With less than a week to go until the launch of the Brother Scan N Cut machine on Create and Craft TV I thought that I would do a series of posts to explain a little more about this exciting new tool and what I have been making with it.

I have been posting pics on Facebook of things that I have been making recently but haven’t really had the chance to explain which aspects of the machine helped create them so this first post will be a closer look at some of my creations.

The Lacey Frame

Using Serif Craft Artist, I designed a simple repeat pattern using ovals and then printed it out. This was then scanned through the Brother Scan N Cut and converted automatically into a cutting file which I then cut from white cardstock.
The same process was used to create the scalloped border.
For the sentiment panel I first stamped out the sentiment, then scanned a preview onto the screen of the Scan N Cut and then loaded one of the pre-installed shapes and cut it out. I then increased the size and cut a layer from black cardstock.

Patchwork Card

The Brother Scan N Cut machine comes pre-installed with 100 quilt block patterns. When loading these up to cut you have the choice to create the complete block at a size of your choice. The machine then automatically resizes of all of the elements and you can then cut each group of pieces from a different coloured fabric or cardstock.
After assembling the pieces on an A4 piece of cardstock I then used the Perfect Layers Rulers to add a little border to the design and then embellished it with some flowers that I cut using a pre-installed design.

Notebook

This notebook was a cheapo one from Sainsburys and was in dire need of a little decoration.
I created the lacey background design with the same design that I made the Lacey Frame from the earlier card and then cut some panels for the letters.
The letters were cut using one of the five built in fonts available on the machine.

Happy Birthday Card

This card was mostly made with the Brother Scan N Cut machine.
The squares and layers for the squares were all cut using the machine.
The sentiment was one that I quickly put together in Serif Craft Artist, printed, scanned and converted automatically. This gave me the option to add a shadow layer aswell.

Simply Fabulous Card

This card again used a lot of pre-installed elements.
The background was created by cutting multiple versions of the zig zag border in different coloured cardstock and then assembling them onto another piece of card.
The star topper was cut using a pre-installed shape and cut at different sizes from different cardstock.
The sentiment was stamped and then I used the “fussy cutting” feature to scan a preview of the stamped cardstock in so that I could align the circle precisely before cutting.

Home Cushion

This machine has been designed with features installed that are perfect for use with fabric crafts. Creating applique letters is definately one. These letters had a heat fusible bond added to the back and then were cut using the machine.
I then adhered them to the fabric panel and did some satin stitching around the edge.

You And Me Card

The multi-layered heart and the sentiment for this card were both pre-installed shapes. I used traditional methods to create the background layers.

Purple Patchwork Panel

Remember I told you about those 100 built in patchwork patterns earlier? This is a version that I did with fabric. The exciting thing about the machine though is that it will draw in your seam allowance and then cut out each shape so that you don’t have to mark the seam allowance in after you have cut out the design.
Again, just as a reminder, I had the option to direct the machine to create the shapes at a size that will give me a specific block size when it was assembled.

Green Godess

I was both please and weirded out by this card when I had finished it. The snowflake flowers were all cut using the Brother Scan N Cut. With the basic pre-installed shapes I was also able to create shadow layers.
The digi stamps were all cut with the machine using that “Fussy Cutting” feature that I talked about earlier. I did however cut the layers using the Perfect Layers Ruler so that I could free the machine up to continue cutting other items for me.

Sixties Spiral

By this point I was getting a little bit more confident and was starting to look at ways of using some of the other features.
The spiral background was designed in Serif Craft Artist, scanned and converted automatically – then cut.
The flowers were cut using a combo of pre-installed designs (for the large flower) and flowers that I had designed (for the smaller flowers. I cut them from white card and coloured with Spectrum Noir pens to coordinate with the main design.
Now for the exciting bit! I cut out the digi stamp with a perfect border using the “Direct Scan” feature.

Tempting Trellis

I used the same processed as in the previous card but this time to design, scan and cut the trellis background and then “Direct Cut” the stamped champange bottle and champagne flute aswell as the circular layers that went behind them.

Fairy Fancy

This design was a digital punch from Serif Craft Artist that I printed, scanned, converted and then cut.
The gems were a bit of a chore, but I think they look good.
I still think that I would change the bow next time.

Ok, anyway, that’s about it for now.

If you want to know more, please feel free to list ANY questions or comments below, and I will either try and answer them here, or on the shows.

The shows will be shared between Mel Heaton and myself and start on Create and Craft TV at 2pm on Saturday January 11th, 2014 (saying that still seems weird).

I have got more to make over the next week and will also be working on more blog posts in the near future, but I hope that you can see some of the features coming through.

Many thanks for reading.

I look forward to seeing you on the day!

J :)