any scrapbookers out there?
I'm not doing any scrapbooking, but I'm contemplating a few pieces of equipment designed for that, to use in fine-art collage. One of the techniques I use, is inlay with paper-thin abalone, mother of pearl, and wood laminates. These materials are all beautiful....but a PAIN to cut!  The abalone laminate sheets that I just bought included a suggestion sheet for cutting, that recommended the "Sizzix" die-cut system. All Id probably use it for would be simple shapes like circles, stars, and crescent moons. When I googled Sizzex though...OMG  Soooo many options, add ons, versions etc!!!! I'm sorta stumped on what to start with! There was also a "new" machine available designed for fabric, that I'm tempted by for use with my silk-fiber paper (which is much more like fabric that paper).
Any advice??? By the way...Thank you scrapbookers, for making this hobby so popular that artists like myself can find: acid free glues, metallic pens, and x-acto blades at the all night grocery store at 2 AM!!!!     |
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| I'm an obsessive scrapbooker. I don't personally own a Sizzix but I know some people who have one and it's pretty cool. There are tons of patterns for it. I just got some Moose, Bear and Canoe die cuts to do my Wyoming pages.
I have the Creative Memories cutting system, which is good for simple shapes like circles, ovals, stars, etc. It's very manual, but also much cheaper! You use a blade to follow a template pattern - the blade fits into a track in the template. I'm not sure how heavy a blade you need to cut your abalone, but you might want to check it out: http://www.creativememories.com/MainMen ... ewAll=true Sue |
| I am very barely into it. BUT, Travis's GF is really into it. She does absolutely amazing things!
Those die cutters are cool. I have tried them. But don't do it often enough to buy one. Good luck! |
| I'm a stamper, not a scrapper but the equipment overlaps. You can probably pick up the Sizzix for dirt cheap since there are 2 new machines on the market that everyone seems to be gaga about. One is the Cuttlebug which is used for "dry embossing" i.e, pushing shapes into paper without cutting. The Cricut is similar to the Sizzix in that it creates die-cuts but is newer and cooler. My concern would be the cutting of mother-of-the-pearl, etc. I don't know if the die cut machines could handle that, and what about splitting? Definitely do a LOT of research, and if you decide to buy something, Michael's and JoAnn's often have 40% off coupons.
Do you have a scrapbooking store in your neck of the woods? They might have the machines you could try. |
Paula O. wrote: Do you have a scrapbooking store in your neck of the woods? They might have the machines you could try.
Good suggestion! Most scrapbook stores are really good about that. |
Bailey's Mom wrote: Paula O. wrote: Do you have a scrapbooking store in your neck of the woods? They might have the machines you could try. Good suggestion! Most scrapbook stores are really good about that. Good idea! Were going into Anchorage (our nearby big-ish city  ) today, so I'll take some abalone with and look for a scrapbooking store. It is VERY brittle stuff, which is why its hard to cut with an x-acto, without splintering. |
| Sorry I didn't respond earlier. Did you purchase any new tools? I don't own Sissix, but I have used it during a scrap for cardstock and paper. I thought it was an excellent tool and have considered purchasing it as well. I may take a look again when I FINALLY get a craft table.
The space in the lower level I thought I could use was rudely taken up with a weight bench  Now that Fozzie is no longer using his crate, I think a table would fit perfectly! Any sugestions on a table and/or organizer?
Also, I'd LOVE to see what fine art collage looks like!!! Please share! |
Stacy wrote: Sorry I didn't respond earlier. Did you purchase any new tools? I don't own Sissix, but I have used it during a scrap for cardstock and paper. I thought it was an excellent tool and have considered purchasing it as well. I may take a look again when I FINALLY get a craft table.
The space in the lower level I thought I could use was rudely taken up with a weight bench Now that Fozzie is no longer using his crate, I think a table would fit perfectly! Any sugestions on a table and/or organizer?Also, I'd LOVE to see what fine art collage looks like!!! Please share! For a table/organizer, two ideas...the expensive, ultra-cool option: google Dan Smith art supply, and check out their new table/drawer combos....soooo cool!  they make me wish I had room for more furniture in my studio! Cheap option: haunt the local thrift stores, or better yet government surplus for old "map cases" and drafting tables. Autocad, and other computer use by the govt. and businesses have made this kind of furniture obsolete, and fairly easy to find. 
Ok...here's some examples of my collage work! The eyes on my polar bears are made of mother-of pearl and abalone, as well as some of the moon, stars, suns, etc....I use wood laminate for the antlers/horns on some animals, and my base material that my animals are made of is silk-fiber paper that I make from scratch.  |
| Very cool art work! |
| I love the bears, Laurel! Paper collage work is amazing to me. It's so intricate but looks so amazing as a whole.
On a somewhat related subject, last weekend I went to an art fair and was looking at Japanese paper cut art. It was the first time I'd seen such large pieces in person and was amazed. Just the patience needed is stunning to me! |
| I would love to see that in person. It looks amazing! |
Ok...Ive won the bid on a new-in-box a "Sizzix" die-cut machine on E-bay!  Also won the bid on a variety of dies, and am still bidding on more.
Im VERY intrigued by the computerized ones ('Cricut", "Robo-cut") that Ive seen up for bid, and went to the websites for them....but I'm still bewildered as to some of the limitations of these (very expensive! ) machines. Can they cut anything other than stiff paper? Can you program (or scan) in your own, original, designs? Oddly, the web sites seem to give very little info 
The one place we found in town (Anchorage) didn't have much they could tell us either  They sell the Cricut...but no one there had ever USED one!
So, I'll try this out, and maybe go with the uber-high-tech model NEXT I'm really excited for it to get here!  |
| Gorgeous!!!! |
| Hey, those look cool! |
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