The Wizard Embossing and Die Cutting System is universal,  that is, it will cut dies from other manufacturers.  The Wizard comes with all the mats you will need to cut Spellbinder’s Die Templates and dies from other manufacturers.  The Universal Adaptor Mat is our focus.  It is a semi transparent mat measuring 5 3/4 inches square, and 1/8 inch thick.

Today’s post is on cutting steel rule dies, which include Sizzix Originals, Sizzix Alphabars, Bigz, and Thick Cutz, ZipESlim wood mounted and Cross-Cuts.

The sandwich is easy, place the Universal Adaptor Mat, the material to cut, the die with cut side down.  This sandwich feeds with the back side of the die making contact with the rollers.

A few pointers on the Universal Adaptor Mat:

• It is a semi transparent square mat that measures 5 ¾ inches by 5 ¾ inches, 1/8 inch thick.
• Flip the mat over, you can cut on both sides.
• Rotate the mat each time you cut with it, so the mat will wear evenly.
• It will curve and bow with use, but that won’t affect the results of the cut.
• It is a durable mat and will last a long time, even if it looks quite cut up.
• It should not be used as a Spacer Plate with the Master Mats in the Wizard

Thanks for stopping by, and happy die cutting!

Beth

Today’s Savvy Saturday technique takes a look at a way to use Spellbindersâ„¢ Die Templates that you may not have thought of…embossing them only (from the top side). But let’s get right to it and soon you’ll be seeing these babies from all sides.

Sally Lynne MacDonald, a member of our 2008 Design Team, created a card that is perfect for this time of year (I know this because I watch the Weather Channel for fun sometimes and see those little snowflakes all over the US map.)

Sally Lynn

This elegant winter card has a lot of interesting elements going on, so let’s pull it apart and show off some of Sally Lynne’s techniques.

1) By layering her dies inside her sandwich in a different way, Sally Lynne created the look of swirling snow. She used S4-121 Doodle Parts to emboss into the card. If you want to create this look, layer the following:

• White Master Mat
• Die Templates in a pleasing pattern with cut edges face down
• White Core Paper with the side you want to show, face down
• Embossing Pad
• White Master Mat

Then sand the embossed paper to bring out the white core. Cool, hugh!

2) Sally Lynne’s added just a little something subtle to her snowflake. Can you see it? Look carefully at each layer to see which ones she placed with the embossed side facing up and which layers she placed with the embossed side facing down. As I said, it is subtle but it creates some interesting textural effects. So, just cut and emboss the S4-085 Snowflake Wonder normally out of Spellbinders Craft Foils or even a Coke Can. Then, stack the snowflake with some layers face up and some face down. Niiiice!

3) The last little element I want to draw your attention to is Sally Lynne’s tag/ribbon at the bottom. Cut/Emboss the S4-081 Tags Five from a shimmery white paper such as WorldWin Petallics. Fold it in half. Cut a length of swirly ribbon (by Creative Impressions) that will go around the card front with enough to tie a knot. No need to use adhesive on the tag, wrap it around the right edge of the card and thread the ribbon through the end holes on the top and bottom. What a fab look as it echoes the background of the card.

Assemble the card: Don’t forget to cut/emboss a S4-131 Scalloped Rectangle. Then using a glitter brad from Creative Impressions add the stacked snowflake to the scalloped mat. Adhere it to the embossed background. Add the entire piece to a card base and Voila!

Thanks Sally Lynne for inspiring us all in such a COOL way (lol). See you all soon, Eli

Today’s Designer Spotlight is on Sharon Harnist, a member of the 2008 Spellbinder’s Design Team. Welcome Sharon and thanks for sharing your work and thoughts with us!

Tell us how you got started crafting.
I’ve been crafting since I was a little girl, mostly by doing it with my Mom, latchhook rugs, cross-stitch, embroidery, sewing clothes, ceramics, you name it!  I discovered scrapbooking shortly after I married 14 years ago and the whole new world of paper crafting opened up to me!

Do you have an art or design background?
No, but I loved the art classes I took all through school.

What is your favorite die? Favorite technique? Favorite Preferred Product?
My favorite dies are the Nestabilities, they fit in so well with all the other paper crafting I do.
My current favorite technique is using the dies to stencil with the Copic Airbrush System.  The airbrushing gives such a soft, pretty color (or more vibrant, if you choose) and covers a large area very quickly.  I really like the contrast of the uncolored areas of paper to the airbrushed colored embossing.
My favorite Preferred Product is Lockhart Stamp Company’s stamp images, they are sweetly whimsical while still being elegant and there’s a wide variety for every occasion.

Do you prefer to make cards or scrapbooks or altered items?
Really, everything!  Cards are easier and quicker for me to design.  I love scrapbooking my daughters but pages usually take me a very long time to complete, I guess because I think too much about the longevity of the project!  I’m growing to love altered art a lot more and love to make things for my children.

