After reading Beth’s Savvy Saturday idea, I had a “light bulb” moment! Why not finish my fall holiday card swap using this method?! Rarely I join a swap because when it comes close to deadline, I haven’t even started! Has that happened to you? I’m sure I am not the only one! LOL! But using the W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, I can create these cards in half the time so why not start today. Maybe an incentive to join more swaps?!
I will be creating five fall holiday cards that will shipped to Japan where the host lives. This swap is an international swap so I am excited about getting ideas from different countries…a worldwide card making effort! If some of the participants follow this blog, I will only show two of the cards and leave the others as a surprise!
Grabbing the JustRite Stampers Favorite Occasions images, I stamped a total of five times on a 2 1/2 x 12″ strip of Core’dinations Color Core cardstock. Taking household tape and tapping it on my jeans to make it a less tacky (very high level technique!), I taped the flat side (not the cut side) of the die template to the cardstock to hold it in place when cutting and embossing. Notice I’m using two different sizes of die templates (S4-114 Standard Circle Large #3 and S4-116 Standard Circle Small #3) but as mentioned before they are only 1/8″ difference and really doesn’t hinder the design of the cards. Another advantage is I am able to cut/emboss two images in one pass instead of one at a time with the Grand Mat Kit.
In addition to this clever idea, I also wanted to use the Grand Mat Kit for its original use - cut/emboss Borderabilities® Grand. Cutting the S7-014 Grand 12″ Classic Lace Border with a strip of white cardstock, I wanted to add a little vintage accent to the card. I stenciled with Clearsnap ColorBox Ink in Dark Moss and lightly tapped brown chalk to the lace.
With the 4 x 5.5″ card base made out of My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love Collection, I rounded the corners and inked the edges with Clearsnap ColorBox ink. Using the various die cuts, I adhered them for each card front along with ribbon and other embellishments to accent. The use of Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Cuts “Autumn Blessings” and Creative Scraps “Calendar” really made it come together. Now I think it’s ready to be sent off on a worldwide journey!
World Card Making Day is Saturday (tomorrow), October 3rd!! We’re having a little fun over on Facebook:
Post a card using Spellbinders Die Templates on Spellbindersâ„¢ Facebook page on World Card Making Day and be entered to win a Spellbinders Die Template. We will randomly draw a name from all the participants!
Hey there scrapbooking fans! Here’s one for you today. I just had to share these pics of my family enjoying a Fall day in the park. I love the feeling of movement in them. Design-wise, I tried to include a variety of shapes to keep things interesting: ovals, lines, circles…These ideas can be applied to any card or layout.
I started by printing my photos at home and cutting them using the Oval Nestabilities®. The first attempt yielded an oval that was too big. As you can see below, the top and bottom edges of the photos’ white frame show… now, we can’t have that!!!
Not to worry…
The brilliant thing about Nestabilities® is that you can increase or decrease the size by just an eighth of an inch increment, providing a great deal of flexibility when designing.
So (now stick with me here), I began with S4-138 Petite Ovals, Large #6. (When counting die numbers, start with the smallest die template and count out to the largest.) This happens to be the largest in the set. If I went to #5 in the set, I would have a 1/4″ decrease. I thought that would crop too much of the photo. So I chose the largest in the coordinating set, S4-140 Petite Ovals, Small #5 which was 1/8″ smaller. It gave me the perfect size.
And guess what? Since I wanted a 1/8″ mat around the photo, I used the first die template I used, S4-138 Petite Ovals Small, #6, to cut pink cardstock. Boy, these Nestabilities® sure are handy!!
I cut/emboss the S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #4 in orange “Love”, the S4-233 Labels Nine #5 in blue “Katie Lou”, and #6 in the striped cardstock, which is the back side of the green “Beauty” cardstock. I lightly inked the edges with the brown ink to camoflage the white core of the paper.
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Next I cut the green paper to 5.5×5″, and cut/embossed the S4-226 Harvest Borderabilities® Petite, Pumpkin Border on each side of the green paper. Since one edge cuts and the other embosses, I aligned them so the cut edge was along the outer edge of the paper. I used tape to secure the border so it didn’t move around.  After embossing, I inked the paper through the die template like a stencil, so the embossed areas were accented. I also let the ink rub a little over the edge of the die template to enhance the embossing along the border’s edge.
