Free Wedding Labels

Posted by Khris in Crafter's Toolbox

Hey DIYers,

WorldLabel.com has some pretty wedding label templates available for free. {Click here to get to the template page.}  They’re “fillable” PDF files which means that you’ll be able to add text directly onto the label when you open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Just type, save, and print onto label sheets. So easy!

Review: Brother Labeling System

Posted by Khris in Crafter's Toolbox

The key to a successful DIY wedding is organization. The sooner you get yourself organized, the smoother your wedding planning experience will be. I am evangelical about organization and will tell you this over and over again on this blog. Staying organized will save your sanity and make your life so much easier. And who doesn’t want easy these days?

One of the tools I recommend to help you get your stuff together is the Brother PT-1290 Home and Office Labeling System. Labels are a godsend when you have piles of craft and wedding stuff everywhere. What can you do with a labeler?

• Create a wedding binder/organizer
• Label boxes of craft supplies and wedding materials
• Mark craft supplies with their corresponding step in the assembly process
• Make labels for favors
• Add an address label to important things (video camera, iPod) in case they get lost at the wedding

I’m currently using mine to keep my craft supplies for book #3 in order. It’s been fantastic though there is a bit of a learning curve. Beware that the tape cartridges are only 4′ long (I think) so have extra on hand if you’re going to be printing a lot. The unit takes 6 AAA batteries (not included) and there’s no AC power adapter so that’s a bummer.

Manufacturer: Brother
Model: PT-1290
Retail: $40.00

Key Features:
An easy-view 15-character LCD display, typewriter style keyboard and Auto Tape Detection feature that automatically recognizes the size of the installed tape cassette and adjusts the text to fit the label width. A dedicated “Deco Mode” key gives you easy access to 15, unique pre-designed label formats for creating decorative labels – including professional layouts that accommodate 2 rows of text. Easily switch between 2 fonts – with the touch of a button. Use the built-in memory to store up to 9 of your most frequently used labels.

Prints labels up to 1/2″ wide on durable, “TZ” laminated tape – perfect for both indoor and outdoor use. Operates on 6 “AAA” batteries or optional AC adapter (neither included).

With its great-looking design and array of features, the PT-1290 is a perfect handheld solution for virtually any home office.

* 15 Deco Mode Patterns to create extra-stylish and decorative labels
* 2 Professional Fonts
* Prints labels up to 1/2″ wide on laminated indoor/outdoor “TZ” series tapes
* Easy-view, 15-character LCD display
* Professional Deco Mode layouts accommodate two rows of text
* Prints 1 or 2 lines of crisp text
* 6 Auto Formats and 7 Framing Options
* Built-in memory, saves up to 9 of your favorite labels
* Automatically adjusts text size based on tape width
* Uses 6 “AAA” batteries or optional AC adapter (neither included)

{Disclosure: Brother  provided me with a sample of this product for the purpose of review.}

Review: Glue Glider Pro

Posted by Khris in Crafter's Toolbox

As a professional crafter, I go through miles of double-sided tape each year. While there are a multitude of brands and types on the market, there are very few that I keep in my toolkit. My go-to adhesive for bulk paper craft projects like invites and programs is the Glue Glider Pro from GlueArts.

You all know the tape dispensers used for packing tape, right? This operates in a similar way but it’s designed for crafting and not packaging.

Here’s how it works: You pop in a cartridge of adhesive [Glue Arts offers 4 types of varying tac (stickiness) from repositionable to "this thing'll never move again"] and use the applicator gun to roll the 1/4″ wide adhesive wherever you want it. Simple, right?

There are other tape guns on the market but I like this one because it’s lightweight and compact – 2 things you’ll really be thankful for after putting together 300 pieces of layered cardstock, I tell ya! At $14.99 for the dispenser this is a steal. The replacement cartridges are around $9.00 for 58 feet of adhesive. The replacement cartridges can be found online or in many big box craft stores. I am delighted to report that the adhesives from GlueArts are absolutely fantastic. In thousands of pieces I’ve put together NONE have failed (re: come unglued). Besides my beloved red line tape, I don’t think I’ve ever been able to say that about any double-sided tape I’ve ever used. 5 out of 5 stars!

Be sure to check out GlueArts’ Specials page for product discounts on bulk purchases.

AC Moore has a great demo of the Glue Glider Pro on YouTube:

Review: Cricut Cake

Posted by Khris in Crafter's Toolbox

Seldom does a craft tool surprise and delight me as much as the Cricut Cake by Provo Craft has managed to do.  The Cricut Cake, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is a food-safe electronic die cutting machine that’s designed to be used for cake decorating.

In January I got to see the Cricut Cake in action at the Craft and Hobby Association trade show. I was impressed by the demos and the sample cake displays (below) and immediately thought this machine would be a (cliche alert!) game-changer in the cake decorating world.

With a $400 (retail) price tag, I was concerned that the casual home cake decorator would be able to utilize this machine to her best advantage. Is it easy enough for a newbie crafter and cake decorator? How difficult is it to maintain? How good is the quality? Is it cost-effective? Can it do more than just fondant?