How many hours a week do you craft?
Too many, according to my husband!  Probably 20-24 hours a week.

What time of day do you usually craft?
During the day, when my children are in school, and late at night.

Do you craft by yourself or in a group?
I work better alone.

Paper, Hybrid or Digital?
I love paper and all the tactiles that go along with it, but am gradually venturing into the digital world.

Do you shop locally or online?
Mostly online. Believe it or not, even living in a large metropolitan area, I don’t have that many local craft stores.

Describe your style?
Eclectic, maybe? I vary between clean and simple to shabby/chic/distressed.

Where do you find inspiration for something new?

I usually start by browsing through patterned paper - that’s usually my jumping off point on any project.

What do you find most pleasing about crafting?
Taking a pile of paper, ribbon, stamps, dies, scissors and glue and turning it into a card to cheer someone’s day, a keepsake for our home, or an altered project that my girls can either play with or keep to treasure for years to come.

What kind of craft studio do you have?
Since we just moved last year, I’m lucky to have a whole room to myself. I think my husband just wanted to be able to close the door to my messy studio!

What are some tools that you could not live without (aside from Spellbinder’s products)?
1. Copic markers are my go-to coloring medium. They can be used to color rubber stamped images, ribbon, metal, wood - you name it!

2. Paper trimmer - I couldn’t cut a straight line, to save my life!

Share with us some of your favorite art!

I loved this patterned floral paper and how the color really draws attention on my daughter’s eyes. This scrapbook page was created pretty quickly, just by cutting around the pattern in the paper and letting the beautiful paper speak for itself.

I love the new Nested Bird die and how the Pierceabilities framed the roof line.

These are some of my favorite colors, rich and deep, and I liked the softness of the dimensional vellum butterfly.

Thank you, Sharon!

To learn more about Sharon Harnist, check out her bio and her personal blog, PaperFections.

The Charm Embossing Kit is an accessory to the Wizard, and  is used for embossing.  Yes, the Wizard already comes with all the mats you need to cut and emboss Spellbinder’s dies and our competitor’s dies.  The Charm Embossing Kit is used for embossing thicker things you have around your home and in your craft supply.   The kit includes 1 hard mat and 2 soft pads.  The Blue mat is thinner than the standard White mats and is used in place of one of the white mats in an embossing sandwich.  The Tan Embossing pad is the same pad you got with your Wizard.  Now you will have 2 of them, and that’s a good thing.  The Black Embossing pad is a different thickness and density than the tan pad.

Let me first start this discussion by saying that embossing non-flat items have a lot of variables, and the results will depend on what you are trying to emboss and the material you are embossing into.  Often there is experimentation involved. Thin craft foils, paper and cardstock are some common materials to emboss.

Lets start with a few tried and true items:

Fiskars Texture Plates provide a wide variety of textures for use in crafting.  These plates fit perfectly in the Wizard when you use the Charm Embossing Kit.  The sandwich is: Blue Mat, Fiskars plate with desired texture side up, material to emboss, Tan Embossing pad, and White Mat.

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders.  Yeah, you heard me.  You don’t need their machine to use their dies and accessories.  I think these work better in the Wizard anyway!  The sandwich is: Blue Mat, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder with material to emboss inside of it, Tan Embossing pad, White Mat.

Metal Charms, coins and other non-flat items can be reproduced for scrapbook pages, cards and altered crafts. Don’t use up your supply, reproduce them!  Emboss charms in the Wizard, fill the back side with glue so they keep their shape and use the reproduction on your project.  This concept works great for a large amount of cards or when an object’s weight or the cost of postage is an issue.  Because the size and depth of charms can vary, be sure to test them before using up your last piece of good paper or metal.

The Charm sandwich is Blue Mat, (I usually put a piece of scrap paper on it), charm/coin, material to emboss (good side up!) tan or black mat (or both if needed), White Mat.  While your sandwich might pass through the Wizard with ease, it does emboss.  If your sandwich is not feeding, remove some bulk and try again.  Do not try to force embossing sandwiches.  Also remember the Wizard exerts 3000lbs of pressure, and while some plastic items are great for embossing, a tight sandwich could break fragile items.

A few pointers for embossing items with dimension:

• Mist paper lightly with water or Paper Glide to loosen fibers
• Don’t try to cut a die with both the spacer plate and embossing pad in the sandwich
• To add bulk to a loose sandwich, shim with cardstock
• Use one or both embossing mats
• The black mat is more dense and may work better for more detailed items like coins.

Embellish your embossed items with chalk, ink, paint, etc, or for a distressed look, sand it!

Happy Embossing!

Beth (who apologizes for the funky spacing on this post!  I’m trying to get the hang of this software!)