After seeing Design Team Member Karen Taylor’s technique on Savvy Saturday I was a little perplexed, I have not worked with foam very much, just a few room parent projects when my boys were younger. Â
I started out making a leaf project with foam. I cut the S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf die template with 3 colors of foam, several die cuts of each size maple leaf. Then I used my heat tool to warm up the I2-1009 Impressbilitiesâ„¢ Flourish. I embossed with the foam in the die, attempting to preserve the embossed edge from the die, like this. Because foam has some give to it and it stretches, the results were less than spectacular. Also, the flourish pattern wasn’t as noticable as I wanted it to be. EUREKA! What if I used the iron?Â
I turned the iron onto the highest heat setting without steam. I built the sandwich upside down (White Master Mat, Tan Embossing Mat, die cut maple leaves). I placed the Impressabilties™ template on the ironing board and put the hot iron onto the Impressabilities™ for about 15 seconds. My iron just about covered the entire template, evenly heating it. I used a pair of kitchen tongs to pick up the very hot Impressabilites™ and placed it onto the die cut foam maple leaves, covered it with the other White Master Mat and fed it into my Wizard™. I did this so that I could quickly feed the sandwich before I lost the heat. By the time the sandwich was out of the Wizard™, the Impressabilities™ was cool enough to touch.
I achieved the shiny, evenly embossed area that Eli did by using the iron. Remember that once heated, the Impressabilities™ template is HOT!  I embossed all the leaves using this technique.
To assemble my little wreath, I cut a circle from chipboard and glued the leaves around it. I added some light green foam S4-198 Flourish Accents and dark brown foam S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand, cut into several pieces. Just add ribbon to the back and its ready to hang!
Borderabilities Grand, what a wonderful product from Spellbinders, especially for scrapbookers. Where else can you get 12-inch border die templates with incredible detailing featuring three functions: cutting, embossing and stenciling? (If that weren’t rhetorical, I’d say, “Nowhere!”)
Today, I’m going to share a layout with you. But first, you might want to watch our very own Stacey Caron demonstrate the Borderabilities Grand in the Wizard. Check out this video below. She cuts/embosses the Grand Borderabilities with the accessory Grand Cut Mat Kit for efficient cut/emboss functions, and she shows the Extended White Master Mats that are included with a Wizard.
Although its still August according to the calendar, its feeling a bit like October if you look at the thermometer! A hot cup of coffee would be so nice!
I cut the base for the card from S5-019 Labels Eight #6 and brown Core’dinations cardstock, then the the rest of the die cuts from the Fancy Pants paper. I love buying these pads, it makes coordinating papers and patterns a breeze! I stamped the coffee cup and border words with the JustRite set and Clearsnap ink. I centered the S4-116 Standard Circle, Small # 4, cut/embossed, then made a mat with the S4-114 Standard Circle, Large #4.
Since the Borderabilities® are so detailed, its sometimes not so easy to get the paper out of the die template. Here’s a little trick: I used a piece of wax paper from the kitchen! I made my normal cutting sandwich and added a single layer of wax paper between the die template and the paper, and feed my sandwich through my Wizardâ„¢ as usual. The wax paper is thin and won’t change the way the die template cuts, but will allow you to remove the intricate die cuts without having to pull or tear.
Remember to remove the wax paper before inking through the die template!
I used the Chestnut Roan Fluid Chalk Ink with a Clearsnap Ink Applicator to color through the die template and to ink along the edges of the other die cut papers.
WOW! That was one cool Savvy Saturday post - thanks, Beth & Kimberly!!
As I was playing with this great idea, I found another way to heat up that black foam tip from my Clearsnap Colorbox Stylus Tool! Since I am an impatient type, why not use a heat emboss tool to “warm up” the foam? Please take care in not burning the foam! LOL! I took a part of a flower from the I2-1004 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flower and imprinted it onto the black foam.
Today is ”Back To School” for us and what a great idea to make a treat bag for the boys’ teachers!
I used a white paper bag as the base and inked up my new foam stamp with various colors from my Clearsnap Queue inks. Then set aside to dry. Then I reached for my JustRite Stampers 3 1/4″ round stamp set to stamp my images on white cardstock and on Core’dinations Dusk cardstock. I used the S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles Small #5 to cut the outside of the image and the S4-114 Standard Circles LG #4 to cut the inside of the image. Cut/Embossed them together through the Wizardâ„¢.
I also cut/embossed the S4-214 Eyelet Borderabilities® #1 die (the one that cuts on one side and makes a continuous cut for a decorative edge) to use a topper, sanded to enhance the embossing, inked the edges, fold over the flap, punched holes to thread the ribbon and glittered the accents. The Eyelet accent piece was inked, adhered and then glittered. Then I adhered the stamped open circle, ribbon and foam taped the center image.
After everything dries, I plan on putting in some goodies for the teachers which will include a packet each of TUMs and Aspirin!
