Sizzix Triple Play Blog Hop Week #6: Brenda Pinnick's Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Album, Brackets

Another fun die to experiment with courtesy of Brenda Pinnick and Sizzix! 

Materials: 

656053 Brenda Pinnick Sizzix Bigz XL Die - Album, Brackets - http://www.sizzix.com/product/1548

Felt from National Non-Woven - www.nationalnonwovens.com

Patterned Papers from Harmonie Loisirs Creatifs www.loisirsharmonie.ca/

Elmer's Craft Bond Adhesive - http://www.elmers.com/

Cropodile Punch from We R Memory Keepers - http://www.weronthenet.com/

Blumenthal Lansing Buttons - http://www.blumenthallansing.com/

I completed three projects for this die from Brenda Pinnick - but I have another 3 still awaiting completion!  At first, I was stumped - probably because I had not LOOKED online at Sizzix.com to see exactly what this little assortment of dies was supposed to be.  I just opened the bag, pulled them out and let my creative muse run free.   The first thing I designed was a collapsable Christmas tree ornament/Christmas card - 6 of the smaller, inside "squares" cut in half diagnonally, and reattached using adhesive tape to create the individual flaps on the ornament.  Each side of each flap was covered with additional squares cut in half diagonally, made from coordinating patterns of beautiful holiday paper from a wonderful new company I discovered at CHA - Harmonie Lois Creatifs.  A stamped greeting, golden flourish stickers and decorative faux gemstone metal brads also from Harmonie were used to embellish each side of the pages.  A Cropodile was used to punch a hole in the top, and a length of gold cording serves as the hanger for the ornament. The flaps fold flat so the card can be mailed in a regular sized envelope - then the recipient can unfold the flaps for a 3-D card/tree ornament.

While creating this, I noticed that the shape of the die itself was an almost perfect match to the shape of some of the vast array of patterns of scrapbook paper available from Harmonie!  So I began cutting photo mats using the larger squares from coordinating papers to create layouts.....

A small felt inner square was used as pocket to hold "Thankful Strips" on this Thanksgiving layout (also made with Harmonie papers!) 

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Then I actually went to the Sizzix site to see what this die was originally intended for - and I discovered it was an amazing mini book!  I used two felt shapes as covers for a mini book, filled with winter snow themed papers from Harmonie to create a mini book that tucks into a pocket on this layout (which also features the same shaped on the background paper!). A few Blumenthal Lansing buttons were the finishing accents.  

For lots more inspiring ideas using this fun die from Brenda Pinnick & Sizzix - view the blogs of the 60 participating designers via the link in the upper right corner of my page.   Thanks for stopping by!