Sizzix Storage

So today's post is on Framelit and Thinlit storage.
And trust me, it was born out of necessity.
I had Framelits that were released earlier in the year that were still in the molded plastic packaging, which is large.  I work in a small room, where storage is at a premium, so when I saw that Sizzix had introduced plastic envelopes I wanted to try them out to see if I could recoup some storage space.  

The envelopes come in a 3 pack.  They fit both Framelits, which come with rubber stamps and the "frames" to cut them out, as well as Thinlits which are only the wafer-thin metal pieces.  An easy way to remember the difference is that Thinlits cut a shape or word and Framelits always "frame" a stamped image.

I used my P-touch to add the name across the top.  My Brother P-touch is about 25 years old and it still works like a charm!

Once I had all the envelopes labeled, I went to Home Depot to get a few packages of Magnetic Vent Covers ($4.50 a package).  Each package 8 x 15" can be cut into pieces to fit the Sizzix envelopes.

NOTE: In Home Depot they can be found right next to the metal registers or vents.  I found them both on a lower shelf and hanging on a plastic 'clip strip' at eye level.  They are also sold at Lowe's.

The magnet sheets are thin which is perfect to use inside the Sizzix envelopes.  I used my roller cutter to cut the magnetic sheets, but a metal ruler and X-Acto knife would work also.  I cut 2" off one side (save this piece) leaving a piece 15 x 6".
NOTE: The roller cutter can cut at least two sheets at a time.

  

Turn the 15 x 6" piece and cut into three - 5 x 6" pieces.  With each package you can get NINE 5 x 6" pieces making it about 50 cents per envelope.  I don't think that's to bad!

For Framelits - the stamp is already on plastic.  I faced the stamp to the front with the label.

NOTE: the magnet sheets are white on one side and black on the other.  

Only the black side is magnetic.  

Then added the metal Framelits pieces to the magnet sheet and slipped it into the back.  Easy.

Tim's Framelits will always fit onto one sheet.  However, Thinlits do not come with the rubber stamps...just metal cut pieces and I found that many of the new Thinlits (that are being released soon) required more than one sheet.   For instance the new Holiday Words has two or three words that will not fit on the one sheet.  This is where the 15 x 2" piece of magnet sheet (the one we saved after cutting) comes into play.  Just cut to the size you need and slip it into the plastic cover.

Alphanumeric is one of the new sets that starts shipping in August.  I found it to be the hardest to control.  Once you open the package all the letters have to be removed from the backing.  If I moved them to the envelope it would be a nightmare to find the letters you need quickly.  Enter the magnet sheet - problem solved.
It took 2 magnet sheets to hold all the pieces but well worth the effort.  I can now easily find the letters I need.

Now if you are smart, maybe you saved the picture packaging and you can skip this step.  I did not.  So I created a document on my computer to print the images for the new envelope.  Drag and drop or right click until you have 4 pictures per page.  Then print and cut the images apart.  You can see I just pulled these images from Tim's blog post about the new product. 

Once cut apart, I used a small amount of adhesive to adhere the image to the front of the magnet sheet.

I currently store my envelopes in a turquoise bin that I already own.  These are made by See Jane Work, found at Office Depot. 

If you're looking for something that can stow them away, out of sight, I would suggest the linen covered box Sizzix makes for Bigz dies.  The box is super sturdy and the plastic envelopes fit right inside.

I hope this post gives you some ideas on storing your Framelits and Thinlits.  I know I am super happy I took the time to add mine to the envelopes.  I cut all the magnet sheets to size, then worked on them while I watched Project Runway.  That's a win-win situation in my book!

It just so happens that Linda Ledbetter's 

Compendium of Curiosities 3 - Challenge #9 

 happens to be Framelits! 