In early June I was privileged to receive a Cricut Cake for review purposes. I’ve been playing with it as much as I can in my free time and have to say that I LOVE THIS MACHINE and it warrants my highest recommendation but not without some caveats.

First, the Cricut Cake is easy to use. The process goes something like this:

1. Plug in the machine. Turn it on.
2. Insert a design cartridge.
3. Select the design and size you want.
4. Place a fondant sheet onto the mat. Insert mat into the feeder.
5. Press a button to make a cut.
6. The Cricut Cake operates a bit like a printer but instead of printing, there’s a blade inside that’s cutting the material you send through the feeder.
7. The mat comes out of the feeder. Peel away the fondant to reveal your cut designs.

(From the January CHA show 2010 + OhMyCrafts)

The Cricut Cake works marvelously with Provo Craft’s fondant sheets. Every cut I’ve made with the Cricut brand sheets has come out perfect – except in the case of operator error. The Cricut frosting sheets cost around $14.00 for a 3 pack. They’re not super cheap but you’re paying  for the convenience here and it’s worth it if you’ve not worked with rolled fondant before. It’s worth noting that the sheets come in white, pastels, and primary colors.

While the Cricut Cake is easy to operate, there is a learning curve when getting started. I found myself futzing quite a bit with the pressure settings and learning the basic functions before I got the hang of it. I went through quite a bit of the frosting sheets and other materials in the first day. All in all, that wasn’t a big deal for me but if you don’t have patience for fidgeting with gadgets this may not be for you.

The highlight of the Cricut Cake is that it cuts more than the frosting sheets. I’ve cut tortillas (diyToddler totally enjoyed his super special quesadillas, thankyouverymuch), fondant, gum paste, and fruit roll ups (didn’t work well for me).  What really excites me is being able to cut sugar cookie dough. I love making cookies with the Cricut Cake!

I found that rolling out my own fondant to be tricky. Getting uniform thickness is important so that the blade cuts through the design. It’s best to have an X-acto knife on hand for extracting pieces and finishing cuts that don’t go through.

Somewhat of a downside is that the Cricut Cake is limited by the designs available on the Cricut cartridges so you can’t really go wild with custom design. The good news is that the Cake can use any of the Cricut cartridges and there are a lot. In addition to the ones designed specifically for the Cake, there are dozens and dozens originally meant for paper crafting. The selection is quite extensive with themes that’ll appeal to most. Even better news is that Martha Stewart Crafts has teamed up with Provo Craft to release their own line of cartridges exclusively through HSN. Martha’s cartridges are around $70. Regular Cricut cartridges vary widely in price though you can find them in the $25 range if you shop online.

Martha Stewart Crafts Cricut Elegant Cake Cartridge Preview

I need to note that the Cricut Cake is to be used for food ONLY. While the paper craft cartridges work in this machine, it is not meant to be used for paper or anything non-edible for food safety reasons. This is also the reason why fondant and foodstuff should never, ever be used in regular die cutting machines (including the Cricut Expression, the paper crafting sister machine of the Cake).

Machine maintenance is a breeze. The removable parts are dishwasher safe and were relatively easy to clean. I say relatively because anything that comes in contact with fondant and sugary stuff will require some effort to clean up no matter how you work with it.

Final Notes:

This machine is awesome and works exactly as it should. I found it to be very well-made as is my experience with most Provo Craft products. (I’ve purchased a Cricut Expression, Cuttlebug, and Yudu in the past. Love ‘em and they’re all working great.)

The operating costs of the Cricut Cake (frosting sheets, cartridges, the machine itself) make it a luxury purchase unless the user does a lot of cake and sugar cookie baking throughout the year. If you’re thinking of splurging for one for just your wedding cake, it may not be the best budget-friendly option. If that’s not a concern, then I highly recommend it for someone who wants to get hands on with some cake decorating.

I’ll be sharing some of the DIY goodness I’ve made with the Cricut Cake soon!

Product Review: SoleMates

Posted by Khris in Crafter's Toolbox

There’s a dirty little secret no one tells you about aisle runners and grass: they’re a recipe for disaster. See, those fabulous designer stilettos you’re rocking down the aisle can actually puncture straight through the aisle runner, right into the ground. And what does that mean? A one-way ticket to Tripsville, baby. A face plant on your way to the altar is not exactly the memory you’d like to have of your wedding, right?

Here’s where Solemates High Heelers come to save the day (and your heels).

These ingenious little gadgets slip over your heels, providing you with more surface area which helps prevent heel punctures. Added bonuses: they’re reusable, they stabilize your step and protect the fabric on your shoes to keep them looking pretty.

After trying them out on my favorite pair of mules (my prized Lacroixs, the only eBay win I’ve ever felt a rush from), I have to say that I loved them! Sliding the High Heelers over the heels took mere seconds and they stayed put throughout the evening. I tromped along grass and gravel without problem. They did catch some attention from some of my foot fetishist curious friends (“what’s that on your shoe?”) so they’re not totally invisible but they really don’t stand out, either.

High Heelers fit most stiletto and kitten heels and come in clear or black. They retail for $9.95 at TheSoleMates.com. Discounts are available with a purchase of 10 or more sets (great for your bridesmaids!).

{Disclosure: Solemates provided me with a sample of this product for the purpose of review.}