AccuCut Craft Blog

The 2nd Annual GrandeMARK Challenge begins today!

By: Traci Armbrust

The 2nd Annual GrandeMARK Challenge kicks off April 17, 2012. Designers can enter their projects in six different categories for the chance to win the Grande Prize, a $500 AccuCut Craft Shopping Spree. Six others will win $100 AccuCut Craft Shopping Sprees. You can enter as many entries as you like.

Remember, the more entries you enter the better your chances are of winning!

Here are the Categories:

1.Cardstock-Stationery

2.Cardstock-Non-Stationery

3.Recycled Media

4.Plastic

5.Chipboard

6.Fabric

All entries are due by Midnight CST May 31, 2012. Please be sure to read the rules and check out our "How To Enter" page below.

GrandeMARK Challenge Flickr Group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/2012-grandemark-challenge/

 

GrandeMARK Challenge Official Information Page:

http://www.accucutcraft.com/grandemark

 

GrandeMARK Challenge Official Rules:

 http://www.accucutcraft.com/grandemark-official-rules

 

GrandeMARK Challenge FAQ’s:

http://www.accucutcraft.com/grandemark-how-to-enter

 

Click on the banner on the right side of this blog to see entries and the winners from last year.

Good Luck everyone! You're Crafty and We Know It 



 

If the shoe fits, design with it!

By: Traci Armbrust

 

I'm so excited to announce a reintroduction of a fabulous line of shoe dies we created about 7 years ago. As you will see, they are timeless and a must have. Almost all the shoe are available in small (3"), Large (4" to 5") and Jumbo (8" to 10"). These are some of my favorites.

This is Shoe #7 and I created this fun album using the Jumbo size die.

I also used our Black Chipboard and our new 1" Vintage Alphabet. Flowers #6 worked awesome with Bazzill's Antique Micro Dot Paper. The paper is thin so you can distress it or in this case I sprayed shimmer mist.  The spray curled the petals and gave the flower awesome dimension.

 

There are a few other dies I used like the words You & Me and Life which are such versatile words to have for any occasion.

Check out this cute vintage shoe, Shoe #10 in small.

I used Bazzill Basics Paper's new patterned paper called Vintage Street Market. Added little eyelets to bring the shoe to life.  What I love about these shoes is you can add as much detail as eyelets or as little as a dusting of glitter to these shoes.

So check out our shoes!  I promise just like the real ones you won't be able to buy just one.

I wanted to leave you with a fun picture of me trying on shoes in Anaheim before the CHA show. These shoes had 5" heels on them and I'm bent over because that's pretty much all the farther I could go in them. I guess you can't call me Traci GaGa

Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels.      -Faith Whittlesey

New Dies Are Online!

By: Traci Armbrust

All 19 new dies are up and on line, ready for you to order!!! I wanted to share with you some of my personal favorites that I didn't previously sneak peek before the CHA show.

Album 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" (2-Die set). This project also has the Blossoms (3-D) on it and our new Vintage 1" Alphabert

I love this album because you can use those fabulous 6" x 6" paper packs, except on the pocket page which you would need a larger piece of coordinating cardstock to use.

I also adore these MIni Cards-Apron & Cupcake, which were inspired by larger vesions of the same cards.

These are great for tags attached to food inspired gifts, or as interactive inserts inside albums and on scrapbook pages. Wouldn't they be adorbale attached to the front or inside greeting cards. Oh, I could go on and on but anyway you slice it, these are a must have.



Just one more of my favorites the Box-House #3 comes in two sizes and are perfect for favors or little villages at Christmas time.

You can decorate the houses with two different choices of doors, add a roof and windows and viola! You've got yourself the cutest little houses ever!

 

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest, plus check out all our videos on our video community. Happy creating everyone!

Sneak Peek! You can have your cake and scrapbook it too.

By: Traci Armbrust

sequins, craft ideas, accucut, grandemark, felt, layering techniques, wall decor, wall decor ideas, decorationg ideas, DIY ideas, money making ideas, money making tips, craft tips

So here is another fabulous die designed by Cheryl Mezzetti to add to her Album Builder series of dies.  Album Builder-Cake is that perfect shape to create celebration projects of all kinds.

Don't you just love all the accent pieces?  Not only can you decorate the cake but you can use them for borders or accents through out your album or on scrapbook pages, cards and so much more.

Use our Kraft Chipboard to really make the layers pop on the cake.

Don't forget to follow us this next week to see our full release of all 19 dies.  If you're not going to be at CHA the dies will be available to order on line the week of February 6th.   

Sneak Peek! What's Cookin' Good Lookin'

By: Traci Armbrust

Oooooh, you are going to love this die designed by Vicki Chrisman!  It's a 2 die Recipe Album set.  There are so many stamps, rubons and fun papers out there to create one of a kind recipe albums, and this die is the perfect canvas.  Plus, the accessories that come on this die, make it easy to create albums, cards and so much more.  

I used our chipboard, just plain, with a little inking around the edges, as the recipe album pages. This die is available with or without holes so if you are wanting to use a binding system you can.

Check out that perfect size pocket for a standard index/recipe card. Add the tab for easy grabbing.

So the real question is, is it a recipe album or a scrapbook? The answer is both.  You'll have something to pass down to your children or an unforgetable gift with the benefit of yummy recipes.  So have fun creatimg memorable albums with even more memorable family recipes. 

 

 

 

Sneak Peek! Be True to Your School.

By:Traci Armbrust

You are going to love this new Album-Locker created by Bona Rivera-Tran. It's so versatile and can be used for grade school age all the way up to high school.  You are also going to be able to use all the different accent pieces on cards, bags/boxes and home decor items.

 

Use chipboard on the album and accent pieces to add dimension.

