Hi Crafters,
Yesterday it was my mum's birthday, 87 years young!
Here's the card I made for her...
Recipe
I used the Tattered Lace Botanicals Die Collection along with the 3D Charisma CD Rom and created this lovely 3D forget-me-not bouquet. The background paper and sentiment comes on the CD too.
I thought I'd use my Creative Expressions large stitched square die for the first time to create an interesting border. This move proved to be a potentially expensive choice, the die is almost as wide as the cutting plates and although I angled the die between the plates of my cutting machine to avoid the long edge hitting the rollers at once I obviously didn't get it quite right. It rolled in quite easily, reached the point where the rollers were on the widest part of the square, diagonally across the points and just stuck. It wouldn't roll backward or forward and started to make a strange noise. Enter hubby after hearing my cries of distress, he had to take the machine apart to free the rollers and get my plates, die and cardstock out :o(
It looks as if I will be looking for a new die cutting machine. It still works...sort of, but has a rather suspect sound every time I die cut something now.
Any suggestions for a new machine please? This was the turquoise Grand Calibre which has served me well until I ruined it and I also have a Sizzix Bigshot for the thick steel rule dies but I really need a reliable machine as it will get a lot of use. What machines do you have?
Challenges I'd like to enter:
CD Sunday Challenge - Cool Colours
A Bit More Time to Craft - #75 ATG
Crafteezee Challenge - Sept. ATG
Craft-Dee Bowz - ATG + Bow
Lorraine
xXx
Beautiful card Lorraine, love the forget-me-nots, what a shame your machine didn't like the die and as you say a potentially expensive die
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Lorraine. What a stunning card. Love forget-me-nots and your card just shows how pretty they are. Sorry to hear about your machine though. I now have the Gemini and it really does everything I need it to do. I have a Cut and Boss as well as my Big shot, but my hands are not so good now and I love my Gemini. Have a Good Day. Rita xxxxx
ReplyDeleteabsolutely breathtaking - those flowers are exquisite...xxx
ReplyDeleteA beautiful card Lorraine..I bet she loved it....so pretty.
ReplyDeleteI have the Gemini and it really is the best machine I have had..after using the grand calibra,cut and boss,and big shot...I definitely would recommend it..I keep my big shot for the thick rule dies ...the cut and boss is on the shelf as back up the rest have all gone ...I bought myself a set of the junior Gemini plates as they also go through the Gemini and save a bit of time when only doing small dies...xxxx
Pity about the die/machine. I have two cutters one for wide and one for not so wide, lesson learnt ages ago.
ReplyDeleteStunning card and love the gorgeous bouquet, beautiful 3D look and just a stunning card..xx
Hi Lorraine,
ReplyDeletewhat a very beautiful card for your Mum.
It's a very stunning design and wonderfully created.
A very Happy Birthday to you Mum and such a lovely age too.
I have 3 machines an old GC,a old CutNBoss and my one I use all the time is my Big Blue by Tattered Lace.
I bought the Big Blue and the CutNBoss as they cut out the big Steel rule dies of which I have a fwew.
Would very much like the Gemini now as I understand you can stop it and reverse it.
I think there are U Tube videos on it and how it works.
As lots ohave already recommended it sounds brilliant, and I do think it will be my next big buy too.
I always like to have a few machines in case one breaks down as I can't be without mine.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.
Happy Birthday to to Mum, what a grand age to reach, I hope she had a marvellous day and she's sure to have loved her beautiful card. I do, it's so pretty with those Forget-Me-Not, and your dies and design is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI have the black and pink Bigshot that I love and bought a Gemini, good for the intricate dies and of course taking A4, Kate x
Hi Lorraine
ReplyDeleteStunning card... love those flowers... beautifully coloured...
happy Birthday to your Mum...
hope she has or had a good day...
Hugs Sylvie xx
Beautiful card, love the forget me nots flowers and the blue design,
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity your machine does not like the die.
Thank you for joining us
Margaret
CD Sunday DT
Oh wow that is so striking Lorraine. I'll bet your Mum loved it. Happy Birthday Wishes to her.
