AccuCut Craft Blog

Spring Design Challenge!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Now's your chance to show off your love for all things spring! And while you're at it, you will be entered to win our new Dragonfly #2 die!

 

This die is so versatile, especially because it comes with two sizes on one die. The largest dragonfly is 4 1/2" wide and the smaller one is 2 1/2" wide--giving you lots of options for decorating all sorts of projects--from albums to favor boxes to cards and scrapbook pages.

How to enter: All you have to do to enter is share a photo of spring or Easter-themed projects you are working on that use AccuCut dies by Friday, April 17.

Here are the details:

• Post a photo on your blog or website and give us the link by posting a comment here. Be sure to provide a way we can contact you. Or, if you don't have a blog, simply email a photo to blog@accucut.com. If you send an e-mail, use the subject line "Think Spring" and include a photo of the project (less than 150k please!). Make sure to include the item numbers of the die(s) used.

• You must use at least one AccuCut die (steel-rule).

• Be creative! Use any shapes or colors that shout "spring." From flowers, birds and bugs to Easter bunnies and eggs, the possibilities are endless.

We'll randomly select the winner and post here the week of April 20. Be sure to keep checking back. We will be posting photos of our favorites throughout the next few weeks.

Store owners: Print off this post and put it by your AccuCut machine. Your customers will love the chance to enter themselves too. Or have your own store contest -- you will get more people to use your die cutting center (and buy your products).

To inspire you, here are a few project ideas using our new dragonfly die. And if you haven't already, check out our post from earlier this month on creating dragonfly-shaped magnets.

Here's the new Flip Album die decorated with dragonflies. So cute!

 

And here's our new Chest Box with a blinged out dragonfly. The smaller size is perfect for decorating smaller projects like this one.

This is a scrapbook page that uses both sizes of dragonflies and the new Crown #2 Border.

Looking forward to seeing your projects! Remember! The deadline to enter is Friday, April 17. Happy creating!

Love Knows No Rule

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Wedding season is just around the corner! Here is a cool idea for making the most out of the 3" x 2 1/4" Pinnovation™ Seals die. Not only can you use it as a seal or place card, but you can use it to decorate a votive candle wedding decoration or favor. Just print your sweet saying out on 8 1/2" x 11 sheets of cardstock and cut. This die has nine "seals" to make it really easy to mass produce.

Punch holes in each side, tie around the candle holder with pretty ribbon and voila!

Here's a view of the back. Sweet and simple.

  

For more ideas using Pinnovation™ dies, visit our website. 

Spring has Sprung!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Happy Spring, everyone! I don't know about you, but I am so glad winter is over and warm weather is on its way. In honor of the first day of spring, I thought I'd show you some bag and box projects with flower power. These boxes would be so cute as favors for a spring wedding or as small Easter gifts.

This sweet and simple box was made using the new Pedestal Box and Flowers #27. I love the bright colors against the brown.

 

Here's another box to get you in a springy mood. This box was made with the super jumbo Bag #12 die and the new Flowers #28. Both of these new flower dies are great for layering on top of bags, boxes, scrapbook pages and cards. And retailers, these multi-size flower shapes are perfect for using up scraps and packaging to sell as accent die cuts.

For more flower shapes, visit our website. You can find many more bag and box ideas on our site too. See you next week!

Top o' the Mornin' to Ya

Posted by Tara Smithberg

Happy St. Patrick's Day! In honor of this day, I have two gorgeous, green projects for you by designer Traci Armbrust. First up is the ever-so versatile Treat Wrap Bag die. I love this die because you can customize for any holiday. Here, she used the 1 1/2" Square Seals Pinnovation die with an Irish saying and the small Shamrock #1 to give it a St. Patrick's Day feel.

 

Next, Traci put a spin on the classic Tuxedo Box by cutting it out of green patterned paper and adding a shamrock shape from the mini Holidays #1 die. Once again, it is so easy to use these dies all year round to really get your money's worth.

 

Hope everyone has a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day! For more bag and box project ideas, visit our website.

Start Spreadin' the News...

Posted by Tara Smithberg

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I couldn't resist showing you these adorable "Big Apple" cookie favors that designer Suzette Waddell created for a pre-wedding spa party in New York City.

For a unique way to package the cookies, Suzette used the new #10 Foldover Card and used the Pinnovation™ 3 1/2" x 2" Seals die (business card size) for the personalized tag. On the back, she used the Pinnovation™ 2 1/4" Square Seals die to print a label for the cookie ingredients. How cute! And I love the bright colors.

 

It goes to show, you can get many uses out of one die--all it takes is your imagination!

Suzette (email: suzette@bloom415.com) is the owner of Bloom 415 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The adorable cookies were made by Leah at What a Cookie!

Congrats to Our Cupcake Winner!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

We have picked the winner of our Cupcake #2 die! Congratulations to Kathy Stott from Mom and Me Scrapbooking in Salt Lake City, Utah! We hope your new die will inspire you to bake up some sweet projects...

