I’m into color right now. Not sure why. Maybe it is the snow that fell on us in Denver last week and imagining a long winter ahead of us. Earlier this week I checked out our Design Team projects to see what colors of flakes they are, I mean what color flakes they created…Julie Overby made this beautiful Merriest Wishes card with turquoise, white and silver…yummy!

Jennifer Davis‘ layout, I Heart Snow, is outstanding in the color realm. It perfectly matches her daughter’s winter jacket.

I find that once I break out of a mold, it’s easy to keep doing it. Today, I’m sharing a journal with some really hot colors and snowflakes. To begin, I had hot pink printer paper that I printed journal lines on, but I had no idea how I would match colors to it. The Color Wheel is a great place to start and I just happen to have a Color Companion which is really helpful. In this photo you can see the journal pages in the back and the cover just to the left. The other colors are those I used to cut the snowflakes.

I used the S4-222 Create A Flake One to cut/emboss snowflakes from purple, red and pink. I inked them with silver metallic ink and then layered them using Glue Dots by Glue Dots International and 3D Foam Squares, SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L. Here is a close up of one of them.

I adhered them to the journal cover and then felt like a border would bring the whole thing together. I chose the S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities® to coordinate. Since this Borderability® is Petite, I cut it twice from one long strip of paper. After cutting the first side, I carefully lined up the second side and ran it though the Wizard™.

In the same way, I embossed one end and then the other. The place where the two border cuts came together can be left alone as a design element

or covered with a little embellishment like I did.

To finish up the journal, I bound it, added a few more flakes and ribbons.

Ingredients: Wizard, S4-218 Lattice Borderabilities, S4-222 Create A Flake One; Core’dinations Color Core Cardstocks; SCRAPBOOK AHESIVE by 3L, Black 3D adhesive squares; Copic Sketch V09 Violet, Air Brush System; Glue Dots International Scrapbook Glue Dots; Ribbons; Silver ink; Binding System; Purple patterned paper
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you’ve gained some confidence to use color in a new way. Eli

Let it snow?  You might think I’ve lost my mind.  You might be right!  I’m not ready for snow in Chicago yet. But I couldn’t resist playing with my Spellbinders™ Limited Edition die templates.  That’s right, the S4-222 Create A Flake One and S4-223 Create A Flake Two, as well as the S4-224 Snowflake Border Petite and S5-017 Snowflake Frame will not be manufactured after November 30, 2009.  Get them from your favorite Spellbindersâ„¢ retailer while you can!

Put away your mittens and coats and grab your craft supplies.  My card base is 5.5×11″ white cardstock, folded in half.  The snowflakes are assembled from Core’dinations cardstock, I used 4 graduated tones of blue and both the S4-222Create A Flake One and S4-223 Create A Flake Two die template sets.

I cut two colors from each Create A Flake set, which gave me lots of snowflake shapes, sizes and colors to build from.  Individual die cuts were sanded to reveal the colored core of the Core’dinations cardstock. Each flake is assembled using SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L 3D Foam Squares for extra dimension, and brads.

I cut/embossed the S4-224 Snowflake Border Petite on the front of the card, then inked through the die template like a stencil.  This cut the detailed edge and snowflakes and embossed the pinking edge and detail. 

I used a scrap of the blue cardstock to cut/emboss additional snowflakes, this time from the S4-224 Snowflake Border Petite, so that I could add them to the openings on the front.  Brads hold them in place inside of the card.  Doesn’t it look like they are attached to the front of the card?

I couldn’t let those snowflakes get lonely inside the card.  I cut/embossed and sanded the inside frame from S5-017 Snowflake Frame.  JustRite Stampers allowed me to customize the greeting with their fonts and rectangluar stamper.  Clearsnap Colorbox Smoke Blue Pigment ink is the color I used for both stenciling with an Ink Applicator on the front and stamping on the inside.

