AccuCut Craft Blog

Techniques with Traci: Inking on clear plastic

Posted by Tara Smithberg

It's time for another technique! We hope you will be able to use these quick, easy and inexpensive techniques in the classes you teach and in the sample projects you display in your store.

During the next several weeks, our designer, Traci Armbrust, will be showing us how to use various inking techniques on plastic. This is an easy way to really make your scrapbook and cards pages pop.

Today, we will be working with StazOn, a solvent based ink pad designed for decorating non-porous surfaces, such as glass, metal, foil, leather and, of course, clear plastic sheets. This permanent ink has a transparent quality, depending on how much is applied. It comes in a variety of colors--we will be using the opaque cotton white for this project.

Here, we've cut out the shapes we will be working with from clear plastic sheets. Be sure to take off the clear protective film on each side of the plastic before you start to apply the ink.

Next, take the ink pad itself and lightly sweep across the top of the plastic, making sure not to rub the pad on the hard edge of the shape. This will make the ink pad wear quicker. Apply as much or as little ink, depending on how transparent you want the shape to be. 

Here is the finished flower shape. We applied more ink to the petals and left the middle of the flower clear. This flower was cut using the Flowers #6 die.

Just to show you the varying levels of transparency you can achieve with this ink, here is our original flower on the left and a flower that is heavily inked on the right.   

Here is a completed project using the inked flower shapes. I love how the white ink just adds so much more dimension and texture to the flowers. They almost pop off the page, especially against the dark brown background. Other dies used on this page include the 11 1/2" giant Scalloped Square, Birds #1 and Black Tie uppercase and lowercase letters. 

Here is a winter project using this ink technique on a snowman shape created using the jumbo Snowman #1 die. You can see that adding just a bit of white ink around the edges of the snowman really gives it a frosty look and feel. Other dies used on this page include the mini Fall & Winter and Wish die.

This technique would also be great on many other shapes using various colors of ink. If you have any projects or other ideas you would like to share, please let us know!   

This album is the cat's meow

Posted by Tara Smithberg

This sassy Halloween album is perfect for showing off photos of your trick-or-treaters. Our designer, Traci Armbrust, created this album using the 5" x 10" album die. This die is a great one to have on hand in your die cutting center. It's very versatile--you can use it either horizontally or vertically, and it gives you plenty of room for pictures, journaling and other embellishments.

On the cover, Traci cut out a feisty cat out of black patterned paper using the large cat #3 die. Adhesive purple gems were used for eyes. She layered the cat shape over various papers and accented with coordinating star and moon stickers, ribbon and other embellishments. 

Inside pages were cut out of black chipboard and patterned paper, alternating every other page. This allows for a variety of page backgrounds, in addition to a sturdier feel. Here, on the first page, Traci added a unique border accent to the bottom edge using the small scallops border #2, giving the album a bit more depth and interest.

      

Traci used distress ink to give this album a more weathered look. Bind with metal rings, and you'll have an album to cherish Halloween memories for years to come. Find more album ideas on our website.

Have a great weekend! Be on the look out next week for techniques and ideas for inking on plastic!

Fun with Convertibles

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Here's a darling card idea to take under your wing. Using our Convertibles die system, Traci Armbrust created this sweet little card with the A7 Convertible Cards #2 die and the 1" Convertibles Insert Squares Border die. Here, Traci applied colorful letters on the inside of the card that show through the squares cut out on the front.

 

With many sizes and shapes of inserts available, these convertible die sets offer a cost effective way to create a variety of unique looks for cards and album covers. These card and album dies have openings to fit one or two sizes of inserts. Four sizes of insert dies are available, from circles and squares to hearts and flowers. Or you can use a Convertibles die by itself, without inserts, to make a solid card/album.

• You can also use insert dies on their own to create basic geometric shapes and shapes for embellishments. Visit our website for more information on convertibles.
• For the birds on the front, Traci adhered cardstock to chipboard, then cut birds and wings using the small Birds #1 die. For a final touch, she used sandpaper to weather the edges of the bird shapes.

