The holidays are coming to a close and it’s time to pack the decorations away for next year. But before you do, I would like to share with you a quick and simple project that will have you enjoying the cards, photos and holiday letters you received for years to come.

A big thank you to Kim Cook for sharing this wonderful idea! I added a little twist with shrink plastic charms created with QuicKutz.



Along with your cards, photo postcards and letters, you will need a metal ring, ribbons or fibers to match your paper, 6x8 sheet acetate, two sheets of patterned paper cut into four 6x8 pieces, two pieces of 6x8 thin chipboard (you may substitute with two 6x8 pieces double-sided heavyweight patterned cardstock instead of paper and chipboard), a sheet of shrink plastic, markers or ink to color shrink plastic, and a hole punch.

Dies I selected for creating shrink plastic charms were parchment scroll REV-0080, Ornaments Rev-0068, Tree Rev-0067. Using your Epic or Revolution, cut your dies just like you would paper. Lightly sand them so ink will adhere better. Punch a hole in shape to thread fiber through. Color shapes with ink, markers or chalk. I wrote on the scroll using a black pigment marker. The color will intensify when shrunk.

Follow the instructions for shrinking. I placed my cuts on a craft mat, stabilized with an alligator clip and heated with a heat gun. It is fun to watch the shape curl upon itself then settle out flat. I tried wet glue and glitter on a shrink plastic die cut and it created a lumpy sugar cube-like finish when it shrunk. Have fun experimenting!

Once your dies are made, assemble the cover and front page. For the cover I used a 6x8 sheet of acetate and glued the Santa Paper Doll REV-029-S to the bottom right and then set it aside. Next I glued a sheet of patterned paper to each side of the chipboard. (Repeat for your back cover at this time). I used Khaki mini for my year and title, placing “cards” on label die from Santa’s Workshop. You may create pocket inserts for any letters at this time.

To complete the project, punch a hole in the top left corner of acetate cover, both top and bottom pages. Match top left corners and punch holes in cards. (The Crop-a-Dile tool makes this step simple.)

Assemble your project, tie charms to ring, add additional fibers or ribbons.

This is a great project that can be adapted for wedding and anniversary cards, baby announcements, birthdays, graduations, etc.

My goal this year is to further incorporate special keepsakes into our décor for everyday pleasure and enjoyment.

I have received great pleasure participating in QuicKutz’s Ambassador program and making new friends on the forum and gallery.

Happy crafting!

Sandy Peplinski

Rolling in an Epic 2010!

Grab your Epic or Revolution and all of your favorite QuicKutz shapes! You still have time to make a great keepsake for yourself or a gift for your loved ones. This calendar is simple and sure to bring smiles to the faces of friends and family throughout the year!

Each month starts with a simple sketch that is rotated or shifted and then embellished with great shapes from your QuicKutz collection of dies! On my example, I used Pink Paislee’s Amber Road collection of paper and a Boxer 8” x 8” calendar. I used the Calendar Die Set from last year for the month headers, but if you have the newest set from the Black Friday release—use that instead!

I used stamps for the days-of-the-week headers and my trusty journal pen to write in the numeric days. (You can use dies, Boxer sticker sheets, or stamps for the details instead of handwriting, but if you’re giving this as a gift, remember that your handwriting is significant to your loved ones!)

Each month features a journal block that was cut from the Sugarplum Page Insert die (CC-SHAPE-065-1) from the Santa’s Workshop Gift Set. You can use the journal block to write in birthdays or anniversaries for that month, journal about the pictures on the page, or write an inspirational quote for each month.

You may recognize some of the fun shapes I used throughout the year! It’s no problem if you don’t have the same dies—just use your favorites from your stash or head over to your local QuicKutz Retailer to see what they have in stock.

Dies used
January: Sophisticate Gift Set, 2” x 2” Fleur de Lis
February: 2” x 2” Cupid, Heart from Military Die Set
March: Patterned paper, cut-out blossoms/foam dots
April: Bird and house Pop-up Set
May: Tulips Pop-up
June: 2” x 2” Butterfly
July: Hawaiian Flower & Seashell- “Relax” Spring Gift Set
August: Bottle Cap Die Set, Prima Paper Flower
September: Heritage Die Set
October: 4” x 4” Cat- Fall 2009, Dots Border Die
November: 4” x 4” Pumpkin Die- Fall 2009
December: Gingerbread Men- “Jolly” Holiday Gift Set, 2” x 2” Holly & Berries- Santa’s Workshop Gift Set, Scalloped Border Die

Happy holidays

Happy holidays from all of us here at QuicKutz! We hope you have a great week enjoying time with family and friends, catching up on scrapbooking, card-making or crafting projects you’ve put on the backburner, and setting your new year’s resolution to scrapbook at least once a week (if not more)!

QuicKutz is so excited for the new product releases coming this next year, many more fun promotions, new incentive programs, contests and even more ways to spread the die-cutting love.

To the new year!

