Fun with Stitching

Hi there, it's Pam from the Lifestyle Crafts design team to show you those new stitching dies from the Special Delivery Gift Set. If you haven’t seen these dies or the project samples up in the gallery, take a peek. These things are slick! They really add a new dimension to your projects, from little tags, to 12 x 12 layouts, they sure create a fun, new look! I’ve created a couple of samples and will show you an innovative way for you to use these new dies on layouts/paper sizes that don’t fit through your Epic.

First, gather your supplies (as usual). If you’re like me, what you think you’re going to use on your project changes as your creative process moves along. SO, what you see pictured here may be slightly different from what I actually used (i.e. color of my embroidery floss, paper, etc.) There’s my disclaimer...lol!


Once you’ve decided on a project, get moving. I decided to use one of the new card dies. First cut out your card, then use the new stitching dies to create the pattern on your card. Like most stitching projects, the pattern allows you to see where you will stitch on your project. On this sample, I used some removable tape to secure the die onto the tag to ensure the pattern effect ended up where I wanted it.


After you’ve rolled your die through the Epic, and your stitching pattern is imprinted, start stitching!


When you’re done stitching, simply add your details…

Voila! Suddenly you have a tag for a gift or a simple card for someone special.


I also wanted to use these new stitching dies on a layout, but I couldn’t fit the 8.5 x 11 or 12 x 12 paper through my Epic to imprint the pattern. Sure, I could have used a smaller strip of paper to imprint, but once I get an idea into my head (wanting the imprint directly onto the 12 x 12 paper), I’ll figure out a way to do it! I thought and thought some more, and eventually came up with this dandy little idea. I used a rolling pin to imprint! First, place the die under the paper where you would like the pattern…


Then use the rolling pin to create your imprint. It may take a little bit o’ muscle!



I would like to share that using your rolling pin on the stitching dies my also imprint the pattern onto your rolling pin. I only use my rolling pin once a year for those annual holiday sugar cookies. So I’m okay with my rolling pin getting the imprint too. (Yikes, another disclaimer!!)

Then, just like the card, complete your stitching and add your details! Easy as pie! (Yum, maybe that should be my next rolling pin project…)

I hope you eventually have a chance to use these fun, new stitching dies on your projects. I can’t decide which I like better--the swirly flourish or the circles! Either way, try out those dies and post some examples in the gallery for all to see! Have fun!

Use Those Scraps

Hi! It's Leah Killian again, here to show you how to create this cute card using our nesting label die. This card is special because not only does it end up looking finished and cute, but it can be created using ONLY SCRAPS!


Step 1:


Grab your Epic or Revolution, and a nesting die of your choice. I used the nesting label die. Diec cut the label using any old piece of cardstock or scrap. You won't see this piece on the final project, so this is a great place to use up scraps.

Step 2:


Now, grab the leftover bits from your last project. Trim the pieces into strips long enough to cover your die cut. These strips don't need to be the same size; variation actually looks better. You're done once you have enough to completely cover your die.

Step 3:
Ink up the edges of the strips.

Step 4:
Now cover your label with adhesive.

Step 5:

Arrange your strips to completely cover your shape. If you get them all glued down, and wish you had done something a little differently, you can always layer on an extra piece to create the balance you're trying to achieve. No one will notice this, because no one is going to look as closely at this as you are!

Step 6:
Flip over your strips and shape and trim them down.

I opted to leave a little extra to widen the shape a bit, but you can trim and close to the shape as you like. It's your card, so do what makes you happy.

When you flip over your shape, you should end up with something like this.

Step 7:


Now it's time to cute it up!

To embellish my shape I added a piece of trim and sewed it on for a little extra texture.

I punched out two flowers, inked the edges and layered them (this is a brand new flower die--one of my favorites). I adhered the flowers with a pop dot, and stuck two decorative pins through the center for added zing. If you have different scraps or shapes, feel free to mix it up and do your own thing!

After that, you just grab your favorite small alphabet (I used Miss Muffet) and add your sentiment! I made sure to ink the edges of mine so it stands out a little more.

I folded a piece of cardstock in half to create the card base, and adhered my shape using pop dots. If you look very closely, you will notice that I added faux stitching with a pen to the outside of my shape, as well as to one of my flowers. It's the little details that make these projects extra special :-)

Ta Da! Now you just have to figure out who will be the lucky recipient....

