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:

• S4-220 Nested Pine Tree
• S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf
• S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities™
• S4-226 Harvest Borderabilities® Petite
• S7-017 On the Vine Borderabilities® Grand
• S4-222 Create A Flake 1
• S4-223 Create A Flake 2
• S4-219 Nested Poinsettia
• S4-225 Holiday Cheer
• S7-016 Poinsettia Borderabilities® Grand
• S7-015 Holiday Lights Borderabilities® Grand
• S4-221 Poinsettia and Stars Borderabilities® Petite
• S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities® Petite
•  S5-017 Snowflake Frameabilities®
• S5-018 Poinsettia Frameabilities®

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

Its been almost a week since CHA Summer wrapped up, and we want to thank everyone that attended for stopping by to see us and our new releases!  Yes, the show was smaller with fewer in attendance than previous shows, but we were busy.  It was great to see our retailers, distributors and friends!  A big welcome to the new retailers that joined the Spellbinders™ Family!

The highlight of the show was winning a prestigious Craft and Hobby Association award!  We took third place in the Innovations category, which lauds the newest and most creative ideas.  This year we were recognized for our Pendant and Borderabilities® die templates.  The competition was tough, and we are honored to be among the best.

Stacey accepted the award for us! Here’s a close up.

Cathy Chlebana, our Design Team Coordinator, designed the artwork and presentation board for the competition.

Now I hope you will bear with me on these, I didn’t take my best camera with me.  I’m not so good with my son’s point-and-shoot!  I thought I would share a little bit of the set up process.  Its so interesting to enter the convention center on the morning before the show opens.  We must dodge forklifts, step around boxes and avoid large crates to make our way to the booth space.  The slat walls are built, the overhead sign is hung, but there is a lot of work to do.

The inside wall gets filled with product all the way around.  The back wall gets covered with artwork from our talented designers. We always have more than enough artwork to choose from, and its quite a process to sort, categorize and determine what goes where.

Everyone has a job during set up, and this time we were done in record time.  Thank goodness we had air conditioning, it was hot and humid in Florida!

Our fabulous designers outdid themselves yet again. This back wall was full of art work that caused our guests to linger and appreciate what all our products can do. We had two tables set up at the front, one for demonstrating our new die templates, Impressabilities™ and Wizard™, and the other for our Make and Take projects.

By the end of set up day the convention hall magically (with a whole lot of sweat and muscle) turns into a trade show!  Crates, boxes, and trash gets whisked away, floors swept, carpet goes down the aisles, and final details are placed in the booths.  Its amazing to see how much a room can change in a day.  The next morning the show opens with bag pipers parading down the aisles, then the real work begins!

If you couldn’t make it to the show we understand. Our retailer’s show specials will be honored until August 5th.  On this blog we will continue to highlight our designers and their artwork, as well as techniques using Spellbinders™ die templates, Impressabilities™, the Wizard™, as well as the next innovative ideas we bring to the market!

Beth

…say THAT 10 times fast…

We are celebrating National Scrapbooking Day today by sharing some of our projects that feature our Grand 12″ Borderabilities (a scrapbooker’s favorite). Let’s get right so some inspirational layouts.

Let’s begin with a traditional use of the Daisy Borderability. Cathy Chlebana cut/embossed and stenciled with gel pens to add a border to her page.

Another layout, this one by Jeni Caulkins, shows what you can do to a any Borderability with a little color washing. Jenis page features the Rose Borderability.

I love this next idea…Beth, my blogging partner in crime, used the Daisy Borderability back-to-back to create a stunning embellishment for this piece. You can see a tutorial on how to create it here.

Have you ever thought of using a border…not along a border. Check out this layout by Jennifer Ellefson. She used her Heirloom Scroll border in the middle of the page. It’s perfect.

Wendy Weixler used yet another technique. Not only did she cut/emboss and stencil her Wisteria long border but she also inked through the die right onto the page (that shows some bravery, for sure).