The challenge is open till Friday Aug. 29th 

so you still have plenty of time to join in on the fun 

(and maybe win a great prize).

now carry on,
paula

InLinkz.com

Sizzix Storage

Jay here...
It's taken years for me to learn, but when Paula says something like, "I don't have a place to keep the dies for the Vagabond machine all together."  The translation is, "can you build me some sort of shelves for them?"  Her collection really had outgrown its previous storage locations around the studio.  Since her Vagabond lives on a counter top in the studio where the basic Sizzix supplies are stored in the drawers below, this was the logical place for it.  Some quick measurements proved that shelves would fit perfectly behind the Vagabond.  The first step was to decide on what size to make it.  The width would be the same as the cabinet it would sit on and the height would be somewhere between 45"-47" depending on the how many shelves we put in.  Final dimensions are 311/2" x 48".  Now for the shelves.  Since the dies are 51/2" x 6", we settled on a depth of 61/4" and height of 6" between shelves.

Now it was off to Home Depot.  Here's what I bought:
           one 1"x 8" pine board, 8 feet long (for the two sides)
           four 1"x 8" pine boards, 6 feet long (the top, bottom and six shelves)
           (all of the other supplies I already had)

With lumber in hand, first step was to rip (trim the boards going with the grain) to the proper width (61/4") on the table saw.  This is always a fun way to make loads of saw dust.  The 8' board was cut in two pieces, 47" each (sides) and one of the 6' boards was cut in two pieces 311/2" each (the top & bottom).  At that point, I could have easily just grabbed some screws and done a layout of the pieces and screwed it all together.  Just about the time I start thinking that way the voice in my head says, "do it right or don't do it".  Sometimes that my grandpa's voice, but usually it's Paula's dad's voice.  Okay, then.  Dado joints and rabbet joints it would be.

So, with that motivation, I carefully measured and sketched the layout of the shelves on each of the sides with pencil.  I then used a Skilsaw to cut the outside edge of each dado joint that the shelf would fit in.  The final step was to use a router bit to trim out the rest of the joint making sure that the shelves would make a snug fit (see picture below).  I used a similar process on the top and bottom to make a rabbet joint for the sides.

Once the boards were cut, all of the pieces got a good sanding first with 100 grit sand paper and then with 220 grit.  Now, it was just a matter of fitting the pieces of the puzzle together.  To assemble,  I just needed some wood glue. I did use some finish nails to hold the top, bottom and sides together. 

Once the exterior was assembled, I made a final measurement between the dado joint on each side for the shelves.  They needed to fit in that dado joint and trimming the shelves to 305/8" long was a perfect fit.  Applying some wood glue to the joint and with a little coaxing by a rubber mallet, the shelves fit into place, no nails or screws needed.

Paula had decided she wanted it painted her current favorite color, Iced Spruce.  So, off we went to the hardware store to buy a quart of paint.  Benjamin Moore Paint doesn't call it Iced Spruce but I swear that's the color it is.  The Benjamin Moore color we used was 1565 Mount Saint Anne. 
After I painted it, Paula used her magic and sanded the edges, then rubbed on some brown paint to grunge it up a bit. 

 

Once painted and grunged, we put it in place and used a simple L bracket screwed into the top and the wall to keep it from tipping over.  That would not be a good thing.

 

Paula here.
First, thanks to my husband for building me such an awesome cabinet to store the dies.  When I started putting the dies in I realized it was going to hold WAY more dies than I thought.  Each shelf can hold about 40 Bigz dies (8 per stack).  So I had plenty of room to organize them!  I have Halloween on the top shelf.  Christmas on the second shelf and then alphabetically after that.   My Bigz XL dies are on the bottom shelf since they are the heaviest.  On the edge dies and Frameworks are on the shelf right above.  I still have plenty of room to grow the collection over time.

I also love the fact that I now have some room to display some of the cards I have created for blog tutorials.  I have never really had that kind of display space available in my small room.  So the space that used to be occupied by a rarely used bulletin board is being put to a much better use these days.  Cheers to that!

now carry on,
paula