One happy pumpkin

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Fall is officially here! And Halloween is swiftly approaching. Here is a cute gift box that Jen Cramer designed using the super jumbo pumpkin box die. At 3" tall, this box is a perfect size to fill with Halloween goodies and use as a small party favor.

As you can see, this die shape has a happy jack-o-lantern face along with a leaf that attaches to the box. The hooked "stem" at the top makes them easy to hang or display on Halloween ribbon, wire or raffia. Personalize pumpkin boxes for each party guest by using different colored papers in various patterns. 

You can also use this die to cut pumpkin faces for other party items, such as paper cups, banners and invitations.

Find many other festive pumpkin dies on our website. Stay tuned for more great project ideas!

 

Smart business tips to keep in mind

Posted by Tara Smithberg

A while back, we asked scrapbook retailers like you to give us their smart business tips on how to make the most of the AccuCut die machine and die cutting centers in their stores. I thought it might be valuable to bring up some of these great ideas to help you die cut your way to bigger profits.

1) Package and sell pre-cut shapes

Make the most out of older paper that isn't selling. Bring 12" x 12" sheets of paper to life using versatile oversized dies, such as the Antique, Mini Scalloped Circle and Stamp shapes. What's old is new again!

Here is a fun scrapbook page that uses the stamp shape. It gives the page a unique border, adding depth and style.

2) Turn scraps into fast cash

Using smaller dies, cut chipboard or paper scraps and turn them into pre-cut shapes or bare embellishments to be decorated. Package small basic die cuts that can be used for all kinds of projects, such as the adorable mini Buttons #2 or Flowers #22. Or, cut various sizes of tags, mini frames or other accents and hardware to sell in a group.

Here's one great idea using flower shapes.

 

3) Show off what you've got

Make sure your customers can see all of the die cuts you have available. Either display a die cut of each shape on a wall in your die cutting center or create an album so that your customers can flip through to quickly find what they are looking for.

If you have any other smart business tips that you have found helpful, we'd love to hear them. Please feel free to add a comment and share them with us. Have a great weekend!

It's a photo explosion!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Photo explosion boxes are very popular these days. They make great gifts and would be a wonderful project to make in a class. Here are a few examples of some fantastic photo boxes our designer Traci Armbrust has created.

Both of the following boxes were made using the Album Explosion Box 4-die set. An extra layer was added using the Album Explosion Box Optional Page die. This sweet baby box is great for capturing the memories of the birth of a new baby. The box is decorated with colorful paper and ribbon, topped with a bright pinwheel using the large Pinwheel die.

Lift the lid of the box and you will find adorable photos, quotes and other details of the special day. Use brads, baby clothespins, ribbons and frame dies to make those magical first days last a lifetime. Put a 3-D object, such as a baby shoe or small toy, in the center of this box when you give it as a gift or keep it as a memory. 

This holly, jolly Christmas Photo Explosion Box  was made using clear plastic sheets. I love the "see-through" effect and how each layer of the box coordinates with the layer or photo underneath it.

That's why when you are making albums using clear plastic, it's important to keep going back to the previous page to make sure that what you are adhering makes sense with the page you just made.

Other dies used on the inside layers of this box include the small Joy die, the mini Winter Holidays #1 die and the small Scalloped Frame die.

I hope these special projects have inspired you to think "outside the box"!

Techniques with Traci: Adding depth with watercolor pencils

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Introducing a brand new segment for AccuCut's Craft Blog: Techniques with Traci!

Our designer, Traci Armbrust, uses many different techniques in her work. I'm very excited to announce that a few times each month, she will be sharing with me a new technique that I will then pass on directly to you. These techniques would be great to use in the classes you teach or in the project idea samples you display in your store.

Today, Traci showed me how to add depth and dimension to any flat shape simply by using watercolor pencils and a little bit of water.

Step One: Once you've determined your project and the shapes you are using, cut them out in the appropriate colors using the GrandeMARK Machine. Here, we are adding dimension to a pumpkin shape cut with the large Pumpkin #6 die.

Using a dark brown watercolor pencil, draw lines on the pumpkin where you would like to show the most depth and definition. The pumpkin die we used has perforation lines, so we were able to simply trace over these lines without having to create our own.

