Happy Holidays to you All!

Hi everyone!
I had been very busy with agility trials and cleaning for the holidays, that I haven't had a chance to do any crafting, much less keep up with this blog...  sorry about that!  

My sister-in-law and niece are currently in town, so we all are decorating and eating and cooking and eating and shopping and eating... you get the idea!  The dogs love the extra attention and play time (and treats) they are getting from them, too!  It has been a bit of whirlwind, but a lovely swirl of excitement for all.

We all wish you a very happy holiday season.  Hug your friends (fur and not), and spread the joy of the season all year through.  Peace and happiness to you all!

Here is our Christmas photo for this year.  Enjoy!

Love,
Dayle

C-ATCH Omiyage

In Japanese, Omiyage (oh-me-yah-geh) means souvenier, but more specifically, an edible treat representative of the visited location given to friends and co-workers.  In Hawai'i, though, the meaning of omiyage has evolved into an edible present given for any occasion when one visits someone's home, which in Japan, is called temiyage (teh-me-yah-geh).  No one in Hawai'i calls it temiyage, they generally use omiyage, and that is what I grew up saying.  I've learned of the difference since then, but I still refer to such gifts as omiyage.  In Japan, it is equally important that the wrapping be as special as the food gift inside, or even more so.  Beautiful presentation is a must... it shows that care and thought has been made for the recipient.

When my friends Juanita and Laura finally earned their C-ATCH titles (CPE [Canine Performance Events] Agility Trial Champion) with their dogs Gemma and Lego (respectively) this past weekend, I had to make something special just for them, so I thought of giving a little omiyage for them and the dogs :-)  And of course, I created the "wrapping" specially for them.

Here's what I came up with:  a bone box filled with special doggy treats, with an award ribbon in the CPE color of teal.

I cut the box from a bone box I found in the Silhouette online store, and used a ribbon design I also had purchased previously from the store (see NATCH Charlie for another project where I used the ribbon design).  I used an SEI "stone" woven sheet for the bone, with a teal mat.  I used Imaginisce Good Dog collection #400106, paw prints cardstock for the box, and the teal color (backside of the paw print cardstock).

I designed the inside of the ribbon circle by creating a printable circle with the lettering, gradiated yellow background, and a trophy design that I printed instead of cut.  I print and cut the middle design on Silhouette's adhesive backed white sticker sheets.  Here are close ups of the completed ribbon, and closed and open box:

Each box was stuffed with lots of doggie treats for well-earned titles!  Unfortunately, my friends did not show up to class to receive their gifts, but they will get them at next week's class. 

Hoping your holiday season is full of omiyage and temiyage, both giving and receiving!
-Dayle

Survival of the fittest...

... or just plain surviving.  November is finally past us, and what a whirlwind it was.  Attending agility trials EVERY weekend was completely exhausting, particularly when I was the chief course builder for 4 of the 5 trials!  I will NEVER do that again!  I think I came out of it okay...  popped a rotator cuff that still hurts, my brain is completely fried, but my back, feet and knees all feel great.  All in all, considering all of the wear and tear and stress, I made it through fairly well.  Alva got two chiropractor treatments in the middle of it all (thankfully), and also survived fairly well.  He stayed focused and ran fast through most of the trials, although by the time we reached this past weekend, he was starting to act a bit goofy, visiting the judge and a jump setter, stuff he hasn't done since we started the sport!  He's either reverting to puppy-hood in his old age, or he was getting loopy by having too many trials in a row, too.  Or his handler was getting loopy and not paying much attention to *her* handling :-p  Probably the latter, but I'm sure there was some loopy-ness on his part!

No Chances Qs...  but lots of great runs.  Alva earned his Open All-Around award in NADAC (100 pts. in all the games, 200 pts. in Regular) with a smokin' great Strategic Hoopers run.  Here's the video of the run:

                                            Alva - Open Strategic Hoopers - Nov 15, 2013 

He also earned his first Elite Hoopers Q, but the videographer missed that run...  too bad.  It was one of the few great runs he had in Vegas.  I'll be uploading all of the videos in a few weeks.  Check out our YouTube channel, DeafSheltieMom, in the coming weeks for new videos from the trials that had videographers this past month.