The QuicKutz team

Stop, Santa!

I love to look at my QuicKutz dies and think of different ways to use them—I feel like I come up with the best ideas when I think out of the box! Or, in this case, out of the stop sign! This “Stop Santa” banner was made using the new Travel and Black Friday releases. I love how fun and different this project turned out.

I used the Postcard die for the base of all of my banners, added my postage stamp and then used one of the signs from the Billboard Set as the background for my letters. I then used the Katie font to spell out SANTA—it has such a fun and festive vibe!

For the first postcard I decided to use the License Plate die and then spell out “Santa Lover” in license lingo (SNTALVR). I used the Stop Sign die to ask Santa to stop at our house, as well as the Road Sign Set to spell XMAS HWY to make sure ol St. Nick knew where he was! I used the License Plate Alphabet for all of my letters on the first postcard, then the Disco and Sticky Note Alphabet on the last postcard.

I cut two of the tree Air Freshener dies and tied them to my ribbon, writing “Christmas” on one side and “Spirit” on the other. I used the Billboard Sign dies on the last postcard and placed my son’s name and part of our address so Santa wouldn’t miss us. To finish, I used the Paper Doll release for the face, as well as the Santa outfit from the Black Friday release. On the back of each postcard I left room to put my family’s letters to Santa, something that will be fun to look back on year after year.

I hope you, too, will look at your dies in a new and different way. If you just play and let your imagination take you away, you never know where you’ll land! Of course, this banner is in my son’s playroom, which fits our playful spirit!

Hope you find time to stop and play this Christmas season!

Happy holidays,

Andrea Yokley-Jessup
QuicKutz Ambassador

Winners!

In September we had a fun contest with all of our readers! Five lucky ladies won a discontinued die in our 4X4 size. We have our dies in and ready to ship! Would the following comment winners please email us your addresses to get your winning die shipped to you ASAP! Please email asmith@quickutz.com.

ASWANN-Whale
QUEENBEEROWE-Bumblebee
FRANK-Pocket Watch
DEBORA-Fire Hydrant
KAYLYN-Race Car

Thanks!

Snowman Card

Hello all! Happy holidays!

Those who are close to me know I have a few favorite colors. My very favorite color is truly clear, followed closely by blue and fuschia. I incorporated all of these colors into my 2009 Christmas card.

I created the background for this card a few years ago and found it could be used for many different holiday themes, including Easter with colorful eggs in grass, fireworks in the air, or a wintery snowman.

This season I created a snowman card. I used the following products:
QK 4x4 snowman REV-0255-S
American Crafts glitter paper- white, light blue, black
American Crafts seaside paper- brown American Crafts foil- orange
American Crafts 12x12 page protectors
Straight edge cutter
Xyron
2-3” of fiber

First I measured my page protector and cut into six pieces, each measuring 4 1/8” x 5 ½”. (I chose this measurement so I could use the L Letterpress A2 envelopes.)

Note: The black lines are drawn just to show the page protector markings. Do not try this at home!

I then measured the back of the page protector so I could cut the light blue glitter paper to size (should measure around 4 1/8” x 5 3/8”, though the seam will make it just a bit shorter)
(Optional) Write a greeting on the back of the blue sparkle paper.

Run the Xyron through your Epic tool, sparkle side up. Place adhesive on the inside back of the card. Rip an edge of white glitter paper in a line to use as the snow bank. This piece of paper will lie down on the top of the card for the snowman to sit on. Now place bits of paper on your snowman die cut for the orange nose, black hat, white body, and brown arm/hands. I used fiber for the snowman’s scarf. Xyron all the parts—finished side up. Xyron and place ripped snow bank on the top page of the card. Now cut exactly flushed with the edges. Cut a bit of black paper to place behind the body of the snowman and behind the snowman’s head.(This will feel in the holes and mimic coal. Place snowman body down on snow bank and finish assembling.

At this point you gave several options… -Use QuicKutz dies to add a sentiment -Write a sentiment on the front page with Copic markers -Use Exes white dots to mimic snow

In all my years as a class instructor, I’ve never seen a card receive as warm of a reception as this invisible card. I hope you enjoy this project, too!

Have a joyous and festive holiday season.
Your fellow QK Ambassador, Jason Jones

Here are a few more fun ideas Jason created with his "clear" theme!

L Letterpress Giveaway!

If you haven't checked out the Lifestyle Crafts blog you will want to drop by and have a chance to win a new Letterpress combo kit and a custom plate set! Valued at $150.00! Click here to see the giveaway!

I am especially excited for the opportunity to have my own plates made! At $39.99 you cant get any better deal. What is the first design or phrase you would make if you won?

A Clever Hostess Gift

Like many of you, I enjoy visiting with friends and partaking in some holiday cheer this time of year. When attending a holiday party, I always try to bring along a small hostess gift as a way to show my appreciation for the party-planning efforts that were made on my behalf.

