Tuesday 9 February 2016

It's a puzzle

Ever since I bought the Woodware 'Jigsaw Piece' punch I've had my eye on a few jigsaw dies. Last week I had the time, inclination and well-being (yippee!) to spend time in a branch of 'The Range', which opened at the end of last year, not too many miles from us. Ha, I just checked exactly what date they opened and 'shoo nuff' it was mid-November when I was just a tad laid up :)

I spent quite a while wandering round their craft section needless to say and my eye fell upon this die by DoCrafts called 'Jigsaw Pieces'. BTW, I don't keep the packaging when I buy dies, they're all stored in A4 ring binders on magnetic sheets within strong (side opening) plastic file pouches - and are recorded on white card sheets in the front of each binder:

Anyhow, I replaced my eye from where it had fallen on the die (as you do) and quickly grabbed it as it was all on its lonesome and needed a good home.

I can see loads of uses for this die, I was itching to use it so my card isn't overly exciting - but one thing I subsequently thought could be fun for kiddies would be to use a main image on the front of their card and then included a repeat image inside the card, die cut into the nine piece jigsaw, perhaps with the pieces popped into a little cellophane bag, for them to assemble following the front of the card as a guide?

Anyhow, here's my first play:
I used:

- 5" x 5" square white card blank, tent style

- piece of white card stock which I embossed using Cuttlebug's 'Swiss Dots' folder. The folder isn't quite as wide as I wanted so it was a case of moving it across, running through again and then using a ball ended tool to 're-emboss' where some of the dots had been flattened, groan. Then trimmed it to size and glued onto the card itself

- in my box of Kanban goodies I found a square birdie image with a frame just a teensy weensy bit smaller than the outer edges of the die. Without separating image and frame, backed them with double sided adhesive sheet (the medium strength stuff) and coloured three of the flowers using Whispers markers

- time to play with the new die (DoCrafts 'Jigsaw Pieces, which is approx. 4" square) - just taped in place on the adhesive sheet backed image with low tack tape and run through the Cuttlebug

- had a snippet of black card handy as I wanted that to show up the jigsaw cuts a bit and assembled the pieces which were backed with sticky adhesive from my earlier trickery - one at a time onto it, leaving just a little gap between each one

- trimmed the edges of the black card away and then mounted it onto a piece of SU 'Real Red' card as a frame

- popped it onto the card front using thin sticky pads - job done!

Whilst typing this I thought of another way you could include a little jigsaw in a kiddie's card, just cut each piece in a different colour for the card front and also for your little puzzle to include in the card. Good for kids colour recognition and a great way to use up snippets too :)

It's been a windy old day here today/yesterday (Monday) - I'm sure I spotted a neighbour chasing his shed roof down the road and the whole house here has been whistling, creaking and groaning - despite all the insulation, well sealed windows and such. I absolutely hate wind, and I don't mean that sort - the gales and gusts are so unforgiving!

So, it's up to Sarn as to whether the newly formed tradition of the Playground Pancake Day Race goes ahead or not. I hope it does - Parsnip is poised with his huge plate, and a spoon and fork, at the ready :) I'm standing by with the First Aid kit and a fire extinguisher!


Di
x

37 comments:

  1. What a great die find, and I just love the card you made with it! The suggestions for children's cards are so clever and unique too! BTW, I'm on stand-by with the maple syrup if you need me :)

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  2. Wow, wow, wow--what a wonderful card, Di! I can see why you bought that die!

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  3. Loved the concept of puzzle. You have put is so well.

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  4. I have seen this die, too, and I was tempted to buy it for my work with kids, but I have always tooo many "must have" items so I don't have bought.... :( You have made a fab work with it, love so much the 3D effect made leaving a gap between the pieces and the shining looks amazing!!

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  5. This is so lovely. I like the versatility of this die. Your kiddie puzzle idea is great!

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  6. Oooh a whole jigsaw die - lovely, and a beautiful card too. I don't know if you saw a card I did as a GDT one for CD Sundays a couple of weeks ago, I did a tri-fold card with a print out of the uncut image on one panel, a paler one to assemble the jigsaw onto on the second, and a mini envelope attached to the third, with the jigsaw pieces inside it. Then everything is kept together. I had to cut out the pieces by hand though, my jigsaw was printed from a CD.
    Oooh somewhere gathering dust in my NBUS is a sheet of jigsaw peel offs. Your multi coloured pieces suggestion has given me an idea - look out in the playground, it may be along very soon!
    Jane

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    1. Oooer Jane, I didn't see that. Off to have a peek now!

