I like the bigz dies. Nashvilles creative reuse you just take whatever and give a donation of your choice when done. Obviously people need to be reasonable or it won’t last!
@@KWCardDesignyou would ink your wood backed stamp, put it on your paper, put the stamp press over the stamp and push down on the middle. It worked pretty well.
@@KWCardDesign SO glad for you that you don't NEED to know where the thing went!! When I first started crafting I made my own "Foggy" (you GET my point, right?!?) out of a flat-faced, $🌳 picture frame, plus a piece of acrylic, a couple layers of craft foam, and the frame backer, held together with duct tape. It's a bit over-sized (10" x 14", maybe?) but it's light weight, thin, and goes with me on the road. "Necessity", as they say ...
Hi, I used to have a Bow Master and it looks like you are missing the long pegs that fit into each of those holes. The pegs are probably 4 or 5" long and allow you to make bows with much wider ribbons that you might use on wreaths and larger gifts. It's too bad that the instructions didn't come with it. You are right about weaving your ribbon around and around the pegs to get some really full and beautiful bows. You can tie them in the middle with wire or ribbon and pull the ribbon loops off the pegs and you have a really nice bow. This video has really been fun. Thank you.
The bow master is definitely vintage. It actually came with a VHS instruction tape. It also gave you a sheet with the exact measurements of ribbon you need for your bows depending on the size you were making and the size ribbon you use. I think it you find this chart you will be much happier with your bows. The problem with your stamping press is that you think it is a stamping platform. It is not. It is a large stamping block. Fiskars has a whole line of stamping blocks. You did get a decent deal because they cost between $20 to $25 dollars new. Like any embossing plate/folder if you spritz the card with water you will get a better impression. The cutting guide, great for its time but definitely of little use now with all of the envelope boards out there today.
I had a Fisker cutting thing. Bought it and some shape templates for scrap booking. Never did master cutting the inside corners. Fun to watch someone else try to do it. It was definitely vintage. Lol😅
I started scrapping in the 80s with a ruler, scissors, Elmers glue, and a pen. Then they came out with those fun scissors with different decorative edges. Wow, thought I hit the jackpot! I remember my first thin steel die used with a Sizzix die cutting machine. Woo wee! This was life changing and I never looked back. This was such a stroll down nostalgia lane and so fun. Thanks Ralph for the reminder on how far we have come.
Faithful--I still have a passel of the decorative scissors. Never did perfect how to make even cuts around an edge. Straight ones? Sorta. A lot of those scissors were just not good cutters. I still have them, but seldom try to use them.
A craft thrift store!! Wish I had one by me!! This was fun to watch!! I’ve been scrapping forever, so it was fun to see these oldies!! Scrapping has come a long way!!
Would be BEYOND a dream to have one of these stores near me! I think it would also be a great way to get rid of materials you fell out of love with that someone else might love! Could also use the “one in - one out” rule ✨🎁💜🔑🎨
Texture plates were used with polymer clay too. The clay has issues with fingerprints so the texture plates were used at the end or on the layering. Embossing was done with a stylus and often a copper plate. Some I used 25 years ago were stencils.
I'm very new to papercrafting and haven't seen any of these. I did buy some Hello Kitty dies on ebay several months ago and when they came I thought I got ripped off. Now I see how they are meant to be used. Thank you!
Kristina Warner used to use the Fiskars stamp platform a few years ago. I love the whole idea of a crafters thrift store, it would be a whole new hole to peek down!
Yes, that’s where I first saw it and bought it. This was pre-stamp platforms like the Misti and an alternative to another system for lining up stamps, was it by inka dinka doo? It was a right angle piece of acrylic that you used with an acrylic block. ETA: Stampamajig!
@@ralphtyndall only because I’ve not seen her have to restamp over. She got it the first time. But you’re right, it needs brackets or something, wonder if it would fit inside of a picture frame to position the same every time?
Hi! When the Fiskars Stamp Press came on the stamping scene, there were no other types of stamp platforms. The Fiskars Stamp Press came out probably 15 years ago! At the time it was a big deal!!! Fun video!
So how is she able to sue so many platform makers and say she has dibs on the idea? Tim Holtz can’t sell his in the US or Canada. Keep your platform cuz the MISTI (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) is knocking out competition now…Stamping Up, most everyone. Bira makes one. These don’t have size restrictions like the MISTI. Tim Holtz’s was the best.
@@nbenefielSizzix made a great machine. Mine has worked for 15 plus years. I wouldn’t mind the electric one because of arthritis, but the original still serves the purpose!
This would make a good video series. It was funny. Maybe consider letting your subscribers send you some of our "vintage" crafting tools for you to try out.
My goodness, down memory lane, what I great idea👍🏼. The difficulties we had. I still have that Fiskars shape cutter with a pretty cool stencil, I created cool stuff for my scrapbooking with that. It does take a minute to get ahold of it but once you do, you're good to go 🙂
I had another thought. We didn't have You Tube or anyone to show us how to use these "vintage" items - LOL. So what you went through on your video is everything we went through back in the day. You did pretty good figuring out things. Some people wouldn't even know where to start. Just imagine nowadays if we didn't have You Tube, no one would know how to do anything.
The Fiskars thing was definitely pre-stamp platform. Stamping tools have improved so much over time. Those texture plates are kind of cool to use if you have any foam that is heat sensitive. Simon Hurley has some you can find online. You heat the foam then press into a texture. Then you have a custom texture you can use for backgrounds. You can reheat the foam to reset it to use on a different texture. You could also use them to lift ink or paint off a gelly plate to make a background texture.
Hey Ralph, When using the Emboss and Transfer set, you're better off just running it through the once to get a crispy image... if you double roll then the 'squishyness' of the mat affects the impression on the second run. You're right though, these have improved so much over time so this one will always be more 'subtle'. It's so fun to see these oldies and comparing them to what we have today.
They are actually the kind that schools have for cutting shapes and letters for bulletin boards. Those were called Ellison, but then they developed them for home use. Became Sizzix, I think.
@@linniesohler7816 yes, Ellison is the educational division (retired educator here) and Sizzix is the consumer (for lack of a better word) division. I own many Tim Holtz and Sizzix bigz dies. They are great to have in your collection. I guess newer crafters may not be familiar with them but to me they’re never obsolete.
@@SandraE_Do you know if the Bigz dies can be used with a Cuttlebug die cutting machine if I were to sandwich the die between an upper and lower cutting plate? I bought several Bigz dies not realizing what they were and they weren't worth returning, so I ate the cost. I would like to be able to use them, but didn't want to break my Cuttlebug machine. I'm still using my first one and I like it because it cuts so well and folds up for a smaller footprint for storage.
@@mawmawvee I believe they will. I’m sure I used them with my cuttlebug before I bought a big shot. Try the sandwich you mentioned. If you can’t crank it through, don’t force it. You’ll only break your machine if you force it through.
Hi neighbor!! I'm just north of you in Georgetown. I had the Fiskars platforms in two sizes and they were okay, but they were definitely a precursor to the hinged stamping platforms. And I pronounce it like it rhymes with "whiskers."
