Hey all, it’s Eli here with a very special announcement to make. We have a fabulous friend of Spellbinders™ who is joining us for the summer to help educate, entertain and inspire those of you who frequent the Spellbinders blog…YEAH. We needed someone to support Beth’s blogging efforts because I am taking the summer off to do some traveling with my family. So we thought of Margie Higuchi, who has been a fan/user of Spellbinders products almost since the beginning. She is known as MargieH on the boards so some of you probably already know her. I interviewed Margie a couple of weeks ago and this is what she had to say about her life as a crafter and the summer ahead.

ELI: Hi Margie, Welcome to Spellbinders™.

MARGIE: Thanks, Eli. I couldn’t be more thrilled to begin a summer of fun, hanging out with my good friend Beth and all the folks who visit the blog. I love to share my artwork and teach as I go along.

ELI: So how long have you been crafting?
MARGIE: It seems like I have crafted all my life…from when I was old enough to hold a crayon to what I do now which is paper crafting! I started paper crafting in the mid-70s. My father’s job took us all over the east coast, the south and the Midwest. So in order to remember each “hometown,” I would make a few pages of friends, neighborhood, school, etc. and add some memorabilia in my scrapbooks. That was the start of my scrapbooking! LOL!!

ELI: Like several of us around here, you’ve been crafting “forever”, but when and how did you “meet” the Wizard™.

MARGIE: A very dear friend was hooked on the Wizard™ and she had shown me the “PURPLE” side (the Wizard™ was purple at the time)…I was hooked! What can’t you do on this wonderful machine? OK…it can’t clean house for me or cook but it comes close!  LOL!! Seriously, the die templates are so detailed and you can’t get that anywhere else! So many ways to enhance a page or project (cutting, embossing and stenciling).

ELI: Do you have some favorite die templates? (I know there is no point in asking your precise favorite because no one can choose just one…)

MARGIE: Although I LOVE my Nestabilities™ sets (I have a lot!) recently, I have been getting into the Borderabilities®! I just purchased the Grand 12” Classic Lace Bordeabilities® (#S7-014) and I can’t wait to add it on my pages and cards! Heck I want it all! LOL! I’m having such fun!

ELI: I understand you are of Japanese descent and you teach in the Japanese community. Can you tell me about how that came about?

MARGIE: It started when I lived in NJ/NY area back in 2000. I was on the kindergarten yearbook committee for the Japanese Children’s Society (a Japanese international school) where my oldest son attended. The mothers saw my albums that I had brought as examples. I offered to teach them basics and it took off from there. In Chicago, I went to a series of Japanese card classes to make friends. When those classes were done, the students contacted me to see if I would teach them scrapbooking. Sure! LOL!! It has been going strong for about two years.

ELI: So what are you going to grace us with this summer?

MARGIE: I’m hoping to share the versatility of the Wizard™ and to show some “AHA” moments.  Of course, we have CHA (Craft & Hobby Assoc.) trade show coming up in July, so we’ll have some postings on that (wink, wink!). In addition to some FUN!! It’s all good but I don’t want to share too much…gotta have the surprise element in there. So stay tuned!

ELI: Any other thoughts before I show off some of your artwork and sign us off?

MARGIE: I just want to say thank you to everyone at Spellbinders for the opportunity to express my enthusiasm for the Wizard™! For me, it is truly the machine I go to–time after time.

Margie used the Labels 1 die template to create a shaped card which she embellished with Shapeabilities® Nested Butterfly. Love those colors!

Margie’s layout features a chain of Classic Scalloped Hearts, featuring her oldest son with his first girlfriend! Look carefully and see the Shapeabilties® Nested Bird cut out of plastic (using leftover transparency) and edges with ink…a sneaky little surprise right near the title.

Now this canvas is the one I can’t resist: Margie created a darling house and sunny scene, almost exclusively with Spellbinders™ die templates…see if you can find them all…

Classic Paisleys, Heritage Font (retired), Scalloped Circles, Pinking Circles, Shapeabilities® Nested Birds and Butterflies, Symbology, Brick Texture plate, { Brackets } (retired)…awesome, girl. Can’t wait to see what else you share with us…

To see get to know Margie more, please visit her personal blog, SCRAPS of (my) Life.

