AccuCut Craft Blog

Store Spotlight: The Inspired Note

By: Traci Armbrust

As I was browsing through my newsfeed on Facebook the other day I noticed a post from a company I follow called, The Inspired Note. The post said that they had their 2,500th sale on their Etsy site and it truly brought a huge smile to my face. I wanted to share The Inspired Note's story, not just because they really know how to use our dies to make money, but they seem to really utilize the dies we offer and then create dies with Custom Shape Pros to supplement with dies we don't offer. Their pieces are so well thought out and stunning. Here is their story...

Finding Inspiration All Around

The Inspired Note began in the fall of 2008 under a different name with a totally different design purpose. Our initial focus was business stationery. Our focus began to change based on the requests of our clients. Our clients would always ask about invitations. We are so glad they did! Once we delved into the event stationery world, it was love at first design. It was clear that this was the way to go and I knew that we needed to completely rebrand. 

The Inspired Note was born and launched January 2010. I absolutely love designing invitations and event stationery that's fun, chic, and stunning. I find inspiration for our designs all around. From talking with our clients to the colors and textures I see while taking a walk. 

I am thrilled to say that this fall, I took The Inspired Note on as a full-time venture. I took a huge leap of faith and quit my day job as a high school Library Media Specialist. What I do is truly a passion for me. 

The goal of The Inspired Note is to make products that will leave your guests talking well after your event has passed. My production assistants and I pride ourselves on the attention to detail that is given to every item we create. We hope you will consider us for your next event!

Thanks for your consideration!

Ivey Shelton

The Inspired Note

There are too many beautiful Stationery and Invitation projects to show but here are a few of my personal favorites.

I simply adore the idea of formally asking your best girlfriends to be bridesmaids. This die is A7 Card Mats-Victorian.

Love the Onesie. The lil accents on top are cute too. I'm not sure if those are punches, but they are perfect accents on the AccuCut Onesie die. Just think of all the cute things that could go on the front of this adorable die.

Super elegant and so beautiful, A7 Jacket Card #2. jackets make great Invitations but can also be used as elegant program or menu sleeves.

The classic Box-Dress and Seals-Circle-1 1/2", a staple favor box for any wedding shower or little girls party.

Congratulations to The Inspired Note and their success! Thanks for letting AccuCut be apart of your journey and your creative process. I know personally it makes me giddy to see people really embracing the die cut and all they can do to it, and all it can do for them!

We've moved to Omaha!

We're here! I thought you might enjoy a link to a spread in the Omaha World Herald newspaper today http://www.omaha.com/article/20120622/MONEY/706229968/1697.

Our ribbon cutting ceremony was today along with our sister company, AccuQuilt's Barn Quilt event. Here are some fun photos from that. 

 
Don't you just love the giant scissors?

Top (left to right) DianeRenee, Deb, Jill, Katie                  
Bottom (left to right) Mandy and Ann

The signs on the wall behind the receptionist.

 
Custom Shape Pro gals! Danielle and Amber

 
We gave these shirts out at CHA Winter 2012 but I thought you might like the back of our "You might be an AccuCut fanatic if..." t-shirts.  My personal favorite is " You named your dog Gift Tag #16."

 The President of AccuCut, just like his cowboy name tag says, Greg.

 

 

Deals! Deals! Deals!

By: Traci Armbrust

Just a reminder that every Tuesday between 8am and 9am central time, we will be putting up 10 new dies that are 50% off. Here is the link to get you to these great deals http://www.accucutcraft.com/deals.html. There are some great dies up right now, here are a couple of my favorites.

Remember, these last a week, and on Tuesday April 3rd these dies will be gone and 10 new dies will go up. So click on the link above and go get yourself some awesome dies at awesome prices!!!

Fun "Find" - Make Layering Wall Decor with AccuCut Dies

By: Christina Kudym

While on my eternal quest to find THE most creative projects and simultaneously the end of the internet I stumble across some truly fabulous things.  I will be bringing you my finds from the WorldWideWeb and giving my ideas for how to use your AccuCut dies to either make money from them, use them in your own home or to just have fun with. 

If you have a site you think I should check out, please let me know.  I'd be glad to take a look and share the ideas I believe are true "Finds". 

Usually I focus on the small obscure blog or website however I did stray this week and my first "Find" for you was on the Simply Stated blog for the Real Simple publication.  

Find #1  - The Sequin Wall  - Layering Die Cut Shapes On Walls

The idea behind this is so simple...no pun...and yet has so many possibilities.  To re-create what the girls on this blog did all you need is one of our circle dies (pick your size) your favorite shiny paper and your GrandeMARK  and you could re-create this wall in no time.  After seeing this wall, what would you do with the same idea? 