Fiskars is a Finnish company (Finland 🇫🇮) and as a Finn myself I can tell you that you pronounce the A's like the A's in 'ah-ha', and you roll the 'r'. 😊 But, the way you normally pronounce it is how most Americans pronounce it, so it's totally fine. 😊 I have one of the Fiskars stamping presses and an envelope template. 🙃 But, honestly, I usually just use my Misti for stamping. I didn't have the blade for my envelope template, so I used to just run a pen around and cut it out. 😆 I don't use it much. When you said the store was like a thrift shop for crafting tools.... 😳
I loved this video because I still have some of those old Fiskar dies and I don't reach for them because I forgot what sandwich to use with them but I figured they would still work because my machine is as old as them so at one point I used to use them. I did de-clutter a lot of them because they are so big and bulky but I kept a Santa that I just loved so I'll have to bust him out this year for my holiday crafting. I'm with Ralph though - until Fiskars reaches out and specifically tell everyone that their name is pronounced I certain way I'm going to continue to pronounce it like he does, because I also have been pronouncing it that way for the past, oh gosh, 20 years or so! Seeing some other comments about how far the craft industry has come and I agree, it really does blow my mind when I think about it. Makes me think of the random stuff that I've purged over the years and what I've held onto and what's next to fall out of fashion because some new fun innovation. I do still use some random old stuff though too, I will still use my Stamp-a-ma-jig because while I have decided to purge most of my wooden stamps due to weight and size of storing them there are a few that I love and will never get rid of. It also makes me think about the things that come back into fashion. Simon Hurley just came out with some stamping foam where you can heat it, press it on something to make a stamp and then re-heat it to use it again. This was a years ago but I remember getting rid of a big pack of those at some point because I had only used it once. Now with RUclips and the massive amount of ideas and inspiration with products like this it kinda makes me regret getting rid of it. I can't remember the brand though, I do remember it has tons of shapes including wedges and such.
I enjoyed the video. I salute your bravery in trying all this on camera! 😀I still collect and use the Bigz dies. We had them in the elementary school where I taught to help make letters and shapes for our bulletin boards. I now use them for card making because they are sturdy and cut so nicely. -Stuart
I have several basic shapes in the steel rule variety. I use then for bulk cutting since you can cut more layers than you can with wafer dies. Also heavier materials. When makin 3D projects, you need to be able to cut heavy chip board, felt and I have a selection for cutting leather for my jewelry making.@@ralphtyndall
Also that fiskers if I'm not wrong was the first stamping platform and your supposed to line up the stamps with the grids. But it wasn't made for restamping. It was the first ...lol
Well that was interesting! I have several of these items, and as mentioned before here, we had no youtube to help us find out how to use them 😂 I have 2 boxes of Sizzix Bigz dies but they were not the first dies Sizzix made. I have the previous machine to the Big Shot which has a lever to pull over and the die slides through. Its in the attic😂 When the Big Shot arrived with the Bigz dies they stopped making dies for the lever machine which was more narrow, but the doll dies and their clothes are really interesting. I had to get a Big Shot which I've been using since it was born, with a few changes of plates. I have that Fiskars cutter, i have never seen the envelope maker, which I think would be very hard to use, but I have an oval and a circle and those are pretty easy. I didn't use it much and its really only suitable for scrapbooking pages. Thanks for the video🎉
The BigZ dies are also or used to work with more than 1 piece of paper and fabric. Schools use this same type but on a bigger machine. I had carousel towers sold by Sizzix that I put these dies in. On your bow maker, I would expect dowels at least 2 that are usedbto make the bows. Mine is called bow maker. I have a circle maker and oval maker by Fiskars (never thought they worked!)
1st ...I have a craft thrift store near me that I have donated to. I've been downsizing to sell my house. I have bought a couple things at a great price. Since it's a non profit I prefer donating to them over other thrift shops who have little knowledge of crafting. That said, I had the fiskers platform. I hated it. The same reason you did. It was impossible to get it positioned to restamp. Crafters companion has a similar one. But, they finally made a base/ tray where the feet fits into so it stays in the same position. I still prefer the misty. Most of what you showed , I still have.
I think i had (have) ask of these tools. What a hoot. Yes the streaming tool is meant to be stamped on the images not the orange dots. Think you have the bow maker essentially right but maybe way too wide that size ribbon Finally the stencil cutter. I had that sans heaps I’d templates. Think i gave them to my Neice for school. You have to have the depth order blade just right (you adjust it by screwing it’s up or down at the top, and it should rotate freely in the bends. It does take a bit if practice but works well on the templates. However much easier with wafer thin does nowadays. I still use some of my Tin Holtz Sizzix “fat” dies. Lol
A reuse store for crafting! Oh my, I would be in big trouble if I lived near one!!! I have been scrapbooking since 2001 and have a large collection of the Sizzix dies and I love them! I have the latest technology too, but I find myself needing something really quick and grabbing one of those still to this day!! I recently took the time to create a notebook that indexed them, so I can quickly look thru the notebook to find what I need, vs. looking thru the dies. I don't know what I didn't think of that years ago. I could have made it so much easier to use them. Better late than never!! 😀😀😀😀
Vintage crafts bring back so many memories. There's a family-owned craft store I used to visit and the vintage tools and kits they would keep in stock were mind boggling. I collect unwanted crafts from my friends and they think I'm nuts. Love second hand stores too. What vintage tools lack in convenience, they make up for in durability and nostalgia.
Thank you so fun! I purchased a Fiskars shape cutter with orange templates about 20 years ago because I couldn’t justify spending the money on a Sizzix Big Shot. Letters and shapes. Used it a lot for kids projects. Once you get used to it works well. I used it until the cutter broke. Talking about buying used craft supplies. I love going to estate sales and bought a envelope punch board, a scoring board and an pillow box punch about a year and half ago. I watched videos on how to use the first two and found so many interesting ideas. I ended up buying a Sizzix Big Shot. I am having so much fun with these items. So in conclusion old doesn’t mean it’s bad just creative. 😃
I also wanted to let your know watching videos I learned you can use that silicone rubber and impression pad to emboss using stencils. Just in case you didn’t know which you probably do. From top to bottom. 1 Impression pad, 2 silicone rubber, 3 paper, 4 stencil, 5 clear plate ( or scratched in my case) and 6 platform. 😃
I have a Friskars, die cutter, that must weigh about 25lbs. I asked someone if they had a manual cutter they weren't using. When they brought it out, i was like wow. I definitely had to figure out, the different plates with new dies but it's been fun and it still works great
Shape Cutter Tip: I think the orange knob at the top of the Fiskars shape cutter is meant to loosen the blade a bit in order to glide smoothly. Also, the angle of the blade is an indicator on what position to start off at the beginning of the cut. I still have mine and I use it sometimes to cut tags from the Fiskars shape templates.
I've got about 35 years under my belt with stamping. And boy, did you bring back some memories? And just recently, I got rid of my fiskers tools. That you just got i decided that I had no more use for them since the dies are all on trend right now. I will mention to you, Fiskars has a lifetime warranty on them, so if anything goes wrong on any of their tools. Scissors, die cuts, anything, they'll replace it free of charge. Just thought you might like to know.
Loved this. great video. I still have one of those Fiskars platforms. I don't think I used it much. I am pretty sure I still have the cutter with a few of the templates laying around too, along with some of the Sizzix dies. I kept the dies because they belonged to my mother. I have wanted to go to the Creative Resuse store in Austin. There's a similar store in San Antonio. I've been once and keep meaning to return. And, now I'm invested in trying to find instruction for that bow maker!
Try using just one of your cutting plates for cutting and keep the second one clean. Once the cutting plate is no longer usable swap it out for the one that you kept clean and grab a new one and continue the same way.
Kudos on your adventurous spirit!😊. That thick die we used those in elementary school to create bulletin boards, classroom decorations and learning aides. Thanks for the fun flashback.
