How to use Sizzix Bigz XL dies in your Cuttlebug!!

SO.... you LOVE the Bigz XL dies... but don't want to purchase a Big Shot or Big Kick??
ME TOO! :)

I saw lots of how-to videos on You Tube on how to use all the other dies in a Cuttlebug... but no one had one for the Bigz XL or 3D dies!

Here is a series of pictures I took while making more of my pop-up Christmas Trees for cards.

**Click on any picture for a screen-size view - then hit the back button to return to the tutorial.

You will need 4 B plates for this. I always have 4 since I use two for die-cutting only, and 2 for embossing only. Just keep your embossing plates on the top, and they won't get marked with the die.


First, I took a 12x12 sheet of green, and folded it in half.
I laid the die on the platform, the cardstock for cutting, then the first B plate over the die.
Next, I placed the 2nd B plate and slid it about an inch forward over
the front of the die. This allows the die to run through your Cuttlebug (CB).


Here is another view just as I'm going to run the die through the CB.

This shows the first 2 plates almost through, and now I'm "butting" the other two B plates tight to meet the first 2 plates.

When the 2nd set start running through the pressure rollers, be sure to hold them by either pushing or giving pressure from the top and bottom as the next 2 plates go through.

This photo shows all the plates on the other side, run through the CB. I always run the die forward, then backwards. It seems to give a cleaner cut, but you don't have to!

When running the die backwards, be sure to give pressure on the first top plate as it goes back through the pressure rollers.

**See caption on picture.

I hope this little pictorial tutorial helps!!! I have 3 of the Bigz dies, and LOVE them!!! You can see the Christmas Tree in the very next post as you scroll down.

PLEASE leave comments - I'd LOVE to know if this helped you!!!

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I LOVE Christmas!!

I love anything and everything to do with Christmas!!! I really, really do!

When I saw this tree in the Stampin' Up catalog, I HAD to have it. After looking at some You Tube videos on the different dies used in the Cuttlebug, I have 3 of these Sizzix Bigz XL 3D dies... the Birthday Cake, the Gift Card Holder, and this Tree.

Assembling it is something of a to-do, but it's so CUTE... and I just love showing it and seeing the surprise when they open the card! LOVE it!!

This tree shows stickles on the top edges, and the ornaments, but when I get settled into my craft room, I'm going to run the trees through the Xyron, and sprinkle them with green glitter... won't THAT be cool! An entire glittered tree, popping up out of your card!

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A very dear friend of mine has agreed to do me a HUGE favor to help me acquire some punch holders for my new craft room... so in addition to sending the money needed to buy the things I need, I made this card!

The patterened paper comes from Debbie Mumm stacks!! Isn't it absolutely adorable!! This is some of the paper I used for the Thanksgiving cards... it's just TOO cute to pass up.

On the envelope, the stamp is from a Stampin' Up set of trees.... so SO perfect for fall.

One of the ladies at my monthly Stamp Club always decorates the envelopes with either the same stamps we're using, or something coordinating. I just loved the idea, and have taken to using it as often as I can. "Thanks Sandra!"

The photo corners come from the Jasmine cart! Just a tip: I used the Auto Fill feature on my Cricut Expression, and cut an entire 12 x 12 piece of black, red, purple, etc. and have each color in the snack baggies. Any time I need a photo corner, they're ready to go!! If I remember correctly you can get almost 300 from one sheet.... they do seem to last forever!! :)

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Hot Cocoa/Apple Cider Sleeves

I FINALLY figured out the technique for inking up the Cuttlebug Embossing Folders!!!


The real trick is to make sure your Craft ink pads are nice and juicy (full of ink.) THEN be sure to get a nice even coat on the plastic. I have a rubber brayer that works beautifully! You don't have to work THAT quickly, because the ink won't dry onto the embossing folder. There is time to get an even coat.

I used purple, this green, blue, and red for the sleeves... and almost all of my holiday embossing folders! The holly just screamed for some red stickles... but the rest will be presented just as they are....

I then used my Glue Glider Pro to complete the sleeves so they wouldn't accidentally open.

I still need to punch and add the ribbon... but the 'hard' part is done!!

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CD Case Calendar

Making these calendars was so much fun!!! I used the daisy punch from Martha Stewart, and my Stampin' Up 5 petal flower punch for the leaves, and just layered, layered, layered!!

Even with the dimension on the flowers, and colored/detailed skittles for centers, they still closed!




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Commissioned Card - Thinking of You

One of the girls I'm working with requested a card for a friend... after a few questions about this friend, this is what I came up with!

Gotta LOVE the Paper Doll Dress Up cart for its versatility! The guitar and name staff is from the Hannah Montana cart, Jasmine is the cart with the photo corners, and the Thinking of You came from Wild Card.

I think I need a Jukebox!! :) :)

The patterened paper is from Michelle Anderson's stacks - this one is called Americana. I also LOVE the Illusions stack she designed!

The detail on the envelope is from a new Stampin Up wheel I just bought off ebay. It came in the mail today... How perfect!

Thanks for looking!

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A Year of Cards - Plus

This is the set of cards (minus one) that will be in the Stationery Boxes I'm presenting at the Craft Fair for sale. It includes all the major holidays (in my opinion), 2 birthday cards, and a sympathy card. Some of the cards have little extras: cut-out areas, stamped coordinated envelopes, and ribbon accents. A few of the cards are blank inside for you to write your own messages, and some have sentiments already included.

The plus for this Year of Cards included in the Stationery Boxes are coordinating gift tags, and thank you cards as well as a place for notes, stamp storage, and pen storage.

I think the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the Mother's Day card with the tulips and butterfly are my favorites.

Please enjoy!!

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More things for the Craft Fair!

I want to thank Mary over at the Kreates Kards blog for this idea!!

This past January, Mom and I spent 4 days assembling a dozen calendars...
Why? Because I designed a page per month! I love this idea MUCH better!
It's so much faster to put together, and looks great too!

I'm really on a monochromatic wave, I just had to take advantage of the blues.
Definitely look for more color schemes, and other decorations on the calendars!

These will go for sale in the Craft Fair I'm working towards in just about a month.
Luckily, I ordered these calendar packs months ago!

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Stampin' Up Club! ~ August and September Projects!

The last two months of Stamp Club have been GREAT!!! Kathy's showing us some AWESOME techniques! I'm always so excited to go because the girls are so much fun... and we get to create beautiful projects! How could that EVERY be a bad thing!!



This card was created with the ever versatile Versamark ink, and chalks!! We used the daubers and the SU chalks to color in the daisies, and then stamped and distressed the remaining areas of the card. I still can't get over how pretty this is in person!!



I always LOVE the stairstep cards! Here we used the black Staz-On ink for the trees on acetate film, set the ink, and colored the trees in with some fall colors. All that was left was to just assemble all the other parts of the harvest-moon card.


This was actually our September card... lots of techniques here, plus a Scor-Pal! I chose to score every line diagonally at 1/2 inch, then stamp the blue baroque swirl. Then, Versamark the entire surface, and then add clear embossing powder for a shiny, glossy finish! There's also a clear brad we made on the medallion!



This one is also a September card!! Guess after 11 PM is just too late for me! Plus, it's been a long week!

Isn't this just the most adorable card? I'd seen that Just Buzzin' By set, and thought I didn't need it... WRONG! I sure love it even more now I've used it... sneaky! :)

Can you see the shimmer on the wings, antennae, and flower? That's the new Champagne Mist shimmer paint. Perfect for this project!!!

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