A follow-up to two previous entries by Beth: Embossing 101 and Embossing 201. Check those out if you want to see some of the basics of embossing with the Wizardâ„¢ and using the W-003 Charm Embossing Kit. The following technique also employ the Charm Embossing Kit so you’ll need that if you want to do try this. Today we’re going to explore how to: Flatten bottle caps!

To refresh your memory, the pieces included in the W-003 Charm Embossing Kit are:

A tan embossing pad

A blue master mat that is slightly thinner than the white master mats and will help accommodate thicker objects such as charms or texture plates

A black charm replicating mat. It is a different density and thickness than the tan polymer embossing pad.  Use it as you would the tan mat but when you need a bit more resistance.  It’s not used often, but is a handy little guy.

Let’s talk about smashing bottle caps. I know, you LIKE using your hammer to smash and smash away, letting all your frustrations out on that poor little cap (but not giving you very acceptable results). Why not try this, think of a happy place, a serene valley with a stream running by…now, get out your Wizard and the following: 1 white master mat, the blue master mat, the tan embossing mat, a piece of scratch paper and a few bottle caps (you can purchase unused bottle caps at many web stores selling brewing supplies). Layer the elements as follows:

White Master Mat
Piece of scratch paper
Bottle cap with flat side resting on the scratch paper (If you put the flat side up, when you run the sandwich through the machine, you will embed the bottle cap into the mat…very challenging to remove!)
Tan embossing mat
Blue Mat

Here is where the serenity really takes over…Use the normal cranking motion to get the sandwich through. It won’t feel like anything is happening and you may need to push/pull the sandwich through with both hands…but open it up and Voila! A perfectly flattened, perfectly round, no pounding bottle cap! OHM!

Check out this project created by one of our former design team members, Holly Simoni who will be returning to the team in April. She used the Wizardâ„¢ to flatten all of the bottle caps and added her daughters name using the Spellbinders’ font, Vintage (retired), that fits right into the flattened caps.

Our Blogger, Beth created this set of tags, using the same font as Holly. She created a nice collection using the round top tags. If you don’t have the round top ones, try the S3-028 Standard Tags. Each tag got a different treatment of die cuts and stamping. See the Festive Stocking (second tag) and a few other retired dies.

Jennifer Ellefson’s layout of a beautiful photo in Rome is enhanced by three flat bottle caps, including an extra large one from Maya Road.

Linda Hoffaker, also from a previous design team, flattened the caps and turned them into magnets for this fun and funky To Do Metal Easle.

Hello crafting friends…Stacey here.

If you are here, most likely you played along with our Blog Frenzy that showcased 16 new die template sets, and you probably saw my  announcement that I’d be back today to share with you Spellbinder’s incredible innovation: Impressabilities.

This product is not your average texture-making folder that is readily available today. In fact, it’s not even a folder. We’re offering a new take on embossing with our versatile, customizable new templates called Impressabilities. This product will emboss, deboss, stencil or letterpress, all in one. Or you can snip apart the individual elements on the template and use them as an embellishment. So what does this mean to you? Let’s take a look…

1. Emboss or Deboss–Front of an A2 card or smaller
2. Emboss or Deboss–Precut die cuts, shapes or letters
3. Apply ink and Deboss–resulting in stunning letterpress effects
4. Customize–snip apart the elements of the template pieces to create one-of-a-kind flourishes, frames and more
5. Embellish–Trim and use the individual elements as embellishments
6. Stencil–Use the template as a stencil or mask to create beautiful patterns.

The flexibility and versatility make this a fabulous product to own.

I love having two of each around so I can letterpress 20 invitations with my full template and then cut the other one apart to use as embellishments for the cards. Like I said,  “Flexible and Versatile.” And you know whenever you can get those two great words in one sentence together, you’re sure to have VALUE. With the MSRP of $6.99, it definitely is a value.

I know the ideas are probably just swimming around in your creative brain…and we sure hope so. We can’t wait for these to start shippijng around the first of March. Then, later in the Spring (possibly May) we’ll be offering a contest utilizing this innovative product.

That’s all for today. Go check out the website to see that our new products are coming online this morning. So much potential for the coming season!!!

Hugs, Stacey

Good afternoon, friends.  I’ve been decorating for the 5th Anniversary Blog Party, rushing about here and there, making sure we’re all ready for the 16-day blast! …Ooh, la, la. I think Spellbindersâ„¢ sure knows how to throw a good party.

For today’s Savvy Saturday, I want to share a layout I fell in love with the moment I saw it. Design Team Member Jeni Calkins created it. It features a couple of our Sunflower dies and even though it looks super challenging, it is actually do-able for most levels of scrapbookers. So, now that you’ve seen it…let’s learn how to do it.

Instructions:

1. Cut/emboss the following die templates from dark purple Cor’dinations cardstock: Daisy Grand Borderabilities® (S7-003), Sunflower Garden Edgeabilities® (S5-004). From the Sunflower Sets One and Two (S4-157, S4-157) cut one large, two mediums and two small sunflowers.
2. Sand the embossing details on all the die cuts to bring out the white core.
3. Cut the frame off of the Sunflower Garden. Layer the sunflowers as seen in the image. Curl the petals to give them dimension. Using a fingernail underneath to scrape the paper a bit can help it keep it’s curl. Sort of like when you use scissors on curling ribbon, just a bit more gently.
4. Trim a piece of cardboard to approximately 10×10″ and peel off the top covering to reveal the ribbing.
5. Rub the cardboard randomly with embossing ink, sprinkle with two shades of embossing powder and heat to set.
6. Use photo editing software to turn a photo to black and white and to soften the outer edge. Print, tear and ink around the outer edge.
7. Assemble the layout as shown and add the title using old game letters and metal letters for each word.

