Am I Loving my New SIZZIX Switch MAchine?

 SIZZIX Switch Machine

I am a lover of Sizziz Die Cutting Machines, and my go to machine was the SIZZIX Bigshot. I also had the Bigshot Plus for the A4 platform, and the fold up SIZZIX to take to classes and workshops.

In February 2020 I saw the new SIZZIX Switch machine being demonstrated at the Creativation show, on YouTube. I was very interested in the machine and then spent the next 2 years chasing the UK launch . It was a frustrating time with Covid, no Craft shows and very vague responses from Ellison UK. 

In February 2022 with no razzamatazz the SIZZIX Switch was launched in the UK having been already launched in Australia, America and Canada. I read every review I could find and although keen to purchase there was something holding me back, because of the two years it had taken to launch the product Whatever the reason I held off purchasing when it was first available. 

Each day I kept looking back at the machine and checking out the latest reviews, until a few days after first seeing it was available, I had notification from SIZZIX that there the Tim Holtz Black version of the Switch was available in the UK. A quick check out on YouTube and sure enough a one and a half hour demonstration from Tim Holtz showing his black version of the Switch Machine, and how to use it, was available to watch. 

It is a lovely looking sleek machine and despite coming with no extras like the white version I liked the look of it and decided to try it. Once the order was placed there was a certain amount of anticipation mixed with concern that I had made the right decision. 

I was not worried about not getting the extras, the white one came with dies, and a large embossing folder. 

Once the order was placed it came within 4 days so that was a great start. I left it in the box for a day while I cleared my desk off completely, and removed a lot of the jars, boxes and dishes that had accumulated, all with bits and pieces, putting them away in the craft cupboard and only leaving out the tools used on a regular basis such as scissors. 

Then came the great unboxing 

The machine came with the platform, one layering sheet and the 2 cutting plates. In order to make the best use of the machine and to give the cutting plates their maximum life I was very careful to check out the instructions on the demos’s. Now here is the only thing I would say SIZZIX or Tim Holtz did not clearly show, the way to lay out your plates.

Yes you can use other SIZZIX platforms you have and presumably the SIZZIX cutting plates that come with them. What is not clear in the demo’s is the way the cutting plates should be placed. Both cutting plates have the SIZZIX mark on the corner and the SIZZIX mark should always be showing at the top right hand side of the machine. This is on the diagram in the instructions that come with the machine but if it had not been for the 2 hour discussion with hubby about the way these should place on the platform I would not have used the plates correctly. In fact the first time I tried the sandwich with dies, the machine would not take them., Once I had the plates correctly placed I re-checked the video and instructions. I could see no specific instructions in the videos to say place the SIZZIX words at the top right hand side for both plates, although the instructions show it in one of the pictures. 

I have now used my Switch Machine many times, and with the platform and plates in a magazine/folder holder on the side of my desk, the process is quick and simple. The plates seem to be wearing well, and although obviously showing cutting marks there is no warping. As soon as my cutting is down the machine can be moved back, the plates put away, leaving my desk free to continue with the project. The Switch takes up less room on my desk and as hubby had already put a plug socket that sits in the desk-top and can be pulled up to use, the electric cable is not a problem. 

To conclude, yes I love my Switch machine I get great use from it, the fact that I have to lift the platform from the back (or reverse, which I rarely do) does not bother me as I am usually stood up to do die-cutting. It has become my main machine (i still have a Bigshot and foldaway SIZZIX ).  It has also helped me to maintain a tidy desk,  this alone is worth the cost of the machine. Altogether my paper-crafting has become streamlined. 

This last picture shows the Switch with the magazine holder, where i store my platform and cutting plates, and a small basket of ongoing and everyday items. You can see the plug socket at the back pushed down flush with the desk.

Do you have any equipment you cannot live without? Let me know in the comments box.