Thanks to everyone who posted a comment. You really came up with some great ideas. Plus, 20 lucky entrants will receive a make 'n take using the cupcake and our A2 Criss Cross Card die. They will be notified via email that it's on its way. Enjoy!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

Techniques with Traci: Magnet Mania

Posted by Tara Smithberg

So, at CHA Winter, I had several customers ask me about our magnetic sheets, especially our self-adhesive magnetic sheets for creating small favors or save-the-dates for weddings. I asked designer Traci Armbrust to show me how to make some magnets that would jazz up any ol' fridge. Here's a step-by-step tutorial to get you inspired to start creating projects that will definitely stick with you!

We chose to use our brand-new Dragonfly #2 die to make some colorful, blinged-out dragonfly magnets.

Here's how to get started. Begin by peeling off the backing like so. By the way our magnetic sheets are 9" x 12", giving you lots of surface area to work with.

Next, once you've selected the paper and shape you are planning to use, go ahead and lay down the paper over the sticky side of the magnet. Make sure you smooth it out so that there are no wrinkles or air pockets.   

After the paper is attached to the magnetic sheet, lay it down on the die. It's important to remember that the side you are planning to display should go face down on the die. So, in this case, we placed ours magnet side up.  

Here's our dragonfly shape once it's been cut.  

Now, all that is left to do is decorate! Traci layered dragonfly shapes and accented them with gems. Here's the finished project. How cute!

These magnets are fairly strong--perfect for holding up photos, a to-do list or your child's latest drawing. Just remember they aren't meant to be used to hold up larger or heavier items, especially if you are cutting small magnets like these.   

Here are a few more magnet projects to inspire you. This photo frame was made using the Photo Mat #2, Flowers #26, Flowers #5 and Interlocking Border #2.

 

These flower magnets were made using the Flowers #21 die with buttons attached.

And last, but not least, here is a save the date magnet. These are so easy to make using Pinnovation dies. Here we used the 3" x 2 1/4 Seals die to create a beach-themed magnet.

 

For more magnets and other home decor project ideas, visit our website.   

And speaking of magnets, we also have the small magnetic snaps available. These are perfect to create a closure or unique interactive embellishment on cards or scrapbook pages. 

Cupcake Giveaway Extended!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

We love all of your cupcake ideas, so keep them coming! We are extending the entry date to win a small Cupcake #2 die til tomorrow at 5pm CST. All you have to do to enter is post a comment here sharing a creative way you would use this shape in your projects.

For yummy inspiration, here is a little box using the Cupcake #2, Matchbox #3 and Scallop Lace Border dies.

Enjoy! Stay tuned for a fun technique with magnets later this week...   

A Chest of Gold

Posted by Tara Smithberg

We've received so many wonderful ideas using our new Cupcake #2 die (see our post below to enter to win!), I couldn't help but keep the "sweet" theme going by showing you this adorable favor box our designer Traci Armbrust made for St. Patrick's Day.

 

Traci created the little clear treasure chest using the new Chest Box die out of our new .007" clear plastic sheets, which is perfect for making clear cards and small favor boxes.

Also, be sure to check out our new purple cutting mats that make a more defined crease when cutting boxes like these. Plus, they last 10 times longer than cutting plastic.

Then she added a nameplate using the Nameplate #1 die to frame a cute saying. To finish it off, she simply attached a ribbon and wrapped it around the box. Fill with chocolate coins, and you've got a treasure any Leprechaun would love to find at the end of a rainbow!

Retailers, this is a great way to show how versatile favor boxes are. You don't always have to use them for weddings and showers. You can decorate them for holidays or other special occasions.

And dont' forget... If you haven't already, check out the post below to make sure you are entered to win our new Cupcake #2 die! The deadline to enter is Monday at 5pm.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Crazy for cupcakes!

Posted by Tara Smithberg

ENTRY DEADLINE IS EXTENDED UNTIL WED, MARCH 11 AT 5PM CST!

Now’s your chance to win the new small Cupcake #2 die (a $75 value)! Plus, 20 lucky entrants will receive a make n’ take kit for this adorable card shown here using the A2 Criss Cross Card and Chain Border #2 dies, along with the new Cupcake #2 die, of course.

 

This die is deliciously divine. It allows you to create two different cupcake styles—one with a cute dollop of frosting and one with a sweet rounded top.

 

How to Enter:

To enter, share a creative way of how you would use this cupcake die OR share a smart business tip about how you use the AccuCut machine and dies to save you time and money. A smart business tip would be something like, “help revive and sell older sheets of 12 x 12 paper by cutting them with one of AccuCut’s 11 ½” page background dies.”

 

Post your comment by Wednesday, March 11 at 5pm CST. We will randomly select the winners next week.

 

Looking forward to reading your ideas and smart business tips!