I feel sort of bad :(
Because now Stampin' Up! decision makers have put some of the BIGZ XL DIES for The BIG SHOT on chopping block ! I can only surmise its due to their lower sales value and to follow that line of logic then, we 'demos' didn't do enough to show the ' p o t e n t i a l ' of these dies, so we share some of the blame.
So - here I am last minute trying to make up for some of that with this project!
In my last post, I pointed out the fab talent of the designer behind the pop-up dies manufactured by Sizzix, and so I pulled out the POP-UP BIGZ XL DIE - O CHRISTMAS TREE! and co-ordinating SIZZLIT DIE ' MERRY DETAILS ' which has several tiny decorations for the tree including a bird!
And I also pulled out the BIGZ XL ' PERFECT SETTING ' - which includes the CUPCAKE HOLDER/WRAPPER!
As for cardstock - I've chosen the retiring HOSTESS LEVEL - PATTERNS PAPER STACK which showcases the new IN COLORS of the retiring 2010-2011 IBC.
OK - I'm all set!!!!
Christmas isn't always Christmas Project
I wanted to specifically show how the CHRISTMAS TREE does not have to be limited to the holiday season of December - tho fabulous as that time is! NAY - this baby can be used in a V-E-R-Y whimsical way - so YAY !!1. Chose the Tree's Cardstock - be daring!
To start I decided to have my cardstock in a fun FOLKSY fashion by combining:
a) different patterns from the same colour family,
and b) by combination of a variety of prints according to their size!
In our Pattern Packs, we have this all ready for us! Its just a matter of choosing your colour! The result will sort of look like a quilt project!
2. Decorate the Tree
For the smaller decorations for the tree I'm using the Sizzlit die for the bird, but I also chose to use another retired SU! punch for a small flower.
I put some willingness to throw caution to the wind and choose cardstock that by mere repetition would work on the tree - BUT - you help matters when you are a bit choosy about placement - try to strike a balance because if you rotate the tree you can see all the different angles involved. I think I did a zig-zag placement of the first couple of flower colours - then I used the " Hearts " to ' FILL IN THE GAPS ' and help the balance overall. It sounds more complicated than it is - besides I suspect that you can't do much to go wrong, it sort of has a way of working out its own problems if you know what I mean! HAPPY comes in many forms - and by decorating the tree with whimsical flowers, a pair of love birds - why all that is missing is a rainbow - and I am working on that!!!
3. Stand your Tree
This is a pop-up die, right? RIght! But I decided to let it sit on its own stand made of the CUPCAKE HOLDER! Its so easy too - just cut and paste the cupcake wrapper/holder so that it can be large enough for the tree's base to plop inside the BOTTOM of the cupcake holder - yep, turn it upside down - and its a base - flower pot or circus stand, you decide~ you can decorate the cardstock before gluing, and you can use all sorts of 3D embellishments when its done - such as brads, butterflies! What-ever tickles you!
Close-up of the 5 different 'patterns' cardstock - all in the colour ' PEAR ' and the variety of flowers and hearts I used to decorate it!
Tree in full, with 1 bird on top center. This tree is meant to collapse, but it has a 'stand' as well.
Now lets put it on a stand made from the 'Perfect Setting' Cupcake Holder/Wrapper which is turned upside down and stamped with a subtle pattern.
Or try it in a garden green matching the tiny hearts scattered through-out! Add a butterfly embellishment!
See the pair of love-birds - they are from the retiring Sizzlit die, Merry Details. They are so cute - I added tiny red glittery hearts cut with our 2-Step Owl Punch. You might recall our Red Glitter Cardstock from the Christmas season? Its been on our available list of carry-over products from the Mini Catalogues.
Now here is how it looks in real life on your shelf - or your friend's shelf - or grandma's shelf.....cute huh?
Who wouldn't like a special tree at this time of the year? Maybe a young girl would think fairies come and dance around it at night!!!
....or with Cupcake {Perfect Setting Bigz XL Die} stand!
SO THERE YOU GO!!!
DON'T WAIT TILL ITS TOO LATE - THESE ARE AVAILABLE TILL THE END OF JUNE!!!
CONSIDER THESE TWO AWESOME and RETIRING DIES FOR A MANUAL DIE-CUTTING MACHINE such as THE BIG SHOT or similar product!
THEY ARE ON THE LAST CHANCE LIST!
THEY ARE VERSATILE!
THEY ARE INTERESTING !
.....the CHRISTMAS TREE is really a fun project - think of the challenge you can give yourself, it doesn't get boring!
And, the PERFECT SETTING - CUPCAKE BIGZ DIE is the perfect die to make cupcakes look dressed up, jazzy and co-ordinating with your theme, OR as a little cup to put candy in for birthday parties...plus it also has a matching strip to wrap around candy bars, or other items. You can explore many uses for both these dies not to mention their first intended purposes - CREATE!!!!
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