I have to make some gifts for friends who earned their C-ATCHs this past weekend at the CPE trial.  I'll upload pictures of them tomorrow. 

Until then,
-Dayle

Trials, trials, trials...

So it has begun...    The pups and I have begun our November whirlwind of agility trials.  Unfortunately, Tesla is in the middle of her first season, so she gets to miss all of the fun.  Or, we get to miss all of her moodiness, not sure who got the better of the deal :-) 

We had a CPE trial last weekend, where only Alva competed.  We were great on day 1, not so much on day 2, but we had lots of fun, which really is what it is all about.  Hutch and Tesla stayed home.  Hutch is essentially retired.  He just can't handle the stress of running agility in a public arena.  He will continue to run EGC (which he LOVES at home, and seems to handle better in public), and Tunnelers, but that's about it.  He would be happier staying at home getting cookies and love from Tom.  We'll continue to play in class, but he even shows stress there, so we'll keep an eye on how much we push him.

This weekend, Hutch, Alva and I head up to Bakersfield for a NADAC trial.  Friday is a full day of EGC, so it is worth the trip for Hutch.  We are staying for Saturday's runs because it includes Chances (the distance class that Alva needs desperately), but we are leaving early Sunday morning so I can run errands in the afternoon at home, and Hutch doesn't have to deal with everyone tearing down.

Next weekend we have a local 3-day NADAC trial, and the weekend after that, Alva and I are heading to Las Vegas for another 3-day NADAC trial.  We end the month (and start December) with a CPE trial in La Jolla.  Whew!!!!  If we survive it all, we have one week off until we head out to Tucson, AZ for our final NADAC trial of the year.  Hopefully, we'll get at least ONE Chances Q with all of those opportunities!!!!

In between, I hope to start a Christmas project that I have been mulling...  and I have to clean the house for my sister-in-law and niece who are coming for the holidays.  Breathe?  what's that???

-Dayle

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone!

I'm normally not a Halloween kinda gal....  it really is my least favorite holiday.  Don't know why... probably because I despise dressing up of any kind.  I enjoy seeing OTHER people dressed up, but I just don't get into it.  Probably goes back to hating make up of any kind, too.  It just isn't me.  Y'know, keep it real, yo....  Probably also has to do with wanting to be a wall-flower.  Just don't like to draw attention to myself.

However, I DO love crafting, and with so many really CUTE Halloween paper lines out this year, I HAD to do something with the papers I bought :-) .   The first line I purchased was the Pebbles Thirty One line...  super simple designs (many can be used year 'round) and super cute!  I have been inspired by the many beautiful banners Dannielle Robeson has been making for classes at the store, so I decided to make a colorful banner using the Thirty One line.  I also wanted to continue using my Spellbinders dies and impressions.

Here is what I finally came up with, hanging in front of my front door:

 and here is a better picture of the colors of the banner, photo taken on a table:

  

Since I wanted to use the cute shapes in the Pebbles line, I used Splash of Color Viva Dimensional Glitter liners in Amber, Hematite, and Holographic clear to color in the shapes (orange, black and clear glitter).  After they dried, I fussy cut each of the pieces out.  Here is a close up the completed pieces, attached to the die cut pieces, with green tulle ribbon.  I used some of the chevron paper from the line as well to back the glittered pieces.

Imperial Gold Rounds w/ medallion after embossing, inking

I wanted to use my Spellbinder dies, so  I picked shapes that would look good together.  I chose the Big Scallop Circles (Grand, SM and LG) of differing sizes for the most of the medallion pieces, and Labels 28 (plus Decorative Labels 28) for the letter pieces.  I also embossed using the Imperial Gold Rounds in some of the medallion pieces, and Delicate Doilies for the starburst black piece in the medallions.

Here is a close up of the completed medallion piece, with different layers.  I added rhinestones using Silhouette America's heat transfer-backed rhinestones and Rhinestone Setter tool.  The lacy white piece and green glitter piece are SEI woven sheets.  The green tulle ribbon is from Webster's Pages, and plain cardstock pieces are from American Crafts.  I really love how all of the pieces look together!




