Big Shot Fall Card

Creating great projects is all about having the right tools. Several parts of this card were made using the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (catalog p.204). The Big Shot is the most versatile die-cutting machine on the market today. The machine is used to cut shapes and to impress patterns.  On the card below you can see that I used it to cut the leaf shapes and to impress the pattern on the dark brown piece. I'll post more about this tool later, but for now I'll just mention that it is made by Sizzix and can be used with the dies and embossing plates of any other manufacturer. The trick to success is just to create the correct thickness to the "sandwich" as you roll the materials through the machine. Using the Big Shot's multi-purpose platform its easy to create the right conditions for the perfect cut or impression.

If you've considered buying the Big Shot machine but have not yet invested, you might want to give it some serious thought right now. First (wink, wink) its a nice Holiday Gift to yourself.  I bought it originally because as a demonstrator I need to be able to show it to customers.  But I can honestly say I have used it far more than I could have possibly imagined.  I use the embossing folders all the time to add interest layers to card.  I also have some favorite dies that I use alot. But here is the real reason I suggest buying now.  With the Big Sale that Stampin'UP! is having through the end of November you get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $150. Buying the Big Shot (which is only $99.95) would help get you to that magic $150.  And, of course, any order over $150 also gets you Hostess Benefits. Call me if you have any questions about how much use you'd get from this machine.

Fall is beautiful here in southern Wisconsin - thus the reason that all my recent posts have leaves in them. To create this card I stamped the wood grain image onto Sahara Sand paper using a background stamp called Woodgrain (catalog p. 142). The dark brown strip is the new color: Early Expresso. It is darker than the Chocolate Chip and I'm finding that I really like it. I used an embossing folder called Square Lattice (catalog p. 214) on the Expresso strip. Stampin'UP! has their own line of unique designs, but remember that this machine can be used with ANY dies or embossing plates or folders sold by any manufacturer. 

This card has lots of "futzy" details: I used just a thin strip of Cajun Craze to add a little brightness to the card. I tore the edge of the Cajun Craze piece and then added a little expresso ink with a sponge. I used the Leaves #2 Die (item #113459 - catalog p213) to cut the leaves.  I cut 4 leaves, 2 from Sahara Sand and 2 from Vellum Cardstock. Then I sponged a little expresso on the back of the vellum and ran a stylus across the vellum to make a vein pattern on the leaf. The linen thread is the fiber on this card. The sentiment is from a stamp set called Teeny Tiny Wishes and was stamped on Sahara Sand, punched with the Word Window Punch and then used the Modern Label Punch for the Expresso frame for the sentiment.  Both the sentiment and the leaves are popped up with Dimensionals. Email me if you have any questions about the details of this card.

Thanks for choosing me as your source of stamping inspiration and education.  I'm here to help.  Your choice to purchase your stamping supplies through me helps to support this website.
--Katie