Big Kick

I bought a Sizzix Big Kick after doing some research on a good multipurpose tool.  I wanted something that I could use several brands of dies and embossing folders in, and also have the capability to possibly letterpress or make my own embossing folders in.  The great thing about the Big Kick (or the Big Shot--they're the same thing) is that it's got a multipurpose "platform".  What does that mean?  Well, the platform is the wedge of plastic that sits on the bottom of your project, giving it enough thickness to make sure the machine is putting the right amount of pressure on whatever you're doing (cutting, embossing, etc).  Since the machine is not adjustable, this is the only way to make sure that you're putting the right amount of pressure on each project as it's being rolled through the machine.  The multipurpose platform basically has several thicknesses of plastic on a hinge, connecting it to the main large piece of platform.  Hard to explain, but there are tons of videos online about it.

Anyways, I was excited to try it out--I got an awesome deal on it, along with some Cuttlebug embossing folders...

I love that I can get whatever brand of embossing folders/dies I want and they all work on the Big Shot:)

I thought this owl was pretty cute!

what the folder looks like when it's open

stick the paper (card in this case) inside the folder

roll...

roll...

ta-da!

it's hard to tell just how raised the image is, but it looks and feels really great.

another embossing folder.  I love that these are the perfect size for cards, and you can also use them for scraps of paper if you want to attach it as an embellishment.

Cant wait to play with this some more!

My day off...14 days of work til I get another...

Today was one of the best days I've had since moving to Olympia for the summer. I planned on working today, but my plans changed--and I'm happy they did!

Thursday, one of the pharmacists I work with texted me, and asked me if I wanted to go to a Prismacolor/card class at the local paper/scrapbooking store. Her and the two techs at work are always bringing in neat projects and things they've done in the classes at this store, and I thought it would be really neat to learn how to do some of those things. I was so excited! She signed me up for today's class (and she even paid for it--wouldn't let me pay her back, either), which was supposed to start at 10:30am, so I just planned on working 1-7pm tonight. Well, the class got moved to 11:30, so I decided to take the rest of the day off and just work tomorrow instead. The class was so much fun. It mostly consisted of coloring in stamps, then using them in combination with other papers to make cards. The cards turned out really well--I really enjoyed making them! Here are the finished cards--the pictures dont do them justice.








































After the class, I took advantage of the fact that I could hit up the local antique shops during the day...you know, when they're open. It's been so hard to do anything lately, since everyone's closing their shops early due to the economy. By the time I get off work, there's nothing open downtown. Anyways, I picked up a few things from the antique shops, and I also walked the farmer's market, which is something I've been wanting to do since moving here.

When I finally got home, it was around 3pm, so I put on my bathing suit, got my book, a towel, and my fishing gear, and headed out to the dock to read, fish, and relax. I definitely was glad to get my vitamin D--none of that artificial stuff, either. The reading only lasted about half an hour--I decided to just try my luck at fishing. I was getting so many bites, it was crazy. I gave up on the reading, and took to the fishing pole, and fished on the dock for a couple hours, catching 2 fish. Then I ventured out in the row boat and "trolled" for a while, getting tons of bites and snagging one fish. It was a great day of fishing, that's for sure. Here are the two fish I happened to take pictures of:



The weather was beautiful; I fished until about 8pm, then brought myself in so I didn't pass out from dehydration. Overall, a great day! I really needed this one day off:)