What has happened in ten months?

Hi there!  Can you believe this..? It's been almost ten months since I posted last!  where has the time gone?
There has been a lot of new happenings on in the paper crafting world, with wonderful new products, and some great new techniques and tips being introduced....but, I'm afraid I have not been posting to my blog...So, I've decided today is a good day to catch up, and let you know why I've been silent...and, No, I didn't win the lottery and move to some wonderful tropical country...(mind you, the way world politics have been going, I don't think there is a country I'd rather live in than Canada...but, there's nothing wrong with visiting, right!?  (especially in the middle of winter when it's 20 degrees below zero...Celsius, not Fahrenheit!)

So, Here it is..My year, in a nutshell:

Autumn - Winter
I had some health issues last fall, which carried over into the winter months; but Integrity Designs Rubber Stamps and Paper Crafting Supplies was still in operation.  We were still taking and shipping orders and answering product questions.  By the time I finished with orders and updating my online catalog at the end of the day, I didn't want to sit at the computer...(now I know what my friends who work in offices mean when they say by the end of the day they don't want to look at a computer). I spent evenings either sitting in front of the television set or playing down in the studio.  I'll be honest, I spent more time in front of the TV...it seemed that I had lost my card-making and scrapbooking mojo...(over 3,000 photos from holidays, still on camera cards, so it wasn't that I had nothing to 'work with'..., lol).  I watched videos and releases from the Winter CHA show from Anaheim in January and drooled...There are always so many great new introductions!

Spring
One of my favorite times of the year...(anyone who knows me, knows that I love something about every season....and, I 'love most'  whichever season I'm currently 'in'.....(but, I admit, I do have to think a little longer about listing great things about Winter)
 Like other gardeners, I love spring and all of the promise it brings...but, this year was different...lots of promise...but, not so much 'action'. After the snow melted...I waited..and waited...My flower beds and yard still looked very sad, with gaping empty patches where some of my lovely perennials should be.  I lost a few rose bushes and my 'wine-colored' clematis (which was my pride and joy) didn't come back to life...
There's nothing that whining and crying will accomplish, but I did discover something:  There is truth to the old saying "Misery Loves Company"  I was told by various staff at local greenhouses and nurseries that they didn't think there was a clematis that made it through the winter we had, AND many others lost perennials too.  (After talking with other people shopping for new rose bushes, perennials and plants, I did feel much better.   I wasn't the only person who lost so many plants! I'm not sure why, but felt somewhat better...it seems that...'Misery does love company'

Summer 
...brought travelling and crabbing.
We had a busy first week in July.  We went to Hinton Alberta for a family reunion!  It was great!  We camped at a great campground, and spent 4 days visiting family and it was wonderful!
We headed back home on July 7, and on July 9 we loaded up the motorhome and headed south, into the USA.  We had spent our vacation last year driving down the Pacific Coast Highway 101, which was wonderful...but, there were a lot of great places we didn't get a chance to visit, or couldn't stay long at...So, we decided to go back this year, with our list of places we wanted to see and things we didn't get a chance to do....At the top of our list was Crabbing....Catching Dungeness Crab.  Last year we bought them, this year, Gord wanted to catch our own tasty treats...That was on the top of our list....
We rented the traps, etc and did what had to be done...(and, we caught some, but, none of them were keepers)..They all had to go back; either too small, or they were females which couldn't be kept...sometimes it pays to be a female, lol .....Nothing from our trap could be kept and eaten....BUT, luckily for us...we could still buy them!  It  would have been a 'kicker', if we couldn't have eaten any because we didn't catch any big enough.......Thank goodness, there were places we could go to and buy fresh Dungeness Crabs that had just been caught and brought in within a few hours....not only were they super fresh...they were also cooked and cleaned!...Nothing wrong with that!!
We had fun, the weather was beautiful, scenery was great, and we met so many wonderful people.

We made it back home at the end of August, and back to reality...

