It does look like it rocks! It will cut out anything that is on your computer. There is another one out there, the Cricut, that does a similar thing but it only cuts from a cartridge NOT the computer. The Robo seems to be the one with the best reviews. And I am dead jealous!

I have a sizzix which I love - I got it before the computer cutting machines came out but wouldn't swap it now, not with the amount of dies that I have, but if I were just starting out then I'd go with one of the computer ones. The one advantage of the sizzix though is that it will cut chipboard/cardboard where the robo won't.

Loth, on the sizzix.com website they often have fantastic clearance sales only available to the USA *sob!* would be a good place to get started. With the emergance of the computer cutters the sizzix prices have gone down a fair bit.

I couldn't let the pink pop-up go to waste so here is the result.

Yeah, I can't even buy it at clearance prices. Then I wouldn't be able to afford my yarn habit. Gotta prioritize. But the computer ones look like I could really get into them. My mother in law got a sizzix, 7 complete alphabets and dozens and dozens of other cartridges for $150 at a garage sale. It was crazy.

Oh Sue your pink card is darling. You can keep it until you have a grand daughter and give it to her.
Now you need to make a blue one. LOL

I have just found a very useful tip on a crafting website I visit from time to time, this is in regards to recycling Christmas cards.

It is fairly easy to recycle some by cutting out the main image but this tip is how to use cards without cutting out bits. Use it as a background paper then stick your embellishment on the front. The examples they showed have the Christmas trees which I have used in my cards but instead of being cut into new card they are cut into a recycled card.

My mom and her church group used to use old cards, recycle them by sticking cut outs from other cards over the writing, and sell them to raise funds. I always thought they looked like they had been recycled (sometimes not very well) so would be interested to see how they have done them on the website. Could you post a link please Sue?

I think your Iris folding ones are so much nicer.

Certainly, it is the Circle of Crafters website and the link to the thread is:-

http://www.circleofcrafters.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=34392

The examples shown are using the same tree pattern as I used but I am sure you could stick some other topper instead, especially with some matting.

The Circle of Crafters website has a monthly challenge, an entry is picked at random and the card maker receives a prize of craft goodies. I have not entered one yet but think I will for September. The challenge for September is to make two cards, one must be an iris folding card and the cut-out waste from that card must be used on another card, or perhaps inside the card.

I took the waste from the stocking card, card #2 and have made this card.

Card 4

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It hasn't scanned too well but the back rectangle is silver, the stripe on the top of the stocking is gold on red.

Sue, did you know that World Card Making Day is on 6th October? www.worldcardmakingday.com

I do nows! Another site bookmarked. I registered on a scrapbooking site yesterday which actually has a robo forum so I can pick their brains.

Love the card Sue. Good luck in the competition. Let us know what you win.

I love the iris folding technique! I had seen it before but never really investigated it. Now I'm in love, and I had to go make a template of my own designed to use some sample hand-made Japanese papers I got my hands on a while back. I'll post what I came up with when I get all the kinks worked out.

Thanks so much for the inspiration to really take a good look at this technique! Your cards are so lovely.

I think it might well be my favourite technique although I love messing with all manner of styles. Oriental themes are also a great favourite of mine.

Visit http://www.circleofcrafters.com/ if you haven't already, they give free patterns, some you don't need to register but if you register you have access to many more for free.

Thanks for the link! I didn't see quite what I wanted, so I went ahead and made my own. Here's my first try. Unfortunately the colors didn't scan quite right. The blue is richer and has more depth in real life, and the oranges and yellows are not actually as stark as they appear in the scan.

I made the template for the koi before I had actually used the technique, so I had to do a bit of tweeking when I actually sat down to lay the paper down. The whole thing is framed in heavy black card stock overlaid with a hand-painted coffee filter for the color. The papers I used for the koi are strips from a sample book of hand-made Japanese papers I found some time ago. The whole piece is too big for a card, about eight inches, so I'm thinking about making prints of it for cards instead. I've also got template ideas and color schemes lined up for a sakura piece and a kimono.

Wow, I am really impressed.

Did you go into the forums? They have links to masses of patterns made by the members. You have to register, but it is free and there are no adverts. Actually I don't know how they finance the site, they give out at least $200 in prizes each month.

Thanks!

I have registered but haven't been confirmed yet, so I haven't gotten to look at any but the free stuff.

It is all free, most of it is on the members' PhotoBucket account.

Oddly, I still haven't gotten an activation email, so I can browse through the forums but can't see any pictures yet. But meanwhile, in case anyone's interested, here's the template for the koi. It's unnumbered but you start at the tail and work in.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1013/1305301147_46811b0e14_o.jpg

Something strange there, you need to try again. Mine was done in minutes. I have saved the so that I can try it out sometime. Thank you.

Me and Mum have started making our Christmas Cards over the last few weeks. I promise that I will post pictures eventually. We've done a few Decoupage cards this year.

I really ought to go to bed, it is 2:20 am. Earlier this evening I saw a pattern and just had to make it. I can't decide whether to add something in a couple of corners - opinions? Behind the blue card is a border of bright silver, the snowflakes and text is in white.

Santa in Trouble

I think it's very cute just the way it is! I don't like things too cluttered-looking.
If I were to add anything else, I might add a couple more snowflakes that look like they'd dropped off the blue section onto the card, or something to that effect.

I like it, I'd buy it.

Taesma I have just put your name on it for Christmas, and some more snowflakes, and all I need from you is a PM with your postal address. Not to buy, just to receive it for Christmas.

If you are concerned about giving me your personal details you can ask for references here, I keep the information to myself and am not a predator; plenty of people here have given me their details and have had no problems.

Is this what you meant Taesma? I think it looks better.

Excellent job, Sue!! I can promise I will start posting my Christmas cards on Funtrivia soon

Quote:

---

Is this what you meant Taesma? I think it looks better.

---

Oh yes, perfect! You certainly do a beautiful job! And thanks for being so kind as to send it to me, that's very thoughtful.
I think I've been around here long enough to send you personal details, I think if you were going to stalk me you would have done it already.
Besides, we all know where to find you if you get out of line.

Sue, can you email it to me, I can't see it! Wanna see. Wanna SEE!

You'll have no worries, Taesma, she's had my details for over five years now

If I didn't have you details you wouldn't get your occasional fix of white Toblerone! Emailing it now...

Sue:

WOW! What a pleasant surprise when I went to the mail box and saw your card.

Then I opened it and was impressed with both the content and quality of the card. Beautiful, simple, elegant. The paper is substantial and gives the card a texture that contrasts with the ocean scene on the front. This was nice because I have an oil painting that is almost identical in my bedroom.

This is more than a card: it's a gift for which I thank you very much.

If I could make a suggestion: if I bought this card, I would have no idea how much it would cost to mail it. In the USA, mail is charged by weight. This card seems rather heavy; I'd have to go to the post office to mail it.

Perhaps you could attach a 'needs extra postage' reminder in the stamp area.

Thanks again, Sue.

Thank you Rich, I am glad you liked it. I was very pleased with that photograph when I took it. From that beach the very next landfall going west is the east coast of America.

That is a good idea about a weight warning, some of my cards can be quite heavy. With our local postal system the first weight stage is 100 grams to either the islands or the UK, then it jumps. With 'overseas' mail European is extra over 20 grams and long distance such as the US is after 10 grams.

I hope the birthday was a good one.