Embossing on the KNK Zing

So, as many of you know...I was busy over the holiday making gifts in time for Christmas and with the new release of our newest model machine, the KNK Zing.

Today, I did a quick video showing how to use the Embossing Tool on the KNK Zing!  I love how it turned out, and hopefully will have the finished embossed piece on a project to show you sometime soon!

Hope you enjoyed that video!!

Now...to show some of the other projects I made this holiday....here are some of the tumblers I etched onto those plastic tumbler cups!  So much fun to do, and when my nieces and nephews opened their cups, by the end of the evening, they all had their favorite beverages poured in them and were using it!

To make them, you need:

• Tumbler (I got mine from Discount Mugs, but you can find them at Bed Bath and other places!)
• Vinyl (scrap colors will do!)
• Etching materials (I used a sand etcher, but etching creme will work too!
• Cutting machine
• pattern

For the pattern, I looked up tribal art graphics online, the font I used is one of my favs, called Duality.  I cut the pattern in the vinyl, weeded out the design, leaving me with the "inverse" pattern.  Put it onto the tumbler, then etched!  Removed the vinyl, and ended up with the looks above!

Here is a picture of some of the tumblers covered in the vinyl before etching!

Now...to think of what I want to do with that embossed foil piece I made today....hmmmm.....

Setting Up Zing Blade holder

So, i know I haven't posted here on this blog lately, but that isn't because I haven't been productive!

First, I want to share with you a corrected video I made on using the blade holder on the Zing.  I was able to get a better shot on setting up the holder, and so the video works much better then the last one!

I have done a bunch of projects with my new Zing!  And will be sharing them over the next few days!

One of the things i have been doing is Rhinestones!  I couldn't share this before Christmas, as I didn't want my niece or family to see the picture before the gift was received!

My niece is really into dance, and made her dance team at her school in Apple Valley, MN.  So I made her a shirt to highlight her love for dancing!  I took two pictures, one with no flash, the other with flash, as I was trying to get the bling to "pop"

I used the ballet slipper file, which I now have available in the store, as well as a rhinestone font called Relaxed font, also now available! 

Ballet Slipper
Relaxed Font

And...for the first 20 people, I have the "Relaxed Font" rhinestone set available at 80% off, with coupon code: RF80OFF  That brings the price down to about $4 for a full Rhinestone Alphabet!

Hope you enjoy!!

Zing basic set up videos

It's been a busy weekend, and then yesterday, I seemed to spend most of the day spinning my wheels and getting no where!

Today has been much more productive!

I used my new Zing machine all weekend long at the craft show, and everything seems to be working great on it! It's a quick and easy set up and LOTS of fun!

Here are a couple of videos I put together, I'll be putting more together in the coming weeks, but this is a good start to get you going!

Plugging in your Zing:



Setting up the PEN TOOL:



And, finally, setting up the blade and blade holder:


These videos are the beginning in the series, I do plan to have more videos out there....kind of too late for those already getting your machines, but if you have a specific thing you would like covered with the videos, please email me, I'd be happy to make one on that topic!

The ZING is in the HOUSE!

Whooohooo, yippeee, zippidee doo daaa....it's here!  FINALLY!

First, let me say, I have my machine because I'm a retailer, so they shipped my machine out to me as soon as it came in, so that I could get a chance to familiarize myself with it BEFORE my customers start calling me and asking for help!  There was a slight problem with blades and the software wasn't quite in house when the machine was shipped to me on Monday....but since I have other blades/bladeholders and already had the MTC software, it wasn't a big deal not to get that in my package.

Ok....so, after a big disappointment yesterday, where at 4:45 Fed Ex changed my shipping from being delivered Wednesday to Thursday, I knew I had another day to find room in my craft area...though I haven't quite figured out where it's going to go, I'm closer to working that out!

Today, I wasn't able to get my morning shower in, I had to take it at my lunch break....and I took the worlds FASTEST shower, because I knew it would be just my luck that the doorbell would ring while my head was full of shampoo!  But, alas, because I was so quick with that shower, Fed Ex decided to make an afternoon appearance instead!

After the ringing of my doorbell, this is what I have

So I open the shipping box...and I get this:

Sweetness!!  It's the prettiest box the KNK machines have ever shipped in! lol!

A great quick set up guide is the first thing you see....

And the above is the colorful box...and notice, the HANDLE on the box!  Made it easy to pull out of the brown shipping box, and will make a GREAT alternative to taking your Zing somewhere, at least until the travel bags are available!

Once I open the box, I see it's very well packed!