Step Two: Next, outline the entire pumpkin shape with an orange watercolor pencil. Go over your dark brown lines with the orange color as well.

Step Three: Don't forget the green pumpkin stem. Shade in the bottom portion with the dark brown watercolor pencil.

Step Four: Here is the fun part. Take a cotton swab dipped in a small amount of water and go over the dark brown and orange outlines made with the watercolor pencils. This will soften the hard lines, fanning the color out from dark to light. 

Step Five: Here, you can see how the pumpkin shape has been transformed from a flat shape into an object with dimension and texture.

Step Six: Now, this pumpkin is ready to be used for any type of project--on a card, a scrapbook page or as it's shown here, on this adorable gift bag. To make this bag, cut chipboard using the Bag #7 die. Attach the pumpkin shape with double-sided adhesive tape and accent with ribbon and flower embellishment.

A big thanks to Traci for teaching us an easy technique that can be used to bring any flat shape to life.

Also, we'd love to hear from you. If there are any techniques you would like to learn more about or if you have any ideas using today's technique, please add a comment here and let us know.

Stationery Dies + Pins = Pinnovation

Posted by Tara Smithberg

If you've been on our website lately, you may have noticed a new name for our line of stationery dies with pins...Pinnovation!

We've created a brand new section on our website dedicated to these new dies. They are great for those of you that offer custom stationery services or are looking to expand into this market. With registration pins that ensure accurate positioning of an 8.5" x 11" sheet of cardstock, you can be certain your printed invitations, place cards and seals are cut in the right place every time.

  

It was made by printing the invitation information on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of white cardstock and cutting it using the super jumbo A7 Cards Frame die. This piece was then adhered to a dark sheet of cardstock cut using the super jumbo A7 Cards die.

To add some "bling," a crown was added, using the small Crown & Wings die, accented with clear rhinestone gems. It's an invitation fit for a princess!

Complete the look with a coordinating envelope and envelope liner using the A7 Envelope and A7 Envelope Liner dies. Continue the theme by using the same design and die shapes to create menus, party favors and decorations.

Have a great weekend, everybody! Stay tuned for more ideas next week.

From Bump to Baby

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Ah, the joys of motherhood. This beautiful, modern scrapbook page says it all.

Here, our designer Traci Armbrust used the jumbo (no pun intended!) Pregnant Woman die to create the silhouette shape. Notice how the bright colors just pop against the black color.

Plus, this die is a great one to cut black chipboard shapes to sell or to keep around your die cutting center as customers can use it throughout the entire year. You can also check out other baby-related dies on our site.

To accent the adorable photo, she added hearts using the Hearts #1 die. She layered buttons using the mini Buttons #2 over different borders using Borders #1 and Interlocking Border #2. Borders and buttons like these give this page more personality and can be used for accents on just about anything--from scrapbook pages to stationery. You can find many more unique borders to choose from on our site.

What a wonderful way for any mom-to-be to capture this very special time in her life. 

Fore!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

This weekend, AccuCut broke out their putters, drivers and irons for a friendly tournament out on the golf course. In honor of the outing, Gina Vogt created these darling "miniature golfers" to be used as table centerpieces during the luncheon.

And surprise! Believe it or not, these fun characters were made using wedding favor box dies. To make the body shape, Gina used the 3-D Dress Box and Tuxedo Box dies.

For the faces and hairstyles, Gina used the Girl #4, Boy #4, Girl #5 and Boy #5 dies. She cut out various hats and sunglasses using the Everyday Hats #1 die. And for the colorful bags of golf clubs, she used the large Golf Clubs die. Finally, eyes and coordinating embellishments were added to give the golfers personality.

Add curly grass with the 1/4" Quilling die, and you've got a centerpiece that will brighten up any table.

These tux and dress boxes could be used for many other events other than weddings, such as proms, family get-togethers and more. You could even turn them into little elves at Christmas time.

Find more 3-D box and bag shapes on our website. It's amazing how many ways you can use them if you just think "outside the box"--literally.

We'd love to hear what you might use them for. The possibilities are endless!