I have snowflake die cut pieces left, I’ll save them for another project.  Remember, get your Spellbindersâ„¢ Seasonal Limited Edition die templates soon! See the complete list here.  And lets hope Mother Nature doesn’t take this card seriously!

Beth

Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! Speaking of fun, we hang out with a cool crowd in Phoenix! LOL!! What a great group shot!

How cute was Beth’s mini pumpkin book on Savvy Saturday?! Seeing all those pumpkins lined up like that inspired me to do a banner! So today, we will be making a cooler seasoned one - SNOW!! There, I said that “S” word! I will be dedicating this project to my friends who experienced their first snowfall last week and you all can keep it there for awhile too. I am in no hurry for the white stuff. LOL!

In my stash of Spellbindersâ„¢ die templates, I will be using S5-019 Labels Eight, S5-017 Snowflake Frame and S4-223 Create-A-Flake Two. **Please note: that S5-017 Snowflake Frame and S4-223 Create-A-Flake Two are two of a bunch of die templates that will be manufactured up until the end of this month (marked “Limited Time Only”). So better pick yours up real quick because once they’re gone, they’re gone!

First, we’ll start with the base of the banner (the panels) so cut/emboss four S5-019 Labels Eight die #6 (smallest size being #1) with My Mind’s Eye Colorful Christmas Collection. Then I choose colors from Core’dinations Core Color cardstock that match perfectly with MME’s Colorful Christmas Collection and cut/embossed four S5-017 Snowflake Frame (the largest frame). After embossing all four of the S5-017 Snowflake Frame, I sanded the embossed areas.

With wet adhesive, I adhered each frame to each panel and let dry. Then I used a retired font set and cut out the letters “S”, “N”, and “W” in silver glitter paper I had in my scrap pile. I centered and adhered each letter to each panel. For the “O” I thought it would be fun to use the S4-223 Create-A-Flake Two in various colors of blue and white glitter papers. So I cut/emboss the entire set since I knew I will use other pieces in future projects. I picked out one piece from each color and adhered each layer. With the last one, I used foam adhesive to give dimension.

On each panel, I used Tattered Angels Glimmer Glimmer Chips Frosty Memories along with Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Cuts - Winter Wonderland to embellish a little more. I love how things just fit together! Here’s the “S” panel to give a close-up of all that were added…notice the globs of glitter glue that were added as snow on the “S” (remember to give it time to dry).

In the end, I punched a hole on each side of each panel and threaded some twine (not to distract from all the colors) to connect and it is ready to be displayed!

 

So hope you have a banner day!
Thanks for visiting!!
MargieH

Reminder: Don’t forget the Spellbinders™ and Tattered Angels blog hop with our designers! Today, we are visiting Design Team Member Kimberly Crawford’s blog “For The Love of Paper” to see what kind of eye candy she will inspire us with. Come back to our blog to find out who the next designer will be to create a wonderful project!

Did you see Eli’s wonderful “contained” project? I love how she used the combination of many Spellbindersâ„¢ die templates. Very clever! So from a box to a container to … a bag! I thought it would be fun to do a shaped bag - perfect for that special little tricker or treater.

I brought out my S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®, S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf, S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand and S3-150 Ribbon Tags Trio Two. Using the Fancy Pants Designs Trick or Treat paper, I cut/embossed two S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #5 (the smallest being die #1).

Then I put the two pumpkins (pokka dots sides out) together and used a paper piecer to piece holes to look like stitching. When I was in high school, I almost failed sewing class (thanks Mrs. Fish for putting up with me!) - I did better in wood class! LOL! So I’m playing it safe and making holes before stitching the brown embroidery floss.

After stitching together the pumpkins, I cut/embossed the S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 and the S3-150 Ribbon Tags Trio Two (the rounder tag with the embossed corner as shown) with Core’dinations ColorCore cardstock.

Cut/Emboss the S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand but leave the paper inside the die template as we will stencil with Clearsnap ColorBox Fluid Chalk Dark Moss. Set aside.