Thanks, Ladies, for sharing your art with us all. Later (when I can recover the pics on my 16 Gig card OR find a USB cable that fits my camera…ugh), I’ll share with you how to use the Grand Cut Mat Kit…

Hey all,

Thanks for your patience in waiting for the Savvy Saturday as it is now Sunday. Our team arrived in Phoenix, AZ on Tax Day, April 15th. We had lots more fun gathering in PHX than the rest of the nation had dropping those envelopes in the mail. Not only ’cause of how much we loathe paying the IRS…but because this group of women is astonishingly creative, funny, caring and more. Here’s a little pic from our arrival at our “home base” for training…

Arrival of Design Team Members

For the next three fun-filled days, Stacey Caron, Kim Hupke, Cathy Chlebana and me, Eli, trained our 15 new Designers every currently invented way to cut, emboss and stencil with the Wizard and our die templates.

Terre learns a new technique

We missed Beth who was doing her duty at a Distributor’s event in California.

As if that weren’t enough, our cadre of special guests included: Tobi Hall, VP of Marketing for Spellbinders™ who gave an amazing look into the world of Marketing. (Several of us wished she had been our college marketing professor…). Katherine “Kat” George presented an amazing session on Design Principal.

Tobi Hall, VP of Marketing and Katherine "Kat" George, Design Consultant

Heidi Blankenship, returning Design Team Member, taught a session on how to condition our new JustRite stamps, donated to the team by JustRite.  Last but not least, Marianne Walker from Copic Markers trained our design team in the lost art of “coloring.”

Marianne Walker, Queen of Copic Markers

As if THAT weren’t enough, we all got to bring home a pile of amazing products, some of Spellbinders™ faves. Our team got products from Copic Markers, Fancy Pants, My Mind’s Eye, Magic Mesh, 7 Gypsies, Taylored Expressions, JustRite Stampers, Glue Dots, 3L, oh gosh…there were more but I must get this post out before the day is over.

Kimberly Crawford shows off some of our Cross Promotional Products

We had a photo shoot with all the Designers and Christy Kerr, new DT member, who is a hair dresser EXTRAORDINAIRE! was our amazing stylist to make sure each member looked perfect.

Christy Kerr adds some final touches to Holly Simoni's "do" for her headshot.

During our free time, we all laughed together as we shared meals and a few moments of relaxation. We even had a swap among the team. Each designer brought something from home that shared a bit of themselves and their home town.

Design Team Swap "bootie"

When all was said and done…I think we would all agree that this week was a total blast, full of learning, sharing, growing and mostly being really thankful to the Carons (Jeff and Stacey) for creating such an amazing line of products and for choosing such a phenomenal group of women to share the next year producing art together…with the BEST product in the business…

Cheers to all…Eli

A good many of us, if we looked around our craft rooms would probably find some brass stencils. At one point, we might have used them to create cards or layout embellishments: get out the light box, choose a stencil, grab the stylus and use it to emboss the whole thing–taking a ton of time to do it. Then, maybe we got adventurous and wanted to dry emboss on dark paper, or even craft foil. Hmmm!?! What to do with that light box.

Well, with the Wizard™, you can emboss a brass stencil in a single bound (you and Superman should be friends), even on paper or foil that you can’t see through.

So do a little spring green dance, grab those brass stencils before they go to the bottomless pit of your supply drawer–or worse, the landfill–and use them again.

Sandwich:

• Master Mat
• Brass stencil
• Paper
• Embossing Mat
• Master Mat

Cathy Chlebana created this card featuring a gorgeous embossed brass stencil, several layers of cardstock and a bar on the top and bottom. After she ran the dark blue paper through the Wizard™, she sanded off the top layer of dark cardstock to show off the inner, lighter core. Elegant!!

For something a little extra, I created a painted card that featured a brass stencil.

To create this subtle effect, simply paint a contrasting, thin layer over cardstock. Allow it to dry to the touch but not all the way through (this will give you a deeper emboss). Run it through the Wizard™ with a brass stencil in an embossing sandwich. Let it dry completely and sand off the top layer of paint. Add embellishments and Viola!

So, dig out those brass stencils and have some fun!  Eli

Edgeabilities, that is!   And what a difference embossing makes!  I wanted to share a few more examples from our wonderful designers.  You’ve seen Holly Craft’s Wedding Ensemble here before:

Here’s a close up of her card to the bride and groom which she kept the die cut intact on the front of the card, and used reverse stenciling to ink the debossed areas in a darker green.  On the seating card for the reception Holly trimmed the die cut to use just the flower portion.  Holly used the S4-044 Rose Blossom Edgeabilities on these projects.