Have a great summer, everyone…I’ll see you in the fall. Eli

Or is it pressing?  I had to look it up.  Flower Pounding, generally done with a hammer, causes the juice and pigment from flowers to bleed into the paper or fabric.  Flower Pressing is a method of drying and preserving the actual flowers.  I will be showing you basic Flower Pounding using your Wizard.

I started by scavenging my yard for flower blooms.  Then I searched my craft room for watercolor paper, which I cut to 4 x 6″ pieces.  Fabric such as silk or muslin would work well too.

These are some of the blooms that work nicely:

This English Ivy leaf embossed, and left a tiny bit of green.  Other leaves more or less embossed the paper.  Leaves are difficult, they don’t contain pigment.

To “pound” flowers with the Wizard, you need the White Master Mats and Tan Embossing Pad, which came with your Wizard. The sandwich is the same as the embossing sandwich, just add flowers instead of die templates!

This is how I stacked my sandwich:
White Master Mat
Watercolor paper
Flower, pretty side down
Watercolor Paper (or wax paper, or plastic wrap, or paper towel- try each!)
Tan Embossing Mat
White Master Mat

Feed the sandwich into the Wizard once and your flowers are pounded.  Gently take apart your sandwich and peel off the spent flowers.  If the bloom is still intact you can pound it again, but know the result will be lighter.  You will find some blooms are juicier than others and some colors provide more pigment than others.  Allow the paper to dry and pound more flowers to make a larger design.  Flower pounding is a unique and fun way to capture a bit of nature in your artwork.

For my examples I chose the lobelia, creeping phlox and pansy poundings seen above. I cut/embossed them with Spellbinders Die Templates in the Wizard.  I started with My Minds Eye Penny Lane paper (both sides),  Core’dinations Whitewash cardstock, Creative Impressions ribbon and brads, and some lace from my stash. I used S4-174 Scalloped Edge Petite Border, S4-171 Nested Butterflies, S5-016 Polka Dot Frame (middle piece), and the S5-011 Scalloped Edge Frame (middle piece).

I made 2 cuts into the Nested Butterfly and tied the ribbon through the frame and butterfly.

Design Team Member Karen Hunsaker pounded blooms from her yard to make her See the Flowers Smiling card.  Karen embossed I2-1002 Impressabilities Butterfly and cut/embossed S4-138 Petite Ovals Large, included in her supplies are cardstock from The Paper Company, the Thoughtful stamp set from Hero Arts, and 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives.

I need to send a special Thank You to Design Team Alumnae Jeannette Stumpfel for her wisdom!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Beth

Octagon! STOP!!

Sometimes I have a hard time getting the image of a stop sign out of my head when I look at my Octagon die templates: plain or scalloped shapes. Well, I discovered a fun embossing technique that moves beyond this 8-sided icon and I wanted to share it with you.

First, snag your Wizard and gather up some Core’dinations cardstock (or other white or colored core paper). Add to that a set of Large Octagons, Blossom and Pinking Pierceability die templates and some embellishments. Make sure you have the Spellbinders Tan Embossing Mat because this card is built on the idea that embossing can be a feature of a project.

Start by laying down your White master mat, adding the Tan Embossing Mat and paper (I used pink for the flower.) Arrange the Octagons die templates (I did not use the largest in the series) with the cut edges facing the paper, with the points slightly askew as shown below.

Add the other white master mat and run through the Wizard to emboss. If you don’t have a Wizard, remember you can check out these vids on our main site. They’ll show you how to emboss in other machines.

Next, give the paper a nice sanding and see the core color pop. Use a Blossom die template to cut the outer shape of the die.

Cut a piece of green cardstock using the Pinking Pierceabilities die template.