Since the pumpkins had that distressed look, I sanded the S3-150 Ribbon Tags Trio Two tag and stamped a cute image from Hero Arts Owl-Oween stamp set and added googly eyes for a fun accent. Then I added ribbon tails on each side of the tag and adhered onto the bag. I wrote my niece’s name (Jessica) on the maple leaf die cut which I also sanded and used foam adhesive.

Going back to the vine border, choose a part of the border to embellish the pumpkin stalk and adhere. Then I punched two holes - one in the front and one in the back. Thread a ribbon through both holes to make a handle. To finish off the embellishing, I added one of the leaves from the vine border with foam adhesive to give it dimension.

So all we had to do is fill with candy and add a little toy - it’s ready for Halloween!

Happy Tuesday everyone!

We are also continuing to celebrate our blog hop with Tattered Angels. Today our host for the day is my good friend Debbie Seyer. Be sure to visit her blog, A Peak Into my Stamping Room, to see her amazing and glimmering project.

I could hardly contain myself on Saturday when I saw Margie’s post, Thinking Inside the Box. How adorable is that? I think we all know… Plus anyone who can add candy corns to a project is a winner in my book. Her inspiring project lead me to see what I could do to think inside and outside the box. So I created another container (inside the box), only this one is round (outside the box). Check it out!

I was trying to think of a way to make a container bottom that attached easily. Usually I think of die cutting a circle and snipping little slits about every ¼”. But this is what I came up with instead…

I gathered the following supplies: Wizardâ„¢, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles LG, S7-017 On the Vine Border Grand, Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Collection Classic Paper Designs, Core’dinations blue cardstock, Clearsnap ColorBox Cocoa Pigment Ink, Tattered Angels Turquoise Blue Glimmer Mist, Glue Dots Continuous Line, PVA glue.

I save “cereal board,” lightweight chipboard, from packaged foods to use in craft projects. This one just happened to be Mini Strawberry Newtons…yum. I cut S4-114 Standard Circles LG, #7, (counting #1 at the center) but did not emboss.

Then I cut S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles LG, #6 from Blue Core’dinations cardstock and didn’t emboss. I added glue to the colored side of the chipboard circle and placed it on the center of the S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles LG. (A little note: If using a wet glue, allow it to dry totally before embossing or, like me, you’ll have glue running out onto your mats…oops.)

I chose a paper from the Crafty Secrets paper packs and left it a full 6″. If you want your container to be shorter than that, trim it down. I rolled the paper into a tube and adhered it with Glue Dots, Continuous Line, just crossing over the ends at 1/8″.

I embossed the bottom by using a regular embossing sandwich:

• White Master Mat
• Container bottom with chipboard down on the Mat (this is the important part)
• Embossing Pad
• White Master Mat

I folded up all the scallops to fit the tube inside of them.

I added a generous line of glue just to the inside of the scallops and fit the cylinder into them. Working around the bottom edge, I placed one hand inside the tube for support and the other on the scallops to make sure the glue held. I worked my way around until they were all well adhered. This is the most tedious part of the process but is worth the effort.

I embellished the container with S7-017 On the Vine Border Grand die template by I cutting/embossing blue cardstock with the W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit. Then I inked through the die template as a stencil with Clearsnap ColorBox Cocoa Pigment Ink.

If you want to see a little demonstration on how to cut the Borderabilities® Grand, check out this video from Stacey. If you don’t have the W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, go to 1:50 on the meter to see the section showing how to cut using the mats that came with your machine.

I added the S7-017 One the Vine Border Grand to the container. The fun little bonus was that it fit perfectly. I was able to hook the two ends together. Using PVA glue, I added small touches of glue around the piece and then added dimension to it by curving the leaves and stems that were not glued down.

As a final touch, I sprayed it with Turquoise Blue Glimmer Mist. Finito!

Since I used only cardstock on the sides of the container, it is not super strong. I could probably reinforce the item by using an additional piece of cardstock, simply glued to the original OR I could use some more light weight chipboard. Well, whatever you choose to do, have fun and see what you can create.