Product Designer Toni Kelly also used the S4-044 Rose Blossom Edgeabilities.  She cut and embossed onto white paper.  Easy yet so very elegant!

Here is another comparison of 2 designers working with S5-004 Sunflower Garden Edgeabilities. Design Team Coordinator Cathy Chlebana cut, embossed and inked the paper, then used the aperture to highlight a stamped verse.  Can you see how the embossed border outlines the project?

This is 2008 Design Team Member Holly Craft’s artwork with the same die template, S5-004 Sunflower Garden Edgeabilities.  She also used a stamped verse, but used reverse stenciling with brown ink to highlight the embossed border, as well as stenciling through the die template to further color the embossed areas of the die cut.

Thank you ladies!
Beth

I’d like to introduce Cathy Chlebana, a Design Team Member for Spellbinders’ for 3 years, and most recently as a Lead Designer. Cathy has stepped into the Design Team Coordinator position for the 2009 Team, while also doing special projects for CHA, QVC, and Scrapbook Memories television show appearances.

What inspires you?
Inspiration is all around. It could come from music I’m listening to, a walk outside, a magazine or catalog display that catches my eye, a piece of artwork or just random thoughts spinning around in my head.

Do you have a favorite die?
S3-004 Symbology has always been one of my favorite dies. It has such versatility and will often finish a project when it needs just a little something extra. Of the newer dies, I would have to say that the S7-014 Grand 12” Classic Lace Border is a favorite. I really love the fact that it can be used on any type of project you are working on. Although it was designed for scrapbook pages, it can just as easily work on cards and altered items. It’s also a very versatile die.

What do you like to create, cards or scrapbook pages or altered projects?
I would say altered pieces are my favorite, followed by cards and then scrapbook pages.

Tell us about your family.
I am married to my biggest fan, Ron. We have one grown daughter Stacey, also a fan. We are living in Chicago where we have been most of our lives except for about 8 years in Orlando Florida.

Do you work outside the home?
I don’t work outside the home any longer. For a long time I worked as a travel agent, but stopped working when our agency closed a few years ago.It was great fun because of the perks, but I really don’t miss the daily grind.

How much time do you spend crafting?
Time really varies according to what I am working on. It could be as few as 10-12 hours a week or as much as 40-50. If I’ve got a deadline, it could be anything!

What time of day do you usually craft?
I craft whenever the mood strikes me. I really don’t have any constraints on my time, so I can craft at any time, day or night. I do find that if I can’t sleep I will find my way downstairs and work on something. In the beginning I thought that would relax me and I would be able to go back to sleep – not so! It usually keeps me up all night finishing whatever I have started.

Do you work alone or with a group?
I craft alone for the most part. Once in a while my daughter and I will work on projects when she visits.

Do you shop for supplies locally or online?
I do both, but would have to say I probably shop more online. Since my favorite store closed there is just not anyplace that carries a lot of the things I like to use. I really miss going into that store because it was not only a great place to shop, but also a terrific source of inspiration. There is nothing more boring to me than going into a store that has rows and rows of stamps and ink pads and not much else. I want to go in and be wowed and inspired by all the latest and greatest things in the marketplace with samples to show me the possibilities. Unfortunately, there are not many stores like that any longer.

How would you describe your style?
I guess I would call it eclectic. I can do very clean and elegant, but also love to do grungy and distressed when the mood strikes me.Besides paper, what other materials do you use? I am very fond of using metal in my work. Die cutting metal, mostly pewter, and then doing metal repousse is a favorite. I also love to texturize pieces of craft foil or color them with alcohol inks to use on my projects.

Can you describe your craft space?
My husband and I have pretty much “halved” our basement. He’s an architect that runs his business from home, so half is his office and the other half is my studio. He did a great job of using slat wall in my area, so I have great storage area. I only wish I could get it to a more workable state. It seemed like a good layout when I started using it, but now I see that it’s not as efficient as it could be. That will be the next project if and when I ever have some free time.

She’s not a blogger, but you can find her bio here.  Cathy selected these projects to showcase on her Designer Spotlight.

Cathy’s Sunflower card is made from the S5-004 Sunflower Garden Edgeability die template.

This gorgeous altered box uses a daisy from S4-043 Daisy Patch Edgeabilities and the S5-005 Decorative Frames die template with pewter crafting metal.