This circle cutter that you used is what I used years ago. There was also a product called coluzzle which had a funny tiny blade that went inbetween hard plastic and could cut out numbers, letters or patterns.
I have the Fiskars stamp platform plus many other things you probably don’t remember. My platform has a bottom plate and you can use magnets to hold it down, just like the newer ones.
The thick dies are called “steel rule” dies. I have quite a few….picked them up (mostly Sizzix) when they were being discontinued some years back at ACMoore (now closed.) They are great and are really easier to use than the thin metal ones. One con is, however, that they don’t give you the level of detail that thin metal ones do…like the edge embossing. They can be used in virtually every brand of die cutting machines. If you want to buy them online, you’re likely to pay a premium for them now.
I got the few I have from Scrapbook.come not knowing what Bigz dies were. It wasn't worth sending them back, so I still have them, but don't know where they are...
On the stamp & press.. I would use your grid mat on the table.... using a sticky mat or taping the paper down while aligning it with your grid lines to mat.. then using the press & stamp while aligning that with your grid line mat so you know exactly where to go if you need to restamp
Oh heavens! We used those thick foam dies at school. We had entire alphabets, every shape imaginable, numbers, etc. They were very helpful in making bulletin boards. We had a very strong hand press for cutting multiples. I also have a Fiskars stamp press. Precursor to the Misti. Press the stamp. Not the corners.
I love my Bigz dies! There are longer ones too. You can cut multiples at the same time if there isn’t a fold on the die (I think I can cut up to 6 pieces of cardstock at one time). I used to make cut snowflakes from soda cans and use them as ornaments. The stamp platform was never designed to do multiple restamps, but was the first stamp platform sold (that I’m aware of). A lot of new stamper have difficulty with getting an inked halo around the edge, often caused from rocking the stamp. This eliminates that. It can be used for the red rubber cling stamps as well as the clear ones (different thicknesses). There was another blade cutter called the Coluzzle that had a swivel blade. I used it like crazy and owned dozens of their stencils (I may still own them lol)
I'm retired now, but when I taught elementary school we had an Ellison machine that took dies the thickness of the Bigz dies. Some were huge (maybe 12" x 12") and the machines had either a crank handle or a press. We made all sorts of things with them, from bulletin board shapes to boxes to masks for plays. I loved it and used it frequently, which is what got me interested in paper crafts to begin with.
I still use those thick die at times…. Years ago, my Cub Scout den cut metal snowflakes out of the aluminum from empty pop cans we recycled/repurposed…. They loved it!
Fun walk down memory lane! I own several of the tools you found. I have the stamp press with the orange foam. It doesn't restamp well, so do not pull it up. You can press again as long as you do not move anything. The Misti tool basically took over and this tool sits unused. I have the shape cutter and many plastic shapes to cut with it. It has a learning curve but it will cut. You have to set your blade properly to use it. Dies have basically made that tool another that doesn't get used. It was fun to watch you give these tools a try.
I can only chuckle as I watch this. Not only have I seen and used these things, I still own some of them and still love some of them. Those thicker dies can cut materials that the wafer thin dies cannot, and are very useful.
Ok... more please! I am a craft supply hoarder aficionado and I get most all of my goodies from thrifting. So I recently acquired one of those Fiskars (Fiskers ;) ) stamping platform things, and as I was trying to figure it's purpose and positives out I was having the exact conversation with myself that you had on this video. Too funny. Bring us more! You never know when we might find a gem in the junk. Happy crafting!
Sizzix and other companies still make many steel rule dies.. Used for batch making and especially felt and foam. Your silicone mat is still used for embossing thin dies, embossing thin die outlines on card and sometimes with old embossing folders. Most tools that went out of use was because they were time consuming and not very pratical.. That's progress! Those of us who produce to sell need tools that are practical.. After over 20 years I have a very good selection.. Some things change manufacturers, colour, name etc and get put back into the market at twice the price!!!
The texture plates came with a tool with little round nubs on the bottom. You placed the paper on the plate, then ran the tool over the paper to get your impression. All depended on how much pressure you used on how good your impression was. Fun video.
Yes, the Stamppress is unsteady when pushing it down to stamp an image, but you need to press and hold it down for a few more seconds than you were doing, to let the ink soak into the cs, or paper. Once you press it down, don't let it move and then release it and you might get a better, more complete stamped image. Might... I only used my Stamppress a few times before I got my Misti stamp platform, which is way easier to use and much more successful in getting a good print. This is such a fun video to be watching!!! Thanks so much!
thrift store for craft supplies! We need that here int he UK, Fantastic. This video is a great idea, I keep finding old stash and new uses for it too. Great video, thanks for this one
So glad this YT popped up to view. We're heading home to Austin & family in a few weeks. Never heard of this store, probably started after we left, but will certainly visit. Tkx for sharing &🤘
I really liked this video. I think we really need to give these products some grace. They were HUGE innovation of their day. Pioneers. Without these, we would not have the tools we use today. We've come a long way. Thanks to these products. (I still have acrylic stamp blocks with velcro on them to attach your red rubber stamps. How far we've come!)
I found an Etsy listing for the bow master, (already sold, but had good photos). You seem to be missing the pegs that extend the height to give you more vertical space to work with. But the Etsy listing also had this to say about the item "Made in USA 1994 by BowMaster in Kingston, MA. Very good vintage condition. Original receipt says purchased in 1996 from QVC." so, maybe searching by date or with any of that info would help find more stuff about it.
There used to be a similar type store in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis. Broad Ripple is kind of a village that was surrounded by Indianapolis over the years. I believe it is out of business now.
The Stamp Press is not meant to re stamp in the same place, it's just another type of stamping "block", gave you safe hovering over the area before touchdown. Not an early MISTI, the Samp-a -ma-Jig was. It's like comparing taking pictures with a phone vs a Polaroid... not the same.
That is a very old Fiskars stamping platform. They have come along way with their stamp platforms and stamping blocks. Only the "book style " platform are designed for restamping. Wrmk has stamp presses with a bottom platform. Stamp blocks and what you tried are single stamp. Unless you're really confident 8n your stamping ability and stamp stick with a stamp platform.
I used the Coluzzle cutting system before I got my Spellbinders thin oval nesting dies and a Wizard. Used the Wizard quite a bit for cutting & embossing before I changed to the Big Shot.
Hey I have the whole kit for the bow maker...it comes wit a vhs tape several things of ribbons an a few other things...I had no idea how to use it but the instructions that came in the box was very descriptive...I gave it to my neighbor bcuz she makes bows
I still have and sometimes use the Fiskars stamp thing. My mini MISTI was too small for a project I was working on recently, and I hate my Tim Holtz platform. So, I pulled out the Fiskars foam thing. It stamps really well. You just have to go at it from the middle. The Fiskars shape cutter was not user error. That thing just sucks. There's a reason no one uses it any more!
For the Stamping Platform watch Maymaymadeit - she still uses it ... the trick is to press in the middle when you stamp ... it works great for large background stamping ... GREAT video!!
Hi there Ralph, I have the shape cutter. I find it best to cut on a glass mat, and the blade should jiggle about in the housing, for the blade to turn in any direction freely, yours looks and sounds too tight. When it's in use, it's like going around the template with a pencil, and it is a beautiful smooth cut. I hope you try it again. Love your videos. Nuala xx
I loved this video! I inherited all of my Mother-in-Laws craft stash and there are things like this that I have no idea how to use, so this is actually really helpful! Gives me the courage to grab some of that stuff and start playing with it.