We found that we needed to remove our large Amur Maple Tree, which broke my heart...It was huge!  It wasn't supposed to get that big, and when we planted it in 2001, it was such a little 'charlie brown tree'......I'll be honest, we knew that it was ill, and that we were going to have to remove it eventually...be had no idea of how we were going to get it out of our yard without ruining the fence, concrete edging, and the side deck, (which it was planted next to).  I wanted to remove it, roots and all, as I'd like to put another tree in the same area, as it gives us privacy, and shelters us from the harsh, West sun in the afternoon and evening.
    But, we did it, we got it out, (with no damage to our fence or decks...)and, after two days of digging, cutting with an axe and working hard, Gord managed to dig down 24 inches, and get all of the roots out..and new dirt put in.  We had dug out my Daylilies, Asiatic lilies and  perennials that were in the bed under the tree. They are now back where they belong, divided and healthy... We would have liked to replace the tree this fall, but, there were very few trees at the garden centers...and I don't have a clue what to plant. I'm definitely going to have to do some researching online this winter...

Autumn is here!
And, what a gorgeous autumn is is!  With my yard work done, now it's time to play.  It doesn't matter if you are indoors or outdoors...there is so much to do when the weather is this lovely!  (for those of us who want to work on our cards and pictures indoors, it's nice to look outside and view the gorgeous fall colors, and use them for inspiration!..

For many of us, autumn is the time we start getting ready for Christmas and the holiday season.  Shopping for and/or making gifts, making cards, getting vacation pictures into order for albums and more. What a wonderful time of year!  Full of anticipation and excitement....

The past few weeks I've been looking through my supplier's emails, WOW, so many companies releasing new dies and embossing folders, new inks, (and, of course, Tim Holtz and Ranger have been  busy, introducing new Distress Spray Stains (Yippee! I'll tell you more later about WHY I am so excited about the new product...)..AND, they have finally brought back the Matte Glue n Seal adhesive, in both 1 oz and 3.5 oz jars..(with the built in brushes)  I still haven't figured out why they discontinued it in the first place; it was one of my favorite adhesives and sealers!
if you've never had the chance to use it, check it out, I think you will like it!

Glue n Seal is an adhesive and sealer in one!  it dries with a non-sticky matte finish.  It's the perfect choice for a project that needs an adhesive undercoat, and a matte finish, non sticky top coat!  Glue n seal comes in two sizes, 1 oz and 3.5 oz, and both sizes come with a brush (attached to inside of  lid).



Exciting news- Tattered Lace dies-and now more...!

Before I close for now,  for those of you who like using cutting and embossing dies,I've got some exciting news.  The British company, Tattered Lace, who is known to make the most detailed and intricate dies available has branched out and expanded their product line.    Since January they have also been publishing a monthly magazine about dies and die cutting. In this magazine as well as sample cards and projects,  free decorative papers and templates and tutorials, they've included something very special...a FREE DIE!  Not just a little rinky-dink little cheapo die...Nooooo...The included die in the monthly magazines are beautiful intricate dies that, in most cases, would cost more if purchased separately than you are paying for the magazine!!  A few months ago, the retail value of the die was $31.00 and purchasers paid $21.00 for the magazine!   
What I also appreciate, is that in the magazine are several samples and tutorials that use the included die!  Can't go wrong with that, right?!
Tattered Lace has introduced their new Christmas dies (available soon)and the Tattered Lace Christmas Special magazine is available to order.  (Should arrive in November )

On the main page of our online catalog, along with new products available, you will find information about the newest upcoming issue of the Tattered Lace magazine, including a picture of the free die, shown on the cover.    These can be pre-ordered, by emailing me, and I will make sure one is reserved  for you.  Best of all...At this point in time, we are lucky, and Tattered Lace has some copies of the back issues #1 to #10.  Issue #11 is now becoming available, and we are all excited about the newest upcoming magazine, their Christmas Special Issue!  Even though it is a special issue, the price will be the same, $21.00, and it will include the Christmas Rose Free die!

I've been going through my suppliers' websites, checking out the new Christmas and winter products...WOW, New dies and coordinating stamps from 'My Favorite Things', new dies from Cheery-Lynn...., Next week new dies from Poppy Stamps/Memory Box will be available!! They can be seen in my online catalog in  Cutting dies - Memory Box and Poppy Stamps  I'm glad to see that many companies are not only releasing holiday dies and stamps, but they are also introducing new general dies, great for Birthdays and everyday occasions.