Eli

I can not tell a lie…I love S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® die template, and since it is a limited edition, I want to give you plenty of reasons to get it before it is gone. But before I give you this Savvy Saturday’s tutorial, let’s hear it for our Tattered Angels Blog Hop:

They are hosting it with our Design Team and my friend, Kazan Clark at Nunu Toolies is on deck today. Make sure to visit her blog to see her amazing project using products from Spellbindersâ„¢ and Tattered Angels.

Halloween is just around the corner and I wanted a little “tchotchke” to put on my table {my 10 year old said she liked that word, “tchotchke” yesterday…lol…”Me too sweetie!”} Anyway, I’m revisiting a technique that I love: making a stamp with Spellbindersâ„¢ die templates and fun foam. Check it out when you are done here.

With the technique in mind, I gathered fun foam, orange ink, S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® and some Dottie Ann Magic Mesh. I love Dottie Ann’s shape and its adhesive backing and thought it might make some fun stamping texture. Here is the full supply list.

Supplies: S4-226 Harvest Border Petite, S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®, S5-006 Curved Rectangles, S4-161 Labels One, S4-162 Labels Two, S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-169 Small Labels, Wizardâ„¢, W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, Core’dinations Green color core cardstock (1-3/4″ strips), Magic Mesh Dottie Anne, Clearsnap ColorBox Chestnut Roan chalk ink, Creative Impressions mini brads and photo turns, Glue Dots, lines and dots; SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, 3D squares; white cardstock, Orange Distress Ink, white letter stickers, fun foam, “Happy” stamp, sandpaper, double sided removable tape

I began by creating my own embossing template. I placed a strip of Dottie Ann onto cardstock. Since I didn’t want to notice the “seam” in the final project, I cut off the bottom edge.

I added the second piece, cutting off one edge, placing the cut edges together, matching up the circles.

I cut the fun foam with S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® using the regular Wizard™ cut sandwich:

• Master Mat
• Spacer Plate
• Die Template with cut ridges facing up
• Fun Foam
• Master Mat

.

.

Embossing followed its regular sandwich:

• Master Mat
• Texture (in this case my Dottie Ann sheet)
• Fun Foam
• Embossing Pad
• Master Mat

.

.

After I ran the pumpkin stamp through the Wizardâ„¢ with the Dottie Ann texture sheet, I noticed how flat the embossing was, I thought the embossing was too “thin” to show up as a stamp texture. But it was worth a try…I taped it (double sided removable) to a foam block, inked it up and pressed it onto smooth white cardstock and what do you know? I got the look I wanted! I stamped 4 more and love them!

I cut each stamped image out with a different die template. I used #5 die template from the following sets: S5-006 Curved Rectangles, S4-161 Labels One, S4-162 Labels Two,  S4-169 Small Labels, and used #4 with S5-019 Labels Eight.

Using the S4-226 Harvest Border Petite and my W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, I created a long border. Since there is only one cut edge on this Borderabilities® die template, you can create endless borders. This is what I found worked the best:

I built the sandwich “upside down,” placing pieces of double sided removable tape at the ends of the Master Mat and sticking the Core’dinations strip onto it. I added the die template at one end, cut edge down, carefully placing the W-024 Magnetic Spacer Plate and adding the other Master Mat. Through the Wizardâ„¢ it went.

To cut the center section, I moved the die template down until the pumpkin “hole” and edge fit snuggly.

I cut again and then repeated the process for the last section.

I embossed the first section and then sanded it–giving me the “fresh” emboss (versus embossing and then running it through the Wizardâ„¢ for the second cut and flattening the first emboss). I repeated this 2 times to complete the strip. I created two borders, overlapped and adhered them.

To assemble, I laid out my pumpkins, added the stickers and stamped “Happy.” I embellished the tags with mini pumpkin die-cuts, brads and photo turns and accordion folded the piece so it would stand up on its own. Yeah! Here is is!

And to what it says, “Happy Halloween” not only from us but also from Tattered Angels!