Came from watching you make awesome cards I love this stuff I wish there was a craft thrift near me lol ❤❤ probably for the best cause you know how that goes 😊I can barely stay away from regular thrift stores 😅 thanks for sharing xx
You're missing the long pegs that fit in the spaces where you are wrapping the ribbon. I ordered this from QVC probably 25 years ago and have made literally hundreds of bows for weddings, holidays, etc. It really does a good job, but I have replaced it with the Bowdabra.
I had a bunch of the fiskars templates. There was a definite learning curve, but they were neat, because you could get lots of shapes without having to freehand cut. And personal die-cut machines weren't a thing, yet. And i still have a bunch of texture plates. I love them! Maybe it's nostalgia, but i still think they work great. I find i get about the same impression as a 2-d embossing folder. Finding thr correct sandwixh can be tricky.
The plate and rubber mat is still useful for other techniques. One example is using it with a stencil to essentially emboss with the stencil as the rubber pushes the stencil into the cardstock. I used to have some of those Fiskars cutting tools and never did get them to work for me.
You can use that embossing silicone mat and plastic mat also to emboss with dies and stencils (different sandwich for each). I've never seen that bow maker before and I've been crafting a long, long time. I have many, many Bigz dies and Sizzlits as I have the original die cut machine with the lever and there were NO thin dies at that time. Eventually, the thin wafer dies came into vogue and Sizzix had a adapter for the original machine so you could put them through, too. Hated the shape cutter. Never tried the Fiskars stamp "platform." Thank goodness. Fun video. TFS It's great to see how far tools have come and how much easier to create a decent product these days.
Hi Ralph! I'm also in TX :) I've been crafting for a lot longer than you. The first black die is a Sizzix die, it was made for the first Sizzix die cutter (a red one) it had a lever that you had to push down really hard. As you said the advantage of that kind of die is that enabled you to cut a larger variety of materials beside paper. The stamping platform from fiskars (I pronounce it just as you do) is what came out before the Misty, in an effort to make stamping more accurate and efficient. I still have mine even though I don't use it anymore. Cardmaking is also my little happy place, where I forget about everything. It's just me and my blank paper... and then the creative juices begin to flow. Glad you found your happy place too. Looking forward to see more of your videos.
How much fun to watch. Just last week I was at a thrift store and researching to see if I could find the plates for this crazy mini portable cutter you rolled with your hand. Wised up and set it back on the shelf.
These tools are a sign of progress. I have 3 of the tools you demoed. I do like the bigz dies for chipboard. Thanks for some fond memories from card maker who has been making cards longer than you have been alive
It’s so fun seeing newer crafter’s coming across the tools etc that many of us ‘oldies’ were using back in the day. You certainly can’t go wrong with Fiskars, I’m still using my big scissors and small embroidery ones for fussy cutting, I also still have my embossing plates. The stamping platform if memory serves was the first stamping platform on the market. The wonderful thing about the bigz dies is being able to use anything in your stash and so much more 🎉
When I bought my Big Shot there was a Bigz die in the kit and I've picked up a few in charity shops since then (including a beautiful Tim Holtz bird cage). I believe Sizzix still make them. They are brilliant at cutting thicker papers and card and I use them a lot. I had a stamp press for a while but never really took to it and as soon as I could afford a stamping platform I replaced it. Again, they are still made but the hinged stamping platforms are more popular I believe. This was a great video and I'd love to see more. And you have a crafting thrift store near you? Wonderful! I'm very jealous!
Bigz dies are so satisfying lol. I like to cut cardboard/poster board with them, and then you can use the cut as a stencil or the piece can be used to emboss paper too. I think bow makers are generally used with wider, non-fabric ribbons like for gifts or floral arrangements. It was painful to watch you using it :P I have one of those Fiskars platforms so old the foam rotted out lol. It was definitely groundbreaking when it first came out. You were supposed to press over the stamp. It wasn't really good for restamping, but good for doing a layout and precise placement of the stamp. It wasn't perfect because of the bounce and wiggliness of the foam, but it was better than nothing. When you mentioned the embossing plate, I thought you might have had some of the Fiskar's ones that you used with an embossing tool. They had a special multi pronged tool that you had to run over the whole page, and they were a PITA. You usually had to use some wax paper to help it glide. I bet you would have had better results with the plate if you misted the paper first - very lightly, like, spray into the air and wave the paper through it. On the cutter: it could have been stiff due to age, but TBH, I don't think they worked so great. I have a simple swivel head Xacto style knife cutter, and that thing is so difficult to control and you can see the blade. Probably would do better if you went around once without much force, then again - it may be the pressure making it difficult to change directions. Totally fun, glad the RUclips algorithm thought I'd enjoy this :)
So I've been stamping for 20+ years and your video reminded me of how far the industry has come. Oh thank God.
Thank God for innovation!
Same here. I had one of those Fiskars Stamp Press tools. Can’t remember what I did with it though.
I like the bigz dies. Nashvilles creative reuse you just take whatever and give a donation of your choice when done. Obviously people need to be reasonable or it won’t last!
@@KWCardDesignyou would ink your wood backed stamp, put it on your paper, put the stamp press over the stamp and push down on the middle. It worked pretty well.
@@KWCardDesign SO glad for you that you don't NEED to know where the thing went!! When I first started crafting I made my own "Foggy" (you GET my point, right?!?) out of a flat-faced, $🌳 picture frame, plus a piece of acrylic, a couple layers of craft foam, and the frame backer, held together with duct tape. It's a bit over-sized (10" x 14", maybe?) but it's light weight, thin, and goes with me on the road. "Necessity", as they say ...
Hi, I used to have a Bow Master and it looks like you are missing the long pegs that fit into each of those holes. The pegs are probably 4 or 5" long and allow you to make bows with much wider ribbons that you might use on wreaths and larger gifts. It's too bad that the instructions didn't come with it. You are right about weaving your ribbon around and around the pegs to get some really full and beautiful bows. You can tie them in the middle with wire or ribbon and pull the ribbon loops off the pegs and you have a really nice bow. This video has really been fun. Thank you.
The bow master is definitely vintage. It actually came with a VHS instruction tape. It also gave you a sheet with the exact measurements of ribbon you need for your bows depending on the size you were making and the size ribbon you use. I think it you find this chart you will be much happier with your bows. The problem with your stamping press is that you think it is a stamping platform. It is not. It is a large stamping block. Fiskars has a whole line of stamping blocks. You did get a decent deal because they cost between $20 to $25 dollars new. Like any embossing plate/folder if you spritz the card with water you will get a better impression. The cutting guide, great for its time but definitely of little use now with all of the envelope boards out there today.
Wow, you are a treasure trove of knowledge
I had a Fisker cutting thing. Bought it and some shape templates for scrap booking. Never did master cutting the inside corners. Fun to watch someone else try to do it. It was definitely vintage. Lol😅
I still have that stamp press. Used maybe once. 😂 Couldn’t get an even stamp on the paper.
I started scrapping in the 80s with a ruler, scissors, Elmers glue, and a pen. Then they came out with those fun scissors with different decorative edges. Wow, thought I hit the jackpot! I remember my first thin steel die used with a Sizzix die cutting machine. Woo wee! This was life changing and I never looked back. This was such a stroll down nostalgia lane and so fun. Thanks Ralph for the reminder on how far we have come.
