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Archive for the ‘From Stacey’ Category

September Stories from Stacey

Friday, September 25th, 2009

Hi Spellbinders Friends!  Just like the kids write a “What I Did on My Summer Vacation” essay, I want to share with you what’s going on at Spellbinders Paper Arts this season.

Following a successful show at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show in Orlando in July, our new Die Templates and Impressabilities have been shipped to retailers and are available now.  But don’t wait, several of our products are limited edition!  They will only be shipping through November 30, 2009.  Don’t miss the chance to get them!  The limited edition products are:

Education Director Kim Hupke and Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship were thrilled to meet throngs of ladies and a few gentlemen at Scrapfest 2009 last week!  They had a wonderful time introducing many new customers to Spellbinders™ products through demonstrations and some super cool make and take projects. Thank you for stopping by to say hi, to snag a tote bag, and to participate in the make and takes!

A huge thank you to my wonderful Spellbinders™ staff!  We welcomed our Marketing Team, including Education Director Kim Hupke, Design Team Coordinator Cathy Chlebana, Beth Pingry, and Eli Harlan to join Tobi Hall, Terre Fry and me in Phoenix this week for planning meetings.  We are well on our way to 2010, which will be bringing more of the new and innovative products you’ve come to expect from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts, as well as the fun and creative ways we reveal them to you.  We have some super exciting things in store and I’m sure you will love them, but that’s all I can say right now…

I especially want to send out a big THANK YOU for supporting us on the Great Crafters Tool Hunt on When Creativity Knocks!  We love our Impressabilities™ Templates and we love that you love them too!  Have you enjoyed the month of Impressabilities™ ideas, art and techniques on the blog? 

And we wanted to follow up with, Margarita, the Grand Prize Winner from the Pendant Project Contest. She received her prizes from not only Spellbinders™, but from our generous Coordinating Partners: My Mind’s Eye, JustRite, Core’dinations, SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, and Clearsnap!  Enjoy those fabulous prizes Margarita, and be sure to show us what you create!

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As you can see, things are always on the move at Spellbinders™!  Thank you again for all of your support!

Love,
Stacey

Pendant Project Contest Grand Prize Winner!

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Hi Everyone! Its Stacey here, and I am so excited to announce the winner of our Pendant Project Contest. The new and innovative line of Spellbinders’™ Pendants and Borderabilities® are going to take your artwork to the next level! These detailed designs are quick and effortless, but so beautiful, and with 8 timeless designs to embellish your cards, scrapbook pages and decor.

Did you see the Pendant Project Gallery?  Wow, I am so inspired by the artwork there! Each and every project is beautiful and creative. It was so hard to choose the Top 5 Winners. Our judging panel agreed on these projects (in alphabetical order):

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1. Diane of Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA! Diane’s creative card using acetate and S4-204 Fleur de Lis Pendant with vellum caught our attention.

2. Margarita, of Grand Junction, Colorado, USA! Her entry was an elegant mini heritage album using S4-207 Kaleidoscope Pendant and S4-216 Kaleidoscope Borderabilities®.

3. Marion of Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia! Marion’s adorable Baby card incorporated S4-208 In Spades Pendant, and S4-217 In Spades Borderabilities® (both pieces!).

4. Monica of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada! Monica wowed us with her Queen’s Necklace. Monica used S4-204 Fleur de Lis Pendant, shrink plastic and a copper leafing pen to achieve these results!

5. Nicole of Wateford, Pennsylvania, USA! Nicole’s Framed Butterfly Quilt is just stunning. She used the S4-204 Fleur de Lis Pendant on this 12 x 12″ framed home decor piece.

The winner’s name was drawn thru Random.org. In addition to winning $500 in Spellbinders™ die templates of her choice, our Coordinating Partners have sweetened the prize with a few of their own products. Our lucky Grand Prize Winner will also receive the following:

A sampling of our product line sure to fulfill the winner’s needs for a loooong time to come! Some of the contents include: E-Z Runners®, Mounting Squares, Photo Corners, 3D Foam Squares and PLENTY of Adhesive Sheets to use with your products! The retail value of this package is over $200.

A “one of” our entire Abbey Road line. It has a retail value of over $130.00.

A set of 8 Smooch colors, a retail value of $36.00

Core’dinations prize valued at over $68.00 including:
Black Magic assorted pack - 20 sheets
Vintage assorted pack - 20 sheets
WhiteWash assorted pack - 20 sheets
Super Assortment pack - 80 sheets

The entire JustRite Christmas Release with coordinating blocks:
JB 08765 Old Fashioned Christmas Borders & Centers
JB 08760 Christmas Treasures Borders & Centers
JB 08117 3 ¼” Wooden Stamper
JB 08770 Christmas Joy Borders & Centers
JB 08420 1 ¾” x 2 5/16” Oval Wooden Stamper
JB 08650 Round 2” Stamper with Bonus 15 pt Font
JB 08780 A Merry Little Christmas
JB 08785 Holiday Demi Phrases
JB 08115 1 5/8” wooden stamper
Total Retail Value- $117.55

Here are the results from Random.org:

 And the winner is #2, Margarita! 