Pull the cutting mat out, it's about the same thickness as other mats on the market, but doesn't have the same texture as them....just slightly different!  I have to tell you, I took the protective sheet off the mat, and I'm VERY happy with the stickiness of it....more information to come in another post or video!

Inside your big box, you will find your smaller box with your blade holder, blades, springs, pens tools, and power/USB cords.

I pulled the machine out, and it's well packed in the center of the box with quality foam around it...

Slipped of the foam on the sides and the plastic bag around the machine, and we are getting closer to the reveal!

Super AWESOME!  Now, you will notice, there are three pieces of foam, one on each side, one under the blade jaw, carefully remove all three, and put them all in your box, they are the perfect thing to keep for when you have to travel with your machine!

Whew...now that we got it all out of the box...here's a better peek at what's included (please note, they didn't have the MTC disk in yet when they shipped this to me, so I don't have that in the picture, but your machine will include this!)

Oh...and make sure you keep your box and foam....

Finally....I am selling my Cricut Expression and Pazzles Inspiration...and I have them upstairs waiting to be purchased, so I decided to line them up, see how they compare in sizing.  The Zing weighed slightly more then the other two (this based on my highly scientific way of weighing something....picking it up and holding in my hand for a few seconds!) but not anything significant in weight difference!

Here is how they stack up in profile of each other!  I took 3 pictures, trying to get some different angles of them....Zing in front, Cricut E in middle, and Pazzles in the back.

Ok...that's my experience with taking it OUT of the box!  Easy peasy!  I also did a test draw and cut with it....I tried to take video of that, will see how they look and if they didn't get too blurry, I'll post them too!

thanks for stopping by!

Michelle Hessler

Santa's List

Today is my day to post at the Card a Day Blog!  Have you checked that blog out lately?  We have made a few changes to it just recently, and started the new November Challenge!  Super easy to join in on the challenge...and you can win a GREAT prize too...I promise!  Paperthreads is the sponsor this month, and I'm giving 3 unmounted stamps as a prize, so make sure you pop on over and check it out!

So...this weeks theme is Christmas and Home.  Alright, I'll admit, this card doesn't have much to do with home when you are just looking at it....but it reminds me of a fun family moment at home....and was my inspiration when making it!

 

Several years ago....a new site had come online, where you could email Santa at the North Pole.  You basically filled out a small questionnaire (small little questions about your child) and submitted your list to Santa.  A day or two later, we got an email back from Santa....it was the funniest thing!  I believe my daughter was in the second grade at the time. (she is now in college, so this was definitely a few years ago!)

The letter referenced several little tidbits about Brianna in it, making it seem so real and that Santa truly did know her.  So we were reading the Santa Letter email out loud to her....and at the end, the letter says....

"Oh no, I have to cut this short now, I just got an update to my list, and there's a child close to you that was just put on the naughty list!  I have to go take care of this right now!"

To which my daughter chuckled and yelled..."DAVID!" 

David...you see, was her friend that lived a couple houses over, and he was a little trouble maker sometimes....so she was just SURE that Santa was putting him on the naughty list!

We laughed so hard!  It was a fun moment to remember!

Anyway, the stamp is by Whiff of Joy, the reindeer is a diecut by SEI, then I used Glitzmas paper by SEI, and some miscellaneous dew drops and ribbon.  Fun Flock for the whites of Santa's hat and coat, and of course, copics to color it all in!

Speaking of my daughter...here is a video I posted of her singing a song by JJ Heller, Your Hands.  She did this back in April...poor lighting in the room...and the recording done with my phone...so not the best in that regard...but it's a favorite song of ours!  Hope you enjoy!!

Zing Machine status!

Wow, it's now getting there!

The Zings are in the US shores, just waiting for Customs to release the shipment to the distributor!  I'm expecting my order of machines to be here mid next week, and we will immediately start shipping out to our customers from there!

Anyone that ordered from us should have received an email from me on Monday, with details on shipping, and a final invoice, if you haven't paid it in full yet!

For those still interested, the company is sold out of this first shipment of machines!  I still have 6 left in my pre-order inventory, so you can still get in and order in this first shipment!  Otherwise, another shipment of machines is scheduled to be here sometime the first week of December!

Milo the Christmas Guard Dog

Here is another great Christmas Animals card....and brings a smile to me each time I see it!

I made a bunch of these, they were a bit time consuming, because I used 3 colors of fun flock on it, but were well worth the time invested!

Check out the up close shot!  I used a rhinestone for the collar, Snickerdoodle Smooch for the dog bones, Fun Flock for the Stocking cap and top of the stocking itself...and two colors of fun flock to make the tennis ball!  This card has a ton of textures on it!

