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 



 

Bigger Dies=Bigger Possibilities

By: Traci Armbrust

I had many store owners and designers approach me at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association Show) about how excited they were about Bazzill introducing 24" x 12" paper. AccuCut Crafts offers Bags, Boxes and stationery pockets/envelopes that require larger than 12" x 12" paper.  Now the shapes that you might have shied away from can be easily cut using these popular papers.

Box #18 measures a wonderful 7 3/8" high

Bag-Tuck & Close #2 is also a stylish larger bag that measures 11" high

A7 Pocket Card #2,is the perfect large pocket for elegant wedding invitations. This card folds into an A7 (5" x 7") but you need the slightly larger paper to have that fabulous fold over flap.

This is one of my favorite envelopes, Envelope-A7 #2 .The rounded flap requires you to have larger than 12" x 12" paper. But it is so worth it. I created this envelope out of 15" x 18" paper from The Paper Cut and used fabric for the liner

So don't be afraid to use these big beautiful shapes. The possibilities are endless and now easy as ever to design with.  Just remember the bigger the box, the bigger the gift!

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!

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?   

New Tips and Techniques!

By: Traci Armbrust

I wanted to post a few videos that are being created for us by Bona Rivera-Tran.  I love her unique and fresh approach to dies.  Whether she is creating her own personal custom die or just discovering and creating multiple uses for AccuCut Craft's standard die shapes, she truly is a Die Cutting Diva!

This first video was created using the new A6 Purse Pocket die.

 

 

The second video Bona takes some classic standard dies, Envelope #10 #1 and the Dress Form and transforms them into a clear pocket album.

  

   

If you have an idea for a video or have done a video using AccuCut Craft dies and products we'd love to hear about it or see it.  Post it on our facebook page or post a link onto your You Tube video.

Some Sports Action!

By: Traci Armbrust

The summer sports are in full force right now. Do you need a unique favor for a banquet or just a fun way to give a treat after the big game?  Check out these adorable Sports Accessories for Box Flower #2.

 
 
Cut the box from your team's color or use AccuCut Craft's clear plastic sheets. Cut tops from anything from sporty textured paper to simply using adhesive jewels to bling things up a bit.

 
  
I used Enamel Accents™ by Ranger on the soccer ball.  It gives it dimension and a little shine just like a real soccer ball. 

Have as much fun with these dies as the people playing the sports.  Don't forget to check out Custom Shape Pros to have team name dies created for use with fabric for team shirts or static cling vinyl for car windows on the way to that big tournament. 

 

GrandeMARK Challenge

By: Traci Armbrust

Get excited and start submitting those projects on AccuCraft's website.  The GrandeMARK does it all, so it seems only fitting that we have a contest that showcases all the different and unique materials that can be cut using the GM (Short for Greatest Machine).

 

Just to get you inspired, here are a few examples of the categories you can submit projects in

Chipboard

 
Paper

 
 
 Plastic

 
Recycled

Fabric

 

After posting you're welcome to go to our facebook page and post there as well.  Good Luck!

 

 

 

 

 

A Little Easter Fun

By, Traci Armbrust

I'm really getting in the Easter mood and was inspired by a super cute post on our facebook by Barbara Miller. Using Box-Cake Slice #1

 

So here are some more fun carrot favor box creations.

 
This is created with Box-Pyramid #4 and Seals-3" x 1 1/16" Pinnovation die. 

 
This carrot is Box Pyramid #2 and is cut out of our thin clear plastic sheets.  Check back for more Easter inspiration.  If you have some cute Easter/Spring projects post them onto our Facebook page, we'd love to see them.

Just remember, "everybunny" loves a cute favor.

 

 

 

 

Fun Boxes and Bags with BasicGrey

By: Traci Armbrust

In my last post I gave a shout out to my friends at Pink Paislee.  I could not forget my friends at BasicGrey who also sent me a box of goodies.  Need to give them a little love and post a few projects that I quick whipped up with two of their new lines Hello Lucious and Life of the Party.  When I saw the popcorn paper I instantly new what I was going to make with it. Of course, the Popcorn Box. I used the Jumbo die but it comes in Little Jumbo and Super Jumbo too.  I added a AccuCut star but the rest of the embellishments are BasicGrey paper or stickers. 

  
 
I used Hello Lucious paper and a paper accordian flower embellishment from the same line to create this adorable little bag.  Bag #10 and the stem from Flower-Garden Layering complete this perfect little favor or small gift bag.
 
 

 Thanks BasicGrey for the awesome product!