While playing with the dies from the Santa’s Workshop mini album kit, I whipped up a quick project that will undoubtedly make my hostess’ holiday to-do list a little shorter.

The outcome? A fun gift tag album that is a one-stop spot for tags needed for holiday gifts. Read the step-by-step directions below to see how these are assembled. The best part is that you can make several of these tag booklets at once.

1. Select cardstock and patterned paper that coordinates well together. I love the Making Memories line, so that is what inspired me.

2. Lay out your Wintergreen dies. You’ll need the cover die, page die and inset mat.

3. Cut some cardstock into 6.5” wide and 4” tall rectangles. (I prepped enough pages so I could assemble a few mini albums all in one sitting.)

4. Run several pieces of red and green cardstock through your Epic tool with the Wintergreen page insert die and the coordinating inset mat die.

5. I set up my platform with this configuration of dies and cut them with green, red and kraft. I also used the window die, as they made the perfect rectangle-sized die cuts that were in direct proportion to the nameplate and oval.

6. I then created my gift tags. I used a To: and From: stamp and attached ribbon and silver embroidery thread with a stapler. I added some lovely touches to the patterned paper, and called it good! Adorn your own tags however you wish!

7. To create the back cover, I attached red cardstock to a piece of the patterned paper.

8. To make the pouch, I chose a green mat-sized piece of cardstock and trimmed it in half. Using double-sided tape along the sides and bottom, I left the top free to tuck in my tags.

Note: You can also use the coordinating Wintergreen Folder die to create a nice pocket for your gift tags.

9. I used Santa’s Workshop Mini Alphabet and black cardstock to create the title.

10. Line up both the cover and the back page to thread ribbon through the holes. I used American Crafts ribbon, which matched perfectly.

Easier than throwing a party, but just as fun!

Thanks to our Ambassador Tamara Warner for this darling idea!

Our 12 Days of QuicKutz Ornaments

A heartfelt thanks to Beach Scrapbooks from Virginia Beach, Virginia for designing these creative and inspiring QuicKutz ornaments. It really is phenomenal to see what creativity is possible when you really put your mind to it.

Beach Scrapbook's Ornament Design Team:

Jen Goodwin
Janice Roller
Melissa Hudgins
Amy Norman
Linda Ross
Susan Hobbs
Jody Blaufus
Michelle Avants
Barry Webster


Thanks for making our holiday a little brighter!

To see more great ideas, visit Beach Scrapbook's blog. And don't forget about our advent calendar promotion on quickutz.com, where you can score some great deals on product bundles.

Happy holidays to all,

The QuicKutz team

Twelfth Day of QuicKutz Ornaments

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Label CC-SHAPE 6-027
Gingerbread KS-0983
Paper Doll Alphabet

QuicKutz Dies Used:

Present REV-0065
Pirate skull KS-0780
Candy Cane RS-0982
Elf Hat KS-0384
Square Heritage Die Set
Lemonade Alphabet

Santa’s Workshop alphabet

QuicKutz Dies Used:

Present KS-0981

Tree REV-0253

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Cookies REV-0135

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Gingerbread KS-0210
Jolly Gift Set

Holly RS-0203

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Castle REV-0113
Tree – Jolly gift set
Snowman KS-0213
Record RS-0710

Garland KS-0588

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Holiday Shapes CC-SHAPE-02
Popcorn RS-0343

Candy Cane RS-0982

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Holiday Shapes CC-SHAPE-02
Sunshine Alphabet

Castle REV-0113

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Cupcake REV-0160

Nesting Flowers CC-FLOWERS-01

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Exclusive Frame REV-0148
Wave – Relax gift set

Beach Shapes CC-SHAPE-12

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Peppermint KS-0581

Journal square KS-0962

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Mug KS-0592

Journal circle KS-0961

Eleventh Day of QuicKutz Ornaments

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Earth – Reuse Gift Set
Paper Doll Border CC-BDR-059
Shoes REV-0278
Hair (girl) REV-0277
Hair (boy) REV-0276
Dresses REV-0282
Business outfits REV-0266
Rockstar outfits REV-0264

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Chicken Noodle REV-0222
Snowflake EF-A2-056
Nativity Border CC-BDR-055

Star RS-0761

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Squares CC-SQUARES-01

Snowflake RS-0600

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Heart REV-0084
Hanukkah REV-0258
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01

Bird RS-0702

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Aquarius alphabet
Tree KS-0986
Frame REV-0090

Snowflake RS-0600

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Stars CC-SHAPE-3-021

Snowflake RS-0214

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nativity Border CC-BDR-055
Frame CC-SHAPE-045

Frankie SkinniMini Alphabet

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nativity Border CC-BDR-055
Frame CC-SHAPE-045

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nativity Border CC-BDR-055

Frame CC-SHAPE-045

Frankie SkinniMini Alphabet

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Holly & Berry KS-0979

Banana Split REV-0161

QuicKutz Dies Used:
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Teriyaki Alphabet
Sparkles REV-0261

Snowflake RS-0600