Yesterday was Autumn Equinox (the equinox divides the day and night equally) which means we are officially into Autumn. So what a great excuse to make a card just for the season!

Using my Spellbinders, I brought out S5-019 Labels Eight die #5 (die #1 being the smallest in the bunch), S4-121 Doodle Parts long thin swirl, I2-1010 Impressabilities™ Pebbles and S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #3.

First, I cut out and embossed my S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #3 with Core’dinations cardstock. Then I proceed to emboss the pumpkin further by using my I2-1010 Impressabilities™ Pebbles with the cardstock still embedded in the die template as demonstrated in Beth’s post.

Just to recap, I’d like to go over the sandwich recipes that you will be using on the pumpkins:

1. Cut Sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
Magnetic Mat (black side up)
S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #2 (ridge up/cut side up)
Cardstock
White Master Mat

2. Emboss Sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die (with cardstock embedded/cut side up)
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

3. Impressabilities Sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
I2-1010 Impressabilites™ Pebbles
S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® die (with cardstock embedded/cut up)
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

Repeat this process five more times and make sure you sand each piece to show off that design. You will need a total of six embossed/impressed pumpkins to achieve the accent shown on the card pictured below. Fold each pumpkin in half, adhere one side to one side of another pumpkin’s side, connecting them. Make sure you have a flat side to adhere the 3-D pumpkin to the card base. Set aside to adhere to the card as a last step.

I continued to cut and emboss the S5-019 Labels Eight die #5 and two of the Doodle Parts long thin swirl die. Note that I have stenciled the long thin swirl die with Clearsnap Fluid Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan before taking the papers out of the die. Make sure to clean the ink off of your die.

Using the Clearsnap chalk ink, I inked the edges of: Crafty Secret Fall Cotton Scraps, S5-019 Labels Eight die cut and card base (make sure to corner round the card base first). Adhere all the parts as shown with the exception of the pumpkin. I used Flower Soft Autumn to accent the image and let dry. Lastly, the pumpkin was adhered to make a wonderful (and colorful) card!

Happy Autumn, everyone!
MargieH

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.  

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 Impressbilities™ 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? 

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!

Supplies used: I2-1009 Impressabilities™ Flourish; S4-228 Nested Maple Leaves; S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand; S4-198 Flourish Accents;  Foam Sheets; Craft Foam Glue, chipboard, Iron.

Beth

Are you planning on attending the ScrapFest 2009 at the Mall of America in Minnesota?!

We will be there too, so come by and join in on the fun. Our two lovely Designers (Pictured top: Kim Hupke - Education Director and pictured second: Heidi Blankenship - ‘08 & ‘09 Design Team Member) will be there to show off our Spellbinders™ products with some wonderful make and take projects…you don’t want to miss it!

The dates and times that Kim and Heidi will be there to help you create the following:

Friday (9/18) 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Make a quick and easy Holiday Photo Card with Spellbinders™ and 3M. Using the newly released S5-017 Snowflake Frame set, it looks like it took hours to make! Learn the technique on how to make a window card and display your favorite photo! (FREE make’n take)

Saturday (9/19) 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Make a darling holiday triangle ornament or a gift embellishment with Spellbinders™ and Making Memories. They will show you how to use the newly released S4-220 Nested Pine Trees die template to bring your tree to 3-Dimensional “life”. (FREE make’n take)

Sunday (9/20) 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Make a “Spooktacular” goodie bag for your trick or treaters with Spellbinders™ and Teresa Collins. Using the newly released S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®, learn how to make this peek-a-”boo” treat bag in minutes! What a cute and easy way to present goodies to your favorite goul! (FREE make’n take)

The first 50 crafters participating each day in the make’n take will receive a FREE Spellbinders™ shopping bag.

Making it a long weekend?
Spellbinders™ will be at Scrapbooks Too in Bloomington, MN on Thursday, Sept 17th!! It’s all about Spellbinders™ all night long (well, until midnight!). Come join Kim and Heidi - they will offer make and takes during this special crop. Make a “spooky” treat bag and a cutting edge layout! They will have all the new release dies for you to see up close and personal!

See you there!!

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.

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Today’s Savvy Saturday is all about  Letterpress.  This technique dates back to the year 1450, with thanks going to Johannes Gutenberg, as the main method of printing until the invention of offset printing. That is today’s history lesson.