Here are a few things I would like to do with this layering technique for walls.

For a Child's Room- We've seen many people paint murals on their children's walls over the years but how fun would it be to spice that up with layering media.  Think painted branches with hundreds of layered felt leaves on them in various colors to match your themes.  Accent with birds cut from a thicker felt here and there.  Even add a birdhouseif you're heart so desires.  Adorable and easy to do!  Do this for your own children's rooms and then charge to do it for others using yours as the example.

There are so many fun and unique ways to use your dies.  Please share with us your ideas and how you have used your dies in different and unique ways over the years if you get a chance.

Join us on Pinterest!

By Traci Armbrust

I'm so excited to announce that we're on Pinterest! Here is the link http://pinterest.com/accucutcraft/. So pin away and have fun. We've been seeing so many great projects being created by our customers.  Love this beautiful butterfly album project created by Arlene Cuevas with Butterfly Kisses Designs using Butterfly #1.

My New Years resolution is to blog at least twice a week so check back often, and don't forget to visit us at www.accucutcraft.com and www.facebook.com/accucutcraft. It's going to be a great social year!

 

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/

 

 

 

 

Creating Dimensional Flowers!

By: Traci Armbrust

Marah Johnson is at it again, creating stunning dimensional flowers using AccuCut Craft dies and our little Mark III machine.  The die she is using in this video is Flowers #28 but we have a huge variety of flowers you could do this same technique with.

 

Love that video!  Here are a few more 3-D flower projects. This one was also created by Marah using our clear plastic, Tim Holtz Adirondack Alcohol Inks and Flowers #16.

 
 How about an accordian flower created by Vicki Chrisman using our Accordian Fold #3 die.

 
Our newest 3-D Flower die  is a great investment because there are 3 sizes on the die and making them 3-D is a snap because the crease is already on the flower for easy bending.

 
So start this spring off with a bunch of fabulous die cut flowers popping of pages, albums and cards. Happy flower making!

 

 

 

Shadow Box Dies

By: Traci Armbrust

We wanted to give a big shout out to our friend Vicki Chrisman for landing a couple of her many incredible projects in the Spring issue of Paper Creations Magazine.  These Shadow box dies were designed by Vicki and coordinate with Crafty Secrets product.  What we love about them is that they are versatile and can be adapted to any style.

 

 

 

Visit Vicki's blog and AccuCut Craft's website to see more of Vicki's work.  Thanks for the inspiration Vicki!

Smart Business Easy Money Tip

By: Traci Armbrust

The Scrapbook Princess store in Moody, Alabama has a great incentive program called the Princess Club.  This is a great way to get customers coming back into their store but also a great way to keep investing in new dies.  If you have 30 customers that's $750 dollars or 8 to 12 new dies. You can have fun with this, and have your club members help pick out the new dies.

-For a $25 fee, you receive a year's membership to our Princess Club, which affords you the following benefits:

-Anytime use of the Accu-Cut machine and other tools

-Exclusive coupons available only to members, to be used anytime throughout your membership

-FREE admittance to one in-store crop

-$5 off the cost of one in-store class

-EARLY ADMISSION to our two Customer Appreciation Sales (Feb. and July) and our Scrapbook Goodies Yard Sale (June)

-Referral privileges that allow you to earn store credit for a percentage of the sales of first-time customers you send our way!

-A different special each month available only to club members (January's special is cardstock 3 for $1.00. January special ends tomorrow! February's special is 10% off all patterned paper, including new releases!).

-You can join anytime, but if you join in January, you receive FIVE TSP bucks in your membership packet!

Thanks for letting us share your fabulous club.  Do you have a die cut club? We'd love to hear about it. Look for more Smart Business Easy Money tips at www.accucutcraft.com and in our new 2011 Craft Catalog.

Here is a cute Beyond the Page class they teach in the store using alot of great dies.

 

"Valentine Love" by Scrapkit Studio

By: Traci Armbrust

I "love" this album kit created by Scrapkit Studio.  It's using a combination of some of our favorite dies.  The word Love, Border-Crown, Theme Album (3-Die Set) and, a must have around Valentines, the Lock & Keys.

 
 
 The detail is absolutely beautiful and the black chipboard adds dimension plus is a great contrast to the papers.

 
 
Scapkit Studio is brand spanking new and you can find them at www.scrapkitstudio.com or www.scrapkitstudioblog.com