Monday, December 27, 2010

A Grand Calibur Christmas!

Hope Santa brought you some fun things this Christmas! Here I am with one of my prezzies, the Spellbinders Grand Calibur, wooooo hoooooooooooo!

Although I use my Nestabilities on almost every creation, when I FIRST saw this new die cutter, I thought "For GINORMOUS dies. Maybe I don't *need* it..." and maybe you're thinking that, too, if you mainly do card making and aren't sure how much you'd use the larger dies...well, you NEED it!! Even if you never buy any of the Grand dies (but you will, and so will I!!) it is so, SO worth being able to run an 8" x 11" sheet of cardstock through and cut as many of the regular sized Nestabilities dies as you can fit on the sheet in ONE pass, then flipping them over and embossing them ALL at once on the second pass! Let me show you!

Here I placed 6 of some of my favorite large Spellbinders labels (One, Eight, Fourteen, Fifteen) and new beaded circles and beaded ovals (just got these beaded dies so you haven't sen me use them on a project yet, but oh my word! They are so gorgeous, love the detail!) on one sheet of White Pure Luxury cardstock. (I could have actually placed them more closely and gotten some fancy tag dies on there too, did later, but didn't take pics of that)

Now put your cutting plate down on top over the dies and hold the end as you run it through to keep the dies on the far end from sliding around. Here they are all cut below from that one smooth, rolling pass! It goes through so easily, lately I've been feeling like I need to go to the gym and work out a little more to get the plates cranked through my 'bug! ;)

Flip your stack over after cutting and transfer the cut dies to the base plate, facing up, and add the tan mat and embossing plate. Roll through the Grand Calibur once.

Remove the plate and dies, and ta da! Now you have ALL these beautiful embossed dies in about a minute or two! This would have taken forEVER with my little 'bug, I'd still be cranking! And I LOVE not having to crop down the paper to fit on a smaller plate as well as not having to make so many additional passes! It really is going to save so much time and energy and I am excited to have all these embossed die cuts ready to go when I sit down to stamp! So for the dedicated crafter, I think this machine is worth its weight in gold! Highly recommended (looks super cute on my desk too in raspberry!) and of course now I have to get back to you soon with a review of the Grand Dies, Labels One and Four are first on my wishlist!! :)


Did you see the Gina K snippets have started? I'll be back soon with a few cards my kids made for me, more Christmas pics, stories, and handmade cards from friends, plus some some more "Mugs and Kisses" samples before our previews start next Monday!

22 comments:

  1. Santa sure was good to you this year!

    Merry Christmas!

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  2. O.k. you've convinced me. I want one. I already have a Cuttlebug, but its getting quite old and worn, and I love how large this machine is! Where did you get it and how much did you pay for it?

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  3. That's a wonderful present! :) I can see why you would love it...never saw the need for a bigger machine, but now I get it! Enjoy!

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  4. YAYYY!!! Love that you showed this. I too got a GC!! *smile* Will be making some wonderful things soon!

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  5. Woohoo for you Melanie! And you were right, I was thinking 'I don't need that" - now I am re-thinking that - thanks alot! (hee hee)

    Merry Christmas!

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  6. I have to admit it would be nice not having to cut down the cardstock to get it through the 'but. So, yeah, I'm thinking I'd better add this to my wishlist - my birthday's coming up soon. I look forward to seeing your creations using this and the Grand Dies.

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  7. Woohoo, Melanie! Santa knows what makes cutting easy, doesn't he?
    What a wonderful Christmas gift.

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  8. What fabulous gift!!!! You do know how to sell this BIG girl!! I got my bug on eBay a couple of years ago...maybe it's time for an update! I think I could store it under the desk...hmmm!

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  9. Okay - I REALLY think I want (need) one! Yipes!

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  10. You musta been a good girl and on Santa's list this year...

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  11. I have been thinking about getting either this one or the vagabond - does it take the sixxix dies?
    I have 2 accu cut dies that I have fallen in love with too and wonder if they would fit - they have 2 shadow box dies that are sooo cute - cuttlebug isn't wide enough but accu cut says they don't fit most other machine as they are too deep - they did say that the accu cut dies fit the sixxix 'grand caliber' If you know anything about whether the shadow box dies would fit I would really like to know!!!!

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  12. Oh what a great surprise.! Enjoy it and know I am anxious to see your creations.

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  13. *groan* I had totally convinced myself that I didn't have any use for the Grand Calibur and did not need to spend money on it. Now, of course, I am sold on it! Love how you can put an 8.5x11 sheet through it. My Big Shot is great but I would love to not have to cut down paper to use the machine. Guess I'll have to watch for sales …

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  14. You are a lucky girl, Melanie!! I'm so envious.. ;) Such a cool gift!
    In a few hours, it will be 2011 where I am, so I'd like to wish you Happy New Year!! Wishing you happiness & blessings all year round. {{Hugs}}

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  15. Looks like fun, Melanie! I got one too, haven't had a chance to play with it yet and it's about to kill me! ;D Thanks for showing a bit about the Grand Calibur.

    Have a Happy New Year sweet girl!

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  16. What a great gift! Now I want one. Happy New Year!

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  17. Thank You so much for info on the Grand Calibur..had my thoughts but..will put it on my list with Valentines Day just around the corner..saving time is what its all about.
    Love your creations and you always have great inspirations for us.
    Enjoy

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Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)