You can do this technique with Spellbinders’™ Impressabilities™!  I started by playing with ink.  I rolled my brayer across an ink pad, then onto the I2-1004 Impressabilties™ Flowers.  I built my sandwich this way:

• White Master Mat
• Inked Impressabilties™ (ink side up)
• Paper
• Embossing Mat
• White Master Mat

Feed the sandwich into the Wizard™.  One pass in the Wizard™ will emboss the paper and transfer the ink into the debossed areas. This is the result with Clearsnap ColorBox White Pigment Ink and black cardstock:

Then I tried acrylic paint. This is the result with Ranger’s paint.  This is a fast drying acrylic paint, and despite working quickly, I am not 100% happy with the coverage in this example. We’ll come back to paint another time.

So then I got to thinking, if ink works, what about ink and embossing powder? I used the brayer to apply Clearsnap Top Boss Watermark Ink to the Impressabilities™, fed the sandwich through the Wizard™ and then applied Sparkle and Sprinkle’s Outerspace Embossing Powder. I heated the paper to melt the powder. Oh my! Its beautiful! Check this out:

Then I did the reverse stencil technique with Clearsnap Black Pigment Ink and S4-234 Ribbon Tags Trio  2, the oval shape. I stamped “thank you” from Hero Arts onto the label with the same ink, and added ribbon from my stash.  It needed just one more thing, so I cut an oval using S4-112 Classic Ovals, Small #4, from the same patterned paper, which is Fancy Pants Caroling.  I mounted that onto black cardstock.

I love the texture and sheen from the embossing powder, don’t you?

Spellbinders™ Die Templates used: S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-112 Classic Ovals, Small #4, S4-234 Ribbon Tags Trio 2, I2-1004 Impressabilities™ Flowers.

Here are a few examples from our Design Team Members:

 Janine Blackwelder also used Impressabilities™ Flowers for this bookmark.  She cut the Impressabilties™ apart and letterpressed a small section.  Clearsnap ink, Hero Arts stamps, and the S4-112 Classic Ovals, Small as well as S4-113 Scalloped Classic Ovals, Small were used on this project.

Julie Overby embossed her chipboard letters with Impressabilities™ Flowers. On the card she used S5-019 Labels Eight; 12-1004 Impressabilities™ Flowers;  Cardstock; Patterned paper; Cosmo Cricket and Maya Road chipboard; ClearSnap Colorbox Ink.

Have a wonderful Saturday!
Beth

PS. Don’t forget to go over to “When Creativity Knocks!” - and vote for Impressabilities™ in the Great Crafter’s Tool Hunt…you could win something cool and we would win ultimate fame and glory (maybe even a trophy? who knows). Click HERE for more info.  Voting closes September 8 at midnight PST.

Who loved Margie’s Savvy Saturday Card?  Me!!  Here’s a quick one I put together using the same set of S4-205 Eyelets Pendant and S4-214 Eyelets Borderabilities®.  I used the Border, which is the die template that has one cut line, to cut/emboss the detailed edge of the paper.

I started with patterned paper from My Mind’s Eye’s Penny Lane collection, Clearsnap Colorbox Lemon Grass pigment ink and a Colorbox ink applicator tool.

The green “Beauty” background is 6 x 6″.  The cream “My Friend” mat is 5.5 x 5.5″.  To cut the detailed border, I placed the S4-215 Eyelets Borderabilities® die template along the edge of the paper and taped it in place with low tack tape.  The tape keeps the border from moving.  I cut/embossed in the Wizard™.  I removed the tape and applied Lemon Grass ink to the back side die template and just slightly along the embossed edge.

I cut/embossed the S4-205 Eyelets Pendant from the blue “Peace” paper, and the Center die from the “Beauty” paper.  I actually cut/embossed both pieces at the same time!  I inked the Pendant and Center pieces in the same way as above.

I assembled the card and added a button from my stash.  Yes, I actually sewed that button on!

Do you love the look of the Borderabilities®?  My next Savvy Saturday will be how to use the 5.5″ Borderabilities® on paper longer than 5.5″!  And don’t forget about the Pendant Project Contest, entries will be accepted through August 10!

Today we’re getting back into our Savvy Saturday mode, and what better to do that with than a card boasting our newest die templates!

