Try Something New - Cutting Balsa Wood with the Big Shot

I often experiment with new ideas.  This one I saw being demonstrated by Emma Parkin-Wilson at the Stampin' Up!® Wellington regionals this year so I knew I was pretty safe giving it a go.

Warning: - Only try this with a Big Shot using Sizzix Originals and Bigz dies.  They need to be steel rule dies to cut anything other than paper or cardstock.

I used: - 

- Sissix Big Shot and Blossom Party Originals Die

- 1.5mm thick Balsa Wood, Scraps of Pacific Point Cardstock & Blueberry Crisp DSP

- Big Shot Multipurpose Adhesive Sheets, 2 way glue, stampin' sponge and pacific point classic ink pad

I cut my balsa wood using my Craft and Rubber Scissors to approx 7x7cms to fit to largest flower on the Blossom Party die.

Cut a multi purpose adhesive sheet and scrap of dsp to 7x7cms and stick the dsp to the balsa wood.

Run through the Big Shot using the cutting plates and the die in the usual fashion.  You may have to ease it through a little bit.

Place your scraps of cardstock and DSP over the flower parts in the die that you want to be cut and run through the Big Shot in the usual manner. This is a great way to use up scraps and not waste full sheets of cardstock etc.

I sponged the edges of the DSP to hide the edges of the balsa wood and to make it stand out a bit more.  Then I used 2 way glue to stick the pieces together so when attached to my handbag in the picture at the top there wasn't loose pieces to get caught and bent.

Please leave me comments with any question you have and I'd love to see links to any projects you've made using this tutorial.



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Big Shot Project using Cork Sheet and a Disposable Baking Dish

I am having a fantastic time at the moment trying out all the materials, other than paper and cardstock that the Big Shot is able to cut.  So far I've tried polar fleece, aluminium drink cans and today's tutorial uses thin cork sheet and a disposable alumimium baking platter.

This project uses: - 

Big Shot with Fancy Favour Box and Blossom Party Dies

(When cutting materials other than card/paper only use the Steel Rule dies (Originals & Bigz Dies)

Crimper

Thin cork sheet and disposable aluminium platter from bargain store

Old Olive and Cajun Craze Cardstock

Mini Glue Dots & Sticky Strip

- Cut the raised sides off the aluminium platter and cut the inside section along with the cork sheet and the old olive cardstock to fit the Blossom Party die.  Run these separately through the Big Shot and put to one side.

- Take cajun craze cardstock slightly at least 10cm square, I used a larger piece and run through the crimper.

  - the crimped sheet will come out bowed.  Put it to one side and it will have settled back into shape by the time you need to use it.

  - cut a sheet of Old Olive cardstock 14cm x 29.7 cms using the Fancy Favour Die and the extended cutting plates.  Goodness knows how I managed to get that colour in the photo.

- assemble box following score lines using sticky strip.

- cut your crimped piece of cardstock to 7.6cms x 8.3cms and attach to the front of your box.  Don't worry if it goes on slightly crooked like mine and embellishments will hide most of it.

  - put your Blossom Party pieces together to work out a pleasing combination then attach them together using mini glue dots.

 - cut a strip of left over cork sheet, mine is 1.3cms wide and attach across the centre of the box then attach your embellishment in the centre.




All done!  Please leave me a comment with any questions you have and I'd love a link to your creations using my tutorial.


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