Monday, April 09, 2018

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


19 comments:

  1. Your die cuts make very pretty, intricate designs. Thanks for showing those of us who don't have all of these "nifty" machines. Winter could leave any day now... -Jenn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Jenn I am SO over winter & any prettiness it might have shown.

      Delete
  2. Winter and spring are fighting over here too - Spring is just taking over a little bit.
    Sorry to hear that Mr Man's eye is causing some confusion - I do hope the specialist comes up with some ideas on how to get it to heal better very soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think this winter we have all shared in too much too long.

      Delete
  3. I'm sorry about the loss of your arbor and hope it can be repaired. I'm done with Winter and wish Spring would quit teasing and take the season.

    It's so frustrating when the experts you go to for answers don't have the answers. I hope he's soon able to muster the resources to clear this up. The C.S. Lewis quote is an encouragement. Thx!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I am most hopeful the arbour can be repaired, I was training two types of clematis up it. Medically I get that the human body is a mystery & miracle, but really this cannot be the first time they have dealt with this type of eye problem. If it is, I want royalties from putting his case in the text book.

      Delete
  4. Sorry to hear that Mr Marks eye is not getting better. Hope that it is sorted out soon. Winter is trying its best to stay over here! We get the odd day of spring weather then it’s back to winter but at least we don’t seem to have any more snow. Hope your snow goes soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Becky, we talked to the pharmacologist today about possible conflict in the medications, they knew of none. Today it was above zero so some melting - yeah!

      Delete
  5. I'm so sorry to hear about Mr. Man's eye troubles. I, like you, thought it had been resolved. It must be so discouraging! Great tutorial on die cutting. Thanks for the shout out! :-) Winter keeps winning the battle here, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He is terribly upset & frustrated. I held my tongue when the specialist shrugged her shoulders at Mr Man ... you are most welcome for the shout out :)

      Delete
  6. Such a pretty intricate die you used in your demonstration.
    I have a cuttlebug and a vagabond (which I have yet to use)
    Snowbanks are shrinking here :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tracy with the die cuts - go big or go home I say (lol). I have a silhouette which doesn't get used anymore since I acquired the Big Kick - so much easier.

      Delete
  7. I'm sorry to hear that Mr Man continues to have eye trouble, it sounds very unpleasant for him.
    Am hoping the temperature continues to rise in your part of the world!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Ruth. I think my need for nicer weather increases with each new snow fall however small (col). Spring will be here soon, yes soon.

      Delete
  8. I too share your disappointment re. poor Mr. Man. Not only the pain and discomfort, but the worry and frustration of wondering when it will ever be resolved!
    Thank you for explaining what this mysterious die cutting is all about. I'm pleased to see it is akin to the mangle, as I had invisaged.
    So is a silhouette similar to this? I always assumed a silhouette cutter was kind of like a hand held blade that one used to trace around a stencil, rather than a pen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lady Ella the Silhouette is a electronic die cutting machine, you download after purchasing the patterns, send to your computer, which is connected to the Silhouette, then you go through several steps to get it cut out. The advantage that the Silhouette has it will cut 12X12" paper, where as my Big Kick doesn't.

      Today saw a little of the swelling reduced in Mr Man's eye, but the intense redness is still there.

      Delete
  9. I'm so sorry to read that Mr. Man's eyes are still acting up - said a prayer today for complete healing! I know y'all are both ready to be done with all those injections and trips to the eye doctor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Melissa for your prayers. He is more than done with the whole issue, but still I say we are grateful for the medical care.

      Delete