New Christmas stamps from Chocolate Baroque

This week see the launch of new Christmas stamp sets from Chocolate Baroque.

The DT have been working with these stamps and have produced some stunning pieces off artwork for your inspiration and each day this week you will be able to view a new card over on the CBDT blog. 

This is one of my cards using the stamps from the Fat Robin theme plate...

If you would like to know more - pop over to the CBDT blog  (link on my sidebar) for full details.  

If you would like to view this set of stamps - click on this
link. They are a delightful set of stamps to work with! Robins, holly and christmas trees...my favourites!

Joy Trouvaille A4 machine

This......machine keeps cropping up!   Another crafter has contacted me regarding the breaking of this machine.  If you are also having problems, or just looking for information, you will find a list of all the posts (including a questionnaire) on my sidebar under "Joy Trouvaille". 

I have found that the machine works okay with die cutting, and embossing masks, BUT it does NOT  like embossing folders!   And, I would definitely NOT recommend you use it for this purpose, which makes you wonder if it's worth buying??!?!??!?!?  It was a similar situation with the Grand Calibur until they made a new plate which you had to buy as an addition.  If you didn't want to buy the new plate, the suggestion was to emboss with a number of shims, this could possibly work with the JT!? but I have given up on the embossing with it.

Sorry to sound so down on this because the thought of a A4 embossing machine sounds great and would be if it worked!

Hi, today another question to answer.....

Quite some time again I posted this picture from a post showing how to use magnetic mats to create a border frame straight onto your card.....

Pat Morgan has asked me about how I made the little flowers.  I wish I could say I made them because they would look real cute, but NO they are actually very small toppers from a kit I purchased from QVC many moons ago! 

As you can see they look insignificant used alone - but with a bit of layering, wire, beads and my Nestie squares....not too bad! 

IF, you should NOT have a magnetic mat, you can still emboss dies in this way with your Bug.

The Sandwich is

A / tan mat / card / die cut side down / possibly shim(s) / 2 B plates

             TIPS : try without shim first to test pressure

            secure your die/dies in place with a low tack tape

For other sandwich recipes on embossing (or die cutting) - you can check out the appropriate page at the top of any post. 

Music Fanfare

Another card using the new Music Fanfare stamps from Chocolate Baroque - slightly different for me colourwise, but I did manage to use my Bug, an embossing folder, and a few dies......

I received this message,

Hello. I stumbled across your blog today whilst doing a bit of research on cutting machines. I need a machine that will cut shapes for my pendants accurately and quickly. I have 3 shapes that I use: 25mm rounded square, 25mm love heart and 25mmx18mm oval. I don't know whether the cuttlebug is for me? I can't seem to find templates that will do my shapes. Am I looking at the wrong machine? Thank you so much for reading. Your work is just beautiful

Well thank you MissRini, but unfortunately you left no contact addy and I'm not sure what you want to cut!  The Bug like many of the die cutting machines will cut paper, card, acetate, material, foil, felt, but not a thick metal.  For this I think you would need the Big Shot, but I have no experience of this machine.  As far as sizes, you can check out the ovals and squares from my sidebar, or go to the Spellbinder site and there you will find info on the sizes of all the dies they produce.   

I'm sure my readers would be interested to hear more about your pendants, so please let us have more info and I'm sure someone will have the answer for you.

Update:  Thanks PeeJay for your response to this query.  I was asked if the Bug was the machine to look at for certain size dies, but as I said I didn't have enough info to answer this question because MissRini gave only sizes and not the material she wanted to cut.  I pointed to Spellbinders on the question of sizes for dies because I know they give acurate info on the sizes of all their dies and I know that these dies do cut well in my  Bug.  The only problems with cutting in my Bug has been with some of the Nellie Snellen dies, and this was overcome by replacing my very worn B plate. 

Sorry to hear that you have probs with a heavy acetate, I have only used a medium weight and that was okay, but interesting and informative to learn that although your Bug will not cut heavy acetate with Nestie dies it will cut with Sizzix dies!  Thanks for sharing this. 

Sorry if my reply caused any confusion, I'm hoping MissRini will respond with more information, but in the meantime if anyone else has had problems with dies and cutting materials - please tell of your experiences and help others! 

. 

COLOUR MY LIFE WITH MUSIC

Hi folks, today is my birthday and I'm celebrating the event with my daughter and two grandchildren in Edinburgh.  I'll be home later in the week, but thought I remind you that Chocolate Baroque has recently released new stamps sets call Chess and Music Fanfare.  Over on the CB DT blog (link on my sidebar) you will find lots of ideas from my DT mates using these stamps.  Well worth popping over!

This is one of my design using the  Music Fanfare stamps.

I've used my trusty nesties squares and a masking technique and you will find full details of how to achieve this look over on the CBDT blog.

I'll be back home on Tuesday and will have another idea for you.