Congratulations Margarita! Have lots of fun with the Grand Prizes!  Another hearty congratulations to the other 4 ladies in the Top 5, and to all who participated!

Love, Stacey

Savvy Saturday~ Reverse Stenciling

Friday, February 27th, 2009

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

Design Team Contest Finalists

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Dear Paper Crafters,

I want to thank all of the talented artists that submitted entries to the Spellbinders Design Team Contest! Spellbinders Paper Arts was overwhelmed by the number of entries and the amazing artwork on each and every project. We understand and appreciate the time and effort that goes into your work. You made our decision excruciatingly difficult!

I would like to congratulate the following designers who are our Finalists in the Design Team Contest, in alphabetical order.

Carole Burrage
Christy Kerr
Deb Felts
Debbie Seyer
Heidi Blankenship
Holly Simoni
Janine Blackwelder
Jennifer Davis
Judy Hayes
Julie Overby
Karen Hunsaker
Karen Taylor
Kazan Clark
Kelly Hampton
Kimberly Crawford
Lesa Rapp
Mary Pfaff
Michelle Edgley
Pegi Taylor
Suzanne Morse
Tanisha Long
Terre Fry
Tisha Ann Harms
Wendy Elliott

Again, thanks to everyone that participated in the Spellbinders Design Team Contest!
Kindest Regards,

Stacey Caron
Owner, Creative Director
Spellbinders Paper Arts LLC

A Special Message from Stacey Caron

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Hello my paper crafting friends,

It’s Stacey here with my husband, Jeff. We are the co-creators of the Wizard.  We started with a small idea in 2003: make a universal die cut machine with die templates that are the most detailed on the market. We are so thrilled to be celebrating our 5th Anniversary with you, our loyal customers and fans.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all my Spellbinders’ Designers and Bloggers for their inspiring and beautiful sneak peeks. Its true, Spellbinders Die Templates are the most beautiful and detailed dies available today but it’s our designers that give you the wonderful vision on how to apply our die templates to your paper crafting projects. My vision from the beginning of Spellbinders was to form a Design Team SUPERIOR to any in the industry.  I think that goal has been achieved! I am looking forward to all the new 2009 Design Team Contest entries pouring in after CHA!

Immediately after CHA last summer I started to create the new die concepts that you see today… truly it’s never ending. After reading some of the posts from our awesome supporters, I realized that most of you do not know how or who makes the Spellbinders’ Die Templates come alive…

Toni has been with us since the beginning of Spellbinders and Fernando is going on two years with the company! Time flies when you are having fun. So, thank you from the bottom of all of our hearts for your support, it really does mean the world to us that you like the newest designs… it makes all my sleepless nights worth it.

I have been watching the excitement from everyone’s posts over the past few weeks.  It has been a blast to see the list of die templates grow each day. To see all the comments come in from excited paper crafters and the very excited winners, has been priceless.

Anyone who knows me, knows this next comment is so true
If I could, I’d give you all prizes! (but then I couldn’t send my boys to college some day!! And aren’t they adorable!!)”

So, before I say bye for now, I have to tease you just a little. We have created one more new and fabulous product that I know you are going to swoon over. But you’ll have to wait a few more days. We will introduce this innovative product right here, on our Blog the day the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show opens: Sunday, January 25,
9 am Pacific Time. You will want to be here.

I do have a little hint: imagine we got tired of embossing and wanted to spend some time debossing. Well, let that simmer a bit and come visit back here on Sunday to see what the buzz is about.

Then check out the website to see all the new die templates that are being released! We can’t wait because there is much more to come!

Well, its time to pack my bags, we’re off to CHA!  Come see all the new products and artwork in booth 4873, and say hello too!

Yours in the details,

Stacey

2009 Spellbinders Paper Arts Design Team Contest

Monday, December 15th, 2008

Design Team 08
Design Team 08

Stacey here: We are again searching nation-wide for talented paper crafters, scrapbookers, card makers and rubber stamping artists to become a part of our creative family! Unique experiences and opportunities await you! I do hope you’ll give it a whirl. We work hard and have a lot of fun! Check out our team who came on board last year…woohoo!  Hugs, Stacey Caron.

To be eligible you must:

  • Submit four art pieces as assigned below.
  • Be available to travel to Phoenix, AZ, (expenses paid by Spellbinders) Wednesday, April 15, 2009, and remain in Phoenix until Sunday, April 19. There are no exceptions to this requirement.
  • Be available to serve a term as a designer from May 1, 2009, through April 30, 2010.
  • Capable of completing all requirements on time for the team during the 12 month placement.
  • If you make the finals round, you will need to complete an assigned project by Friday, February 20, 2009, to Spellbinders.
  • Be able to submit art electronically by scanning or photographing it.
  • You may not currently work for another manufacturer of any Die Cutting Products.
  • Contest Art Requirements:

    • Is your style fresh and funky? Upscale and sophisticated? Simple and elegant…..show us your best in a 12×12 layout.