It's a gorgeous day today, and I told myself I would not go outside until I posted this.  (I have a little more work today outside, but on such a lovely day, I can't call it work).   My suppliers have been introducing new products and companies that who have great new products, and I've been putting them in Integrity Designs Rubber Stamps and Paper Craft Supplies online catalog  
I hope you get a chance to check out our online catalog, and the new dies, embossing folders, rubber stamps, inks and glues that are now available, or coming soon.  If you have any questions, please email me. You will find ordering information on the main page, in the NOTES:  (email me to order)

Happy Paper Craftin'

Sizzix Flip-it dies with Big Shot and Cuttlebug

Hi Everyone,
There are so many new releases and new products being introduced this spring!  It's hard to keep up!  I had wanted to post about some of them for the past two weeks already...but, new items kept arriving...and being introduced!

 Sizzix Flip-It Dies
SIzzix has created a great new die, called a 'Flip-It'. It is a new size of die, Size L (Large) die

Smaller than the BIGZ XL size and
 bigger than BIGZ dies.  These dies are Steel Rule dies, so are very strong and will cut through many different materials...They cut the outside shape of the card (you place a piece of cardstock large enough to accommodate your card (4.25 x 5.5") on the die...It cuts around the outside...AND it cuts a shape out of the center...and creates fold lines where the folds should be!  It does it ALL!...All you need to do is fold at the score lines (on either side of the cut-out shape)
There are different shapes of 'flip' parts (for lack of better words, lol)..Circles, Hearts, Squares, Flowers, Fancy Frame, and more. The one shown above is 'Fancy Frame'   When you open the card, the center frame shape flips over, and you see the back of the 'frame' (the reverse of what you were looking at, originally!)  How cool is that?  Sizzix also has a small fancy frame die that fits inside this die, to create a cut out Fancy frame!!  The Flip-It's can be seen in my online catalog in the 2012 What's New category  
Stephanie Bernard (the designer of Flip-it's) has created a great video on YouTube that shows how to use these great dies.
It can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkDG7ocg3S0  There are more videos showing how to use the Movers & Shapers with these Flip-it 'base' dies to create some cute windows in the shape.... Here's another super video that  I'd recommend viewing...This one, as well as using the Sizzix Flip-its dies, it uses the Movers and Shapers dies with them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZhAyUFxGJc   This video shows the differences between the Crease pad, impressions pad, so you know what to look for.

 More questions / answers about Sizzix Flip-its dies.

Even though there are some wonderful YouTube videos showing the use of these cool dies, we're being left with some questions.......I've received several emails from stampers who have seen/heard conflicting information!..One person heard you HAD to use a Premium Crease pad from Sizzix....Another person heard that we CAN'T use this die in the Cuttlebug...

So, I decided to run some test  using both the Cuttlebug AND the Sizzix Big Shot machines. 
 Sizzix created these dies to be used in the Big Shot...and we know that the Big Shot has more strength than the Cuttlebug, so even though the Steel Rule Dies are stronger and will cut through heavier materials...You still have to factor in the machine you are using.
First of All, I used the Big Shot both WITH and WITHOUT the Premium Crease pad.
I used the XL crease pad, as I've been 'eyeing' some BIGZ XL dies that need it, so I thought it would be cheaper to buy one pad, and use it for both sizes of dies...(that gives me an excuse to buy an XL die..".Hey, I've already got the XL Premium Crease Pad...I NEED the XL dies now!" LOL

Big Shot & Flip-it's Card dies:

 If you use the Sizzix Premium Crease pad, (shown here using the Extended, Premium Crease Pad, you will put the crease pad on the top of the cardstock, instead of the cutting mat.  Here is the Sandwich Recipe:
Big Shot Cutting pad
Flip It Die (cutting side up)
Cardstock
Premium Crease pad (if not using- use cutting plate.

I used the Big shot with the Premium Crease pad, and without it.  At first, I didn't think there really was any difference between the two cards....UNTIL after opening and closing the card about 4-5 times....The card made without the Crease pad....tore....It actually had so much pressure, that the score lines were actually partially cut...You don't it...but, after a few uses, it separated at the score line.
---So, You can use either with or without the premium crease pad....depending on how much pressure your machine uses.....If your machine exerts a lot of pressure and 'cuts' the score lines..You may want to purchase a Crease Pad.