This card features the S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-210 Lattice Pendant,  S4-110 Classic Oval Large,  S4-112 Classic Oval Small, and S4-234 Ribbons Tag Trio 2 die templates, I2-1002 Impressabilities™ Butterfly, as well as F-005 Gold Premium Craft Foil, 7gypsies patterned paper, Clearsnap ink and Hero Arts stamps.

I started by cutting/embossing black cardstock with the largest (#6) of the Labels Eight die templates.  Then I cut a piece of Gold Premium Craft Foil with  the S5-019 Labels Eight (#5) die template.  To get the finished border around the Labels Eight die cut, as well as the I2-002 Impressabilities™ Butterfly embossing, I used this sandwich:

• White Master Mat
• Impressabilities™ Butterfly
• Labels Eight die template, cut side facing up
• Die cut of Gold Premium Craft Foil, gold side down, fit into Label die template
• Tan Embossing Pad
• White Master Mat

By feeding it into my Wizard™, it resulted in an embossed die cut!  With a piece of fine sandpaper, I sanded the top of the die cut to reveal the silver color.  I adhered it onto the black die cut.

Next, I cut/embossed a black oval from S4-110 Classic Oval Large (#5).  Then I cut a Gold Foil Oval from the S4-112 Classic Ovals Small (#5).  Using the same sandwich as above, but I replaced the Impressabilities™ with the Center piece from the the 4-210 Lattice Pendant. I fed it into my Wizard™ and the shape of the Center embossed into my gold foil oval.  Again I sanded the detail for more definition.

I trimmed the 7gypsies patterned paper 6×4.5″ so that it made a nice  background for the Labels Eight die cuts, which are big, measuring at nearly 5.5″ long!

I also cut/embossed the Long Rectangle Tag from the S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2 set.  I used the the back side of the 7gypsies pattern paper.  Then I stamped a sentiment on it from Hero Arts, distressed with Clearsnap Black pigment ink and set aside.

I arranged and adhered the Labels Eight and Classic Oval die cuts on top of the 7gypsies patterned paper as shown.  I mounted the patterned paper onto a piece of black cardstock.  Taking the stamped Ribbon Tag Trio 2 die cut, I strung a 1 3/8″ wide ribbon (the openings are 3/4″, allowing for thicker ribbon!) and wrapped it around the front of the card, and adhered it to the back side of the black cardstock.

Here are a few more examples from our fabulous Design Team:

Holly Simoni’s layout features her daughter and her love of horses.  Holly used S4-215 Renaissance Hearts Borderabilities®, S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant and S5-018 Labels Eight.  Her supplies include 7gypsies pattern paper, Clearsnap ink, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Christy Farneth-Kerr’s card is Magically Delicious!  She cut an opening in the front with the S4-189 Labels Three,  and covered it with S4-207 Kaliedoscope Pendant.  She used the S4-216 Kaliedoscope Borderabilities® cut from Premium Craft Foil and from cardstock to make the other elements.  Christy folded a Pendant to make the iris flower element.  Other supplies include Chatterbox paper, The Paper Company paper, and Flower Soft adhesive.

Kimberly Crawford employed reverse stenciling to get the 2-toned effect on this S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant card.  She added Clearsnap’s Smooch to the small heart accents.  Kimberly used My Mind’s Eye paper, Clearsnap ink, Hero Arts stamps, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L supplies.

So if these Pendant ideas get your mojo flowing, be sure to enter the Pendant Party, and you could win some fabulous prizes!

Happy Saturday!

Beth

Wow, that was a fun 8 days of Spellbinders Pendant & Borderabilities reveals, wasn’t it?  We’re not done announcing winners, so stay tuned for more super excited daily winners.  I wonder who won the Grand Prize of ALL the Spellbinders Pendants and Borderabilities?  We’ll be posting names just as soon as we hear back from those lucky crafters.

Now, back to blogging as usual!  As soon as I received my package of Spellbinders Pendants, I did my little happy dance, convinced my teenagers I had lost my mind, and tried to think of what uses I had for these die templates beyond paper.  So today I’m showing you how awesome these work with shrink plastic!

I used a brand of shrink plastic that shrinks evenly, by length and width, otherwise the end result could be quite wonky.  I used the standard die cutting sandwich, of

• White Master Mat
• Magnetic Spacer Plate
• Pendant die template, cut side up
• Shrink Plastic
• White Master Mat

Now, because the S4-208 In Spades Pendant die template has some very intricate and detailed cuts, and shrink plastic is not very forgiving, I ran the sandwich through my Wizard 3 times in a row, without lifting the mat to look at it. You don’t want to manipulate the mats, just 1-2-3 times through.  You might still have to carefully punch the cut areas out, so be gentle.