Then it was time to attack the letter pieces.  Using my Silhouette Cameo, I cut out the letters for "Boo!"  The offset orange pieces were cut out of a Core'dinations cardstock, and the inside letter pieces were cut out of Silhouette's double-sided adhesive sheets.


On the right, is what the letters look like with the double-sided adhesive cut out attached.  The double-sided adhesive sheet has two sides, a white and a yellow.  The yellow side is removed so that I could stick the letter correctly to the orange mat. 


On the left is what the letter looks like with the white piece removed, i.e., with the adhesive exposed.  I can now apply glitter to the exposed adhesive!  I used a soft brush to spread the glitter around and adhere it well to the letters.

Here are pictures of the glittering process, and the final glittered letters.  I used foam dots to adhere the letters to the die cut label pieces to make them pop.

I also embossed/cut out of the orange medallion piece using the Imperial Gold Round Facet piece.  It has cut outs on it, as well as embossing.  I love the Imperial Gold enhancing elements lines... you can mix them with any die shapes you have to make them embossed/debossed/letterpressed!  The possibilities are endless!  I'm sure you will be seeing more of them on this blog :-)...  I colored in the embossed part with a black marker, then colored over it with a Sakura Clear Stardust pen.  Then I adhered a black rhinestone in the center with the Silhouette Rhinestone setter, as well as orange rhinestones around the border of the letter banner piece.

Here are close ups of the letter pieces, and the medallions together on the banner.  I attached black jute to the backs of each piece for hanging.

Here are close ups of the three sections of the banner, so you can see the details and how it was assembled.  I'm very proud of how the banner turned out... even one of the trick-or-treaters complimented me on the banner :-D  And from sugar-high kids, that's saying something!

It was such a stretch for me to "go Halloween" :-)  But once I started crafting, I really went for it. 

Now that Halloween is almost over, I'll have the banner displayed at Cool Scrapbook Stuff, where I work.  Come on in and see it in person!






Hope you had a fun, safe, and sugar-filled Halloween!

-Dayle

Oops!

It was last Sunday...  I received a text from my hubby while I was at an agility trial, asking me to bring home dinner.  It was not an unusual request, but seemed a bit odd considering I'd be ending late.  So when I was finally done and on my way home, I called him... he wanted sushi to celebrate his birthday!  OOOPS!!!!!!!   Uh, oh...  I completely forgot!  It never crossed my mind, all month long!  It's not like me...  I usually try to remember to do something, even if it is just to suggest we go out to dinner a little later in the week to celebrate.  But not this year.  Nada.  Luckily, I have a very forgiving husband. 

So this week, I made him a belated birthday card.  I decided to create a card using die cuts the old fashioned way, using my Spellbinders.  I've seen many elaborate nested dies cards, and really wanted to do that, too.  I also have a great collection of SEI designer paper that I adore (foiled kraft paper and woven paper), and need to craft with.  So with that, I pulled out my dies (that are now fairly well organized :-) ) and created a mix of dies that went well together.  I also pulled out my papers.  I chose a teal organic chevron foil design for the background card.  Then I pulled some basic teal papers (bo-bunny, core'dinations) to go with the white woven sheet and the teal foil chevron.  I kept it simple by cutting the different layers from the same cardstocks and alternated the overlap, adding foam dots to some of the layers for pop.  I then finished off the card with a teal rhinestone set with the Silhouette Rhinestone setter.  I love how the card turned out...  very simple but elegant.  Here it is:

The photo doesn't do justice to all of the embossing details you can achieve with Spellbinder dies.  The layers and texture is just incredible.  I played with the new Imperial Gold texture pieces, and those are so cool!  I now want to use them in other projects more prominently.

We should all have creative "oops" moments...  how much prettier the world would be!
-Dayle

p.s.: Hubby loved his card :-)

Love Autumn!

Ah, Fall...  it really is my favorite time of the year, even in Southern California.  This time of year we have a wide range of weather conditions, from very cool and dry days to super hot and windy Santa Ana conditions to rainy winter-like "storms" (it always amuses me how in SoCal every rain event (even drizzle events) becomes "Storm Watch" on the news). Sometimes we have all of these conditions in ONE WEEK, like we did last week...  keeps you on your toes!

