Trimmers, trimmers: a Fiskars one

When it comes down to craft tools, I have to try them all. Yes, all of them may be a little exaggeration, but I try to get my hands on them just so I know if they are what I have been looking for all my life, and that is the perfect tool. To be honest, I know that the perfect tool does not exist, so I look for the next best thing.


So, when it comes down to the basic craft tool I think a paper trimmer will right up there in the first positions. A few weeks back I got my hands on the new Fiskars Premium Trimmer.


You can see that the length of the paper that you can put through is about 32 cm and considering that 12" are 30.5cm that gives plenty of extra room for the annoying strips containing the name, manufacturer and bar code of patterned papers. Also it has rubberized feet, convenient but not essential.


One of the main new features of this trimmer is its wire guide that runs where the blade is going to cut which allows you to cut with some more precision than before. Thankfully, it is mobile enough so that if you want to score card with the trimmer using a bone folder you still can do it. That may not be essential for many of you, but for me it is absolutely essential as it is the main reason why I love this type of paper cutter.


Another of the innovations in this trimmer is the rail lock prevents rail from popping open while transporting your trimmer. To be honest, it is not an essential addition, but as a demonstrator or crafter on the go it is handy.

I already liked the introduction of the new blades on the previous model which are much more durable than the triple track originals. I personally find that they last me twice as long as the original, but they still are far from the durability that gives you the guillotine.


One of the features that I liked from this trimmer over the previous is that new one has larger base - now 6 1/4 " which makes a huge difference when you want to cut or score cards at 6", as the previous versions versions had a smaller base which means that most times I need to open the arms, which is not the case with the Premium trimmer.

I ought to mention that the trimmer I got is actually from France which has measurements in inches and centimeters. I am not sure if there is going to be a UK version, but there is another one from USA in which all measurements are in inches.

Also it has the standard European measurements, perfect for cutting or scoring in half - in which case you would have to use a guide of one size smaller.


You can see the size of the new version of the trimmer, the older version is on top, and the premium underneath.


And compared to the much older version, and one of my all time favorite trimmers, the personal 12" trimmer, also from Fiskars.


The swing-out paper guide gives you 15 " or 38 cm of level measuring surface for larger projects, something that is definitely not essential, and rarely helpful, but some may find it useful, although not me. The downside of having an extra long arm is that you will need the 15"

Overall though, I would say that this trimmer is a great improvement over the last trimmer of this kind. For me the great features at are the wire guide, the 32 cm cutting capacity and the larger base. I still use my Making Memories rotary trimmer, Xcut Guillotine as much as before but this one is certainly up there with them in usage.

You can get it at Dawn Bibby's Design Studio is one of the few shops that carries this trimmer in this country. I don't think they have it yet on the website but give them a call to see if they have it in stock.

Eskimo kisses bubble

I usually buy the Basic Grey Collection Packs, you know the packs that contain one sheet of each plus the patterned stickers and the alphabet ones. Most of times I don't use the letter stickers, so when I can use any of the ones I have I am more than happy to go overboard and create backgrounds like this one that contains different Christmas words.

Did you watch The X Factor final? I didn't, to be honest I hardly see any of those programs live. Usually, I will watch a couple of performances after one of my friends mentions how good or bad someone was. However, I had watched a couple of shows while I was Up North with Dawn and JJ, and thought that Joe was going to win although I kind of preferred Olly as he made me smile. I do think that Joe is much better singer, but Olly is much more of a charismatic performer.

I also watch Strictly on the iPlayer while I work on the computer because I just love dancing. I would love to learn how to dance properly, specially the tango -specially the Argentinian which is for me the proper one- and of course the Paso Doble. Last year my favorite was from the very beginning Tom Chambers, with Austin as a close second favorite, because Tom seem to me the most natural dancer the one who seem to enjoy dancing the most, although maybe not as technically good as Rachel, but good enough. Rachel instead was very good at the coreography but she seem a tad robotic, without any real happiness in dancing. This year is Ricky Whittle for me, technically very good but also very natural, I can see that he is enjoying dancing maybe more than the show aspect of it. I know he is not likely to win, but a second place is for me this year top spot, just because Rafa finished second at the ATP world tour rankings. Last year I was very lucky, all my favorites ended up at number one, so for this year ending at number 2 is not bad either after such an amazing year.