Yes! Those scissors! I’m glad I’d made the scrapbooks for our son’s family, so don’t have to see how badly i probably overused those, lol.
Faithful--I still have a passel of the decorative scissors. Never did perfect how to make even cuts around an edge. Straight ones? Sorta. A lot of those scissors were just not good cutters. I still have them, but seldom try to use them.
Omg I had a ton of those scissors that were housed in this like multi tiered spinning thingamabob. Anyone know what I’m talking about?
This was like watching a teen trying to get music out of a cassette deck. I loved it!
That was my feeling too. It was fun to see him discovering things with new eyes.
The perfect analogy!! 😆
Hahaha that's what it felt like too!
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😂
A craft thrift store!! Wish I had one by me!! This was fun to watch!! I’ve been scrapping forever, so it was fun to see these oldies!! Scrapping has come a long way!!
Would be BEYOND a dream to have one of these stores near me! I think it would also be a great way to get rid of materials you fell out of love with that someone else might love! Could also use the “one in - one out” rule ✨🎁💜🔑🎨
I love the fiskars shape cutting tool, I still use mine for cutting photos into shapes for scrapbooks.
The stamp press was tu replace all the clear blocks, not to re-stamp. LOVED this vidéo!
Texture plates were used with polymer clay too. The clay has issues with fingerprints so the texture plates were used at the end or on the layering. Embossing was done with a stylus and often a copper plate. Some I used 25 years ago were stencils.
I'm very new to papercrafting and haven't seen any of these. I did buy some Hello Kitty dies on ebay several months ago and when they came I thought I got ripped off. Now I see how they are meant to be used. Thank you!
Kristina Warner used to use the Fiskars stamp platform a few years ago. I love the whole idea of a crafters thrift store, it would be a whole new hole to peek down!
I bet she was a lot better with it than me 😂
Yes, that’s where I first saw it and bought it. This was pre-stamp platforms like the Misti and an alternative to another system for lining up stamps, was it by inka dinka doo? It was a right angle piece of acrylic that you used with an acrylic block. ETA: Stampamajig!
@@ralphtyndall only because I’ve not seen her have to restamp over. She got it the first time. But you’re right, it needs brackets or something, wonder if it would fit inside of a picture frame to position the same every time?
I still have my stampamajig lol. Only use it for wood stamps though. I use my Misti for everything else.
MaymayMadeIt still uses her Fiskars stamp press though the new Stamp Wheel seems to have taken its place in the last few months.
Hi! When the Fiskars Stamp Press came on the stamping scene, there were no other types of stamp platforms. The Fiskars Stamp Press came out probably 15 years ago! At the time it was a big deal!!! Fun video!
So how is she able to sue so many platform makers and say she has dibs on the idea? Tim Holtz can’t sell his in the US or Canada.
Keep your platform cuz the MISTI (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) is knocking out competition now…Stamping Up, most everyone.
Bira makes one. These don’t have size restrictions like the MISTI. Tim Holtz’s was the best.
I actually own several of these vintage tools. Crafting tools are always changing, but the older ones still work quite well.
Me too
Me three. I still use my old stuff. I prefer my old sizziz to my newer Gemini .
@@nbenefielSizzix made a great machine. Mine has worked for 15 plus years. I wouldn’t mind the electric one because of arthritis, but the original still serves the purpose!
This would make a good video series. It was funny. Maybe consider letting your subscribers send you some of our "vintage" crafting tools for you to try out.
My goodness, down memory lane, what I great idea👍🏼. The difficulties we had. I still have that Fiskars shape cutter with a pretty cool stencil, I created cool stuff for my scrapbooking with that. It does take a minute to get ahold of it but once you do, you're good to go 🙂
I had another thought. We didn't have You Tube or anyone to show us how to use these "vintage" items - LOL. So what you went through on your video is everything we went through back in the day. You did pretty good figuring out things. Some people wouldn't even know where to start. Just imagine nowadays if we didn't have You Tube, no one would know how to do anything.
LOL love the comment but back in the day when we didn’t have RUclips we actually read the instructions or we asked mom. 😂
Or we went to local craft stores that had classes!
And Carol Duvall was on HGTV with all kinds of Craft instructions
Or we went to the library or the book store. There were and still are tons of hobby books published.
OMG I still have all of these but the bow maker . This video tells me a need to purge a lot of things Thanks for the blast from the past.
Yup ... DO the video(s) on any and all "vintage" pieces you find!!
That fizkars cutting round thing, in the circle cutter, you have to push down on that center thing. The button in the center.
The Fiskars thing was definitely pre-stamp platform. Stamping tools have improved so much over time. Those texture plates are kind of cool to use if you have any foam that is heat sensitive. Simon Hurley has some you can find online. You heat the foam then press into a texture. Then you have a custom texture you can use for backgrounds. You can reheat the foam to reset it to use on a different texture. You could also use them to lift ink or paint off a gelly plate to make a background texture.
Hey Ralph, When using the Emboss and Transfer set, you're better off just running it through the once to get a crispy image... if you double roll then the 'squishyness' of the mat affects the impression on the second run. You're right though, these have improved so much over time so this one will always be more 'subtle'. It's so fun to see these oldies and comparing them to what we have today.
Nothing better than a Bigz Die, never a problem, cuts like butter every time, love them! And yes, I m a long time crafter….. Thanks for the video!
Those bigz dies are great for cutting heavier materials like chipboard, felt, canvas, etc.
They are actually the kind that schools have for cutting shapes and letters for bulletin boards. Those were called Ellison, but then they developed them for home use.
Became Sizzix, I think.
@@linniesohler7816 yes, Ellison is the educational division (retired educator here) and Sizzix is the consumer (for lack of a better word) division. I own many Tim Holtz and Sizzix bigz dies. They are great to have in your collection. I guess newer crafters may not be familiar with them but to me they’re never obsolete.
@@SandraE_Do you know if the Bigz dies can be used with a Cuttlebug die cutting machine if I were to sandwich the die between an upper and lower cutting plate?
I bought several Bigz dies not realizing what they were and they weren't worth returning, so I ate the cost. I would like to be able to use them, but didn't want to break my Cuttlebug machine. I'm still using my first one and I like it because it cuts so well and folds up for a smaller footprint for storage.
@@mawmawvee I believe they will. I’m sure I used them with my cuttlebug before I bought a big shot. Try the sandwich you mentioned. If you can’t crank it through, don’t force it. You’ll only break your machine if you force it through.
@@SandraE_ Thank you SandraE, for taking the time to reply to me. I will try it and no, I won't force it through. :D
Hi neighbor!! I'm just north of you in Georgetown. I had the Fiskars platforms in two sizes and they were okay, but they were definitely a precursor to the hinged stamping platforms. And I pronounce it like it rhymes with "whiskers."
Fiskars is a Finnish company (Finland 🇫🇮) and as a Finn myself I can tell you that you pronounce the A's like the A's in 'ah-ha', and you roll the 'r'. 😊 But, the way you normally pronounce it is how most Americans pronounce it, so it's totally fine. 😊
I have one of the Fiskars stamping presses and an envelope template. 🙃 But, honestly, I usually just use my Misti for stamping. I didn't have the blade for my envelope template, so I used to just run a pen around and cut it out. 😆 I don't use it much.
When you said the store was like a thrift shop for crafting tools.... 😳
I live 30min from Austin, had no idea there was a craft thrift store! I’m so going this week to you know m, hoard more things 😅.
😂😂 I’m vintage!! No offense taken! I’m just glad the products now are way easier to use!
