Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Card-making with the Sizzix eClips

My favorite companies these days are Sizzix and  SVG Cuts and Craft Edge (Sure Cuts A Lot software). Sizzix because they have designed the most wonderful cutter - the eClips - and allowed Craft Edge to design SCAL software exclusively for the eClips (eCAL.) SVG Cuts designs the files for use in the eCal and SCAL software.

For those of you not familiar with the eClips, it is a cartridge-based cutter, that has a unique hand-held controller. However, if you use eCAL, you don't need to use the cutter or the cartridge; the software gives you all the sweet features of the controller.

SVG Cuts, the above mentioned company that produces the SVG files for use in the software, is a super company. Every week they release a new kit that you have the option of picking up for free for one week with the purchase of other kits. Since I am building up my kit library, this has been working out wonderfully for me. I have been spending an average of 10.98 to pick up two kits plus the free one. This is a fraction of the cost of a cartridge for any cartridge-based system.

Back to cards. One of the first free kits I picked up was the Everyday Cards Kit. I love it. I made so many I gave a box of them to each of my daughters. Then I made a box for myself. These are all A2 size. Then I bought the A2 All Occasion Cards and made a bunch of those. They are so cute. Then I bought the kit for the Premium pop-up cards - I think I am in love with these. The nicest thing about this kit is that you can choose the size from A1 to A6 and square cards. The square cards are my new favorites because you have a little more flexibility with how you place the embellishments.

Here are a few of the square cards I made! The thank you card is one of my favorites. Mary at SVGCuts gave a great tip about making the flower. Instead of a brad, though, I used a glittery stick-on brad. For the Christmas card, I had some left-over paper and saw that the sleigh would make a great card. I was right. So I made the card base out of AC Card stock and applied the paper and trip to the front of that after applying the pop-up to the inside. Then to break up all that red I cut one of the trees included in the kit and applied it to the inside. I also fiddled with the size of the strip on the right side of the card and cut two in different colors.

Thank You

Love You
 
Christmas







Copyright 2008-2012, ACK, for Generational

6 comments:

  1. Thanks Leo! Thanks to you and Mary and SVG Cuts I am becoming a whiz at them.

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  2. So glad I found your blog! Love what you have created. I am considering purchasing the Sizzix eclips but I'm somewhat tech/software challenged. Do you like in better than other die cut methods? I apologize if I am not supposed to ask questions in your comment section. Still attempting to learn proper blog protocol.
    Thank you kindly,
    Linda

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  3. Lindacakes: I've only used SCAL2 with my old Cricut - you can no longer use 3rd party software with cricut. The Sizzix eclips uses eCAL software. Its very easy to use. It's also going up in price March 1st. If you are truly interested purchase it from www.punkinpatchstamps.com and get the machine, eCAL and a $20 giftcard at SVGCuts for $299. Its worth every penny.

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  4. Thank you sooooooo much for that information!!!! I did as you said and just ordered it from punkinpatchstamps! Very excited!

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  5. Lindacakes - what you can expect now is that Leo will probably email you your tracking number Monday or Tuesday - usually takes 48 hours BUT this is a weekend. Then you can track your eClips via FedEx. When you open it, take the mat and lay it flat in the package weighted down to combat the curl. Read the instructions and set it up! The hard part will be choosing your files from SVG cuts. A helpful hint? You don't need to spend all $20 at one time. Once a week when they release a new set, you can pick up that new set for free with a 9.98 purchase. This is usually Thursday or Friday. They haven't released this weeks yet. It just makes your $$ go further.

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