To emboss some “mod” shapes into the grass strip, set up the sandwich to emboss only as before: White Mat, Tan Embossing Mat, cardstock, Octagon die templates cut edges facing paper, White Mat. Arrange the octagons for a funky pattern. Run through and sand.

Now, just assemble. I adhered the grass strip with dimensional adhesive and put one dimensional piece at the center of the flower as it has a natural curve.

Add rub-ons, some inking and a ribbon stem and Tadaaa–a funky use for Octagons…that never make you think Stop Sign.

Thanks for the idea, Eli!  I gathered up some supplies, including plastic from random packaging, Core’dinations Black Magic cardstock, Scrapbook Adhesives Super High Tack Tape, Copic Sketch Markers (BG 72,75,78, RV 09) and Airbrush System, Creative Impressions ribbon, Hero Arts Thoughtful clear stamp set, and Clearsnap Colorbox Black Pigment ink.  My Spellbinders supplies include S4-112 Classic Oval Small (largest die), I2-1002 Impressabilities Butterfly, S5-011 Scalloped Edge Frame, and Wizard.

Making this card is a three part process:   First, I cut an oval out of the front of a white card, if you don’t remember how, you can review this blog post.  Next, I cut and embossed the S5-011 Scalloped Edge Frame from the Core’dinations Black Magic cardstock.  I sanded the embossed areas to reveal the teal colored core.  I wove the Creative Impressions ribbon through the scalloped openings.

I took that random plastic packaging and embossed it with the Impressabilities Butterfly.  I taped the Impressabilities to the plastic (to keep it from moving) and airbrushed the four different colors onto the plastic through the Impressabilities Butterfly.  I trimmed the plastic so it was 3.1/4″ x 4 5/8″.

I used the Scrapbook Adhesives Super High Tack Tape to stick the plastic to the back of the Scalloped Edge Frame die cut, then to stick that whole frame to the front of the white card.

I stamped “hello” on the inside of the card, from the Hero Arts Thoughtful stamp set and Clearsnap Colorbox Black Pigment Ink.

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Tuesday is the day to set your clock to remind you to be at home watching your TV or your computer…OR set your VCR, DVR, or other device to RECORD Spellbinders’ own Education Director, Kim Hupke. In two sessions, she’ll be showing off the merits of the Wizard Embossing and Die Cutting System AND some of our amazing die templates. Of course there will be artwork by our amazing Design Team to check out also.

Here is the schedule:

Tuesday, May 26 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Wednesday, May 27th 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time

So, I love my Impressabilities™ embossing templates AND I love my Copic Markers to airbrush…so “Why not combine them!” I thought. So, I grabbed some remnants of my Spellbinders™ die template packaging and started creating.

I think it turned out pretty nice and would make a great addition to your Spring card line-up including:  Graduation, Baby Shower, Thank You, Wedding…oh, how the list goes on in May.

So grab some thin plastic from any packaging, or even a transparency, an Impressabilities template, your favorite Copic colors, your Wizard™, a Nestabilities® die template (I chose circles) and we’ll begin.

Trim a piece of plastic to just larger than your Impressabilities™ sheet and using temporary adhesive, tape it to the sides.

Then “go-to” with the airbrush, using a gentle sweeping motion, coloring in the negative space of the template. After you are satisfied with the color, remove the tape and check out the results.

And for hopefully, the only challenge of the day, cut the plastic using the Nestabilities® die template of your choice. I say challenge because some plastic can be down-right pesky. You may need to run it through the Wizard™ a few times, even rotating the plastic and die template 90 degrees after each pass. Don’t give up because the results are worth it.

Then, use the Nestabilities® die template to cut a shaped card. First, fold your card base in half. Layer the die template on the spacer plate (Magnetic for Raspberry users and S5 Die Spacer Plate for purple users) and lay it on the White Master Mat. See how the die template edge peaks out over the fold of the card. This will keep it together and create the shape. Add the other White Master Mat and run it through the Wizard. Do not emboss.