You are cracking me up right now...😅 im trying to tell you... hold the cutter by the top . The orange piece. 😅😂 your so cute...😂
I loved this video because I still have some of those old Fiskar dies and I don't reach for them because I forgot what sandwich to use with them but I figured they would still work because my machine is as old as them so at one point I used to use them. I did de-clutter a lot of them because they are so big and bulky but I kept a Santa that I just loved so I'll have to bust him out this year for my holiday crafting. I'm with Ralph though - until Fiskars reaches out and specifically tell everyone that their name is pronounced I certain way I'm going to continue to pronounce it like he does, because I also have been pronouncing it that way for the past, oh gosh, 20 years or so!
Seeing some other comments about how far the craft industry has come and I agree, it really does blow my mind when I think about it. Makes me think of the random stuff that I've purged over the years and what I've held onto and what's next to fall out of fashion because some new fun innovation.
I do still use some random old stuff though too, I will still use my Stamp-a-ma-jig because while I have decided to purge most of my wooden stamps due to weight and size of storing them there are a few that I love and will never get rid of.
It also makes me think about the things that come back into fashion. Simon Hurley just came out with some stamping foam where you can heat it, press it on something to make a stamp and then re-heat it to use it again. This was a years ago but I remember getting rid of a big pack of those at some point because I had only used it once. Now with RUclips and the massive amount of ideas and inspiration with products like this it kinda makes me regret getting rid of it. I can't remember the brand though, I do remember it has tons of shapes including wedges and such.
Hello I from Boerne my son lives in Alvin and my nephew in sea broke just good to see a Texas in art
I enjoyed the video. I salute your bravery in trying all this on camera! 😀I still collect and use the Bigz dies. We had them in the elementary school where I taught to help make letters and shapes for our bulletin boards. I now use them for card making because they are sturdy and cut so nicely. -Stuart
Ah bulletin boards are a great use!
I have several basic shapes in the steel rule variety. I use then for bulk cutting since you can cut more layers than you can with wafer dies. Also heavier materials. When makin 3D projects, you need to be able to cut heavy chip board, felt and I have a selection for cutting leather for my jewelry making.@@ralphtyndall
I still have the machine for the big dies
Also that fiskers if I'm not wrong was the first stamping platform and your supposed to line up the stamps with the grids. But it wasn't made for restamping. It was the first ...lol
Well that was interesting! I have several of these items, and as mentioned before here, we had no youtube to help us find out how to use them 😂
I have 2 boxes of Sizzix Bigz dies but they were not the first dies Sizzix made. I have the previous machine to the Big Shot which has a lever to pull over and the die slides through. Its in the attic😂 When the Big Shot arrived with the Bigz dies they stopped making dies for the lever machine which was more narrow, but the doll dies and their clothes are really interesting. I had to get a Big Shot which I've been using since it was born, with a few changes of plates.
I have that Fiskars cutter, i have never seen the envelope maker, which I think would be very hard to use, but I have an oval and a circle and those are pretty easy. I didn't use it much and its really only suitable for scrapbooking pages.
Thanks for the video🎉
The BigZ dies are also or used to work with more than 1 piece of paper and fabric. Schools use this same type but on a bigger machine. I had carousel towers sold by Sizzix that I put these dies in. On your bow maker, I would expect dowels at least 2 that are usedbto make the bows. Mine is called bow maker. I have a circle maker and oval maker by Fiskars (never thought they worked!)
1st ...I have a craft thrift store near me that I have donated to. I've been downsizing to sell my house. I have bought a couple things at a great price. Since it's a non profit I prefer donating to them over other thrift shops who have little knowledge of crafting. That said, I had the fiskers platform. I hated it. The same reason you did. It was impossible to get it positioned to restamp. Crafters companion has a similar one. But, they finally made a base/ tray where the feet fits into so it stays in the same position. I still prefer the misty. Most of what you showed , I still have.
I think i had (have) ask of these tools. What a hoot.
Yes the streaming tool is meant to be stamped on the images not the orange dots.
Think you have the bow maker essentially right but maybe way too wide that size ribbon
Finally the stencil cutter. I had that sans heaps I’d templates. Think i gave them to my Neice for school. You have to have the depth order blade just right (you adjust it by screwing it’s up or down at the top, and it should rotate freely in the bends. It does take a bit if practice but works well on the templates. However much easier with wafer thin does nowadays. I still use some of my Tin Holtz Sizzix “fat” dies. Lol
Please do some more of these videos! I like seeing the “vintage” tools! I love the reuse store idea, and I wish we had one here in North Louisiana!
I live in Lafayette, Louisiana, and wish we had such a vintage store here.
A reuse store for crafting! Oh my, I would be in big trouble if I lived near one!!! I have been scrapbooking since 2001 and have a large collection of the Sizzix dies and I love them! I have the latest technology too, but I find myself needing something really quick and grabbing one of those still to this day!! I recently took the time to create a notebook that indexed them, so I can quickly look thru the notebook to find what I need, vs. looking thru the dies. I don't know what I didn't think of that years ago. I could have made it so much easier to use them. Better late than never!! 😀😀😀😀
Vintage crafts bring back so many memories. There's a family-owned craft store I used to visit and the vintage tools and kits they would keep in stock were mind boggling. I collect unwanted crafts from my friends and they think I'm nuts. Love second hand stores too. What vintage tools lack in convenience, they make up for in durability and nostalgia.
Thank you so fun! I purchased a Fiskars shape cutter with orange templates about 20 years ago because I couldn’t justify spending the money on a Sizzix Big Shot. Letters and shapes. Used it a lot for kids projects. Once you get used to it works well. I used it until the cutter broke. Talking about buying used craft supplies. I love going to estate sales and bought a envelope punch board, a scoring board and an pillow box punch about a year and half ago. I watched videos on how to use the first two and found so many interesting ideas. I ended up buying a Sizzix Big Shot. I am having so much fun with these items. So in conclusion old doesn’t mean it’s bad just creative. 😃
I also wanted to let your know watching videos I learned you can use that silicone rubber and impression pad to emboss using stencils. Just in case you didn’t know which you probably do. From top to bottom. 1 Impression pad, 2 silicone rubber, 3 paper, 4 stencil, 5 clear plate ( or scratched in my case) and 6 platform. 😃
I have a Friskars, die cutter, that must weigh about 25lbs. I asked someone if they had a manual cutter they weren't using. When they brought it out, i was like wow. I definitely had to figure out, the different plates with new dies but it's been fun and it still works great
Shape Cutter Tip: I think the orange knob at the top of the Fiskars shape cutter is meant to loosen the blade a bit in order to glide smoothly. Also, the angle of the blade is an indicator on what position to start off at the beginning of the cut. I still have mine and I use it sometimes to cut tags from the Fiskars shape templates.
I've got about 35 years under my belt with stamping. And boy, did you bring back some memories? And just recently, I got rid of my fiskers tools. That you just got i decided that I had no more use for them since the dies are all on trend right now. I will mention to you, Fiskars has a lifetime warranty on them, so if anything goes wrong on any of their tools. Scissors, die cuts, anything, they'll replace it free of charge. Just thought you might like to know.
Loved this. great video. I still have one of those Fiskars platforms. I don't think I used it much. I am pretty sure I still have the cutter with a few of the templates laying around too, along with some of the Sizzix dies. I kept the dies because they belonged to my mother. I have wanted to go to the Creative Resuse store in Austin. There's a similar store in San Antonio. I've been once and keep meaning to return. And, now I'm invested in trying to find instruction for that bow maker!