My dogs are raring for the cooler weather to return.  Alva LOVES to run in cool weather... he runs agility at a faster, and happier, clip, and Hutch enjoys the windy conditions, sticking his head up to catch the smells.  Not sure how Tesla will react to the change in weather, but if her behavior during our last rain storm is typical, she'll be huddling in a corner shivering the entire winter.  She may be growing her long flowing coat, but she has NO under coat to keep her warm.  Guess I'll have to invest in a puppy sweater...  but she still enjoys running around in the cold!  It's just afterwards she realizes she is cold... typical puppy! 

I'm preparing my gear for a solid month of agility!  Every weekend in November is booked solid, so Tom will be an agility bachelor... not that he minds.  Football consumes *his* weekends :-) 

In crafting, it is time to ramp up for our favorite holidays...  Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!  I have been incredibly busy cleaning so I CAN craft! 

In the meantime, I had to prepare for my Silhouette 101 + Print and Cut classes yesterday.  I re-vamped my class notes.  I realized then how OUTDATED it was...  As a courtesy to my bloggers, if you ever took my 101 class prior to October 2013 and are using the Studio software, please send an email to the store (contact@coolscrapbookstuff.com) and refer to my Silh 101 offer.  We will confirm you took my class, and I will email you an updated class file, free.  It will include updates for the Studio software.  And if you do this by the end of the month, I will include the Print and Cut instructions notes as well as instructions for backing up your Silhouette Library!   Offer ends 10/31/2013.  

I created a cute Print and Cut tag for an autumn-y place card.  I re-used my leaves file from previous projects, created a sturdy triangular prism place card backing, and adhered everything together.   The lettering in the tag can be changed, so you can adjust the font style, size, and color as you desire.  Here's a picture of the finished place card:

I printed on Silhouette's printable adhesive-backed Canvas (can you tell I ADORE this product???)  It adds so much texture, so effortlessly.  The place card can be changed by changing the die cuts... replace the leaves with a jack-o-lantern for a Halloween party, an apple pie or turkey for Thanksgiving, and even change the color of the place card to make it usable all year long!  For such a simple thing, I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Hope your Fall is full of crafting, family, and fun.
-Dayle

Silhouette 101 with Print & Cut

Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to let you know that I set up a new class at Cool Scrapbook Stuff.  I'll be doing the Silhouette 101 class (Beginning Silhouette) with the addition of Print & Cut.  The class is now 3 hours long instead of 2.5 hours to accommodate the addition of Print & Cut.  There will be two classes, both on the same day.

It will be on Monday, October 14, 2013 (Columbus Day):  10am-1pm; and 5:30-8:30.  The store will stay open until 9pm that day to accommodate the class.  If you are interested, call the store to sign up at 858-679-9100.  The class costs $25 and includes a CD with class materials and free files, a printed outline to take notes, and a little goody.  Please do NOT bring your machine.  This is a lecture-style class.

The reason for the addition of Print & Cut?  Print & Cut has become so integral to so many of Silhouette America's cool new products, that to not address it in the beginner's class seemed to limit what a new user of the machine could possibly do.  We'll still cover all of the basics, but I wanted to get into basic Print & Cut so that new users would know what to do with print & cut files they download, and give ideas for using the new adhesive-backed material.

Hope to see you in class!
-Dayle

Autumn Splendor Card

It's autumn... well, not officially on the calendar, but when kids are heading back to school, the leaves start falling from the trees in my front yard, and the days start to shorten, it screams "Fall" to me. 

So I need to create a project that said "FALL".  I created this card it for my Silhouette 201 class.  I always make a project for the 201 class utilizing a few Silhouette products.  For this card, I used sketch pens and the new printable adhesive-backed canvas.  Can you tell I *ADORE* this product!?!  I've used it in so many projects already, and have a lot of ideas for more!

I made this card utilizing the following download from the Silhouette Online Store:  fall harvest print and cut by Silhouette.   I used the acorn and small leaves cuts from that file, as well as the print & cut for the inside of the card (see below).  I designed the rest of the cut files. 

