April 19, 2010

Mother's Day Flower Pot

We hope you’re enjoying the newest release from QuicKutz! Did you know our large format dies were created for use in a variety of craft projects, not just on scrapbook layouts? The large-format flower nesting dies, in particular, look great when used in conjunction with craft paper, fabric, felt, or any other unique media.

QuicKutz design team member Leisa Baptiste Rice created this fabulous flower pot design using a variety of large-format nesting shapes. She shows just what these dies can really do!

Supplies:

English Rose Grand Alphabet CC-ENGLROSE-GC
Nesting Flowers (large) CC-SHAPE-0874
Nesting Flowers (small) CC-SHAPE-088
Nesting Circles CC-CIRCLES-01
Nesting Tags CC-SHAPES-6-023
Flourish REV-0024
Leaves REV-0064
White glue (wet)
Scissors
Paper trimmer
Tweezers
1 Clay pot (size of your choice)
Flower foam
Shredded paper (grass)
Ribbon (to tie around the pot)
Beaded chain
1 silver eyelet
3 sheets of coordinating cardstock, colored or printed (flower)
2 sheets of green cardstock (stem, leaves and bottom of the flower)
1 sheet of yellow cardstock (center of flower)
1 sheet of black cardstock (letters to personalize tag)

Cutting Directions:

1. Using the coordinating colored cardstock, cut out the large nesting flowers (CC-SHAPE-0874). Cut three of each shape in the three different colors of paper. Don’t cut the very smallest flower. You will end up with three large, three medium and three small flowers in different colors.

2. Using the one sheet of the green cardstock, cut out four to eight sets of the leaves (REV-0064). Then cut out three of the smallest nesting flowers (CC-SHAPE-088).

3. Using a paper trimmer, cut the remaining green sheet of cardstock into three 3x8 pieces.

4. Fill your sink with water and soak all of your pieces for five minutes. Remove and squeeze the water out of each shape. Lay each shape flat to dry (takes approximately two hours).

5. Using the yellow sheet of cardstock, cut out three of the flourish shapes (REV-0024). Set aside.

6. Using a piece of the colored coordinating cardstock, cut out one of the medium nesting tags (CC-SHAPES-6-023).

Putting it all together:

1. Tightly tie the ribbon around the top of the clay pot.

2. Fill the clay pot 3/4 full with flower foam. Using a pencil, create three holes to hold the flowers. DO NOT make the holes too large, or your flowers will droop!

3. Take all three flower shapes and curl the edges with a pencil. Place a small drop of wet glue in the center of each flower. Pinch the center of each flower from the opposite side of the glue and hold for a few minutes—this will make your flower look a little more dimensional. When completing the smallest flower, add your flourish to the center (with a pair of tweezers) so that it stands out. Once all of the flowers are pinched and dried, glue them to each other so that the pieces are opposites in color. Set aside to dry.

4. Take the three 3 x 8 pieces and roll each around one pencil, gluing with each roll. This technique will form a long tube. Allow to dry.

5. Take the three smallest nesting flowers (CC-SHAPE-088) and cut a hole in the center using any size of the nesting circles (CC-CIRCLES-01). Curl the edges up and down with a pencil. Set aside.

6. Pick up the stalks and cut down into one end (approx 1/2-1 inch) four times. This will fold out like a plus sign. Glue to the back of each constructed flower. Slide the smallest nesting flowers (CC-SHAPE-088) flower down the stalk and glue so that it covers up the edges you glued to the back of the constructed flower.

7. Embellish the stalk by adding leaves.

8. Place each completed flower in the holes in the pot at varying heights.

9. Finish by adding the shredded paper (grass) and a personalized tag.

So cute, right? Have fun and be creative!

QK note: Special thanks to Leisa for her endless creativity!

April 16, 2010

Bookmark

Hello readers!

This is Pam, a member of the QuicKutz Design Team. My children recently had a month-long reading theme in their school. This assignment got me to thinking. April is supposed to bring showers, and what better thing to do on a rainy day that curl up with a good book and read, or maybe do a little crafting! I decided to combine my two favorite activities, reading and crafting, and develop a cute little bookmark.

First, I gathered up my supplies:

Zigzag Edges (CC-BDR-065)
Flower (RS-0008)
Epic tool
Felt, solid and patterned
Ribbon
Buttons
Sewing machine
Needle
Embroidery floss

I started by using my Epic tool to cut the patterned felt with the new Zigzag Edges die (CC-BDR-065) and the solid felt Flower die (RS-0008). I must admit, it was my first experience cutting felt with my dies. While the dies cut great on the patterned felt, I had to trim the edges of the solid felt flowers.

Have I mentioned that I LOVE these new border dies?! I think the zigzag is my fave! After cutting out my shapes, I laid the zigzag-edged patterned felt onto the black felt and cut my desired bookmark size.

I then pulled out my sewing machine, and while I don't claim to be very good at sewing, I added a simple outline of color to the edge of the bookmark.

I then adhered the flowers with embroidery floss, using the buttons as centers. Next I went back to the sewing machine and sewed the ribbon onto the top. Voila! A cute little bookmark was born.

