13 Alternate Uses for the Sizzix BigZ Die - Gingerbread by Tim Holtz

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I was in a store one day and saw a Sizzix Big Kick in periwinkle (my favorite Crayola color as a kid, so I fell for it - hook, line and sinker). I had no idea what it did other than that it seemed to be related to card making crafts / scrapbooking from the pictures on the box. Intrigued, and being an arts and crafts fan, I bought it.

Scrapbooking and cardmaking was not something I'd really delved into before (other than an embarrassing attempt years ago, at wedding invitations, which I hope no one still has a copy of).

There is so much to learn about scrapbooking, paper crafts and these embossing / die cutting machines!

Since getting it, I've read the manual, have been scoping "the goog" for project ideas and of course have been watching numerous YouTube tutorials.

I've discovered that (even though Sizzix sometimes doesn't mention this, probably incase it breaks your machine) you can cut and emboss THIN, thin metals possibly 24-30 gauge in this machine. I watched some Youtubes on how to up-cycle soda cans (or beer cans!) with Sizzix dies and embossing folders.

When I first bought it I was a little disappointed that mine didn't include any dies or folders. You see, I'm such a typical frugal Swede. But I really wanted to use this craft-tastic machine for something, so I went back out and bought a Sizzix BigZ Die - Gingerbread by Tim Holtz and a couple embossing folders. I could not stop cranking that handle, chortling while churning out gingerbread cookies in cardstock, felt and tin. It's positively addictive. But to get my money's worth, I thought to myself I'll have to come up with some alternative creative uses for these.

It took me some research to finally figure out how to properly use the embossing folders, but more on that some other day...

Now I want to share with you some of the alternative uses I thought of for the gingerbread shape.

With some minor additions you can create:
1. Monkey
2. Bear (Panda, Polarbear)
3. Rabbit
4. Frog - ribbit!

5. Lion

6. Person (nurse, doctor... the possibilities are endless!)

7. Christmas People (Swedish Tomte / Santa or Swedish S:t Lucia Girl)

And just to make this list of 13 extra spooky - some Halloween themed ideas!
8. Skeleton
9. Monster
10. Alien
11. Zombie
12. Devil
13. Voodoo Doll

Can you think of any others? Share in the comments below! Also, let me know if there's any interest in seeing pictures of these "alternative gingies". I sewed a few of them already and have quick sketches of others.

I told you I'm addicted to churning that Sizzix Big Kick handle, right?

Well, I made soooo many gingerbread man diecuts, that I decided to put them in my etsy shop. And you can buy all those lovingly churned felt die cuts here, in many different colors if you want to try these crafts out and you don't have a die cutting machine / gingerbread die.

There are also cardstock versions here.










And I intend to add my up-cycled coke can ones to the shop. But don't say I didn't warn you about the sharpness of some of the edges! Just like with getting paper cuts, you could catch these the wrong way and snag your skin.