Open your mind to apertures!  Technically speaking this would be a hole, an opening, or using the negative part of the die cut.  Its really pretty easy and makes fabulous results, as you’ll see.  Spellbinders’ Die Templates work wonderfully for this technique, their thin profile makes it easy to slide into a card and even emboss the edge around the opening.

So we’ll start with  piece of paper, I’m using a piece of double sided paper.  Fold the paper to make a card.  Place the die template on top of the card, cut side down, line it up to the exact spot you want the opening and tape it down with some low tack tape. (I use regular household tape, touch it to my jeans to make it less sticky.)

Now, with the die template in place, fold the card the opposite way so the inside of the card is on the outside and the die template is in  the middle of the card.  Slide the spacer plate into the card.  Place this between the Master Mats and feed it into the Wizard. Notice that the die is now facing cut side up!

Now you have an opening cut into the card.  Remove the Spacer Plate.  I usually put a piece of scrap cardstock between the die and the back of the card, the scrap piece will emboss slightly instead of the card back.  Leave the card folded as above, but this time place the tan embossing mat on top of the card.  Place in between the Master Mats and feed the sandwich into the Wizard again.

Carefully remove the die template from the card and fold the right way again.  You have an embossed opening!

You could embellish the opening by reverse stenciling, ink the die template before hand.  You can use the die template as a stencil and color through the holes in the die.  You can use the die cut to embellish the inside of the card.  You can use the opening to make a shaker box.

Check out these beautiful examples from our Design Team Members!

Linda Duke used chalk to stencil through the S5-005 Decorative Frames die template, and further embellished with glittered S3-146 Butterflies 2.

Holly Craft used stamps to further embellish her oval aperture.

Donya cut the frame opening and embossed the larger sized S5-006 Mega Curved Rectangle frame as well, to really accent the opening.

Jeni Calkins used the S5-005 Decorative Frames set to highlight this photo for a Fathers Day card.  See how using masculine colors can bring a whole new life to this flourishy and flowery die template?

This was a Make and Take from our CHA Winter 2008 show, isn’t it stunning! We used the S4-137 Classic Scalloped Hearts to cut the front of the card, and layered S4-136 Classic Heart die cuts on the inside.  The patterned paper is from Kaleidoscope Kreator Software.  Here is a tutorial on this Layered Heart Card!

Your cards and projects will take on a new dimension when you open your mind to apertures!

Have a wonderful day!
Beth

Reverse Stenciling.  We’ve been tossing these words around like you all know what we mean.  Today’s Savvy Saturday is a tutorial on Reverse Stenciling, so you really will know what we mean.  I hope you try it and like it, because it’s really fun and easy, yet impressive and allows you to take your Spellbinders’ Die Templates to another level.

First, to use your Spellbinders’ Die Templates as a stencil, you would apply chalk, ink, paint or your favorite embellishing product to the paper from the back side of the die, the side with the openings.  The openings are what allow for embossing.  By applying ink to the back side, you are coloring the embossed area of the die cut.

For reverse stenciling, we will be coloring the debossed area of the die cut.  To do that, we need to apply ink to the inside of the die, from the cutting side, and apply it before we feed the die into the Wizard.  When using the geometrically shaped die templates such as the Nestabilities, reverse stenciling makes a beautiful crisp edge around the die cut.

Design Team Member Holly Craft provided us with some step photos. Holly used an ink brayer to ink the cut side of the S4-044 Rose Blossom Edgeabities with a darker green ink. You could also apply the ink pad directly to the die template.

Holly cut and embossed the papers.  The debossed area is colored with ink.

She can then apply a different color of ink to the embossed area, using the die as a stencil and applying through the opening on the back side of the die template, or directly to the die cut as shown.

Now Holly has a multi-toned die cut.  These pieces were done for Holly’s daughter’s wedding.

Here are a few more examples of how our Design Team Members have created amazing artwork using the reverse stenciling technique.

Wendy Weixler’s Flower Wreath using the S4-200 Flower Bouquet Miniabilities is just gorgeous!

Heidi Blankenship’s layouts utilize reverse stenciling on some of the flowers and the moth, and the suitcases.  Isn’t her son adorable!

Thank you ladies! To see the detail even closer, you can click on the pictures. Have a wonderful Saturday!!
Beth

Most of you know that we changed up our website a couple of months ago. But I bet you don’t know about all the amazing things that are on the site…today is the day to find out about it! Today is not a day for projects, I know, I hear you sniffling in sadness but WAIT ’til I tour you around the site for some things that you might not have realized were there. Oh, and I’ll still probably share a few images (I can’t resist).

So, open a new window or file tab with the homepage, maybe I can help you out with that: SpellbindersPaperArts.com. It should have opened in a new window, so you can go back and forth if you need to…go to the very bottom of the homepage where you see the following:

• About Us
• Customer Service
• Press
• Retailers

• Site Map
• Search Terms
• Advanced Search
• Contact Us

Hey piercing fans! Spellbinders Pierceabilities are back and ready for action. You can now order them at SpellbindersPaperArts.com. Or you can head to your local scrapbook store soon to pick them up soon.

We thought you might enjoy a little refresher course on how to use them.

Lights! Camera! Action!

To create this project, begin by gathering supplies.

Make sure you have some kind of piercing tool (specific piercing tools can be found on the web or, in a pinch, try a push pin).