Voila!

Stunning work. It looks so beautiful and complicated yet it is achievable.

Thanks to Jeni Calkins for sharing her talents with us.

Cheers to the New Year: Eli

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!

by Jennifer Ellefson

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it is time to shift into overdrive to make all those hand-made gifts we promised ourselves we would this year. Today’s Savvy Saturday feature will highlight a Boxed Letter-writing Bundle that can be made using just one Die Template set from Spellbinders.

Thanks to our Design Team member Jennifer Ellefson who created this elegant ensemble using Rose Borderabilities® Petite (S4-164). So let’s not waste any time today…Gathering just a few supplies will get you moving quickly on it.

Besides your Wizardâ„¢ and regular plates/mats, gather Inkjet printable vellum sheets (8½x11″) and ColorMates Deep Racy Raspberry, both by WorldWin, white cardstock, metallic rub-ons, watercolor pencils, small paint brushes, adhesives and a corner rounder punch. (Remember, though, if you have a machine other than the Wizardâ„¢, you can still do the project because Spellbindersâ„¢ Dies work in nearly all consumer dies. Check out the videos Stacey created for help on how to use our dies in other machines.

A local paper/packaging supplies store such as Xpedx will have a variety of boxes that the set can be placed in as part of the gift set. Selecting one with a clear top will show off the gift in a beautiful way.

Instructions:

• Prepare the stationery by cutting each sheet of vellum to 5½x8″. Round the lower corners as shown. A dozen to 20 sheets would make a nice supply and uses only 6-10 sheets of vellum.
• Cut the 12×12″ raspberry paper into strips: 2×5½”, one per card. Cut one strip 12×2″ for the band.
• Cut/emboss each small strip using the Rose Borderabilities® Petite Die Template (S4-165). Note that the border only cuts on one side, giving the strip its decorative edge. Near the straight edge, the embossing echoes the cut edge.
• After cutting and embossing, embellish the design with metallic rub-ons (use your finger to wipe a small amount of the colorant over the raised design. Start lightly and build up color to the desired amount.)
• Using white cardstock, cut/emboss one (1) heart medallion to be used on the band around the box and one circle medallion for each stationery piece.
• Embellish with watercolor pencils (draw lightly over the embossed lines and use a paintbrush with a small amount of water on it to bring out the water-color look) and allow to dry thoroughly.
• Assemble the stationery by adhering the medallion to the strip and the strip to the vellum. Set aside.
• Make the box band by creating a strip long enough to go around the box loosely. Cut the strip using the die, beginning in the center. Re-align the Die Template at one end and cut again. Continue hop-scotching until it is cut to the end.
• Emboss in the same hop-scotch manner. Embellish with metallic rub-ons as described above. Add the heart medallion in the center and adhere the ends together in the back with slack enough that the band can be easily removed or replaced.
• Place envelopes into the bottom of the box. Stack the stationery on top. Put the clear lid on and slide the band into place.

Begin with Jennifer’s lovely example and think about your recipient. Would she like a different color? Would he prefer a more masculine medallion, maybe snowflakes? Now have fun while you give the project your own flair!

Cheers, Eli

Welcome! And thanks for the introduction, Stacey! I’m so excited to be part of Spellbinderâ„¢ Blog Team with Eli. And I am amazed and thrilled at how many of you have already stopped by and told us about your favorite die. We’ll be choosing a blog candy winner later this morning.

Whether you own a Wizard or another die cutting machine, you can use Spellbinders Die Templates. Stacey made some great videos, so first I’ll direct you to those to learn how to cut and emboss in your machine. Videos! Back already? Good.

I’m using the S3-004 Symbology Die Template today. It was the first die template I bought and its still one of my favorites. If you didn’t take notes during the video, no worries, I’ve got you covered. The sandwich for cutting a Spellbinders Die Template is included inside the package of all the dies. But here it is so you don’t have to go digging for it (stack from the bottom up) —

1. White Master Mat
2. Thin White Spacer Plate (or Magnetic Spacer Plate if using the Raspberry Wizard)
3. Spellbinders Die Template with cut ridges up

4. Paper, Cardstock, craft foil (the material you will be cutting, the side/pattern you want to show in your final project, facing the die template)
5. White Mat

Now just feed this into the Wizard. What you have is a flat die cut. Exciting, huh? Every other machine can do that too. What makes the Spellbinders special is that you can emboss that die cut! Put the material right back in the Die Template. Then emboss it with this sandwich —

1. White Mat
2. Spellbinders Die Template (cutting ridges up)
3. Paper, cardstock, craft foil, etc in the die template. If it came out, that’s ok, it’ll go right back inside the cutting ridges.
4. Tan Embossing Mat
5. White Mat

Now feed that through the Wizard in exactly the same way. Great! How do you like it? Want to make it more interesting? Put the material right back inside the die. This is the really fun part, because you can customize it to match the rest of your project.

Use the same inks, chalks, markers, paint or other craft supply you used on your project. See, you can go right through the back side of the die to apply it. There you go—Cut, Emboss and Embellish!

Thanks for stopping by! Beth