I used Bazzill cardstock, the red leaf pattern cardstock is from Authentique, Seasons line, called "Autumn Three".  I also used SRM (the Twinery) Marigold twine, and Quick Quotes Powder Puff chalk inks to ink the leaves, acorn and canvas. 

I first sketched the "Autumn Spendor" title using copper metallic sketch pen (from Silhouette) on green cardstock, then cut out the tag around it.  Here's a close up of the tag:

I cut the rest of the pieces out, inked the acorn and leaves.  I then tied the twine around the tag, and attached it to the pattern paper cut out.  I assembled the rest of the front of the card.  I used foam squares to pop out the middle leaf for more dimension.

For the inside of the card, I print and cut a piece of the fall harvest print and cut file.  I cut that piece out of the original file, then just used that part for the actual print and cut that I did on the printable canvas.  I inked around the canvas to give it a bit more of a weathered look.  I then just glued everything together.  Here's what the inside of the card looks like:

I loved how the card turned out...  hope you like it too!  Happy Fall!!!
-Dayle

A very sad week...

Two very wonderful, old dog friends left us to go to the Rainbow Bridge within the last few days, and their doggy parents are very, very lost without them.


Sage was the BEST dog in the world...  All-American, best agility partner, smart, loving, happy-go-lucky guy.  I loved when he would occasionally let out a bouncy "woof" on the agility course because he was sooooo HAPPY :-).  It makes me smile remembering that.  He was 13, and will be missed by his whole family...

Shenanigans was the BEST hugger in the whole world.  There was no one she didn't love, love, love and she showed it.  Her parents have declared today 'Hug (or sloppy kiss) a loved one' day' and as her mom says, "And Shenny wasn't particular--a loved one was a friend, a relative, a significant other, a pet, a stuffed toy, or a garden snail. So go for it."

Spread the unconditional love our pets give to us, and in memory of Shenny and Sage, go give Hugs.

I'm going to go hug my dogs right now...
-Dayle


Update 09/20/2013
I recently learned that my agility instructor's grand old Aussie, Hannah, also left us for the Bridge at age 13, as did my agility friends Mary and Randy's loving Dalmatian, Becky, who was 15.  All great dogs, all leaving their families with wonderful memories after many, many years of companionship.  Peace to all who have lost their special long-time friend... no matter how long they've lived, it is never long enough.  Their special lives will live on forever in your hearts.

Cards for my Silhouette Demo and Class

As I was preparing for my Silhouette die cutting machine demo and classes last week for Cool Scrapbook Stuff, I decided to create some projects that utilized some of the new products Silhouette America has come out with.  I showed you one of my samples, the holiday seals on clear sticker sheets, from a previous post.  Now, I'll give you a peek at the other projects I created using my own designs and designs purchased from the Silhouette online store.  I will provide artist information for designs I purchased, if available.

For this card, from the Silhouette online store, I downloaded: Hayrides & Pumpkin Pies print by Echo Park (Reflections Fall line), printed on and cut from the new printable, adhesive-backed Canvas by Silhouette America (very much loving this product!); and acorn and leaves cut file in the Fall Harvest print & cut by Silhouette America.

I wrapped a distressed (chalk inks) Marigold twine by SRM; attached washi tapes made into flags by We-R Memory Keepers and Doodlebug, cut a strip of a leaf pattern border paper by Magenta, and used various colors of cardstock by Bazzill for accent and the card.

For my next project, from the Silhouette online store, I downloaded:
dear lizzy - sparkle by American Crafts , printed on Printable Adhesive-backed Canvas by Silhouette America.

I adhered the canvas to Bazzill cardstock pieces I designed.  I adhered clear rhinestones to the canvas using the Silhouette Rhinestone Setter.  I then gathered a bit of Fantasy Fiber and ironed it to create a "fabric" and sandwiched that behind the canvas ensemble between a large piece of cut blue cardstock.  I added a blue ribbon, and finally attached it to an SRM clear purse box.

  

frosted vinyl web close up

My next card used Frosted vinyl by Silhouette America.  I LOVE that vinyl...  it is translucent, and a little shimmery (aaahhhh, subtle bling, gotta love it!).  I wanted to make a card using vinyl on clear acetate, and it suddenly hit me that the frosted vinyl would make a COOL spider web!