No embossing is necessary. Next I colored through the die template like a stencil with a Black #100 Copic Sketch Marker. Be careful to go slowly and don’t let the shrink plastic move around under the die template.

Then I applied heat with my heat tool. Be sure to read the directions for your brand of shrink plastic. It curls up as it shrinks, but keep applying heat -resist the urge to stop and flatten it! It should flatten down towards the end of the process. REMEMBER, its hot, let it cool before touching it.

Next, I used my Lionet Gold #Y28 Copic Sketch Marker and Airbrush Kit to apply a thin coat of color over the surface of the shrunken die cuts. I wanted it to look a little blotchy. I adhered a 7Gypsies Typewriter Word and attached a jump ring and chain to the Pendant. The Heart Accents could be charms for the Pendant, or earrings.

You could color with any color Copic Marker (and there’s plenty to choose from!), or if your beading skills are better than mine, do a beaded design to accent the Pendant. The sky’s the limit on your own custom jewelry!

Sherry Cheever showed her wonderful creations with the S4-210 Lattice Pendant and the S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® yesterday. Thank you, Sherry, for the beautiful inspiration! Remember you have until June 27th (11:59PM EST) to enter to win.

Welcome to Day 6 of the Spellbinders™ Pendants Blog Frenzy!!

For Day 6, Heidi Blankenship will show us her stuff by using the S4-208 In Spades Pendant and the S4-217 In Spades Borderabilities®!

***Remember you need to send an email to enter! Link is in Heidi’s Blog! Good luck!!***

How many years of crafting?
I have been doing some type of crafting ever since I was little and I have been stamping for 20 + years.

How long have you been blogging?
A little over two years

Your favorite Spellbinders™ technique?
Reverse Stenciling

Your favorite Spellbinders™ die?
S7-014 Classic Lace Borderabilities® Grand

Favorite food/beverage for crafting?
If it’s in the morning, coffee with my favorite chocolate raspberry creamer.
During the rest of the day, either water or coke and sometimes a few pretzels in the evening.

One thing you get inspiration from and why?
I seem to find the most inspiration when I am listening to music and surprisingly it’s music that I might not otherwise listen too—LOL! I’m not really sure why, all I know is that it gets the creativity flowing.

Sharing some of Heidi’s wonderful creations!

***Remember you need to send an email to enter! Link is in Heidi’s Blog! Good luck!!***

***Due to the linking difficulties in Michelle’s Blog, Spellbinders™ will extend her Blog Frenzy entry deadline to June 26th (08:30AM EST)! This will give everyone a chance to enter to win these sweet Tulips die templates!!***

Yesterday, Debbie Olson showed her beautiful creations with the S4-205 Eyelets Pendant and the S4-214 Eyelets Borderabilities®. Thank you, Debbie, for the wonderful inspiration! Remember you have until June 24th (11:59PM EST) to enter to win.

Welcome to Day 3 of the Spellbinders™ Pendants Blog Frenzy!!

Today, Michelle Wooderson will be showing her great projects with the S4-209 Tulips Pendant and the S4-211 Tulips Borderabilities®.

***Remember you need to send an email to enter! Link is in Michelle’s Blog! Good Luck!!***

How many years of crafting?
I’ve been a life-long crafter. I started out by helping my mom with Bible School crafts. After my daughters were born, I started scrapbooking and really got serious about the craft.

How long have you been blogging?
Two years.

Your favorite Spellbinders™ technique?
I love to airbrush an image with the Copic Airbrush System while leaving the die template in place. It creates a wonderful, white border. I also like to make my Clam Shell type cards by folding a piece of cardstock to leave a little bit on top for the fold.

Your favorite Spellbinders™ die?
S4-161 Labels One die template

Favorite food/beverage for crafting?
Chocolate and Diet Cola

One thing you get inspiration from and why?
My Inspiration File contains clippings from my favorite magazines. It provides a visual to refer to for instant inspiration such as colors, themes, etc.

Here are some of Michelle’s wonderful projects to share!

So go visit Michelle’s Blog and enter your chance to win those new die templates!

***Remember you need to send an email to enter! Link is in Michelle’s Blog! Good luck!!***