Asherah Arts (formerly Lee Rose)
Yeah, I kinda just look at it as one less competitor...
But it does kinda make me grouchy because it feels a little disrespectful to people who work hard on their projects for contests.
Posts by Asherah Arts (formerly Lee Rose)
I don't have a die cutting machine per se, but I have a sizzix texture boutique which, if you get the right "sandwich " (which you'll be hearing all about on die cutting tuts on YouTube) will run most "wafer-thin" dies. This basically includes everything not in a block. I have since made my own magnetic platform for it as well so my dies don't wander around in the cutting process.
It embosses with embossing folders as well.
I believe it's close to the cheapest machine on the market, retailing for around 30$, but most craft stores will let you use a 40% off coupon or put it on sale. For the price it's a very sturdy and get the job done type machine.
I would highly recommend it for a beginner to get the hang of things and not have to make a huge investment. Its basically a smaller version of the big shot/ big kick Jacqui linked to above.
Personally I think the 300$ digital die cutters are a waste of money when I have an xacto knife/utility knife that can cut the same thing. But I know the people who love them, love them A LOT!
If you try the TB, let me know and I'll help you out with what I know. Is been slow going since I don't have a lot of cash for dies but I'll help you however I can!
Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why are you worried about preserving it if you are just going to fold it up? Folding it is damaging as much as smearing, even more so since you're weakening the actual paper. Try getting some mailing tubes for storing your work.
Also I agree with monika, using several thin coats of spray fixative will seal it. Hairspray is cheaper and will also work like steph said but is not archival so it will start to degrade the paper after a while. In the long run its totally worth the extra money to buy archival and/or acid-free fixative so that your paper doesn't yellow or weaken. It seems like a waste of money to buy the expensive colored pencils but then not finish/store them properly.
I'm sorry for lecturing, one of my teachers made sure we understood this stuff. Hope it all goes well!
I've made boning out of things before, not going to say it was the best boning, but it did the job (sometimes!). I don't see why a thick plastic cut into a boning shape wouldn't work, I used pieces of a wire hanger (tape the ends really really well if you do this, it will sneak out of your corset and at best poke you in the tummy, I got skritched up), cardboard seems like it might even work depending on how its cut and how hardy you need the garment to be.
Baskets and crates are awesome, I prefer milk crates because you can turn them sideways and stack them which makes them pretty sturdy shelves. I would say something like that, or two of the clear roll-y storage drawers, If you have two you can lay a piece of wood between them and you have an instant craft table, when you're done just roll them together and place your surface behind them...
How would people feel about a search button for the forums?
It seems like whenever I have a specific question I don't know which board it would live on, and I don't want to post the question because I don't want to contribute to bogged down forums.
So far a google site search is the way I have been searching the forums, which basically only entails sticking "site:cutoutandkeep.net/board" on the end of a google search, but I don't know that a lot of people know how to search that way.
Shake it up in a container with some sand or other very abrasive particle and it will take the finish down a notch, it may also show you what metal is underneath though. If that doesn't work enough for you then rub it around with sand in your hands for more even pressure, either wear gloves or get your hands VERY exfoliated....
Another possibility of rejection comes from just general body movement. If you have a job which requires you to bend over and lift a lot that can cause a lot of the rejection. Not to mention if you're carrying things against yourself its probably not the greatest idea to get a piercing there anyway. Try getting it when you have a little hiatus from work.
Any bandage you put on it for stability should be in a sterile, undamaged wrapper and should be changed about every 2 hours, so the piercing can air out and nothing grows too much.
Sea salt solution is okay, making absolutely sure not to use iodized salt! an easier and safer solution is wound-wash saline/multipurpose solution. It comes inside a sterilized bottle, and should remain sterile while inside the bottle as long as you aren't touching the tip. I know the sea salt solution is cheaper, but when it comes to your body the extra expense is worth it.