Oh, What Fun It Is & Contest!

Hi! I am thrilled to be with you today! What an honor it is to be part of the QuicKutz blog. My name is Amber Packer. I am an Independent Designer and have the opportunity to work with some of your favorite manufacturers behind the scenes. I also appear regularly on a local television program called Good Things Utah. One of my favorite companies to work with is QuicKutz. I have had the privilege of demonstrating their newest products on Good Things Utah numerous times.

I am blessed to have two beautiful boys and a fabulous husband, good friends and health. It is also a blessing to be able to work (mostly) from home in an industry I love. It’s almost embarrassing to admit, but I get giddy when I see new products!

I’m wondering if you are like me. When I am looking at the many beautiful designs from QuicKutz my eyes get BIG and I want them all. I get tempted (it’s true) and sometimes I purchase a die that I don’t need right away, but I’m sure I’ll use later – and then I don’t use it. Please tell me I’m not the only one!

It seems silly, because it’s such a fabulous die, but the Sparkles die is one of those dies for me. Since one of my resolutions for next year is to use my new supplies along with supplies I already have, I knew I needed to use this die for today’s post.

Here is what I came up with:

My boys just LOVE this! As you can see, I have tied it to pegs on a shelf. I also thought about tying them to a wrought iron rod I have. There are so many fun ways to hang something like this.

I have also wanted to use my Epic (or Revolution) to cut felt since it’s such a huge trend right now. Guess what? It works! All the snowflakes you see on this project are felt. I found that the stiffer felt (usually glittered or self-adhesive) works best. Remember to remove the ejection foam to cut felt. You may need to shim the die as well.

Instructions:

1. Print four 4” x 6 photos” (I printed mine with a white border) and set aside.

2. Cut four 8” x 10” pieces of cross stitch fabric and spray with Frosty Night Glimmer. Mist. Roll over top pin on two 12” ribbon pieces per base and sew a border or two. Fray the ends.

3. Cut four 2 ¼” x 7 ½” strips of patterned paper (My Mind’s Eye Colorful Christmas).

4. Cut snowflakes from two different colors of felt using Sparkles die (REV-0261-S).

5. Cut four swirl borders from Prism Metallic cardstock (Metal Ore) using Contemporary Border die (CC-BDR-002).

6. Cut title from Prism Metallic cardstock (Midnight) using Mary Jane Grand Alphabet (CC-MARY-JANE-G).

7. Adhere as shown using your favorite liquid glue.

8. Add brads randomly (I used My Mind’s Eye Colorful Christmas brads).

9. Tie ribbon, hang and ENJOY!

QuicKutz would like to issue you a challenge! Would you like to win $100 (retail) in QuicKutz supplies of your choice?

Submit a project (layout, card, home décor, gift – your choice) using a “that” QuicKutz die–one you rarely or never use—by e-mailing asmith@quickutz.com by Monday, January 18, 2010.

QuicKutz will announce the winner on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

Have a Happy New Year!

We want to thank Amber Packer for being a guest blogger on our blog! She is so talented and organized! For those of us lucky enough to live in Utah be sure to check her craft segments out on Good Things Utah daytime TV show. For those of you who do not live in Utah be sure to go check out her site for unbelievable ideas, out of the box thinking and great layouts & cards!

http://www.amberpacker.com/