You could stop there, adding the embellished plastic to the card by punching holes in the top of the card and the plastic at the same time. Thread a ribbon through it to secure it to the card front. Lovely…

But I wanted to go over the top and it is Savvy Saturday, after all…

If you are with me, place the airbrushed card front onto the White Master Mat with the side you’d like to see on the card. Then place the Impressabilities™ Template down onto it, matching up the airbrushed lines.

Add the shaped card on top, open

and then the embossing mat and Master Mat. Run it through the Wizard™.

Once that is done, finish up the card by using ribbon to tie on the airbrushed piece as I described above.

Stamp a sentiment inside and off you go…

And one more time, the results…beautiful.

I hope you all have a great weekend, a happy Memorial Day and mostly, I hope you get some time to create. Eli

Our next stop is The Great American Scrapbook Convention in Arlington, Texas,  on June 3-6!  Join Mary and Kim for demos in the Scrap-Mart Booth and in the Workshops too!

Sugar and Spice Layout Class

This adorable double page layout is perfect for your sweet girl.  Create customized embellishments for lumpy bumpy effects.  Get a hold of the labels and newest 12″ Grand Borderability dies! 1-3pm on June 4, and 9:30-11:30 am on June 5.

Card Free For All

Complete 4 amazing cards using Spellbinders’ Nestabilities and Impressabilities.  You will create windows, frames, mats and more in this jam packed card class.  3:30-5:30pm on June 4, and 2-4pm on June 6.

Totally Techniques

Be amazed at the versatile and flexible ways to use Spellbinders’ die templates!  Complete a  technique book with instructions and examples.  This has been a hugely popular class, don’t miss your chance to take your Spellbinders’ dies to the next level! 12-2pm on June 5, and 9:30-11:30am on June 6.

Remember that Spellbinders’ Dies work in multiple machines!

Taking some inspiration from Beth’s darling Baby Boy card from Savvy Saturday, I thought I would create something for another thing happening a lot right now: Graduations! So get out your Inverted Scalloped Square and your straight edge Classic Square die templates.

Supplies:

The Wizard
Square Nestabilities™ (S4-128 #7, counting #1 as the center)
Inverted Scalloped Square Nestabilities™ (S4-196, #4)
Black, red and yellow cardstocks (Core’dinations)
Glue Dots
Red ball chain and fine gauge wire
Large brad and star clips (Creative Impressions)
Rub-on Sentiment
Quick drying liquid glue

Instructions

1. Cut the card base from black cardstock 12×5″ and fold in half for a 6×5″ card.
2. Open the card base and place the magnetic spacer plate inside with the black side facing up.
3. Place the Square Nestabilities™ die template onto the magnetic surface with the cut ridges up.
4. Lay the cardstock/spacer plate onto the white mater mat and add the other master mat on top.
5. Run through the Wizard
6. Open the sandwich and keep the inner square.
7. Using yellow cardstock (I used a piece from a mat stacks at 4½x6½” from Core’dinations) cut the Inverted Scalloped Square Nestabilities™ die template. Do not emboss.
8. Trim around the outside of the inverted square, giving about a 1″ border around the scalloped edge. Adhere it to the underside of the square window you cut in the card base.
9. Cut a piece of black cardstock 1¼x4½”. Score at ½”, 1¼”, 2′, 2¾”
10. Fold all scores inward, making a square C shape.
11. With Glue Dots on the ends (that are facing in) adhere the black strip to the black square on the diagonal.
12. Create a tassle from red ball chain by cutting four pieces approximately 1″ long. Hold the four together using a fine gauge red wire.
13. Twist the wire ends together and create a loop in the end. Slide it onto a star clip.
14. Add a large brad to the square and add quick drying liquid glue on top of the brad. Add the star clip/tassel to the top.
15. Trim the red cardstock mat to 4½x5¾” and add to the inside of the card base.
16. Open the card and adhere the graduation cap  where it will show in the card window.
17. Gently push the card to the right so that it lies flat. The tassel should still show through the inverted scalloped window.
18. Add a sentiment and send it off.