From the Silhouette Online Store, I downloaded:  spider web background by Samantha Walker, used to cut the frosted vinyl; and halloween owl/spider set by Lori Whitlock for the spider.  I removed the hanging web before cutting.

I cut the acetate and card using my Cameo, and then cut the web and spider (as well as inside decorations... sorry, I don't have a photo of the inside).  After two-three hours of weeding the pieces out of the cut web (yeah, it took that long...  good thing I like watching football!), I transferred the web to the acetate using the transfer paper.  I trimmed the excess away from the edges, and voila!  a very cool webbed card!   I really loved how this turned out...  one of my better ideas :-)


My next card utilized Silhouette's heat transfer backed rhinestones.  Can you tell I *love* bling????

From the Silhouette Online Store, I downloaded:  snowflake by Rivka Wilkin; and 3d flip swing card bracket by Lori Whitlock .

backside of Snowflake card

I cut out the bracket pieces and card, and I created a bracket border (dark print) to strengthen the card.  I then cut the rhinestone snowflake out of template material.  After adding the aqua and clear rhinestones, I ironed the snowflake onto the light colored bracket piece. 

I then adhered the opposite side bracket piece, added the title, and adhered individual rhinestones using the Silhouette Rhinestone setter (love that tool!).  The pattern paper used is from the Powder Mountain line by Bo Bunny.

Tomorrow I will post pictures and info about the card I designed for my 201 class...  I really liked how it turned out, so wait and see...
 -Dayle

Silhouette Studio Welding Conundrum... Solved!

In my Silhouette die cutting machine class this past weekend, I was demonstrating how to weld words, and fixes for making smooth words when the letters don't quite match up with rest of the letters.  For crafters, having a single cut piece (word) is much easier to manipulate in a project than trying to properly align lots of separate letters.

I used a font I had not used before, and ran into a problem.  The font is called "That's Font Folks!", and I was using my name to show how to weld a cursive font in the Studio software.  Here's what it looks like typed out raw in Studio:


For those of you unfamiliar with how die cutting machines work, each individual letter is a cut, every red line is a cut.  So, if you were to cut this name as is, there would be "bites" cut out of the overlapping letters.  In order to fix this, the Studio software allows you to WELD the letters together, eliminating the overlapping parts so that you have one single flowing word.



After converting to path, then ungrouping, moving and adjusting points of the lower case letters to make a better flowing cursive script, I welded those letters together to get this:

I then needed to fix the "D", which was in two parts, and not connected to the rest of the name.  I manipulated the points of the "straight-line" part so that it connected the with curved part to get the image on the right:


I then welded the two pieces together to get this:

So far, so good!  However, I wanted to connect the "D" to the rest of the name, so I wanted to extend the curve at the bottom of the "D" to connect to the rest of the name.  When I did this, I got this:

I then went to weld the letters together, thinking I was now done...

HOWEVER!!!!   The overlap place where I dragged the curl to the rest of the letters did NOT weld!  I was confused...  why didn't this work?  As a matter of fact, after welding, the word ended up splitting into three pieces!  See the picture below at the arrow--I pulled the pieces apart (see arrow) to show how the program split the word up:

Obviously, this was a problem!!!  After pondering a bit and trying all sorts of other modifying techniques (and not getting ANYWHERE), I told the class I'd go home and think about a fix...  and figure out why this happened in the first place.

I now understand that Studio assumes that overlapping lines from the same object (line) is creating "holes".  So, when I welded, the program assumed that the overlapping part was a "hole", and therefore, broke up the assemblage into the three pieces that touched at the corners, maintaining the "hole".  Okay... so that's the problem... but I still needed to fix this so it would look like a connected D!  But how???

After a good night's sleep, I finally thought of a VERY simple answer:  create a NEW shape that resembles the curvy connections and weld the three pieces together!  I slapped my forehead because it is such a simple solution, dang it, why didn't I think of that earlier!??!!!   Ugh...  anyways, here's what I did: 

I drew the connecting piece with the curved spline tool:

It looked like this after I adjusted the points and curves to make it look nice (the new piece I drew is in a blue line, pointed to by the arrow).  Notice that the new piece overlaps both the "D" and the start of the rest of the letters:

I then welded the three pieces (the D, the new piece, and the rest of the name) together, and FINALLY got my name fully connected!!!  AND cut-able!!!

 TaahDaahh!!!

*sigh*...  mission accomplished.  Finally.

 I hope this helps you with your Silhouette welding issues...
That's ALL, Folks!
-Dayle

Silhouette Classes and Demo

I'll be doing a demo of the Silhouette Cameo on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 3pm to 5pm. at Cool Scrapbook Stuff (where I work).  Come join me to learn about this fabulous electronic die cutting wonder machine!  One of the things I'll be showing is the Cameo's Print and Cut feature.  Here are samples of the holiday seals I made for that demo:

I made the seals with a scalloped cut edge (barely visible in the photo, in light red) on clear printable sticker paper.  I also hope to demo some of the other new Silhouette products:  stamping materials (!!!), cut-able chipboard, and other fun stuff.  Come on in and join me!

Also, if you already own a Silhouette machine (original, SD, Cameo or Portrait), sign up for one of my classes on Sunday Sept. 8.  My 101 class is for the beginner still learning the ropes about their new tool, and for those wanting to learn good tips and tricks for using the Silhouette.  My 201 class is for learning more in-depth techniques, including Print and Cut, advanced file editing, sketching, and playing with the new products.  I will have a mini-project for you to take home to learn about these new products.   Both classes have take-home CDs with class material, sample files, and other info on it, as an outline for taking notes.   Do NOT bring your machine.  Please call the store at (858) 679-9100 to pay and reserve your spot.  Hope to see you next weekend!
-Dayle

Metal Wafer Dies Organization Project

I don't know how many die sets I have, and I really don't care.  I just want more!  I mainly own Spellbinder dies, but I also own QuicKutz/Lifestyle crafts dies, Memory Box dies, and Sizzix dies.  Many Sizzix dies need a separate organization method (since they aren't really wafer dies), so this post ignores those.  I'll be concentrating on organizing my metal wafer dies.

All I want to do is organize them so a) I don't re-purchase a set I already have, and b) be able to easily find what I own in one place.  They are currently in individual zip bags with labels on them or still in their original clamshell packaging, but it is very difficult to see what I have, and they are ALL OVER the place in different containers.  The various sizes (I have Grand dies that are large) made it difficult to store in one place.  

After contemplating different organization methods (purchased or self-created), I developed my own.  I have way too many dies to purchase pre-made storage sets that it would cost too much because I'd have to purchase multiples, and would defeat the purpose of keeping them in one place.  Also, none of them satisfied my criteria.  I also saw some folks who organized their dies using zip bags, folders, etc.  None of them would work.  I have too many or it would cost too much.

So here's what I eventually came up with:  A file box with hanging folders, each holding 8.5"x11" page protector sheets filled with a magnetic sheet holding multiple sets of dies.  That was actually harder to write than just plain showing you what it looks like, so here it is:

File box with completed sheet protectors filled with dies

        

             Hutch playing "Vanna" with the file box :-)

 

Completed sheet protectors, front and back

On the front of the cardstock sheet, I adhered a picture of the die set that is stored.  On the back of the cardstock sheet, I adhered magnetic strips or a solid magnetic sheet (depending on the dies stored).  After putting the dies on the magnetic side, I slipped the cardstock into the protectors.  Voila!  A system that will store my dies, won't scatter them in case they get jarred, and easy to flip through.  I will describe the steps I took to create my system.

Firstly, I re-purposed the file box from previous bills organization projects (that are finally getting under control, too).  I believe I purchased the unit from The Container Store.  I also already owned the hanging file folders.  I can fit 4 into the box when they are fully opened (bottom lined with chipboard for sturdiness).   I also already owned the 8.5"x11" page protectors from the old days when scrapbooking was in it's infancy and 12"x12" sized sheets was not even a thought.  Yes, I've been paper crafting for THAT long *sigh*!  I also have a lot of 8.5"x11" sheets of cardstock of various colors that I used for backing. 