Shapes as Embellishments

Hi! It's Leah Killian from the QuicKutz Design Team, here to show off the newest release! Aren't the new shapes just to die for? I was so inspired when these dies landed on my doorstep. I scrambled to meet a tight deadline on design projects and send off as many good ideas as I could, but even after that day had come and gone, I still had the itch to play with them!


Thankfully, I had a nice long crop last weekend, and got to pull out my dies and leisurely create! I decided to do some die organizing, so I brought every. die. I. owned. (You can imagine how long that took.) As I went through them, I found a few old favorites that I haven't used in awhile, so this is a great blend of old and new!


The great thing about using QuicKutz dies is that it puts the ability to make your own embellishments right at your fingertips. I know many of us spend hours scouring our local scrap shops (and our own stashes!) trying to find that just right element to make our projects pop. It has to coordinate and match, and be the right size and it has to speak to us in some way or another.

I love that when I'm in that pickle, I can turn to my dies and make whatever it is I want! I can dress up any die to match any project, and it feels great to know that what I made is totally unique and perfect. I never have to settle for "almost" when I'm the embellishment designer!


In the spirit of that thought, I decided to keep these cards as paper-centric as possible. With the exception of two buttons, every element of these cards is paper, dressed up with ink and glue. I'm sure you have all found that paper-only projects are economically savvy -it's great to create for less and to be able to share cards like these with more friends!


Here's what I used:

Bee die NEW! KS-1009
Flourish REV-0028
Flower NEW! REV-0314-S
Banana Split ("smile") 4X8-BANANA-S
Storybook Alphabet ("many blessings") 4X8-STORYBK-M
borders- REV-0011


I bet you have a few of these dies in your own stash! You can never go wrong with classics. This new flower and bee are my top choices from our newest release. I hope you can snag yourself a few of these MUST HAVE dies for your own collection! I know I'll be using these for years to come!

New Releases!

The day has come.

Put the kids down for their naps and grab a refreshing drink, because you'll want to peruse all of these great new products from QuicKutz without any distractions.

First, check out the new Special Delivery Gift Set, a limited-edition card kit that has everything you need to create thoughtful handmade cards.

The set includes 26 cutting die shapes, one mini alphabet, and even some exclusive stitching dies. You’ll find yourself pulling out this kit every time you need a birthday card, friendly “thinking of you” note, or tag for a wedding gift. Get creative with your scrapbooking layouts by using these cards to create a fun journaling element behind the fold of the card.

We've also released other shapes that work well paired with the Special Delivery Gift Set, or in any other format. These fun and whimsical dies are great for scrapbooking Spring or Summer events. You’ll find birds, bird cages, flowers, plants, and bugs in a variety of sizes, including 2x2s, 4x4s, Cookie Cutters and borders. Here is a quick sampling:
Click here for more information and contact your local scrapbook store to order your products today!

Sneak Peak

You've asked for it...a sneak peak of the June 29th release.

Let's just say there will be birds.

There will be bees.

And together they will make some beautiful harmonies.

The Birds & The Bees release 2010. Stay tuned for details on QuicKutz.com.

Addiction to Pennants

When I found out our product development team was creating a triangle pennant die, I knew immediately that die was going in my QuicKutz arsenal of products.

Of course, there are a ton of uses for this die besides just pennant banners. But for whatever reason, I've been hooked on making banners for just about anything! For instance, my roommate recently returned home from a trip to Europe. This greeted her in her room:



I'm planning to create a few more banners that will spell out something generic so I can use them time and time again.

Here are a few of the phrases I've thought of:

"You rock"
"Bon voyage!"
"We love you"
"Surprise!"

The more I've brainstormed, the more ridiculous the phrases have become...

"Don't be mad"
"Eat up!"
"You're my favorite"
"Finally!"
"Will u marry me?"
"Prom?"
"You're old"
"People really like you"
"Happy trails"

What would you say on your pennant banner? Buy one of your very own here.

Jennifer
QK Marketing

Gallery Idol

Our friends over at Paper Crafts Magazine are running their fourth Gallery Idol contest, a contest that might be of interest to you paper crafters! Readers submit themed projects every week in hopes of winning the coveted grand prize, (drum roll please) . . .

An L Letterpress Combo. Kit!



Crafters are submitting projects by the hundreds to win this great prize.

This is how it works:

Just like the hit TV show, online viewers will be able to vote each week for the best submissions. Voting as already begun for round one of Gallery Idol. Click here to enter in your vote.