Next, you’ll need some kind of mat that you can pierce INTO. Again, you can find piercing mats on the web or grab something around the house that functions as an equivalent unit…hmmm…how about a piece of thick cork, a yoga mat or even a spongie mouse pad? Now, I haven’t tried these myself but know you can experiment with a variety of household items to save a bit of money. (Which’ll leave you more for the really important stuff: more die templates.)

Don’t forget to collect your Pierceabilities die templates, Wizard, Mats, Pads and papers too.

Begin with the cut/emboss step that we use so frequently here. Notice that Pierceabilities only has one cut edge. This gives you versatility to cut a card edge, create a border or cut, flip it around and cut again for a strip. Cool.

You might be asking a question: Why didn’t Spellbinders make templates that already punched the holes? We did think about it. BUT again, we want to provide versatility. If the template punched all the holes, you wouldn’t have any choices. This way, you can choose which parts you want to pierce, or NOT pierce…nice, huh.

So, you’ve cut/embossed to get something like this:

Then, it’s time to use your Pierceability for what it was made:

1. Place your project onto the piercing mat.
2. Align the template onto the original embossing or wherever you want to pierce.
3. Use the piercing tool to punch through the template holes and paper.
4. Try to get the piercing tool to the same depth each time a providing consistent holes.
5. Use your piercing tool perpendicular to your project, or as vertical as possible, also for consistency. Complete all the holes desired.
6. Remove template and enjoy the results.

Let’s enjoy some of our Design Team members “results” with these three projects.

Card by Holly Craft. Altered Pillow Box by Jennifer Ellefson. Layout by Wendy Weixler.

Linda does an amazing job of making paper die cuts look real with her signature technique of shading.  She put together this tutorial to show us how she does it.  I can’t wait to try this myself, take it away, Linda!

I wanted to share the technique I use when shading projects. I’m going to start at the very beginning, step by step and shade this lovely sunflower die.

Shown in Photo 1, supplies are Ranger Dye stamp pads, Glimmer Mist from Tattered Angels, flower and Leaf Die Template and cotton balls. I have so many people ask me about the cotton balls, so when asked to do this tutorial I was thrilled.

Hold the cotton ball like you would hold a sponge.

Photo 3: Rub cotton ball on inkpad, I used Latte.

Photo 4: The cotton ball holds a lot of ink, so I use my craft paper pad to take some of the ink off. Practice on scrap paper until you become familiar with the amount of ink cotton balls hold.

Photo 5: Always start in the center of the flower because it will not been seen when finished, this help me know how much ink is still on the cotton ball and I won’t have a glob of ink where someone can see it when finished. NOTE: If I were working on a project that is very small, I would start on the paper pad underneath and drag over the edge.

Photo 6: Work out from the center of the flower to the tips of the petals. (Lightly).

Photo 7: The flower on the left is completely shaded, while the flower on the right only has ink in the center.

Photo 8: Working with darker ink (Sunset Orange) can be a little scary because you will see every little mark. Just remember to work most of the ink off the cotton ball before you start working on your project. You can always go over it again.

Photo 9: You can see how the color of the flower starts to build.

Photo 10: Using Sunset Orange for a second coat.

Photo 11: Using Red Pepper.

Photo 12: Using Rust.

Photo 13: Using Cranberry.

Photo 14: Shows what the flower is starting to look like.

Photo 15

Photo 15: Using Espresso (only in the center).

Photo 16: Shows Glimmer Mist applied with the cotton ball.

Photo 17: Assemble as shown and you are done.

Photo 18: The finished product.

Because of all the ink, the flower needs to dry completely before adding dimensionals in the center. If you want to use a sponge you can, but I find they can streak your project. Cotton leaves a soft look.

I hope you have fun making your flowers; I have so much fun making mine.

Linda Duke

Thank you so much Linda!  When you try this technique, show us your results with a link in the comments, and don’t forget to click on the stars to rate Linda’s tutorial.

Happy Shading!

Beth

Hey, we got some help from our Techies and we think this will work…

Hey all my paper crafting friends! It’s a party!!!

Welcome to Spellbinders™ Blog. We are so excited to be with you starting today. It has been a long time in the making and we couldn’t be more thrilled…Oh, by the way, I’m Stacey Caron, President of Spellbinders™ Paper Arts and Co-creator of the Wizard™ Embossing and Die Cutting System.

We have so many great things in store for you that we can barely stay quiet about but I know we can’t give all our secrets away on the first day. But let me tell you about our blog: Our blogging babes are Eli Harlan, and Beth Pingry. They are great women with tons of knowledge about the Wizard and all our Die Templates. You’ll learn a lot from them.

One of the exciting features we’ll be having is Spellbinders’ Savvy Saturdays. Beth and Eli will be bringing you some fantastic techniques for the Wizard. I can’t wait to see all that they create. We’ll also have prizes, challenges, special guests and all kinds of things to offer. Like I said, I am thrilled.

To get things going we are going to offer some Blog Candy. [It’s a Template Mystery] All you need to do is offer a comment about your favorite Die Template in the comment box below and on Tuesday, we’ll be picking a winner. Make sure you leave your e-mail address so we can contact you when you win…   :-p

Come back “early and often”. Cheers and happy creating, Stacey.