Happy Crafting

Dee

March Makes - Gift Boxes and Bags

 Gift Box No 5

Book Box 

Hi Crafters 

The last in the March series of Gift Boxes and Bags 

This is a combination of boxes I have made previously, the perfect box and a hinge-lid box, and is perfect to give a couple of packs of Hotel Chocolate selection packs, and I am sure many other things 

To make this you will need”

3 sheets of 12 x 12 papers

1 A4 Kraft card

1 piece of ribbon 

So we start with the box and this requires 1 sheet of 12 x 12 with 2” cut from one end

Score all four sides at 1/2”,1.5”, 2.5” 

Fold and burnish all 4 sides and cut the corners for box making fold over and stick down the sides. For instructions to construct this box see my post ‘Best ever Box’ 9 Sept 2021. 

The box will end up as 5” x 7” 

 Next take the Kraft Card and cut to 7.5” wide. Score at 5 2/8” 6 3/8” 

This allows a quarter inch on each outside edges and a little on the spine 

Cut the corners and burnish the score lines 

From the other 2 12 x 12, cut 4 pieces 7.25” high and 5” wide. For each side of the book Kraftcard cover and 2 pieces 7.25” long and 1” wide for the spine. 

Cut 2 pieces of ribbon and glue to the inside book covers place the covering decorative papers over all sides and spine and glue down. 

Place the box on the right side of the open book up against the score line and line up with equal amounts around the edge. Glue down. 

You will now have the box with a book cover opening and ties to close.

You can decorate the front with a greeting, for a great gift box, suitable for many items.

This is the last in the March theme, but not a full list of boxes and gift bags I have made over the last couple of years. 

Dee 

March makes - Boxes & Gift Bags

 Boxes & Gift Bags 4

Wine Box 

This is a lovely way to give a bottle. It makes the gift so much more personal when the box matches the theme of the gift. 

Although not difficult to make perhaps this is more geared to an experienced crafter as it requires working with A3 card and preferably an A3 Score board

My inspiration comes from Crafters Companion. When I purchased the A3 scoreboard I had a DVD showing me several boxes and projects. This wine box was one of the first projects I tried

The demonstrations were shown by Sara Davies and her tutorials were very good and easy to follow. Unfortunately I cannot find a video on YouTube to link to this post. 

You will need 3 sheets of A3 card, good quality and weight

Decorative papers

Greeting & and decorations

Sheet 1 Outside box base 

1 sheet of A3 with 1” cut off the bottom 

With the Lid score marks - Score with long side at the top at 3.25”,6.5”,9.75”, 13”

Turn and score at 3.25 all the way down.

Cut up the bottom score lines with V notch, except the last section (cut straight for this one).

Sheet 2 Outside Lid

1 sheet of A3 cut 1” off length and 3.5” off width

With the base score marks score 3.25” fold and burnish place the scored side to the edge of the board and score the next 3.25” repeat for the 4 sides

Turn and score 3.25 on top measurement 

Cut to down these score lines with small V notches as before.  

Sheet 3 Liner Cut 2” off length

With long side at top of board - using the base line score at 3 1/8” fold and score again at 3 1/8”, and another twice to make the inside liner.

You can decorate the two outside pieces of the box before you put the box together or after.

Each panel should be cut 1/4” smaller than the actual measurements of the box side. You need to use a decorative paper rather than a card as if the outside papers are too thick it will make the opening of the box more difficult. 

For the Outside box base glue the side fold into the inside of the box to form the square sides and then fold over the base and glue each panel in place making sure the straight sided panel is the last to go in place for an even look to the base of the box. 

Repeat for the lid 

While this is drying glue the liner side seam again fixing the glued panel inside the cube. Slide into the base of the box. This should fit snuggly and once you are happy it is a good easy fit, mark where the base box comes up to the liner with a pencil mark. Glue the sides up to the pencil mark before  sliding it back in. Lay flat and use your bone folder to adher the lining securely. 

The lid should slide down over the liner to the base edge, if it is not fitting smoothly you may find a little hard soap or candle wax rubbed gently over the corner of the box base, at the top edge, will help.

