about

I have always enjoyed been creative and I really enjoy making cards and gifts for family and friends. The problem is there are only so many birthdays and holidays in a year, I soon found I was running out of people. 

It was at this point I dipped my toe in the water and started making cards and gifts for sale. I have a craft room, or rather a spare bedroom, where I have set-up my equipment. 

I enjoy watching the blue tits, sparrows, robin and squirrel visit my garden while I am crafting.

I use a Sizzix  Big Shot Plus which is great. I have a number of stencils from different makers and they work well. 

The downsides are the need to replace the cutting pads. I tend to use A5 pads as most dies I use aren't that big and the A5 pads aren't too expensive. 

For a decent cut especially with intricate dies, I only cut one piece at a time which when cutting flowers can be a little time consuming.

As a Christmas gift I was given a Cricutmaker 3 which has opened up a whole new world. I am still learning but there are some great pop up card projects. 

I have created some of my own projects. which have proved really useful.  I use the cricut app on an iPad which works fine as I can use a wireless mouse but using the app on a PC or laptop is slightly easier.

The one downside similar to the Sizzix is the cutting mat which can lose its stickiness after time. It is possible to wipe it and restore the pad, or you can use cricuts own materials which may mean you don't need to use a mat.

I was concerned that when I had my Cricut I would no longer have a need for my Sizzix and the many dies that I had bought. 

What I have found is that I can use them both. A good example are the box cards that I make. I use the Cricut to cut out the box template which I used to do by hand. I get more accurate and consistent results. I also use it to cut the grass pieces as I don't have a die for this.

I then use the Sizzix to cut out the small intricate flowers for which I have the dies. I could probably use the Cricut but as I use different colour papers I find it easier and quicker using the Sizzix.

I then bring the pieces together into one lovely card.