The Big Shot Thinlits are now available for purchase.  WOO YOO!!.  These became available from Stampin’ Up! on August 1st and having ordered both sets, I finally got to play with them. 

Now what are the Big Shot Thinlits?  These are die cutting tools to make flip/flop cards.  It was a real pain to make and cut using the traditional methods, however, the new Thinlits, cut, and score your paper and make life a whole lot easier.

What is really neat with these Big Shot Thinlits is that you can made either the standard card or you can create an extension so that you can have a place to write inside the card.

There are a number of other dies that come with the Thinlits, that you can cut out and use on your cards, scrapbook pages or other paper crafts.

I used the Labels Big Shot Thinlits die to create a retirement card.  Yes, I had to experiment as with any new tool, however with not much pain, I was able to get it to work.

Front

 This is the front of the card and is how it would look if you did not add the extension.

Inside

Here is the inside of the card so that you can see the difference with the added extension.

Recipe

Stamps: Oh Hello (c – 130733, w- 131931 p34 2013/14 Annual Catalogue), Label Love (c – 130622, w- 130619, p33 2013/14 Annual Catalogue), Teeny Tiny Wishes (c – 127802, w- 128748 p44 2013/14 Annual Catalogue)

Paper: Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana, Afternoon Picnic DSP

Ink: Coastal Cabana, Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz,

Accessories: Big Shot, Labels Thinlits, Markers: Coastal Cabana, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vintage Designer Button, Linen Thread

How to Get the Extension

Normally, you would use a piece of card stock that measured 5-1/2″ x 6″ and line up the Thinlit to fit the card stock and run through the Big Shot.

To get the extension, cut your card stock at 5-1/2″ by 8-1/4″ and line up the card stock so that the one end is under either the label or circle cut out and then take the other end of the card stock and put it on top of the thinlit.  Using your sandwich ( and the Magnetic Platform is great for this), run it through the Big Shot. 

By having the card stock on the top of the thinlit, it does not get cut and the bonus is you have a score line to fold the end in. 

With either method you will have a 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card.

Labels Thinlits
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These are so much fun!

Happy Stamping

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Retirement can be the best time of your life.  Notice that I said can be.  Retirement is what we make of it and whether or not it has been a decision that we made freely or forced upon us.

Retirement is a new phase in your life and it takes planning just as we would plan other events in our lives.  One of my friends from work decided to retire. Her husband has been retired for 2 years now and that makes getting out of bed and going to work really tough.

I was very pleased to have been asked to make Gayle’s card so that her co-workers could send her off in style.  So, I drew on what I knew her to like and that is golf.  Gayle and I took golfing lessons together and she stuck with it and guess what…I didn’t.  Oh well!

This is an oversized 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card because there needed to be lots of space for good wishes, so I also created the envelope using the Simply Scored scoring tool  and the Simply Scored diagonal plate.  Do you have the Simply Scored scoring tool?  I find myself using this handy tool every time I sit down to craft.

Here is the card that I had so much fun creating.

Front

Inside

Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy, Basic Grey, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Sunshine and Sprinkles DSP

Ink: Marina Mist, Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake

Accessories: My Digital Studio, Cricut Everyday Dolls, 1/2” Circle Punch, 3/4” Circle Punch, Hung Up Cute Clips,

This card uses a combination of My Digital Studio for the text on the front and the inside of the card.  The bubble on the side used the My Way Bubble outline with a border and the drop shadow.  The “Fore” text was added and a free-form line created and the text added to the line. This page was then printed from my home computer so the elements could be placed.

The elements such as the golf card, golf bag, etc were created using the Cricut Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge.  The sky and the grass were created using the sponging technique.

Creating with My Digital Studio can be so much fun.  As you can see here, projects can be printed out at home or you can send them away to have them printed by Stampin’ Up!.

Currently, MDS digital content as well as the printing is 30% off until May 31st.  You can see the various content on special by going HERE.

Now, if you have never tried MDS, you can download a 30 Day Free Trial Version HERE and I will send you 10 Free Lessons plus a bonus lesson to get you started.  Check out the Free Lesson Information HERE

Now, if you have MDS, and have avoided using it, I am offering the 10 lessons plus the bonus lesson for $29.95.  Check that out HERE

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Most people who decide to retire (and yes, there are some that don’t retire for various reasons), will tell you that it was the best thing that ever happened to them.  I know I’m loving mine.

A friend decided to take that next step in her life and just do the things that she wants to do, likes to do, or maybe will find things that she never thought she could do.

One area that she is most interested in is quilting and yes, she does beautiful work.  That is one craft that I have never tried….maybe some day…or maybe in my dreams.

So, the card I created for her, uses the premise of making a quilt.  Ok, I tried.

I hope that you can see the quilt pattern, it is the star

Maybe, I will give it another try at some time

I hope you have enjoyed.

Karen

Watch the Video that will explain how you can benefit from the Simply Said Online Stamping Club

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