Today, I thought I’d bring together what we covered so far (extending Borderabilities® and functional Pendants) and add Letterpress into the mix with a one page layout.
For those who haven’t read up on these ideas, I have linked the Borderabilities® and the Pendant posts so please click on the highlighted words. What I would like to show is how to letterpress with your Impressabilities.
Start with inking the entire Impressabilitiesâ„¢, I put a piece of printer paper underneath so that I don’t ink up my White Master Mat. Then the S5-019 Labels Eight die cut is placed on top. Again to avoid any mess, I place another piece of printer paper. Then the Tan Embossing Pad goes on top and the White Master Mat to finish the sandwich.
This is what you come up with! Easy peasy as a good friend of mine would put it. This piece will serve as a frame for a picture of my niece, Jessica.
Using Fancy Pants paper, I placed Jessica’s framed picture on top of the S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® which anchors both framed pictures. I used the functional Pendant (in this case, the S4-205 Eyelets Pendant) idea as a frame. Then I had to use the JustRite Stampers 1 3/16″ round “Tiny Words Set” stamps, they make such great accent pieces. I used the S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles Small #1 which cuts perfectly and added some embellishments in my scrap stash.
It is easy to do and you really don’t need anything extra - no new equipment, no special tools…just your favorite Impressabilitiesâ„¢ and you’re good to go! I hope you will enjoy this technique as much as I have. I think this is my new favorite technique…well, at least for now!
Spellbinders™ wants to say THANK YOU to all the participants of the Pendant Project Contest! We were overwhelmed by your response to our contest.  What an amazing collection of Pendant and Borderabilities® artwork! You can see all the entries in the Inspiration Alley Pendant Project Gallery.The Top 5 winners will be announced August 17 right here!
My white card is 5×7″. I cut a piece of black cardstock to 5×6″. I lined up the cut edge of the S4-217 In Spades Borderabilities® die template along one 5″ edge and cut/embossed in my Wizardâ„¢. Then I repeated that on the opposite edge, however when I embossed, I made sure not to cover the previously embossed areas with the Tan Embossing Pad, so they didn’t flatten out.
I love the S4-234 Ribbon Tags Trio 2 set, particularly the oval tag. But this time I wanted an opening in it, so I pulled out my ovals to see if they were compatible. Voila! The #2 oval in the S4-112 Classic Oval Small set fits perfectly inside the Oval Ribbon Tag! Who knew this was a “Nestabilities®”? Just remember, you can nest any two die templates as long as there is no overlap.
I cut another oval slightly larger from white paper to stamp my Hero Arts “Thanks!” and Clearsnap Black Pigment ink, adhered it to the back of the Oval Tag, and attached some white ribbon.
Here is my finished card! And thanks for the inspiration!
Using a 12″ x 1 1/2″ strip of Core’dinations cardstock, take a piece of household tape (took off some of the adhesive by tapping it on my jeans - very technical! LOL!) and tape the border die cut side down onto the strip. The tape should be on the non-cut/embossing edge of the die (please refer to the picture).
We start by cutting the border first. The cut sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
Magnetic Spacer Plate S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® Border (cut side UP)
Cardstock
White Master Mat
After cutting, we will emboss using the following sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
Embossing Mat
Cardstock S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® Border (cut side DOWN)
White Master Mat
Carefully remove the tape and set aside…we will be using it again. Take the die and poke out all the paper bits that are left in the die by using a toothpick or paper piercer. To continue to cut the border, shift the die over to the next section of the strip to be cut.
Line up the die like the first run and repeat the cut/emboss process again. Note: when embossing, make sure not to overlap the Tan Embossing Pad onto the embossed area from your first cut or it will flatten out. Trim any excess. Since I was going to bulk up with embellishments at the end of the border, I did not cut an entire 12″ border and left an inch of empty space underneath the embellishments.
Using Cosmo Cricket, I made a page about the boys’ first experience with Shabu Shabu. It is a traditional Japanese dish where each person swishes a slice to thinly slice meat into a boiling pot of dashi soup (the name, Shabu Shabu, came from this swishing action) - takes seconds to cook. YUMMY! OK…back to what I was doing!
I inked the edges of the papers, accents and border with Clearsnap ink. Adhered all the papers and pictures onto the layout. Placed pearls on the border and adhered the border to the bottom of the layout. I cut all the Spellbinders die templates: S4-190 Labels Four #2 (journal spot), S4-195 Small Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles #4 (frame for the flower accent) and S4-160 Nested Birds #1 (cut with felt as an embellishment). Then added some embellishments from my huge pile in my scrapbook area and..Tada! Another page of good (eating) memories done!