Enjoy the weekend, Eli

Last weekend, I went shopping for scrapbook supplies. I found something that I really wanted to use for today’s post…Tattered Angels‘ Glimmer Screens - Garden Ironworks. One particular screen caught my eye - the iron gate! I had the Raven Glimmer Mist at home that would be a perfect match so I “had to have it.” LOL!

Using the screen and Glimmer Mist, I would put them into the Wizard™ to letterpress into an orange cardstock that was in my scrap pile. Beware of dripping Glimmer Mist after spraying the screen (MUHAHAHAHA!!!), my first try was a mess! Let the excess mist drip off the screen first and then place into the sandwich.

Quickly letterpress the cardstock by using the following sandwich (from the bottom):
White Master Mat
Copy paper (for protection)
Screen (Glimmer Misted side UP)
Cardstock
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

Next, I misted a big white flower. I suggest misting two coats (dry between coats). The front of the flower was dark but didn’t have the glimmer I was looking for. So I flipped the flower to see what happened there - it had all this glimmer, so pretty! I will be using the back of the flower instead. Note to self: mist the back of the flower next time! LOL!! For the center of the flower, I cut/embossed four of S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® die template #2 (#1 being the smallest size). Fold each pumpkin in half and with wet adhesive, adhere each side of pumpkin to the next. For more details, please refer HERE. 

After I stamped “Happy Owl-Oween” from Hero Arts Owl-Oween set, I cut/embossed one of the S4-234 Ribbon Tags Trio Two over the sentiment. I love how this set can accommodate wider ribbons. The black organza ribbon I had in my stash is about 5/8″ wide and the slot still had room! Using the same stamp set, I stamped an owl image onto Core’dinations ColorCore cardstock, cut out the image and glittered its eyes.

Adding more embellishments, I cut out a Halloween image from Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Cuts. For texture, I cut S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 with fabric paper and orange felt (note: an extra shim like a piece of cardstock may be needed for the cut to go through or cut twice if it’s thick). For a journal “box,” I cut/embossed the largest maple leaf (die #3) with Core’dinations cardstock and sanded the edges. I inked the edges of my mat and page with Clearsnap Queue Ink. Adhering all the elements as shown onto Fancy Pants Treat or Treat Collection made this layout one of my favorite Halloween pages!

 

Don’t forget all this month, we are showcasing our designers who used their talent to come up with beautiful projects using Spellbindersâ„¢ and Tattered Angels‘ products. Please take a look at what Holly Simoni has inspired you with today! Come back and visit us so that you know who else will dazzle you!

Have a great day!
MargieH

Have you heard?  We’re doing a blog hop with Tattered Angels, makers of Glimmer Mist and much more. Today, Design Team Member Julie Overby  has blogged a project, go check it out! You can also check out the Tattered Angels Blog for even more ideas.

Did you love Margie’s Savvy Saturday, where she cut apart the S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®?  That got me thinking about the S4-220 Nested Pine Trees.  I wanted to give them some dimension. 

I pulled together some supplies: Spellbindersâ„¢ S4-220 Nested Pine Trees, S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles LG #4 and 5; Spellbindersâ„¢ Impressabilitiesâ„¢ I2-1006 Floral and Stone, I2-1009 Flourish, I2-1002 Paisley.  I also included 7gypsies, Gypsy Market Paper; SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, 3D Foam Squares; Tattered Angels, Pearl Glimmer Mist; Clearsnap, Colorbox Chestnut Roam and Dark Moss Fluid Chalk Ink; Stampers Anonymous, Mini Ornates Stamps; Core’dinations Color Core Cardstock; tan and brown cardstock; sanding block.

I cut S4-220 Nested Pine Trees #3 with Core’dinations Cardstock, then embossed with one of the Impressabilitiesâ„¢ templates.  I repeated this step 2 more times, with a different tone of green, so that I had 3 large Nested Pine Treea die cuts, each embossed with a different Impressabilitiesâ„¢ template.  I trimmed the lightest green tone for the top section of the tree, then the medium tone for the center, and left the darkest tone full size. I cut a trunk from dark brown cardstock.  I inked the edges of the tree with Dark Moss ink.