Simple Jack Frost

Finally I got my email and blog account sorted, so I can resume regular postings.
So, I thought I would share a quick and easy card I did for a workshop at The Glitter Pot a few weeks back.

i am fine

My account of email has been hijacked so it's not spam what you have gotten, I can not access the account and reply any concerned emails.

As I am on holiday I can't solve the situation. I am trying to post this through another method, maybe will even work. As Omar was saying, if you want to sent me money, by all means do, money is always greatly appreciated, but I haven't been mugged or anything like that, so there is no need. And Certainly do NOT send anything to the address or bank that is mentioned in the email.

As soon as I get back home will try to sort it all out!

Square Patchwork

Today I went to the post office and the lady before me was sending off some Christmas Cards to Canada. She had chosen a medium sized card but it was over the 20 grams for just a letter post, so she had to pay an extra 30p. Ok, not much, but if you have to send more than the odd one abroad it adds up. And I rather spend that in lovely card, that this make mean?

The actual size of the card is 4 x 5 inches counting the excess over top edge, you know I like small cards. I just use the Woodware -Marvy Uchida for those in America- 2" Scallop Square punch. If you are into punches you will know that this particular one, *5

Childs Play Card

Sometimes, my cards look like a child has made them, with crooked house and all!

More Eskimo Kisses

Every year when December arrives, I start to panic. You see, I do think the Holidays Season is more about the preparation than the actual holidays. As a culture we have lost the meaning of Christmas, everything is now about shopping, food, parties and decorations, nothing wrong with that but it puts a lot of pressure on having a good time, getting the right present - for others as well for ourselves - it all means that disappointment is a sure thing.

But, if there is something about the Holidays that I like -apart from the true meaning- is the cards. I love making Christmas Cards in batches, although I do start making them a bit late, I usually manage to make them all and send in time.

This year, I am loving Eskimo Kisses, so if you are on my Christmas Cards list, you will probably get some.

Recycling ideas

I believe strongly that one should repeat card designs that we like, specially if we scraplift our own work. I do that constantly because when I like a design, I really really like it, I can't stop reproducing.
So I took a card I did this summer using a floral range and converted into a little Christmas Card. If you ever been to one of my workshops, specially a Christmas one, you will know how much I suggest to make smaller cards. Yes, large cards have got more of a Wow factor, but small things can be delicate and cute and they are much easily fit in living rooms full of Christmas cards.
The pink scallops are from Craftwork Cards and the patterned paper is from the Eskimo Kisses collection (Basic Grey). All the materials are available from Dawn Bibby's shop.

Embossing

Sometimes i misread things, and sometimes when it involves an article commission misreading a brief is a bad thing. This card is a product of a misread.
I read the brief as in card using a metal embossing stencil, when it actually stated that the it had to be a metal embossed card.
I decided to have I did emboss the pattern on vellum and then I turned it over and colour it from the de-bossed or engraved side using watersoluble pencils and transparent glitter.
The end result it's quite masculine, but for even a more masculine look, I would not put glitter nor pearls.

Craftwork Cards 10th Birthday

To celebrate their 10th Birthday, Craftwork Cards asked their design team to make a Birthday card for them. So this is what I did.
In their brand new website, there is a page of Inspiration where you can see the rest of the entries, as well as a better picture of my own card. Since it only captures the front I thought it would be nice to share some pictures of the inside, which I did decorate quite profusely.


As a base for the card I chose a basic color scheme, black, white and lime green. As pattern goes I chose to use the single flowers from the Floral Christmas stamp set.


As you open the card this is what you see on the left side of the card.


I made the main card from bits of card, using a shaped card - from a 8 x 8 album - trimmed top, bottom and left and then I made a M spine with black card, so the heart is actually attached to the V inside of the spine.


I inked the 1 which was chipboard to begin with. Use card candy for each of the big flower centers and on three of them I then put crystals.


For the flower I use Pinflair glue gel to add dimension.


To add even more pizazz I made a card bow with some left over card that I cut off.
I used two edge border punches, both of them from Eksucess.