BE A CATALYST

IN 1998, I ESTABLISHED MY FIRST CRAFT ROOM AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER MY FIRST CRAFT GROUP. WE LIVED IN MASSACHUSETTS AT THE TIME. II CALLED IT MY "SCRAPBOOK NOOK" BECAUSE AT THAT TIIME I WAS PREDOMINANTLY SCRAPBOOKING. I SOON LEARNED ABOUT OTHER CRAFTS ESPECIALLY CARD-MAKING AND I THEN REFERRED TO MY SPACE AS THE "NOOK". WIITH MY HUSBANDS CAREER DEVELOPMENT, I ESTABLISHED A GROUP IN THE VARIOUS PLACES THAT WE LIVED - MA, NH, AK, CA AND IN OUR RETIREMENT IN NC. OVER THE YEARS, I DISCOVERED VARIOUS CARD MAKING GROUPS ONLINE AND JOINED THEM TO BE INSPIRED AND TO SHARE WHAT I THOUGHT MIGHT INSPIRE OTHERS. SOME OF THE GROUPS ON FACEBOOK (THOUGH NOT AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST) WERE: SHARE HANDMADE KINDNESS STAMP JUNKIES GINA K DESIGNS AND STAMP TV FRIENDS PAPERCRAFT MEDLEY ALL THINGS CARDS THE CARD MAKER'S CRAFT ROOM CREATIVE HANDMADE GREETING CARDS IN THE SPRING OF 2025, I SHARED IMAGES OF MY CURRENT CRAFTROOM IN MANY OF THE GROUPS. MANY POSTED COMPLEMENTARY COMMENTS TO MY POSTS AND INQUIRED AS TO HOW I SET UP MY ROOM OR HOW I DEVELOPED A CRAFT GROUP WHERE OTHERS WOULD GATHER TOGETHER. AS A RESULT, I POSTED IN MANY OF THE GROUPS THAT IT MIIGHT BE FUN AND HELPFUL TO KNOW WHERE OTHER CRAFTERS ARE LOCATED AND PERHAPS PEOPLE COULD GATHER TOGETHER IN THEIR REGIONS. ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE! MARCI JO LOUGHMAN SNEE, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF STAMP JUNKIES, ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE! SHE SET UP 50 US STATE STAMP JUNKIE POSTS WHERE PEOPLE COULD POST THE CITY WHERE THEY LIVED.

THIS IS THE NC SJ POST

I POSTED AN APPRECIATION FOR ALL MARCI JO HAD DONE AND ENCOURAGED BRANCHING OUT TO THE WORLD! SHE SOON POSTED FOR THE NEIGHBORS TO OUR NORTH IN CANADA! SHE HAS ENCOURAGED THOSE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES TO REACH OUT TO HER!

I PERIODICALLY RETURN TO THE NORTH CAROLINA STAMP JUNKIE POST TO SEE IF THERE ARE NEW COMMENTS. WHEN I DISCOVER SOMEONE IN MY AREA, I REACH OUT TO THEM AND INVITE THEM TO THE NOOK! AS I POST THIS ENTRY, JUST THIS PAST WEEK THROUGH GINA K'S GROUP, I CONNECTED WITH A LOVELY LADY AND SHE ATTENDED THE NOOK ON THURSDAY.

WE LOVE SHARING HANDMADE KINDNESS. THE NOOK HAS AN INFLUENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL. FOUR TIMES A YEAR WE GO TO AN ASSISTED LIVING FACIILITY AND CREATE CARDS WITH THE RESIDENTS. THE NOOK HAS ALSO BEEN A PART OF EVENTS AT MY CHURCH AND IN SUPPORTING SPECIAL CAUSES, SUCH AS A FAMILY WHO WAS IMPACTED BY CHILDHOOD CANCER. IN THE NOOK WE CELEBRATE ONE ANOTHER! WE DO SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR EACH BIRTHDAY. AT CHRISTMAS WE HAVE A SPECIAL LUNCH AND CRAFT THEMED YANKEE SWAP. YOU, TOO, CAN CREATE MEMORIES LIKE THESE:

I HOPE THAT IN SHARING THIS STORY THAT YOU ARE INSPIRED TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS. IT IS A JOY TO SHARE HANDMADE KINDNESS WITH OTHERS! LIKE ME, YOU, TOO, CAN BE A CATALYST!

SANDWICHES IN THE NOOK

WHEN USING DIE CUTTING MACHINES SUCH AS THE SIZZIX BIG SHOT. THE SPELLBINDERS PLATINUM 6. THE GKD INTRI-CUT, AND OTHER OR THE MACHINES FOR USING EMBOSSING FOLDERS - IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT "SANDWICHES" YOU NEED TO CREATE TO HAVE THE BEST RESULTS. SANDWICHES ARE THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU PLACE PLATFORMS. PLATES, DIES, CARDSTOCK (OR USING EMBOSSING FOLDERS).

SIZZIX HAS CREATED A HANDY GUIDE:

General Die-Cutting Sandwich: Multipurpose Platform (Tab 2): This forms the base of the sandwich. Cutting Pad: One cutting pad is used for most dies. Paper/Cardstock: The material you're cutting or embossing. Die: The die you want to use. Cutting Pad: Another cutting pad is used to top the sandwich. Specific Sandwich Configurations: Spellbinders Dies: Use a Magnetic Placement Pad over the die, then a Standard Cutting Pad. Cuttlebug Dies: Use Multipurpose Platform Tab 2 and Tab 1, followed by a Standard Cutting Pad. Sizzix Texturz Folders: Use a Multipurpose Platform Tab 1, NO TABS, and a Texturz Plate. Dynamic Embossing Folders: Use one Standard Cutting Pad on top. Thinlits/Framelits: Use the Big Shot Platform, Precision Base Plate, and Thin Die Adapter. 2 1/2 inch Embossing Folders: Use a Multipurpose Platform NO TAB and a Standard Cutting Pad. Standard Embossing Folders: Use two Standard Cutting Pads. Dynamic Embossing Folders: Use one Standard Cutting Pad. Key Considerations: Never run anything through the Big Shot without a cutting pad on top . Refer to specific instructions for the type of die or folder you're using . The Big Shot machine comes with a Big Shot Platform and a pair of Standard Cutting Pads, plus an adaptor for use with thinlits/framelits . Consider using the extended multi-purpose platform for larger projects .

A YOUTUBE SEARCH FOR "DIE CUTTING SANDWICHES" WILL YIELD ALOT OF GREAT TUTORIALS. HERE IS ONE ABOUT THE SPELLBINDERS PLATINUM 6: JACKIE HAS SOME GREAT INFO: EMBOSSING FOLDER SANDWICHES

BACK TO DIE CUTTING - THERE ARE ALSO ELECTRIC DIE CUTTING MACHINES SUCH AS THE GEMINI, THE EMPRESS, THE VAGABOND, SWITCH AND OTHERS. HERE IS A VIDEO ABOUT THE GEMINI AND THE SANDWICHES NEEDED: BEFORE CLOSING HERE IS INFO ON THE PLATINUM 6 BY SPELLBINDERS. IT IS NOT ELECTRIC. FOR OTHER MACHINES, PLEASE DO A YOU TUBE SEARCH.