My daughter saw this on my scrapbook desk after arriving home from school today. She promptly placed her order for a leopard printed bookmark. I guess that's next on my agenda!

I hope April brings you a lot of sunshine and Spring flowers, but if rain heads your way, just grab your craft supplies and play a little!

April 15, 2010

Explosion Box Tutorial

Do you remember the Spring into Crafting contest? Our winner, Mellissa, created an imaginative Easter box that won her $100 in QuicKutz products. Many of you asked for step-by-step instructions for this project, and Mellissa kindly obliged. Read below for all of the information you will need to complete your very own "explosion box."



Take it away, Mellissa!


Supplies
Basic scrapbook supplies
Scor-pal or scoring tool
Ruler (optional)
Two 12" x 12" pieces of cardstock
Two or three 12" x 12" pieces of patterned paper
Embellishments
Ribbon

QuicKutz cutting dies (see below for a complete list of dies used)


For this box I used the new American Crafts LETTERBOX line patterned paper.


Step 1-Cut one of your 12"x12" cardstock pieces down to 6.75" x 6.75." Using your scor-pal or scoring tool, score at 1.25" on all four sides. Using your other 12" x 12" cardstock, score at 4" and 8." Turn paper and score again at 4" and 8." Using your ruler and scoring tool, score each outside corner in half diagonally. Fold each score line for a crisp crease.



Step 2-Cut a slit in each corner of the smaller piece of cardstock to make a 'tab'. Fold those tabs in and glue. Strong glue is recommended for this step. This is your box lid.


Step 3-Cut your patterned paper. You will need 17 pieces cut at 3.75" x 3.75", one piece cut at 4"x4" (for the lid), and four pieces cut at 1" x 3.75" (lid sides). Out of the 17 pieces, cut eight of them in half diagonally. These will be your corner pieces.



Step 4- Arrange your patterned paper pieces as desired on both sides of the 12" x 12" cardstock and glue them down. NOTE-I used my ‘busiest’ paper in the corners so I do not have to add embellishments there. Adding ‘popped’ up embellishments in the corners will interfere in closing the box.



Embellish as desired


NOTE: When adding embellishments to the outside of the box, keep in mind that the lid will come down approx 1 ¼” from the top.


Step 5-Making the fan flower-Using pages from an old book, cut three pieces to 4"x4". Use a border punch or your favorite edge scissors on two sides of each piece if desired. Fold each piece as you would a fan. Fold each fan in half and glue together. Glue each fan together to make a circle. Adhere to a paper doily.




QuicKutz dies that I used


2x2s
Butterfly -KS-0919
Butterfly-QC-0007-D
Flower-KS-0923
Tulip-KS-0915
Grass-RS-0024
Grass-RS-0928
Leaves-KS-0917
Daisy-KS-0538


6x6
Epic Promo die-EPIC-PROMO-1


Nesting Dies
Nesting flowers-CC-FLOWERS-01


Cookie Cutters
Flowers-CC-SHAPE-6-017


4x8 Font
Rollerskate SkinniMini Alphabet


Border Dies
Vine-CC-BDR-010 (cut into pieces)
Branch-CC-BDR-023 (I used the birds from this)







To complete the project, fold up the outside box piece, and hold together with the lid.

Voila!

April 13, 2010

CHA Release

Roll out the red carpet, and shine up those Epics, because the CHA release is finally here!

The new large-format Cookie Cutter dies in this release will help you to create projects that are not only cute—they’re functional, too.

For example, check out the new pennant shape. You can use this die to create fun home décor, or to celebrate a party or special occasion. One of our designers thought the pennant string would go perfectly in her nursery—a colorful overhanging piece that is safe to hang above a crib.


Stay tuned for more projects from our designers showcasing the CHA dies! To peruse or purchase the full CHA release, click here.

April 8, 2010

L Blog

For even more crafting inspiration, head over to our Lifestyle Crafts blog http://lifestylecrafts.blogspot.com/ for ideas on using your cutting dies in conjunction with the L Letterpress. Updated by our top designers and product development team, the L blog is sure to spark your creativity!

April 6, 2010

Spring into Crafting Contest Winner

Congratulations to Mellissa from Elmira, Ontario Canada. We loved her creative way to use QuicKutz products and great spring colors on her darling Easter box. Check out her project she submitted. Melissa has won $100.00 in QuicKutz products!


Be sure to check out more contests coming soon!

April 1, 2010

QuicKutz Warehouse Sale

The QuicKutz Warehouse Sale is extending its reach from Utah-only, to the whole world over!

If you are in Utah, join us on Thursday and Friday, April 1st and 2nd, for great deals on QuicKutz products. We’ll have new and old dies available at deep discounts, some up to 80% off the original retail price. It’s an event you won’t want to miss!

If you are living outside of Utah, shop online at www.quickutz.com and click the warehouse sale link on the home page. You’ll be directed to a list of these same products for the same discounts.

As a thank you to our customers, we’re offering $5 off your purchase of $20 or more. Simply print out the coupon to use at the sale, or use the online coupon code QKSALE10 at checkout!



Happy shopping!

The QuicKutz Team