ReplyDeleteWow! 87 what a great age. I hope she had a wonderful day. Fabulous creation I’m sure she loved it. Thank you for sharing it with us at CD Sunday WynnDT.
ReplyDeleteA stunning card Lorraine, such a beautiful Forget-Me-Not bouquet.
ReplyDeleteI have a Gemini which I love but if you are looking for a manual I would recommend the Tonic Tangerine, it is really sturdy and I have had mine for years, must admit I use my Gemini most of the time now though.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x
Wow this card is a stunner, its beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for the Gemini but if you get the large one I'd advise getting a 3mm plate made. The standard ones are 4mm and because of the immense pressure I found that basic shape dies buckle a bit and the card can crease
Anne x
Stunning card Lorraine and gorgeous bow and forgetmenots--you certainly won't forget this card!! WOW 87 happy birthday to your Mum--I have an e-bosser which admittedly I only use when embossing with the 8" square EF so bit of a white elephant I also have a big shot which I practically use for every card
ReplyDeleteCarol x
For many years I have used a Joy Trauvaille. The best thing about that was the plates never bowed. A few months ago I bought the Sizzix Bigshot Plus. I really like it, as you can use the small plates from the Cuttlebug for small dies. Much cheaper than replacing the big plates.
ReplyDeleteYour card is stunning and must have taken hours to create. Hugs, Carol S.xx
Happy Birthday to your Mum, one year older than mine. Your card is so beautiful, love the blue. I love my Bigshot. Had a Grand Calibur and hardly used it, only bought it for extra large dies, not impressed with it and sold it.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to your mother! This card is just stunning from top to bottom. The vividness of the flowers is stunning. LOL I'm probably one of the few people still plugging along with my old trusty Cuttlebug. I got it when I first started paper crafting almost ten years ago. It has been a rock for me. I figured it would kick the bucket on me just when I needed it so I bought a BigShot. It hasn't even come out of the box yet. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous card, your Mum must have been thrilled with it. Thank you for sharing at CD Sundays.
ReplyDeleteI killed a GC with a dodgy embossing folder a few years ago, but I replaced it with another GC. I don't know what I'd do if I had to choose a different machine as my GC fits exactly into the only bit of storage space I have for it!
Wow what a beautiful card. I love that blue and I've always liked forget me knots. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteJocelyn x
CD Sunday DT
Gosh Lorraine this is a stunner, I bet your lucky Mum loved it. What a shame about your GC incident though, a good excuse to have a crafty spend!! I invested in Gemini and am very impressed. It cuts perfectly every time xx
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunning card Lorraine, I do hope your mum had a wonderful birthday
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes
Lisa xx
craftycard-designs.co.uk
I love the look you get with the Tattered Lace dies and CD images. Your card has turned out beautifully. Thanks for joining in with the challenge.
ReplyDeletePamela
CD Sunday DT.
Happy birthday to your mother! For mothers always the best! Wonderful card. Thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteMaggie
Crafteezee DT
So pretty Lorraine and lots of dimension with the pretty flowers, I am sure your Mum loved it.
ReplyDeleteB x
Your car dis absolutely gorgeous Lorraine! Love the colours and I bet you Mum loved it too.
ReplyDeleteI have a Gemini and a Big Shot, but I mainly use the Gemini and I can highly recommend it.
Hugs
Gina xx
Fabulous card, so pretty. I'm sure your Mum was thrilled to receive it. I use my Big Shot for all my dies which are narrow enough to go through and my pink Grand Calibre for the wider dies. I have an eBosser too, as I thought an electric one would be easier for bulk die cutting, but often it wouldn't let the dies go through so I rarely ever use it. xx
ReplyDeleteA simply beautiful card. I am sure your Mother was thrilled to bits. I know I would have been to have received such a card.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining in with us.
Carol
CD Sunday DT
xx
Oh my, this is stunning!!! Happy belated birthday to your Mum. Sorry about your machine.
ReplyDeleteI have a cuttlebug, have had it for years and it has served me well. It doesn't take those wide dies though.
Hugs, Lisa