Add your decoration and greeting.

As I am giving my bottle as a Thank you i have made the label accordingly, and simply added a matching tassel as decoration.

Dee

Gift Boxes and Bags - Gift Bag using your 8 x 8 papers

March Makes - Gift Boxes & Bags No3

 Gift Bags Using your 8 x 8 papers

Hi Crafters

This weeks make is a pretty gift bag. I have shown them before but they are worth another post as they have so many uses and are a great way use your 8 x 8 paper pads.

You can also make them using your 12 x 12 papers, cutting the side panels and base from the 4” cut off each side, however my instruction today are using your 8 x 8 papers 

To make - you will need:

4 sheets of 8 x 8 papers

2 pieces of ribbon 10.5” inches for the handles

Any decoration 

You may wish to reinforce the base with some card ( use your recycle card, I use cereal boxes) 

Cut 2 pieces in half (you will have one piece of 4 x 8 left over for the next bag)or to line the card to enforce the base.

sheet 1 8 x 8 front of bag. place on the scoreboard with any pattern going left to right and score at 7 1/8”.

Sheet 2 8 x 8 back of bag, place on board as above and score at 1.5” 7 1/8” 

Piece 3 4 x 8” Base of bag place on score board with short side at the top and score at 1/2”  and 3 1/2”.

Piece 4&5. 4 x 8 pieces : place on score board long side at the top and score at 1”,2.5” 

Turn and score at 1/2” 2” down to the 2.5” score line, and 3 1/2” 

Next at the 2.5” score line score from the centre point (where the 2” line meets the line across) to the 1” base score line on the left hand 1/2” side seam, to form a triangle, and repeat from the middle to the right hand 1” base line at the 1/2” seam .

Next cut the bottom side panels off 

Fold and burnish all your score lines The top piece of the front and back turn down .

For the base of the bag glue the 2 side panels on the front of the papers and attach the front and back, lining up the bottom edge. 

Then glue the bottom section (front side)  of these side panels and attach to the sides of the forming bag. If you want to strengthen the base of the bag add a piece of cardboard 3 3/4” x 7 3/4” ( I used cereal box card and covered with the spare piece of 4x8 paper. 

Now glue the side panels of the side pieces and pull up to attach to the front and back pieces of the bag, lining up the top and bottom evenly.

You will then have the basic bag with a 7/8” fold over at the top. Lift this up and mark 2” from the left and right side with a pencil mark and with your hole punch, lining up the front and back put holes where you pencil marks have been made. 

Next feed you ribbon through both sides of the front and then both sides of the back, to form the handles . Leave just a small end on the inside. Glue down with pritt stick or Hot Glue. 

Next run double sided tape on both of the insides of the top flaps fixing firmly over the ribbon ends and stick the flaps down. This will give a neat finish with a contrast paper showing on the outside. 

on this bag I have folded the top flap back rather than forward before adding the ribbon and so there is no contrast. This was because the paper was double sided and I did what the mixture of prints, but when your paper is one sided you will get a lovely white finish to the top of your bag.

Decorate with tags, Greetings etc. I have just added a gold tassel and will place a matching tag with this  to complete.

Dee

 

Gift Boxes & Bags 2

 Gift Boxes & Bags 2

The Large Origami Trinket Box

I am sure you have seen these before, and I have made these with 8” square papers and 6”papers, and todays is made from a 12 x12 sheet from the Sara’s Signature “Letters from the Heart”

To make this you will need

2 sheets of designer paper.

1 piece of black card 

A bead

Sml piece of ribbon

As the box is made with origami folding which is best shown on video I am linking the one I used when making this for the first time. 

Take you 1st piece of 12 x 12 and then click on the link to see how to make the box base.

https://youtu.be/poFV9ZGTDrA

Once you have the box base made we need to make the lid.

For this size box, the top measures 3” so we start with a piece of card 7” square.