    PLUS

    • Using apertures, pop-ups, pull-outs or basic and simple, we want to see your magic happen when it comes to card making! Submit one card.

    PLUS

    • Show us your altered ego! Through creative altered ideas, whether its home decorative projects, calendars, journals, or jewelry, we want to see your best! Submit one altered project.

    PLUS

    • Submit one rubber stamped project, the choice of style is yours! There are no limitations, so make it fun!

    PLUS

    • An essay, about 500 words sharing a little about your personality and about yourself as a designer. Why is paper art your passion? Why do you want to be on the Spellbinders Design Team? Has your work been published (not required)? Do you have a blog (not required)? What do you want Spellbinders to know about you?
    • Please include on the bottom, if you have or are involved in, the following (does not count for your 500 words) 1) Blog address 2) Creative Resume Address 3) Design Teams past and present (links to sites if there are any) again, not required, just want to know

    Your ORIGINAL creative, innovative designs. Something that makes us go “WOW!” Something that says to us that you love what you do! We would like to know the story behind each item, told in journaling, in photographs, or by other means.

    You are not required to use any Spellbinders products in your entries, but after all, we are a die cut company and it certainly couldn’t hurt. Spellbinders dies are universal and may be used in most leading die cut systems, please refer to the compatibility chart for instructions. Also, art does not have to be new for this contest. It just has to be your original artwork.

    Design Team Tenure Requirements:

    Monthly: one layout, one card and one altered project, one option style project.

    Trade Shows: A minimum of six trade show projects per year, to be assigned.

    Consumer Shows/Education: 2 Layouts, 2 cards for Education and/or Consumer booth, 1 technique board/year, other projects as assigned.

    On Line Forums:Involved on a weekly basis with at least one on-line forum

    Encouraged:Active with your own blog.

    These are just minimums…you can submit as many projects as you want throughout your tenure.

    Submission Schedule:

    All entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 1, 2009, Central Standard Time. We sincerely regret that we can only accept entries from residents of the United States.

    Monday, February 9, 2009, Spellbinders will contact the top 20 entrants and invite them to continue to the final round of the Spellbinders 2009 Design Team Contest. These finalists will be sent product to create an assignment for the final round of the competition. Finalists will submit their special assignment entries on February 20, 2009, to Spellbinders.

    On Wednesday, February 25, 2009, Stacey Caron, President of Spellbinders Paper Arts will be making personal phone calls to each one of the lucky winners of this contest! A minimum of eight Design Team members will be notified that day, so be sure to list every phone number you want us to try!!!

    You must be available to fly to Phoenix on Wednesday April 15, 2009, and remain in Phoenix until Sunday, April 19. Spellbinders Paper Arts will pay for all expenses for this trip. Your Design Team assignment will officially start on 5/1/09 and last until 4/30/10. Your first projects will be due on 5/1/09.

    How to enter:

  • All entries should be submitted electronically to designteam@spellbinders.us. Yes this is the correct address. Even though our website is a “.com” we are still using some “.us” addresses.
  • The subject line should be “Design Team Entry: your name”
  • Each project must be attached to this email as a separate file. Please label your files as such:
    • YourNameLayoutOut.jpg
    • YourNameCard.jpg
    • YourNameAltered.jpg
    • YourNameStamped.jpg
    • YourNameEssay.doc
    • YourNameEntryform.doc

    Please take clear, high quality photos or scans of your work.

  • Please submit at 300 DPI, 3”x 3”.
  • Please insure that no individual attachment is over 200 KB.
  • Create a document in word that includes the questions below and email it with your entry.
  • Designers accepted as DT Members will receive:

    • A Raspberry Wizard
    • A $350 Die Starter Kit
    • Numerous new dies throughout the year, with surprise gifts thrown in along the way!
    • An all expense paid trip to sunny Phoenix, AZ, with a tour of the facility, a weekend of workshops and fun!
    • The opportunity to go to one or more of the major Hobby trade shows.
    • The chance to have your art displayed at major shows and in major magazine advertisements.
    • Financial reimbursement for each piece of art that is published in one of Spellbinder’s catalogs, or used in an advertisement campaign.
    • Numerous opportunities for product reimbursement throughout the year, and…
    • A year-end bonus!!!

    All questions should be submitted to designteam@spellbinders.us with a subject line of “Design Team Contest Question”.

    Beautiful Details Inspire Creativity

  • Please attach the following information as your official Entry Form, use a word document and simply list the items and attach it with your other information:
    • Name
    • Address
    • City, State, Zip
    • Email Address
    • Home telephone number
    • Work telephone number
    • Cell phone telephone number
    • Any other possible numbers to try on Monday, February 9, 2009 if you are one of the lucky winners.

    Do-over: WELCOME

    Monday, November 17th, 2008

    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.