This card is loaded with die templates, and its so elegant! Cathy used S4-143 Long Scalloped Rectangles Large, S4-132 Classic Scalloped Rectangles Small, S4-132 Classic Rectangles Large, S5-004 Sunflower Garden Edgeability, and the accent from S5-005 Decorative Frames.

Beautiful work, Cathy!  Thank you!

Funny that I should call this part 2, because I’m going to show that you can take apart the Spellbinders™ Impressabilities™ Templates and use Parts where ever your little heart desires.

The Spellbinders™ Impressabilities™ Templates are made of metal, but thin enough that your craft scissors can cut through the small sections.  No need to for heavy equipment on this technique.

Design Team Member Holly Craft cut this Impressabilities™ Snowflake Template so that she could emboss the outside of a card front.  she also inked the template, so that the debossed portion was colored after she passed the embossing sandwich through the Wizard.  You can see she kept the small snowflakes, cut them apart, and can use them to emboss anywhere on the project.  She could also color those with Copic Markers and use the individual pieces as an actual metal element on a project.

In this example, Holly cut up the Impressabilities™ Paisley Template to ink and emboss a corner of her project.  Wouldn’t that look beautiful on an envelope?  How about a journaling block?

Below is an example of the Impressabilities™ Snowflake Template.  This time Lead Design Team Member Cathy Chlebana cut the template so the snowflakes were all in a line, then embossed it into a strip of Core’dinations Cardstock and sanded it.

You can cut the Spellbinders™ Impressabilities™ Templates into any size you like, and emboss them in any position.

Here’s one more example, this quick example of using the Impressabilities™ Butterfly Template.  The cardstock is a glossy black from Worldwin, and the Impressabilities™ Butterfly Template was embossed and the card was sanded.

So the question remains, if you cut up your Impressabilities™ Templates, can you still use them as a whole?  YES!  With a thin magnet you can place your pieces back together and emboss as a whole.  Or, you could buy 2 templates, keep one full size and have fun with various sized pieces of the other.  The price is affordable enough to be able to have a whole lot of fun and impress your friends at the same time.

Beth

Spellbinders introduced Borderabilites Grand Borders this past summer. The Grand Borders are wonderful fun for scrapbookers and everyone else too! Grand Borders measure true 12″ long. They come in designs that coordinate with the Rose, Daisy and Wisteria Edgeabilities Die Template styles, and one with the Symbology Die Template. You may have seen this tutorial I did for the summer reveal, but it deserves another run now that you have the borders in your stash, along with some fresh artwork at the end.
I am using Spellbinders Premium Craft Foil, which is 12 inches wide  It doesn’t matter which color I use, because I want the silver side. It comes in 5 colors plus pure copper, each color has silver on the back, except the pure copper. I used a tag from the Ribbon Tags Trio and the Daisy Patch Edgability Die Template. The paper is Worldwin’s ColorMates in Deep Awesome Aqua, Deep Totally Tan, Light Heritage White, and Inkjet Printable Translucent Vellum, and black acrylic paint. Note that this technique works on foil as well as paper. Die cutting and embossing a 12 inch long die template on standard mats is easy. Use the standard Spellbinders Die Template sandwich, when stacked from your table up: white master mat, white spacer plate, die, cut side up, material to be cut, white master mat. A little tip, if you are concerned your material will move off the die, you can use a small piece of removable tape. It won’t harm the die, and it peels off the paper easily without damaging the die cut.

Feed this into your Wizard. With a 12 inch long die, part of the die will stick out the back end, and that is fine. Only the part of the die that sits on the Spacer Plate will cut, but it won’t leave a line or crease where the spacer plate ends.

After the first pass, lift the top mat, turn the border die 180 degrees so the uncut portion is on the spacer plate, replace the top mat and feed it in exactly the same way as before. You can remove the excess cut foil from the outside of the die.

Embossing is done the same way. Leave the die cut in the die. Remove the spacer plate from the sandwich so the die sits on the bottom mat, place the tan embossing mat on top of the die, and cover with the top white mat. Feed the embossing sandwich through the Wizard. To emboss the other half, turn the die 180 degrees, cover with the Tan mat and white mat and feed sandwich again.

For my layout, I painted the entire die cut with black acrylic craft paint. Paint it evenly, and be sure to get paint into all the nooks and crannies. Let it dry slightly. With a dry paper towel, wipe the paint off the embossed areas. Be gentle, but you don’t have to be perfect. Do not wipe the paint out of the crevices. You can always add more a little more paint if you took too much off and you can always take a little more off if you put too much on.