I sanded the embossed areas that would show, then spritzed with Pearl Glimmer Mist.  I cut/embossed 2 tones of tan cardstock with S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles LG # 4 and 5, then inked the edges with Chestnut Roan ink.  I stamped a Mini Ornates sentiment with Chestnut Roan onto the smaller rectangle.

To give the tree depth, I lined the lower curved edges with 3D Foam Squares, but used normal flat adhesive at the top of the tree.

I assembled the card as shown below. The “lift” and inked edges give dimension and shadow.

Enjoy the day!

Beth

Don’t forget Spellbindersâ„¢ is partnering with Tattered Angels on a Designer Blog Hop so come join us as we feature Karen Hunsaker today! See what project she created using Spellbindersâ„¢ and Tattered Angels products!

I really enjoy this Spellbindersâ„¢ S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® set! So many different ideas come to mind like what if I added the S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand. What a great pumpkin patch that would be! Well, that’s exactly what I did…a layout of my boys visiting our local pumpkin farm where they had such a blast! It pays to carry around a small camera in my purse to “capture that moment!”

Rather than just a one dimensional pumpkin, I cut two S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #3 die (the smallest being #1) to create a “puffed” pumpkin. One of the pumpkin shape serves as a base and the other, I cut into sections length-wise as shown (note: I cut the stem off the cut pumpkin). Make sure you have them in the right order so that you can put them back together again.

First I curled each section of the cut pumpkin. Then inked all the edges of the base pumpkin and the cut pumpkin with Clearsnap Queue Ink. I also inked the pumpkin stem with Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Dark Moss. Then with wet adhesive that dries clear, I glued each section onto the base. Set aside to dry.

 

To give my pumpkin some glimmer, I sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Vintage Pink (I also used the Glimmer Mist Gold for the other pumpkins). It’s one way to make a pumpkin “pretty!” After it dried, I reapplied the ink around the edges of the pumpkin and ink the stem to give it a stronger coloring. Repeat the same process with two more pumpkins, I made a total of three (3) “puffed” pumpkins.

Using the S4-226 Harvest Border Petites die #2 (the accent die template - the one with the cut line all around the die template), I cut/embossed a piece from Core’dination ColorCore and stenciled it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Gold. I added the small leaf pieces which I sanded to accent each side of the border. Adhered all to the mat that I cut for the two pictures. Set aside.

Using My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love Collection, I cut/embossed two (2) S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand with the Grand Cut Mat Kit. I then stenciled using Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Dark Moss.

I had a pumpkin patch pattern paper in my stash that went well with the theme and adhered both border die cuts onto the page in an “L” shape. I then placed my “puffed” pumpkins onto the border along with a pumpkin die cut used as a journal box. Add the matted pictures along with the title of the farm’s name and a beautiful Fall memory is recorded!

Have a great Saturday!!
MargieH

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 gathered my Spellbindersâ„¢ items to start creating: S4-114 Standard Circle Large #3 die (#1 being the smallest die template), S4-116 Standard Circle Small #3, S4-161 Labels One #4, S4-229 Labels Five #4, S4-233 Labels Nine #4, S4-230 Labels Six #4, S7-014 Grand 12″ Classic Lace Border, S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #2 & #3 and S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 & #2.

With My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love Collection (using various pattern papers), I cut/embossed S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #2 & #3 and S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 & #2 by using the W-024 Magnetic Spacer Plate. I then edged the die cuts with Clearsnap ColorBox inks and set aside.

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 the Wizardâ„¢, I cut/embossed the different label die templates on to a 3.5 x12″ strip of Core’dinations Chocolate Box cardstock and sanded the edges to finish. From left to right: S4-161 Labels One #4, S4-233 Labels Nine #4, S4-229 Labels Five #4 and S4-230 Labels Six #4.

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!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH