Me On A Monday - April 9th

Happy Morning.  Let's make today a creative one.

Last week Karen posted on her blog about an online challenge; 100 Days of Projects (Crafting) & she has also challenged herself to use some older products in her stash along with trying new techniques.  You should see what she is creating - oh my, amazing things, my goal is to one day stamp like Karen.  You can check the start of her projects here: Karen's 100 Day Projects

I am not about to take on the 100 Days of Projects but I did like Karen's challenge of herself.  I am challenging myself to create some cards using some of my favourite flower photos.  I have a stash of 4X6" flower photos that I hadn't used in my albums & of course waste not, want not.   

I had said a few weeks back that I would do a quick "how to" photo steps to using my Big Kick die cut machine as Lady Ella had asked for further explanation. 

As with the Big Shot or what I have is the Big Kick, you need platforms to place your "sandwich".  I have two types of platforms; one that is magnetic as to hold the metal die cuts in place (it is the shorter of the two), the second platform that I have is longer, I use primarily for embossing.  The last piece of a sandwich are the clear plastic plates - mine are scored from lots of use.

My Big Kick Machine - all hand powered

Thinlits or Die Cuts

Platform & Plates for making a sandwich

First I place the magnetic platform down, then I lay one of the two clear plates, then the paper, then the die cut(s) or as Stampin'Up calls them, Thinlits, then the second clear plate goes on top.  The sandwich! (yes those are one of my fur girl's legs - they love to help with crafting of any type!)

Step One: place the magnetic platform down, then the first of 2 clear plates

Step Two; place paper on top of first of 2 clear plates

Step Three; place metal Thinlits or Die Cuts on top of paper

 

Step Four; place the 2nd of 2 clear plates on top of diecuts

Next I use the hand crank to move (push) the sandwich through the machine & with really detailed die cuts I run it back through a couple more times - Dah dah a die cut.   

Finished Product: Cut out die cuts

Lady Ella & anyone who was wondering how I made my die cuts, I hope this helped.  

Last Wednesday Winter & Spring had quite the argument as to who would hold court - Winter won.  Wednesday we had winds gusting at 100/mph doing lots of damage in our region; then the snow arrived over night & into Thursday, Friday, Saturday & again on Sunday;  very wet snow & a fair amount of it.  Mr Man decided he was not up to snow blowing or shoveling the driveway so we chose to drive through it & hope that it melts soon.  

the tree in a beard of snow & ice

The horrible winds of Wednesday saw the destruction of our garden arbour - Mr Man thinks he can repair.   I'm not sure who I am more disappointed in, winter for showing up again or spring for not putting up more of a fight for space ...

Over the last 2 weeks any adventure plans we had, have been put on hold as Mr Man is having further troubles with his eye.  At last Thursday's appointment the eye specialist admitted to being baffled by all of this "non healing".  His eye is red, the lids are red & swollen & 10 days of antibiotic ointment has not done much in reducing either the redness or swelling.  It continues to be a very frustrating situation for Mr Man & the eye specialist doesn't seem to know what to do next. He continues with the eye injections every 5 weeks & the next one is in 2 weeks, until then he continues with the ointment & drops.

"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see."  C.S. Lewis