Sizzix Flip-It's Card Dies in Cuttlebug machine

Cuttlebug Machine - Yes, YES, YES.....You can use these dies in the Cuttlebug Machine!  They're the same width as the BIGZ dies...and we use them....BUT, we CAN NOT use the Crease pad, because it is too wide (it is 6 1/2" wide) it will not go through the rollers....
We've been told all along that the Cuttlebug isn't as strong as the Big Shot, and it doesn't exert the same amount of pressure on the dies...That was always a 'downfall'...of the Cuttlebug...until now!
Because the Cuttlebug doesn't exert as much pressure on the score lines...it doesn't cut them through!

 
The Sandwich recipe for the Cuttlebug is  (From Bottom:
Cutting Plate
Sizzix Flip-It die
Cardstock
Cutting plate

Top Cutting plate is shown at bottom, not lined up to edge.

As you can see in the picture, my Cuttlebug B (cutting) plate (shown on top) is very well used....What you don't see..is it's VERY WARPED....It bulges (in the middle) on one side of the plate.....When I put the warped plate on top of the sandwich at first...it wouldn't fit through the Rollers...it was too thick......(because it's warped 'out').  I flipped it a few times...and nothing helped...Then, I thought that if I put it through, in gradual steps of getting wider...It may work.

I slid the upper cutting plate back a bit, lower on the die, (shown as bottom cutting plate....I don't know why I held it upside down for the picture?? DUH....It still covers the blade where the edge of the card is cut, but the thickness is introduced gradually...and, it fit through the rollers, and cut perfectly!  (see, now if fit through the rollers.....

It still covers the blade that cuts the edge of the card, but the thickness is gradually introduced....and, it fit through the Rollers!
If your Cutting Pads are severely warped like mine were, that is the solution to make it fit through the rollers



AND, It Cut beautifully!...and didn't score the cardstock, it didn't tear at the score lines.  I folded it, used my bone folder, and Opened and closed the card several times, with no tearing at the fold at all!

By the way, this card stock is not Pumpkin Orange!!!   Would you believe it's actually RED!..For whatever reason, it's looking very  'Hallowe'eny pumpkin-y orange...

As you can see on the die, under where my cardstock is laying, there is a 'shape' where there is no foam, it's a metal area in the shape (in this case, fancy frame).  In this area, you can place the 'movers, (magnetic) dies from Sizzix/Tim Holtz, to also cut a shape out the cardstock at the same time as you cut out your card stock.   After you figure out where you'd place the small magnetic shape' so it will be cut out of your 'Flip-it' center at the same time...place a mark (marker) on the metal, showing where you want to place the die.


New MemoryBox dies Summer Releases announced! 

Memory Box has released new summer dies and wood mounted stamps!...They've been busy!
They've designed some great summer themed dies, from Turtles (both solid, and outline 'overlay'...(and for those 'die-hard' turtle fans...there is even a Turtle Border!.) There is even (shown at left) a Sandal Border!  Yupp....a border made out of flip-flops!  And, of course there's always summer flowers, birds & butterflies to make your cards and scrapbook pages cheery and bright!

The dies can be seen in my online catalog in the Cutting Dies-MemoryBox Category

Memory Box and their designers have introduced several projects showing their new Dies and stamps in use in projects!
They can be seen at their website:  www.memoryboxco.com 
Take your glass of Iced Tea to the computer, and get ready to visit Summer projects, courtesy of Memory Box!
To order any of the dies or other items in my online catalog, please email me, (address is in left side bar).
The link to our Online Catalog can also be found in the Left Side Bar.

New Limited Edition Summer Distress Inks Released and ready for order!

Now....for a tease.....Would you like to see the new Limited Edition Summer Distress ink color palette?
I received an email this morning from my distributors---They have the new Limited edition Summer Distress Inks in stock, and ready to order!  I've been told there are a limited number available-I'll be placing my order as soon as possible (Wednesday or Thursday, at the latest!
...I'll post more later today, when I have the pictures to show.  Til then, they can be seen in my online catalog, on the main page! (the link is above)
Email me to order.- you'll have to wait til my next post to see what the summer colors will be...smiles...(I promise I'll be posting today)

Thanks for visiting!