Hi Friends
Well here I am again. I have been so busy here and to give you some idea of what keeps me hopping (seasonal word) is doctors appointments one after another, cardmaking (loads), garden preparation, and shopping for the gardening season. This is my first time in so many years that I realize I have to read a lot to be able to better care for my roses I have about 15 different kinds here. How to fertilize, prune, not overdoing on the fertilizing is very important. I also have 2 that didn't make it through the Winter so I have to replace them so we jump to 17 rose plants to care for.
So when all is said and done I am exhausted and still have to make meals too. So cleaning this house is a week long activity but I have to make a schedule for that since no one cleans it for me. But it is fun to look after all of these things but on the same token, it is allowing me less time to email and blog at the end of the day. Sorry about that. I am slowly getting organized as Summer is near that brings me more work outside as well. So I will need to get up earlier to do my garden work before it gets too hot and finish later before the sunsets into the night.
I was mentioning that I was making a lot of cards...it is true. I have made dozens and more is on the way. I have been careful though, I have taken pictures of all of them so I can start showing all the cards I have made one at a time starting probably this weekend.
If you enjoy simple cards that can be mailed in a normal envelope you will get some more ideas coming. I don't make the ones with flower bought because it is way too thick and requires more postage and specific care in order for the recipient to get the card intact on arrival. These are my news for today hang on tight cards and recipes are coming. I have to make Father's Day cards as I found an awesome set that fits the bill for this year.
I also attended two Stamp shows in the passed 3 weeks. It was so much fun to see what was new. Cheery Lynn Designs for dies were there in attendance in Mesa Arizona. They are from Arizona so it was easier for them to show us their new dies for Easter and show some people how to cut intricate designs with the metal plate. I swear by this myself. I have found the perfect way for my machine to die cut in one pass or 2 two at most. But you have to find what your machine's shimming tolerance is for all of them. Not all machines are the same. I do a lot of cutting with my C plate with the Cuttlebug machine. Less shimming is required, but what is important to remember is, tape your templates to your CS before you start. I also cut out an extra piece of CS to fit the die cut and put it under the die (opposite side of cutting). When it doesn't cut on sides or middle depending on how warped your plates are, I just rotate my die cut and pass through again. It is gets so easy that by flicking the CS after it is removed from the die, all the little pieces are falling in the garbage or next to it. What is left in the die cut can be tapped against the garbage can and most of it will fall. I have from time to time cut with wax paper so the paper doesn't stick so much into the die. But this applies to Cheery Lynn Designs die cuts.
As for the other die cuts, I do the same as mentionned above, but I don't beat the die against the garbage can because these other dies are not as sturdy as Cheery Lynn's dies. My cutting with dies of other companies are done the same way though. It is working so well with the metal plate, that I make many doilies and intricate designs at once, that is how much fun it is to use your die cuts once you find what your machine will allow you to use for shimming.
He also said that there is another awesome machine coming out on the market for this Summer. He was given one to try and they were asking him to try and break the machine. It didn't break. He was so impressed by the quality of the machine that he will actually sell it on his website. www.cheerylynndesigns.com if you are interested to follow and see what that machine looks like. I was flexing on getting the Vagabond machine but I won't. Why? Because it is known by people who has it and I heard at the show as well that it jams easily, and once it does, you have to call their company and ask them to walk you through the unjamming process. So YES, it is electric which is tentalizing, but since I don't cut dies all day long I can use the arm exercise anyway. But from what I heard it is a good machine just as long as you go along the recipes for specific dies and if you decide Nah, it will work....it will jam on you.
Have I been lengthy enough? Hee hee. But that is my news from the last time I wrote up to now. We travelled 7 hours of driving to attend the Arizona Stamp show and I was so HAPPY I went because the show we had last weekend here was very small. But two of the favorite of mine were there. Heartfelt creations and Stamp on It. Loads of die cuts both of them and peel off stickers as well as the Just Rite stamps and Spellbinder dies to match the stamp frames.
I am prepared to make loads of new cool cards with my new goodies. I had a blast but it is time to get serious and make another 150 cards. Yes 150 cards. Wish me luck so my brain don't freeze on me in the middle of it hee hee
Have a fun rest of the week and will show you a card in a few days.
Oh I miss my ex-busy days, they were paling in comparison to what my days have become with a house. But I am enjoying all of it.