutz we have all the tools you need to start creating your own masks to use with mist or ink!

Start gathering your supplies because this is truly a fast and easy process.

You will need the following:

QK Vinyl
Your favorite QK Tool and dies (I used the Silhouette)
Mist, Ink or Colorwash
Cardstrock (heavy weight)
Bone Folder
12x12 (or larger) cardboard box

Begin by using your QK Tool to cut out your desired shape. Here I used the Silhouette to cut out the grunge baseball title. Remove the shape from the vinyl and adhere it to your background cardstock.

Flip your cardstock over and use a bone folder to really seal the edges of your mask.

Next place your background paper inside a cardboard box and take it outside to spray your paper. You'll want to start out at least six inches from the paper and begin with a few light spritzes until you get the feel for how much color is being applied with each spray.

*Note: You can also use ink and a blending tool to cover over your mask. Be sure to use the blending tool in a circular motion so you don't have any lines on your finished piece.*

The next part is the hardest for me . . . wait until the mist is completely dry before you remove your mask. Some mist will be on the mask—if you remove it too fast you risk letting that bleed into your design. Once it's dry remove your mask and begin creating!

You can see on my layout that I cut the outline of the baseball with red cardstock to match their team hats using the 2x2 baseball cap die!

Be sure to post your own fabulous misted creations in our Online Gallery at Quickutz.com.

Happy misting!

Houston Stapp, QuicKutz Ambassador

drum roll please...

First let me say THANK YOU for all of your insightful comments. I followed the blog all weekend long and read each and every one. It really has been fun to reminisce about past shapes. We have had such a great response...I have a feeling that many of you have some great things to look forward to in the near future. Here are the lucky winners that will have their wish granted today... (the rest of you will just need to hold on a little bit longer :)

aswann said...

There are so many shapes I'd love to see return as a 4x4!! But since I can only pick one.... I would choose the whale (KS_0234) as a 4x4!!

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 4:57 PM

Kaylyn said...

QuicKutz Fairy,
Please grant me my one wish. I would love to see Race Car KS-0011 as a 4x4 die.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 6:35 PM

Frank said...

I'd have to pick the Pocket Watch (KS-0299). Though if I could pick a second one, it would be the Barrel of Monkeys (KS-0421). Either 2x2 or 4x4 of each of these would be great!!
Thanks for letting us reminisce...

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 12:44 PM

OH, this is just too much fun! I feel like giving a few extra away...so here are our BONUS winners...

queenbeerowe48 said...

I would love to see the Bee RS-0049 come back. I collect bees and it's the cutest!! To have it in a 4x4 size would be awesome :-)

SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 6:21 PM

debora said...

I actually carry a list of 2X2 retired dies that I am looking for (last year I found the Zelda lower case alphabet!). It's sooo hard to choose just one, but I choose the hydrant and I think that on a 4X4 die a large and small one could fit.
Thanks, can't wait to see which dies are re-released.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 2:15 PM

I guess I got a little carried away...I hope you will forgive me. It's not everyday I get to use my magic wand!!! Winners, Please email me your contact info (name, address, phone number, email address)

hadams@quickutz.com

One whale, race car, pocket watch, bee and hydrant coming right up! Thanks for playing!!

QuickBuckz a hit

GO BYU!

I just wanted to make sure I started this post off right. So, again, go BYU!

We’ve had a great week getting back into the swing of things from our three day weekend. Over the past few days, I have spoken with several customers who have really enjoyed the QuickBuckz promotion. I talked with a store owner who has met the needs of SIX NEW scrapbookers around her, simply because her store participated in the promotion. These new customers had no idea her store even existed until they received an e-mail from QuicKutz stating the locations of stores participating in this well-planned promotion.

So, if any of you are looking for a place to buy great QuicKutz products, make sure you check out the store locator portion of our website, paying special attention to those stores participating in QuicKutz promotions! I know my wife really loves having “fake money” she can use as cash when shopping in other stores. She does this frequently, which is why I work overtime. :)

Many of our stores have received great feedback from consumers, which is what QuicKutz desires most--HAPPY CUSTOMERS! We all do our best to help anywhere we can, and I'm proud to be a part of this team.

Lastly, below is a picture of a lantern that was used for a scrapbooking project created with the new Halloween release dies. This piece was created by Tara at All About Scrapbooks in Virginia. Well done, Tara!

Thanks for reading!

Hayden

make a wish

In the very near future QuicKutz will release its 1000th 2x2 shape die! That doesn't include 4x4's, Cookie Cutters, Borders, Embossing Dies or Alphabets! That's a lot of 2x2 shapes!! From time to time we discontinue some of our best sellers (...and not so best sellers) to make room for more. Do you have a favorite QuicKutz shape that has been 

Today I am asking for your help. I would love for you to share 1 discontinued shape (any size) that you would like to see us re-release. You can see a list of discontinued shapes on our website. Click here to go directly there. Also, tell me what size you would like to see the shape in (for example, it was originally a 2x2 shape, but you would love to see it as a 4x4...and vice versa). Let's leave alphabets out of it for now...we'll talk about them later.

To sweeten the pot, I will randomly select 3 comments and grant your wish! That's right...leave me a comment and if I select yours...POOF...that shape request will be yours!  That's just one reason I love my job!  Thanks in advance for your feedback.  I will post the winners Monday morning!

Baby K

I love the custom onsies I have been seeing on other blogs, so I thought I'd join in the fun and make one for my good friend Stephanie. The butterfly and "k" from the Mary Jane Alphabet were both cut in the Epic Six and I used a fabric glue to hold them in place while I stitched around the edges. I can't wait to see it on baby Kaylee! Congrats Steph!

Amy Walton