Friday Friends with Flair

Hello there!  I am on a roll.  I have now posted to FWF two weeks in a row.  Woohoo!  No, kidding aside I hope to be able to create and blog more frequently than I had been doing this past year.  I rearranged my craft space and now have an 8 foot table to make my creations.  My DH bought me a new paper cutter for Christmas.  The Fiskars ProCision paper cutter and now it has a permanent home upon the table.  If you have not seen this cutter you need to check it out.  I was looking for a new paper cutter and doing research because my old cutter was cutting "wonky".  Yes, "wonky" is a technical term.  It had become warped and no matter how hard I tried to cut straight I would get some uneven cuts.  I loved my cutter, because I knew it like the back of my hand, I could measure any size easily but was becoming more and more frustrated with the uneven cutting.  I was looking at different cutters but when I would read reviews online, other crafters would tell of their disadvantages and I did not want to buy something that already was more at a disadvantage to what I was using.  I never looked at the ProCision cutter, probably because of the price tag, it is heafty, but my DH read the reviews and yes, he used a coupon to buy it for Christmas.  It has a permanent blade (never needs to be sharpened or replaced).  This is the first big advantage.  It has a dual rail system to house the blade (so no more warping).  Second advantage.  It has a large cutting platform, high bumpers to stop the paper, it folds for easy storage or travel.  It can cut up to seven pieces of cardstock at once, it cuts chipboard and other heavier materials.  In short, I love it.  So if you are looking for a new paper cutter, please check this one out online.  I found many people doing tutorials and reviews and all love it.

On to my card:  I decided to stay with the "love theme".  I bought Darice EZ Frames, I think you get 7 different frames (ovals, circles, squares, rectangles in different positions on A2 card front.  I was having trouble finding the correct sandwich to emboss the card but leave the window blank.  I finally figured out the best sandwich for my Big Shot was the base platform (tabs closed), cutting plate, embossing folder with paper in it and then the EZ Frame.  Run through machine and outside is embossed and window is blank, then you can stamp image of choice.  I chose another Phyllis Harris (I will give you my heart) stamp this week to go inside my Darice, Hearts embossing folder.  I inked with distress inks.  I cut the corners with the scallop corner chomper and mounted on pink cardstock.  To make the window stand out more I used the window as a template to draw stitching lines.  I also tried turning the cardstock over and using the window template as a guide to use embossing tool to get a raised edge on the window.  I colored the image with Copic markers.  Thanks for stopping.  I enjoyed making this card to add to my list of cards to send out to bless others.