      Hugs

      Di xx

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  7. Eeeeeeeee !!! What a fabulous die and super card. Oh, I definitely want one of those !!!!!
    Good luck with the pancakes :-D xxxxxxxxx

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  8. That's a really clever card Di.Brilliant design and the little bit of black card showing really does finish it off perfectly.I have seen this die in my local crafting shop and wondered how it could be used.......you have showcased it so well.The wind seems to have died down thank goodness, yesterday it seeemed to get worse as the day went on. Enjoy the pancakes xx

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  9. A fabulous card and I love that die - there are so many different ways it could be used.
    It's not as windy here today and, thankfully, not raining at the moment.
    Kath x

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  10. Wow Di, what a fabulous card using that new die, it's a real eye catcher.

    I have to say and already expressed my concern to SARN that the whole idea of a cookery lesson before the race is asking for trouble, bound to be casualties. And it's going to be so cold in the playground with all this wind so I am going to have to bring something to keep us warm and I don't mean a flask of coffee either. Medicinal purposes of course.

    B x

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  11. I'll be at the race but with Brenda and her flask!
    Love the card. I have a die like this, it's a great idea, just not used it yet..........

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  12. Love what you've done with this die which I can see has great potential for all sorts of ideas. Enjoy the pancakes!

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  13. A terrific die for your collection and I love the way you used it.

    Chrissie xx

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  14. WOW what a cool card you created with that die...such a beauty it is
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia

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  15. This is just gorgeous, Di :)
    I have the Crafter's Companion mini puzzle die version of this - which is TINY but so cute. What size is this die? I may need it!!!
    PS. We have The Range near us. I go there a lot!!!

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    1. Hi Donna - the die is just a little bit over 4" square. xx

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  16. Great card there Di and a brilliant image to showcase your new die. I've always wondered about these jigsaw dies but you have a brilliant idea there and they would be perfect for kiddies cards.

    My frying pan's at the ready to brave the elements and join in Parnsnip's pancake race and hopefully there'll be some liquid refreshment up in the treehouse for after xx

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  17. Is there a prize for the best tosser??!!....pancakes of course!! Your card is great, really love that die...I can see there being a shortage of that one in the shops!......and as you say so many ideas. xx

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  18. Those little birds are so cute. The jigsaw die looks perfect and I'm sure you'll use it again and again. Endless possibilites and variations.
    I'm ready with my frying pan, sunny here just now! V unusual and good to see. Looking forward to the apres-pancakes.

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  19. What a smashing card Di and I like the sound of your further ideas for it too.

    Yep . . . as quite a few of the Snippeteers are lining up with their frying pans and various ingredients, I'm holding a cookery class in the Tree House this afternoon, followed by Parsnip's Pancake Race! Should be a lot of fun and hopefully not to many casualties!

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  20. Love this Di, can imagine this being a much used die & love your ideas. I'm ashamed to say I have a huge jigsaw punch.....cost me a fortune years ago & I've never used it.....feeling rather inspired now though. Off to get my pancakes on now xx

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  21. This is lovely and will definitely be on the lookout for this great die. You may already know this technique so forgive me for sounding like a 'know all' but if you want to extend the embossing without flattening the bit you have slready embossed you can line the folder up very accurately with the edge of the plates with the bit you have already embossed hanging over the edge, which usually works well and saves having to re-emboss bits by hand. I hope this is of some help. x

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    1. Hi Pat! Many thanks for that - goodness know what I did but somehow, whatever I did, I couldn't get away from having the outer flat edge of the die covering the card. I suspect it's 'cos the piece of card originally was for a 6" square card and I had no leeway to play with on my little Cuttlebug. xx

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  22. p.s. hope the fire extinguisher proved to be unnecessary. x

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  23. It's an absolutely gorgeous card Di. I love those little birds. Barbxx

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  24. Great die, not seen this one. Fabulous card, great image. This die would have been great for the old LOTV square die cuts.

    Kath x

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  25. Beautiful card, and a lovely jigsaw die. Might keep an eye out for one when I next go to the Range. Great ideas to for using for children's cards. I've got a rectangular jigsaw die, a thick red Sizzix one, bought in the days before thin dies! When I was teaching four and five year olds I used to take it to school, with my Big Shot, to use for an end of term treat. The children used to draw their own little pictures, then turned them into a puzzle.

    As I'm typing this, Storm Imogen is howling round our little caravan! It seemed a good idea to have a couple of days away - but we hadn't anticipated gales, hail, rain and snow today! :-O

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  26. Absolutely gorgeous Di. Can't stop as got a jigsaw to go and get me mits on. Hugs Mrs A.

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  27. Mission accomplished!!!!!!!
    hugs Me.

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  28. Puzzle dies always catch my eye too. I think they'd be loads of fun to play with.... that said I bought one and haven't used it yet. oops. Love what you did with yours here!

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  29. Wow..this is fabulous!! I have never seen this before, how fun..adding it to my want/need list...wonderful card!

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  30. I have this jigsaw die, Di and am embarrassed to say I haven't used it yet? You card is so nice, and what a great idea on how to use the die, that should get me started!
    Janice x

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  31. Gorgeous card! Shame there's no Range near me, although that's what online shopping is for. Grin
    Hugs,
    Em

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