I assembled my layout with photos and a poem.

Daisy Layout by Beth Pingry

Cathy Chlebana used the same Daisy Borderability Grand on this layout of her mother.

Layout by Cathy Chlebana

This decorative box is from Donya Schroeder, isn’t it clever how she used the Rose Borderability Grand?

Altered Box by Donya Schroeder

This heart shaped ornament from Heidi Blankenship is another example of Rose Borderability Grand.  She wrapped it around the heart shape.

Decorative Heart by Heidi Blankenship

Wendy Weixler layered the Wisteria Borderability Grand for an elegant accent on this layout.

Wedding layout by Wendy Weixler

Sally Lynn MacDonald linked together the Illumination Borderability Grand to frame her layout.

Layout by Sally Lynn McDonald

Thanks for spending some of your Saturday with me!  I hope you love the Grand Borders as much as I do!

Beth

PS.  I just got word, and its just for you!  Its an announcement.  Oh no, not just any old announcement.  This is a big one!  I bet you’ve been waiting for it too!  Come back on Monday December 15 for the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.  Want some candy?  We’ve got Blog Candy coming, and a new feature too!  Its going to be so much fun, I can’t wait to tell you about it!

A day filled with running the kids to and from school, meeting a fellow volunteer for coffee to go over the next steps in the big project, getting the snow tires put on the car, paying a few bills, shopping online for Christmas gifts, making sure is enough wrapping paper for the approaching holiday, writing out a few end of the year greetings…and the list goes on…a jam-packed schedule can sometimes take the joy out of celebrating a season of giving, of peace and of miracles.

Today, I am sharing with you four cards announcing that simple state of being that runs deep: JOY!

Three members of our Design Team created cards that express this simple word. Through the loveliness and grace of these projects, may we all be inspired to live into and pass on the sentiment that it brings.

Jennifer Ellefson begins our fashion show today with a vintage take on the subject. Featuring our Christmas Stocking, she gave it a well-loved look by using metallic rub-ons. The ruched paper by WorldWin also adds to the age-old appeal.

Spellbinders™ Supplies: S3-142 Festive Stockings, S3-147 Labels Trio, S4-145 Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles (S4-145)

Other Supplies: Ruched papers (WorldWin), Patterned paper, lace, sentiments stamp, metallic rub-ons

Joy Stocking by Jennifer Ellefson

Joy Placeard by Beth Pingry

Next: Beth Pingry (our other blogger, extraordinaire) created this place card for a friend but it seems to translate well into a great card for the season too.

Spellbinders™ Supplies:
S3-141 Stars, S4-139 Double Ended Tags (smallest), S3-142 Long Classic Rectangles, Large (2 largest dies), L1-01 Caesar Font (retired), F-005 Gold Premium Craft Foil

Other Supplies: ColorMates Bright Heritage White and Deep Heritage Black paper (WorldWin), Fabri-tac adhesive (Beacon), Clearsnap ColorBox Chianti ink, Brads (Creative Impressions), red patterned paper, sticker maker

Layered Joy by Beth Pingry

Third in line is another of Beth’s cards. I love the subtle print on the coordinating papers and the repeated image of the Labels 2 Die Template. Sublime.

Spellbinders™ Supplies: S4-162 Labels 2, S3-138 Ribbons & Bells (retired), L2-09 Julius Font

Other Supplies: ColorMates Medium Outdoor Olive and Mirri Cast Gold papers (WorldWin), ColorBox Creamy Brown fluid chalk ink (Clearsnap), Pop-up Glue Dots, patterned papers, memory glue

And Finally: Cathy Chlebana offers us an elegant window card. By cutting out a window from the card front, Cathy’s sentiment is actually adhered to the inside of the card and so it remains visible when the card is opened. This is a nice surprise for the recipient.

Holly Joy card Cathy Chlebana

Spellbinders™ Supplies: S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles, Large, S4-144 Long Classic Rectangles, Small, S3-139 Holly & Lights, L1-01 Caesar Font retired), F-002 Gold Premium Craft Foil

Other Supplies: Glue Dots, green and red velvet ribbons, 1/8″ hole punch, Sticker maker adhesive

Cheers for your holiday preparations: Eli