Best of luck to all of the contestants!

Memorial Day Warehouse Sale

Hello QuicKutz friends,

We hope your weekend was filled with all of the good things that 3-day weekends offer—barbequing with the family, playing in the sunshine, catching up on scrapbooking, and doing a little bit of online shopping!

If you didn't already hear the news, QuicKutz is offering some crazy deals on QK products, including new and old 2x2 and 4x4 dies, Cookie Cutters, borders, and alphabets. It's just like our regular warehouse sale, but it's online only.

The sale will end on Friday, June 4th at 5 p.m. MDT, so don't delay!

Visit here to shop the sale.

Best wishes,

The QuicKutz Team

NSD Contest Winner

Sounds like you all had very eventful Saturdays, celebrating your love for scrapbooking (and running around town!) We so enjoyed reading all of your comments--many of them brought smiles to our faces!

Congratulations to Pamela, the winner of our National Scrapbooking Day contest. She was selected at random to win some of our fun new large-format dies.

Pamela said...

Just putting together some birthday cards for dinner with friends tonight. Of course my QK are out and at the ready.

May 1, 2010 3:07 PM

Congratulations, Pamela! Contact asmith@quickutz.com to claim your prize.

Stay tuned for more fun prizes in the future!

Thoughts for Mom

Hi everyone!

This is Julie from the QuicKutz Design Team and today I’m sharing a sneak-peak of the present I’m giving to my Mom for Mother’s Day. Like many of you, my Mom holds a very dear spot in my heart. I think I realized just how dear she is to me when I became a mother myself 17 years ago. My Mom is a four-time cancer survivor—yes, you read that right! During it all, she was and continues to be the best Mom to my two sisters and myself. This is for you, Mom!

I decided I wanted to give her a mini book that was full of sentiments from my heart. You won’t find any pictures in this, just my thoughts for her, but pictures would work well in the album too.

First, I gathered up my supplies. I pulled the colors I wanted with embellishments that matched, in addition to the QuicKutz dies I thought I might use. (I tend to gather way more than I need!)

I happened to have a bird-shaped chipboard album on hand, so this is the base of my book. You could also use the Holiday Gift Set Mini Albums (HGS-09-IND) or the Composition Notebooks (CC-SHAPE-085-4) from the newest release. I covered the album with adhesive fabric and trimmed around the edges. I then scruffed up the edges of the fabric to give it some texture and to show off the fabric.

I also ran the cardstock pages through the Epic tool using the Flowers Embossing Folder (EF-A2-007). I rubbed an inkpad across the raised flowers to show the texture.

Now, it was time to make the embellishments! I knew I wanted to make felt flowers, which are all the rage right now. I chose to make my journaling blocks out of felt, too. When cutting the felt, I found it best to take the outer foam off of the 4x4 die before running it through the Epic tool.

I cut the Flowers (REV-0016) out of two different colors of felt so that I could layer them.

I then embellished the flowers with buttons and floss. I love the random stitched look of the floss.



As I mentioned, I wanted to journal from my heart. I knew these words would mean the most to my Mom. I used the Scallop Rectangle Journaling Block (REV-0228D). I cut this shape from felt just like I cut the flowers, and then I cut the lined block from paper and layered them.

Assembling the pages was easy. I found liquid glue worked best for gluing the felt.




I used the Holiday Alphabet (4x8-HOLIDAY-M) for the front and back cover—such a beautiful, feminine font. Other great QuicKutz alphabets for a mom would be Sugar Sweet, Cosmopolitan, Magnolia, Stardust or Nutmeg.


I love you Mom!

(Now, I need to think about something manly for Father's Day…)

[Note from QK: Special thanks to Julie for her contribution to this blog. Here’s hoping your Mom loves her gift, and that she enjoys great health in years to come!]

National Scrapbooking Day

Happy National Scrapbooking Day to our friends in cyberspace!

Are you scrapping away today?

Are you hitting up the sales at your local scrapbook store?

Are you cropping into the night while eating Hot Tamales, Snickers, and Diet Coke? (Oh you're not? I guess you know what we'll be doing tonight!)

QuicKutz wants to reward you, our favorite crafters, with a sweepstakes to win some of our new large-format dies. To enter to win, simply leave a comment telling us what you plan to do on National Scrapbooking Day. (And if it's just running errands and chasing kids, that's okay, too.)

Have fun today!