The Oxford Line from BasicGrey is a really fun match for this album.

Check out this video by Bona displaying a totally unique way to use this die.

 

I know your are already gathering up those school pics or thinking of the awesome classes that could incorporate this album. Just a quick reminder that this and the other 18 new dies will be available on our website the week of February 6th and available at CHA starting January 29th.

Let the Sneak Peeks Begin!

By:Traci Armbrust

We have 19 new dies coming our for CHA and I want to show you all of them so bad, but one will have to do for today.  Designed by Cheryl Mezzetti, the Blossoms (3-D) is such a fun way to add dimension to all projects. Plus the simple fact that you can never have too many flowers is reason enough to get this die.

When I use these Blossoms, I like to layer two on top of each other and curl the petals. There are two choices of centers for each size of the Blossoms but those centers can be used as small flowers or little berries on their own. I used the Core'dinations line of paper so that I could sand the edges, but they also look awesome inked or layering two different colors of papers.

If you are wanting more of these blossoms check out the Luminarte Blog today featuring a project created by Cheryl Mezzetti.

The new dies will not be available for purchase on-line or by phone until the week of February 6th. Stay tune for more sneak peeks in the weeks to follow.

 

Our Fresh Start to 2012 Includes My Top 5 Trend List

By Christina Kudym

   A new year brings with it many things, but a fresh start seems to be what I hear and see commented on the most.  What will you do with your fresh start?  Do you want to create and design wondrous things that no one has seen before?  Create THE hottest “must-have” item, or maybe start using different and new media in your creations?  Maybe you want to create some additional revenue with your creative talents for the first time or maybe, just maybe you want to do all of the above.  All I have to say, regardless of your answer, is “GO FOR IT!” 

    In this post I’d like to touch a little on what was popular in 2011 and a few things I think will be big hits, possibly trends in 2012.  To start I’d like to recap our 10 most popular items in 2011.  These are listed in order of popularity.      

 2011 Top 10 Popular

1. Pinnovation
2. Circles
3. Envelopes
4. Anything A7
5. Flowers
6. Cupcakes
7. Boxes
8. Frames
9. Albums
10. Squares

    I am not surprised that our Pinnovation dies came in at number one; these dies are seriously a must-have.  We’ve seen your requests for these unique dies to be made in different sizes and shapes and believe me when I say, “We are listening”.  Were you surprised by anything on this list?  Was there anything you thought should have made the “Top 10”? If so leave me a comment and let me know, I would love to hear from you.

    Now onto the top five Trends for 2012, or at least things that I think are fantastic and should be the top 5 trends.  Hey, it’s my post and I can dream all I want.  Make sure to let me know if you think I'm way out in left field or right on target.     

Drum roll please...

1. Felt, Felt and more FELT – I love this media and really can’t get enough of it.  Many people use felt, but I think it will be used even more than before and in new and fun ways.  FYI the GrandeMARK multi-craft cutting machine cuts felt and all other fabrics.  Did I mention I think this machine is crazy awesome!
2. Hats! – You think Mustaches are adorable (we obviously do, which is why we have a mustache die) just wait until you see hats hit the scene.  Adorn picture in your albums or just use them as accent pieces.  Place a bowler atop Dad’s head perhaps?  Maybe use a fedora and a sunhat on shower or wedding invitations.  LOVE! 
3. I’m a little… - You fill in the rest. Hint: It's a song and an adorable shape.
4. Copper - The color itself and the media I think will be a big hit this year.  Coincidentally I’m wearing a copper hued sweater today.  Just saying.

And last but certainly not least…

1. Recycled Media – This isn’t your mama’s recycling bin.  I’m talking about anything that can be re-used.  Flatware, plates, denim, old scrapbook pages, cards & invitations, plates, playing cards.  Heck, find old textbooks from college, tear the pages out, put cardstock in and bind it with your favorite binding system to make an awesome college scrapbook. 

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m not an advocate of destroying books; but really, what were you going to do with them anyway?  You could leave some pages inside that are highlighted to kingdom come as a reminder of those infamous “all-nighters” if you want.  Now that’s the kind of recycled media I’m talking about! 

    Just imagine the fun projects you can create and classes you can teach with the five things I’ve mentioned; the possibilities are endless.  Also imagine the profits you will make from your project classes especially the one using recycled materials as your media.  I’ve imagined both, which is why I picked these as the “Top Five”. 

    So, after seeing my picks, what do you think should be or will be the Top Trend in 2012 in the creative world?   

Store Spotlight: "Fall" in love with this album

By: Traci Armbrust

I wanted to showcase this beautiful album created by Teri from the Scarlet Empress in Olympia, Washington

Teri used the Album-Tags die and My Mind's Eye Lost and Found 2 "Sunshine" paper

She used Album-Leaves throughout the album accented with Scarlet Empress Glitter (Chocolate Bronze)

The ribbons are from Midori and May Arts.

Absolutely breathtaking, Thank you so much for the beautiful fall inspiration.

Don't forget to share your fall (or any season) creations on our facebook page.  We also have a great    video sharing site to find and share your fabulous projects. 

 

 

 

Oz Castle Album by Carol Murphy

By: Traci Armbrust

Isn't great when you find that perfect paper and then the perfect die to create an absolutely breathtaking project. 

Carol created this Oz castle using Graphic 45 paper/elements and the Bare Elements Reyna Castle Book #2 (2 Die Set). I love all the pockets and depth to this project.  If you are blown away by the one side of this castle, check out the other side.

Thanks Carol for the fabulous inspiration. If you would like to see more of Carol's work, visit her website at http://www.alteredbydesign.com/homepage.html

Don't forget to share your fabulous videos on our new video sharing community at http://www.accucutcraft.com/accucut-videos/