The papers used in this card are from SEI: Glitzmas.  The ribbon is from the standard stash I picked up at Michaels or Hobby Lobby!  And I colored Milo with my copics, then cut him out with the nestabilities!

I can't believe we are already past the halfway mark in the first month of the Card a Day Christmas Postings!

Make sure you check out the blog everyday for another inspirational posting! Next up are:

Cindy Foster from Cindy's Creations 
Shirley Ross from Mom 'n Me Scrap
Jill Figley from Created By Jill
Shirley Ross from Mom 'n Me Scrap
Christine Patton from Creative Genie-ous

Kelly George from Sassy Scrapper Studio

Cindy Pointe from  The Creative Pointe

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else makes this next week!


Scrap On!
Michelle Hessler
www.paperthreadsblog.com

Should say...Gone Hunting!

 So, lately, I have been feeling a little bit alone, it's the season!  Adam seems to take every waking moment when he is not at work or doing his college coursework, out hunting!  I didn't have a good hunting stamp, but love this little cutie!  

 

It's one of the Kraftin' Kimmie stamps, by Crissy Armstrong called Gone Fishin'.  I think I'm going to send it to my nephew, as he loves going fishing all the time!

 

 

RECIPE FOR CARD:

PAPERS:  Detail Blending for digi stamp base, scrap paper for the sentiment mounting, Pastiche patterned paper for the background (made by SEI, but I can't find it for sale ANYWHERE!!  I hope it goes on sale somewhere soon!)

 

INKS:  Copics, Memento Ink (Tuxedo Black), Memento Ink (Potters Clay for distressing edges)

 

 DIECUTS: Nestabilities LABELS 1 (for stamped image, I did the embossing with it too, and I used the out of bounds technique, which you can find a video for using through my youtube channel.)

STAMPS:  Crissy's Cuties: Gone Fishin', Daisy Buckets Brackets, Daisy Buckets Enjoy the Day Sentiment

ADHESIVE:  Tombow Mono Adhesive, glue dots

MISC:   Ribbon from SEI Pastiche set, Waxed thread used to tie ribbon center.

TECHNIQUES: Out of Bounds using Nestabilities technique, Copic Coloring Techniques

I hope to post another project using Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps tomorrow...so check back!

Card a Day Blog - My Little Kitten

So...for many of you that may or may not know, there is a new blog out there, called Card A Day, and each day the designers feature a card they created for your inspiration! 

Today is my turn to submit something for the blog, and my submission theme they gave me was Christmas and Animals!

I have this CUTE little stamp, from Stampavie: Gillian Roberts, called Kitten.

I stamped it, and because I'm making a bunch for holiday cards, I colored it in first using my copics, then I scanned it into my computer, and made a sheet of the same colored stamp!

When I was done, I printed it out, and I used a smooch for the nose and ears, Quickie glue pen on the cuff of the hat and my favorite of late...White Fun Flock!

You can see the up close of the fun flock...it's so nice and fuzzy, I love running my finger across it!

For the papers I used Glitzmas by SEI, and some basic red from my stash!  I also used some of the nestability shapes to create the mat for the card!

This project was fun to make, and because I didn't have to color each one individually, I was able to get 12 cards done in about 3 hours!  More for my holiday stash!

Hope you enjoyed, and make sure you check out the Card A Day Blog....like it so you get post links, as you will not only find it inspiring, but if you want, can even join the challenge and win prizes!!

Next up in the blog hop are as follows:
October 18 - Janet from Stamping At The White House
October 19 - Tina from Tina's Scrap Corner
October 20 - Christine from Creative Genie
October 21 - Michelle (me) at Paperthreads
October 22 -Cindy from The Creative Pointe
October 23 - Shirley from Mom 'n Me Scrap
October 24 - Jill from Created By Jill

Scrapbook Layout-pages 3&4

THERE IS STILL A MONTHLY TECHNIQUE CHALLENGE GOING ON IN THE FORUM, MAKE SURE YOU VISIT AND GET YOUR PROJECT IN SOON!!

So...here are some more of the scrapbook pages I did the other day, this is pages 3&4.

To curl the wings on the butterflys, I used my scissors, and pulled the paper gently across the back side against the blade of my scissors (like when you curl ribbon).  Then, I only taped the centers down.

The kit included some paper doily's.  I think I would rather use some cut out doily from my die cut machine, but because I wanted to get htese projects done quickly, I just used what was in the kit this time!

The papers in this kit are really wonderful, and all done by SEI!