Here’s one more look at the card, but this time, let’s show you how it actually pops up.

Have a great week! Eli

My inspiration for this Savvy Saturday was two-fold. My friend Kim was blessed with her first grandchild last weekend, a baby boy! I know a thing or two about baby boys, I have two of them myself.  I know how easy it is for grandparents to scoop them up and, well, give them back when it’s time.  My other inspiration is the S4-174 Deckle Scalloped Edge Petite Border. It has that certain “I don’t know who ripped it, Mom!” look to it. Mothers of boys, you know what I’m talking about!

To start, I gathered my supplies.

It’s so easy to use the Petite Borders. Looking at the die template, one side has the raised ridge, which is the cutting edge, and the other does not. That is the embossing edge.

Simply align the cutting edge where you want to cut, with the cut side down, facing the front of the card, and secure in place with some household tape. I touch the tape to my jeans to lessen the tackiness of the tape.

If I don’t want to cut through both layers of the card, I have to invert the fold of the card and insert the Spacer Plate inside of the card. Now the cutting edge of the die is facing up, and only one layer of the card will be cut.

To emboss this card, remove the Spacer Plate and place the Tan Embossing Pad on top of the card, and feed it into your Wizard. To enhance the embossed areas, I used a sanding block on this Core’dinations cardstock.

For the rest of the card I cut/embossed the S4-129 Classic Scalloped Squares Small, S4-197 Small Classic Inverted Scalloped Squares, and the S4-128 Classic Squares Small. The little boy embellishment was made from piecing together different colored die cuts from Cordinations with S3-014 Baby Boy, and a small scrap of Premium Craft Foil.

I placed a square die cut on the inside of the card with a stamped sentiment from Hero Arts, using Clearsnap Colorbox ink.

This is the finished card, ready for the mail!  Now if I could just find those stamps…

Happy Saturday!

Beth

Here we are on the brink of Mothers Day and I get to share with you some projects made with Mom in mind,  by our fabulous 2009 Design Team.

To start us off, Karen Hunsaker made this candle and card with S4-163 Daisy Borderability Petite. We saw this the other day, but it’s worth a second look. I love that the envelope flap is embossed, and the edge of the card is cut and embossed, as well as the wrap for the candle.

Debbie Seyer’s card unfolds to 4 panels for Mom and she’s sure to cherish it. Debbie cut and embossed S4-111 Classic Scallop Ovals Large, S4-145 Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Small, S4-138 Petite Ovals Large, S4-169 Labels Small, S4-072 Flower Creations, S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles Large, and S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles Small to make this gorgeous tribute to her Mom.

Karen Taylor’s scrapbook layout was made for her daughter. I love how she combined S4-072 Flower Creations, S4-109 Flower Creations 3, and the S7-014 Grand 12″ Classic Lace Border.

Kimberly Crawford’s floral card celebrates Spring, surely that’s Mom’s favorite season.  Kimberly combined S3-147 Labels Trio, S4-114 Standard Circle Large, and S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles Large.

Julie Overby will score seconds of dessert with this adorable card! S4-190 Labels Four is so versatile, and S4-072 Flower Creations work so well with S4-198 Flourish Accents.

Kazan Clark’s Mum will be thrilled to get this card, here is Kazan’s interpretation of S4- Labels Four.

Designer Linda Duke shares this keepsake box just for mom’s treasures. Linda’s works her magic with the S4-159 Nested Flowers, S4-157 Sunflower Set One (for the leaves), S4-125 Classic Scalloped Ovals Small.

Linda’s mini book is something Mom will treasure. When assembled, Mom has a beautiful tribute to her patience, love and dedication.   S4-072 Flower Creations, S3-004 Symbology, S3-033 Cameo and Brooch, S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles Large,  S4-131 Classic Scalloped Rectangle Small, S4-116 Standard Circles Small, S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circle Small.

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Everyone at Spellbinders’ Paper Arts wishes you, your Mom, and those that are like a Mother to you a Happy Mothers Day.  We love you, Mom!

Beth