Try using just one of your cutting plates for cutting and keep the second one clean. Once the cutting plate is no longer usable swap it out for the one that you kept clean and grab a new one and continue the same way.
We have a Reuse store here in Richmond, Virginia. Guilty pleasure shopping there.
Kudos on your adventurous spirit!😊. That thick die we used those in elementary school to create bulletin boards, classroom decorations and learning aides. Thanks for the fun flashback.
This circle cutter that you used is what I used years ago. There was also a product called coluzzle which had a funny tiny blade that went inbetween hard plastic and could cut out numbers, letters or patterns.
The nice thing about the big dies is that you can also cut other materials, such as cloth!
I have been calling fiskars the same as you for 60+ years. So, I think it's correct.
If he finds the Coluzzle his mind would blow, lol.
Omg the Coluzze! I worked at ProvoCraft when that came out and man, they really thought they would replace steel rule dies with it 😅
3:41 the bigz dies are good for a few layers of fabric also.
I have the Fiskars stamp platform plus many other things you probably don’t remember. My platform has a bottom plate and you can use magnets to hold it down, just like the newer ones.
The thick dies are called “steel rule” dies. I have quite a few….picked them up (mostly Sizzix) when they were being discontinued some years back at ACMoore (now closed.) They are great and are really easier to use than the thin metal ones. One con is, however, that they don’t give you the level of detail that thin metal ones do…like the edge embossing. They can be used in virtually every brand of die cutting machines. If you want to buy them online, you’re likely to pay a premium for them now.
I got the few I have from Scrapbook.come not knowing what Bigz dies were. It wasn't worth sending them back, so I still have them, but don't know where they are...
They are also called bigs or bigz dies.
On the stamp & press.. I would use your grid mat on the table.... using a sticky mat or taping the paper down while aligning it with your grid lines to mat.. then using the press & stamp while aligning that with your grid line mat so you know exactly where to go if you need to restamp
Oh heavens! We used those thick foam dies at school. We had entire alphabets, every shape imaginable, numbers, etc. They were very helpful in making bulletin boards. We had a very strong hand press for cutting multiples.
I also have a Fiskars stamp press. Precursor to the Misti. Press the stamp. Not the corners.
I love my Bigz dies! There are longer ones too. You can cut multiples at the same time if there isn’t a fold on the die (I think I can cut up to 6 pieces of cardstock at one time). I used to make cut snowflakes from soda cans and use them as ornaments. The stamp platform was never designed to do multiple restamps, but was the first stamp platform sold (that I’m aware of). A lot of new stamper have difficulty with getting an inked halo around the edge, often caused from rocking the stamp. This eliminates that. It can be used for the red rubber cling stamps as well as the clear ones (different thicknesses). There was another blade cutter called the Coluzzle that had a swivel blade. I used it like crazy and owned dozens of their stencils (I may still own them lol)
Some of those bring back some old memories of stamping
My stamp platform is so old that the foam “legs” perished. I now use it as a paint palette
I have a large acrylic block that I use as a paint palette too!
For the big die need to use 2 clear plates. I do have my envelope die made like that and is perfect for my machine.
I'm retired now, but when I taught elementary school we had an Ellison machine that took dies the thickness of the Bigz dies. Some were huge (maybe 12" x 12") and the machines had either a crank handle or a press. We made all sorts of things with them, from bulletin board shapes to boxes to masks for plays. I loved it and used it frequently, which is what got me interested in paper crafts to begin with.
I still use those thick die at times…. Years ago, my Cub Scout den cut metal snowflakes out of the aluminum from empty pop cans we recycled/repurposed…. They loved it!
Fun walk down memory lane! I own several of the tools you found. I have the stamp press with the orange foam. It doesn't restamp well, so do not pull it up. You can press again as long as you do not move anything. The Misti tool basically took over and this tool sits unused. I have the shape cutter and many plastic shapes to cut with it. It has a learning curve but it will cut. You have to set your blade properly to use it. Dies have basically made that tool another that doesn't get used. It was fun to watch you give these tools a try.
I can imagine the shapecutter would be helpful for cutting out stamps if you got good at it!
I loved this video down memory lane!
I can only chuckle as I watch this. Not only have I seen and used these things, I still own some of them and still love some of them. Those thicker dies can cut materials that the wafer thin dies cannot, and are very useful.
Oh, Richmond Texas here!
Please make more videos!! I'm so obsessed with your content ❤❤
Ok... more please! I am a craft supply hoarder aficionado and I get most all of my goodies from thrifting. So I recently acquired one of those Fiskars (Fiskers ;) ) stamping platform things, and as I was trying to figure it's purpose and positives out I was having the exact conversation with myself that you had on this video. Too funny. Bring us more! You never know when we might find a gem in the junk. Happy crafting!
Haha I love that title!
Sizzix and other companies still make many steel rule dies.. Used for batch making and especially felt and foam. Your silicone mat is still used for embossing thin dies, embossing thin die outlines on card and sometimes with old embossing folders. Most tools that went out of use was because they were time consuming and not very pratical.. That's progress! Those of us who produce to sell need tools that are practical.. After over 20 years I have a very good selection.. Some things change manufacturers, colour, name etc and get put back into the market at twice the price!!!
The Fiskars die is primarily for cloth cutting, like quilters.😊😊😊
The texture plates came with a tool with little round nubs on the bottom. You placed the paper on the plate, then ran the tool over the paper to get your impression. All depended on how much pressure you used on how good your impression was. Fun video.
Back when we used the stamp press, we mostly had the wooden block stamps.
How did you use the stamp press with wood-block-mounted stamps? Mine doesn't look like it is raised up far enough to accommodate a wooden block stamp.
Yes, the Stamppress is unsteady when pushing it down to stamp an image, but you need to press and hold it down for a few more seconds than you were doing, to let the ink soak into the cs, or paper. Once you press it down, don't let it move and then release it and you might get a better, more complete stamped image. Might... I only used my Stamppress a few times before I got my Misti stamp platform, which is way easier to use and much more successful in getting a good print. This is such a fun video to be watching!!! Thanks so much!
thrift store for craft supplies! We need that here int he UK, Fantastic. This video is a great idea, I keep finding old stash and new uses for it too. Great video, thanks for this one
So glad this YT popped up to view. We're heading home to Austin & family in a few weeks. Never heard of this store, probably started after we left, but will certainly visit. Tkx for sharing &🤘
I really liked this video. I think we really need to give these products some grace. They were HUGE innovation of their day. Pioneers. Without these, we would not have the tools we use today. We've come a long way. Thanks to these products.
(I still have acrylic stamp blocks with velcro on them to attach your red rubber stamps. How far we've come!)
I still use red rubber stamps but attach them to my stamping platform with double sided tape.
I found an Etsy listing for the bow master, (already sold, but had good photos). You seem to be missing the pegs that extend the height to give you more vertical space to work with. But the Etsy listing also had this to say about the item "Made in USA 1994 by BowMaster in Kingston, MA. Very good vintage condition. Original receipt says purchased in 1996 from QVC." so, maybe searching by date or with any of that info would help find more stuff about it.
There used to be a similar type store in the Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis. Broad Ripple is kind of a village that was surrounded by Indianapolis over the years. I believe it is out of business now.
The Stamp Press is not meant to re stamp in the same place, it's just another type of stamping "block", gave you safe hovering over the area before touchdown. Not an early MISTI, the Samp-a -ma-Jig was. It's like comparing taking pictures with a phone vs a Polaroid... not the same.