Score all four sides 1/2”, 1.25”,2” 

Make into a box. If you need more info on the folding and gluing for this style of box, check out my Best ever Box post from 12 Sept 2021.This box has reinforced sides and a pretty finish on the inside. 

From the remaining paper cut a square 3.5” and another square 2 7/8”. The smaller square lines the inside of the box. The 3.5” square is layered onto the 4” black card square. 

I trimmed the coroners of the black card and the 3.5” liner, and punched a hole in the centre of this topper card

Turn the box lid over put a hole in the centre of the box, feed the ribbon through hole and glue the ends to the inside of the lid. Then glue the 4” black card to the top. 

Feed the bead onto the ribbon and glue with some hot glue into the centre. You can do this with just ribbon if you do not have a bead with a large enough hole.

This should fit the base box perfectly, sliding in and out easily.

This box will hold a lot, Large jewellery items, cosmetics, etc and can be used on the dressing table to hold your trinkets, so the box has multi-uses.

Hope you are enjoying March ideas. Keep checking back for more.

Dee

Self Closing Pouch Box

 March Gift Boxes & Bags 

1. Self Closing Pouch

Here is my first make for the March theme of gift boxes and bags

For All my March bags and boxes I have used Sara’s Signature “Letters from the Heart”

12 x 12 Paper Pad 

To make this Pouch you need:

2 sheets of card or paper 12 x 12 

Strong tape or glue 

Decoration

Cut one sheet of 12 x 12 to 8” wide and one to 9” wide 

For each sheet score along the 12” side at 2” and 10”  So 2” along the bottom and 2” from the top

For the 9” wide sheet score 1/2” both sides of the full length and mark the top score line at 4.5” , in other words the centre of the score line. Score at 4.5” from the bottom of the paper to the bottom score line. 

Then score from the mark to the inside of the side score line at the base of the page on both left and right side to form a triangle

With the 8” wide sheet, again mark the centre of the top score line and bottom score line at 4” and score from the centre mark at the top to the outside edge of the bottom score line on left and right side. 

Score at 4” across from the bottom the paper to the bottom score line to form the base of the pouch 

Cut up the middle score line at the base (see second picture)

                                                        

This is the base of your pouch made

Fold and burnish all your score line including the middle Triangle

Cut off the bottom outside sections on the wider sheet and glue the 1/2” panels on the outside of the papers. Place the 8” wide piece over the top of this panel piece, line up the score lines and then press together running over your bone-folder to get a good fix. Turn over and repeat on the other side to make the pouch.

When this has dried.

To make the Pouch shape, take the bottom of the pouch and fold over the 4 flaps to form a base, making sure to line up the sides to form a square base. Line them up well before gluing down each panel keeping the square shape.

Put your hand inside to box to shape the triangle section to form the pouch and the top will naturally close the box top

Decorate with bows, tags or any decoration of your choice. I made a bow using scraps of the paper pad and some silver mirra card. 

This Pouch/Gift Bag will hold many items. A candle, sweets, scarf etc 

It can be stores flat by gluing the sides together and then leaving to complete when you want the pouch. 

Keep stopping by to see the other boxes and gift bags being shown this month.

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Gift Boxes & Bags

Favourite Gift Boxes & Bags 

Hello Everyone 

Well here we are in March and the theme for my blog this month is Gift Boxes & Bags. I have put together some of my regular makes that I find useful for presenting pressies, and “Thank You’s”so hopefully you can get some use from your crafty makes.

Each week I will take you through one of the bags or boxes shown here and give you the requirements to make them and what I find them particularly useful for.

These are a selection of bags and boxes I make and I have posted many others, as well as previous examples of some of these, but the beauty of having a monthly theme is you can hopefully  find what you are looking for,  if in a couple of months or years you suddenly need one of March’s makes. 

I will start this month with a self closing pouch as this requires no special equipment and so regular and non crafters can have a go.

So keep looking back to see which bag or box is being shown.

Dee