Think back and you may recall scrapbooking the hard way. Those days are over! Enter the revolutionary Creatopia from Xyron, Cricut Expression from Provo Craft, Crop-A-Dile from We R Memory Keepers, and Epic Six from QuicKutz. These handy-dandy tools tackle tasks such as cutting, pressing, punching, and embossing with ease. With the following tools, tips, and ideas, you'll jump-start your creative jive, and it'll be better than ever!

Creatopia Pulls Out the Creative Stops

Say the name "Xyron," and most scrapbookers think "adhesive." It's time to expand on that! Xyron has rolled out an über-versatile machine, Creatopia, and with its modular components, you can experience a brave new crafting world. Check out the machine's capabilities:

• Apply adhesive to-or laminate-items up to 12" wide, 40' long, and 1/2" thick. Choose from permanent or repositionable adhesive. Or apply fabric adhesive in wide, long swaths as well.
• Emboss areas large and small with 12" wide pattern rollers or 3" wide border rollers. Keep on going-length is unlimited.
• Cut paper strips and finish edges using interchangeable blade cartridges in different styles: straight, perforated, scallop, wave, deckle, postage stamp and scoring (card lovers, rejoice!).
• Create rectangles, squares, and strips up to 12" wide in unlimited lengths.
• Use a 6" wide universal die press to cut and emboss. Relish how simple it is to use dies and embossing folders from leading manufacturers.

Create a cool distressed look by embossing, then sanding, white-core paper.

Fairy Houses by Kimber McGray, as seen in Creating Keepsakes' May/June 2010 issue.

To see the Creatopia in action, check out this video or click here.

^{- Learn about the Cricut Expression on page 2 -}

Appeared in:

May/June 2010