So the only purchase I needed to make for this storage project was the adhesive-backed magnetic sheets.  I did a lot of research on these:  I didn't want them to be very heavy and bulky, but I also needed them to be strong enough to sturdily hold the dies.  I found some 8.5"x11" sheets at Amazon.com.  A set of 10 sheets for $26, free shipping.  Unfortunately, the company is currently out of stock.  I will update this post with a link if they ever come back into stock because I really like the weight and strength of these magnetic sheets.  I purchased 20 sheets to start with, and unfortunately, will probably need more...  I'm hoping they come back in stock soon.  UPDATE:  They are now currently in stock (09/02/13) and here is the link to the item:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SOV4NQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 


 
In order to "stretch" the use of each magnetic sheet, I cut most sheets into four 2"x8.5" strips and two 1.5"x8.5" strips.  I kept a few full sheets in case I needed them for storing tiny dies.  I had the option of cutting them later.

Three 2" strips and two 1.5" strips laid out on the back of cardstock

      

After I had all of my strips cut, I took a sheet of cardstock and some strips.  Depending upon the dies I was storing, I used either four 2" strips and one 1.5" strip (closer together), or three 2" strips and two 1.5" strips (a little farther apart).  I then lay them out on the cardstock before adhering. 

Adhering the magnetic strips, and showing the overhang

When I had them laid out the way I wanted, I then adhered each strip to the cardstock.  I folded back the top of the backing, stuck that part down exactly where I wanted the entire strip to go, then removed the rest of the backing to adhere the whole strip down.  Repeat for each strip.  The size of the magnetic sheets were about 1/8" larger than the cardstock, so I left the overhang on one side of the cardstock to help hold down the pictures of the dies.

Arranging the dies to fit on the sheet

 

I roughly organized my dies by categories.  I then place the dies on the sheet.  I try to get as many sets on a sheet as possible by creatively arranging them, but being careful to not go over the edges.  I never break up a set.  I do have many sheets of some categories (Winter/Christmas, for example), and some sheets are not full, knowing I will be adding to my collection!

Here is the completed sheet of dies.  This was my flourish sheet set.  I do try to keep the dies in each set as close to each other as possible, but I'm not wedded to that notion.

I then carefully flip the sheet with the dies over and adhere the pictures from the packaging to the front of the sheet.  As much as possible, I retain the upc code, the item number and title of the set.  If they are part of a special collection or by a designer, I add that information as well.  However, the most important part is the picture.

 
Using my old Dymo Letra Tag maker, I created identifying tabs for the top of the page protector (actually, the side with the holes).  I made tabs with the names of every set, and also noted what type of Spellbinder they were (Grand, Shapeabilities, Nestabilities, Borderabilities, etc.).  These then get adhered to the top (white portion) of the sheet protector.

Completed sheet, in the sheet protector, front side with identification tabs

Magnet side, filled with dies

These completed sheets are then filed in the file box, by categories.

I have some old plastic dividers from 14"x14" ArtBin Super Storage Satchels that I never used.  I cut those down to size to subdivide each hanging folder and create stability for the magnetic sheet sets.  I used sticky notes labels (green) to easily identify sheets that still have room to add more dies.




That's it!  It takes about 45 minutes to complete each sheet, but the time it takes now is well worth it when I am able to find the die I need.  I currently have completed over 20 sheets, but I still have most of my Nestabilities Labels dies to organize, as well as a few more Shapeabilities dies.  I haven't even gotten to the other brands dies yet!  So this project will take many more days to complete, but I'm excited by what I have so far.  It really looks great!  Btw, the file box is already quite heavy with the 20+ sheets of dies.  I'm hoping it will be strong enough to hold many more.

Eventually, I also plan to scan each completed picture sheet, print them, and put them in a slim folder in the front of the file box so I can quickly view my dies.  I will also take the scanned pics and put them in an online folder so I can access them with my phone on the road.  Hopefully, I'll be able to see at a glance what I own when I shop for more dies :-D  No more duplicates!

If you've made it this far, good on ye, mate!  I hope that means you understand my crazy organizational system...  and may want to duplicate it.  Or make it better!  If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.  I'm still fussing with this.  If I make any changes, I'll be sure to post a follow-up.

G'night for now...
-Dayle