That is a very old Fiskars stamping platform. They have come along way with their stamp platforms and stamping blocks. Only the "book style " platform are designed for restamping. Wrmk has stamp presses with a bottom platform. Stamp blocks and what you tried are single stamp. Unless you're really confident 8n your stamping ability and stamp stick with a stamp platform.
Loved this video! I love Bigz dies, I use them all the time. Please do another one 😊
I used the Coluzzle cutting system before I got my Spellbinders thin oval nesting dies and a Wizard. Used the Wizard quite a bit for cutting & embossing before I changed to the Big Shot.
Me too. I didn't like the coluzzle. When the Wizard came out it was revolutionary. So many things you could do with it!
Is the Wizard by Spellbinders? I have one of the first die cutters by Spellbinders. It was a ratchet-driven pass-through die cutting machine.
@@mawmawvee yes. I have one too.
@@mawmawvee Yes that sounds like the Wizard by Spellbinders
@@mandersen8053Thanks so much.
Hey I have the whole kit for the bow maker...it comes wit a vhs tape several things of ribbons an a few other things...I had no idea how to use it but the instructions that came in the box was very descriptive...I gave it to my neighbor bcuz she makes bows
I think the bow maker is missing parts. Also, it appears that it once came with a VHS instructional video!🤩
I still have and sometimes use the Fiskars stamp thing. My mini MISTI was too small for a project I was working on recently, and I hate my Tim Holtz platform. So, I pulled out the Fiskars foam thing. It stamps really well. You just have to go at it from the middle.
The Fiskars shape cutter was not user error. That thing just sucks. There's a reason no one uses it any more!
It was fun to watch, but as a newbie wannabe crafter/stamper, I def won't try these. haha! I need the K.I.S.S method :)
For the Stamping Platform watch Maymaymadeit - she still uses it ... the trick is to press in the middle when you stamp ... it works great for large background stamping ... GREAT video!!
Hi there Ralph, I have the shape cutter. I find it best to cut on a glass mat, and the blade should jiggle about in the housing, for the blade to turn in any direction freely, yours looks and sounds too tight. When it's in use, it's like going around the template with a pencil, and it is a beautiful smooth cut. I hope you try it again.
Love your videos. Nuala xx
thanks for the tips!
I loved this video! I inherited all of my Mother-in-Laws craft stash and there are things like this that I have no idea how to use, so this is actually really helpful! Gives me the courage to grab some of that stuff and start playing with it.
Came from watching you make awesome cards I love this stuff I wish there was a craft thrift near me lol ❤❤ probably for the best cause you know how that goes 😊I can barely stay away from regular thrift stores 😅 thanks for sharing xx
You're missing the long pegs that fit in the spaces where you are wrapping the ribbon. I ordered this from QVC probably 25 years ago and have made literally hundreds of bows for weddings, holidays, etc. It really does a good job, but I have replaced it with the Bowdabra.
I had a bunch of the fiskars templates. There was a definite learning curve, but they were neat, because you could get lots of shapes without having to freehand cut. And personal die-cut machines weren't a thing, yet. And i still have a bunch of texture plates. I love them! Maybe it's nostalgia, but i still think they work great. I find i get about the same impression as a 2-d embossing folder. Finding thr correct sandwixh can be tricky.
I used to have that shape cutter and loved it!
The plate and rubber mat is still useful for other techniques. One example is using it with a stencil to essentially emboss with the stencil as the rubber pushes the stencil into the cardstock.
I used to have some of those Fiskars cutting tools and never did get them to work for me.
You can use that embossing silicone mat and plastic mat also to emboss with dies and stencils (different sandwich for each). I've never seen that bow maker before and I've been crafting a long, long time. I have many, many Bigz dies and Sizzlits as I have the original die cut machine with the lever and there were NO thin dies at that time. Eventually, the thin wafer dies came into vogue and Sizzix had a adapter for the original machine so you could put them through, too. Hated the shape cutter. Never tried the Fiskars stamp "platform." Thank goodness. Fun video. TFS It's great to see how far tools have come and how much easier to create a decent product these days.
I believe the stamp platform was used more for making sure you were stamping where you wanted it not to restamp.
Hi Ralph! I'm also in TX :) I've been crafting for a lot longer than you. The first black die is a Sizzix die, it was made for the first Sizzix die cutter (a red one) it had a lever that you had to push down really hard. As you said the advantage of that kind of die is that enabled you to cut a larger variety of materials beside paper. The stamping platform from fiskars (I pronounce it just as you do) is what came out before the Misty, in an effort to make stamping more accurate and efficient. I still have mine even though I don't use it anymore. Cardmaking is also my little happy place, where I forget about everything. It's just me and my blank paper... and then the creative juices begin to flow. Glad you found your happy place too. Looking forward to see more of your videos.
How much fun to watch. Just last week I was at a thrift store and researching to see if I could find the plates for this crazy mini portable cutter you rolled with your hand. Wised up and set it back on the shelf.
Love, love my mini sizzix
These tools are a sign of progress. I have 3 of the tools you demoed. I do like the bigz dies for chipboard. Thanks for some fond memories from card maker who has been making cards longer than you have been alive
It’s so fun seeing newer crafter’s coming across the tools etc that many of us ‘oldies’ were using back in the day. You certainly can’t go wrong with Fiskars, I’m still using my big scissors and small embroidery ones for fussy cutting, I also still have my embossing plates. The stamping platform if memory serves was the first stamping platform on the market. The wonderful thing about the bigz dies is being able to use anything in your stash and so much more 🎉
When I bought my Big Shot there was a Bigz die in the kit and I've picked up a few in charity shops since then (including a beautiful Tim Holtz bird cage). I believe Sizzix still make them. They are brilliant at cutting thicker papers and card and I use them a lot.
I had a stamp press for a while but never really took to it and as soon as I could afford a stamping platform I replaced it. Again, they are still made but the hinged stamping platforms are more popular I believe.
This was a great video and I'd love to see more. And you have a crafting thrift store near you? Wonderful! I'm very jealous!
I sat Fiskars the same way you do, seems fine to me. Great testing Ralph, very interesting too
Bigz dies are so satisfying lol. I like to cut cardboard/poster board with them, and then you can use the cut as a stencil or the piece can be used to emboss paper too.
I think bow makers are generally used with wider, non-fabric ribbons like for gifts or floral arrangements. It was painful to watch you using it :P
I have one of those Fiskars platforms so old the foam rotted out lol. It was definitely groundbreaking when it first came out. You were supposed to press over the stamp. It wasn't really good for restamping, but good for doing a layout and precise placement of the stamp. It wasn't perfect because of the bounce and wiggliness of the foam, but it was better than nothing.
When you mentioned the embossing plate, I thought you might have had some of the Fiskar's ones that you used with an embossing tool. They had a special multi pronged tool that you had to run over the whole page, and they were a PITA. You usually had to use some wax paper to help it glide. I bet you would have had better results with the plate if you misted the paper first - very lightly, like, spray into the air and wave the paper through it.
On the cutter: it could have been stiff due to age, but TBH, I don't think they worked so great. I have a simple swivel head Xacto style knife cutter, and that thing is so difficult to control and you can see the blade. Probably would do better if you went around once without much force, then again - it may be the pressure making it difficult to change directions.
Totally fun, glad the RUclips algorithm thought I'd enjoy this :)