Design Team Member Karen Hunsaker produced this video showing how she positions her die templates over stamped images to get the perfect die cut every time. I had two reactions when I saw her video, the first was Great Idea!, and the second was why didn’t I think of that?   Take a minute to watch Karen’s video:

Personally, I am an eyeballer on most things, but Karen’s technique is worth a try, right?

I pulled out some of my Flower Soft preprinted images and decided on the Noel card.  It seemed just about the right size for the S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles LG.  To be sure, I cut a scrap paper with the #4 die (#1 being the smallest in the set), and removed the die cut.  That left me with a frame. 

I moved the frame around on top of the image until I liked the position, then I taped it down.  I placed the die with the cut side down, on top of the image and moved it around until it moved into place, and I taped it down. I cut/embossed the image in my Wizard™. 

Since I had my Flower Soft supplies out, I thought I would enhance my preprinted image with some Flower Soft sprinkles on it.  I added the Vintage Christmas color to the corners and over the letters.  While the glue was still wet I sprinkled some Clearsnap Winterfrost Glitter to add some festive sparkle.

I matted the preprinted image onto a black S5-015 Deckled Mega Rectangles LG #6 die cut, and adhered it to Fancy Pants Christmas Magic, Bough of Holly paper with SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L’s 3D Foam Squares.  The card is plain white cardstock inked up a bit to tone down the bright white.

Now that was easy and I didn’t waste time or images by making a wrong cut!  Thank you Karen!

Don’t forget the Seasonal Collection of die templates will soon be unavailable, make sure the get them while you can, because when they’re gone, they’re gone!

And mark your calendars, the Black Friday Give-Away  for a set of new Nesties™ starts at 12:00am on November 27!

Happy Savvy Saturday!

Beth

Yesterday was Autumn Equinox (the equinox divides the day and night equally) which means we are officially into Autumn. So what a great excuse to make a card just for the season!

Using my Spellbinders, I brought out S5-019 Labels Eight die #5 (die #1 being the smallest in the bunch), S4-121 Doodle Parts long thin swirl, I2-1010 Impressabilities™ Pebbles and S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #3.

First, I cut out and embossed my S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #3 with Core’dinations cardstock. Then I proceed to emboss the pumpkin further by using my I2-1010 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Pebbles with the cardstock still embedded in the die template as demonstrated in Beth’s post.

Just to recap, I’d like to go over the sandwich recipes that you will be using on the pumpkins:

1. Cut Sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
Magnetic Mat (black side up)
S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #2 (ridge up/cut side up)
Cardstock
White Master Mat

2. Emboss Sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die (with cardstock embedded/cut side up)
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

3. Impressabilities Sandwich (from bottom):
White Master Mat
I2-1010 Impressabilitesâ„¢ Pebbles
S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® die (with cardstock embedded/cut up)
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

Repeat this process five more times and make sure you sand each piece to show off that design. You will need a total of six embossed/impressed pumpkins to achieve the accent shown on the card pictured below. Fold each pumpkin in half, adhere one side to one side of another pumpkin’s side, connecting them. Make sure you have a flat side to adhere the 3-D pumpkin to the card base. Set aside to adhere to the card as a last step.

I continued to cut and emboss the S5-019 Labels Eight die #5 and two of the Doodle Parts long thin swirl die. Note that I have stenciled the long thin swirl die with Clearsnap Fluid Chalk Ink Chestnut Roan before taking the papers out of the die. Make sure to clean the ink off of your die.

Using the Clearsnap chalk ink, I inked the edges of: Crafty Secret Fall Cotton Scraps, S5-019 Labels Eight die cut and card base (make sure to corner round the card base first). Adhere all the parts as shown with the exception of the pumpkin. I used Flower Soft Autumn to accent the image and let dry. Lastly, the pumpkin was adhered to make a wonderful (and colorful) card!

Happy Autumn, everyone!
MargieH

For Savvy Saturday, I thought I would cut apart my Impressability. It’s OK - LOL!! It’s one of the reasons why I purchased two of the same kind. The results are stunning.

Since the weather is getting cooler and the days seem to be getting shorter, my mind is in fall mode. Wandering around the Chicago Scrapbook Expo a few weeks ago, I grabbed Crafty Secret Fall Homespun Cotton Scraps. Perfect for just this occasion! Here are some other items I gathered for today’s project: I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish, S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand, S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf die #1 ( the smallest size), S4-132 Classic Rectangles Large die #5 and S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die #2.

I picked the I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish because of the swirl designs, it went well with the fall theme. While cutting the Flourish to use as a border, I discovered that it really wasn’t connected to each other, just an individual flowery swirl. But that was fine, I placed each flourish next to each other to look like a border. Using the Core’dination cardstock, I misted the area where I would emboss.

The embossing sandwich I used was (from the bottom):
White Master Mat
Tan Embossing Pad
Cardstock
I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish
White Master Mat

After feeding the sandwich through the Wizard, I left the Impressability pieces embedded in the cardstock. I flipped the cardstock over and proceeded to sand over the embossed area. I do this so that my embossing stands out even more. Then I took out the pieces of the Impressability and set the card base aside. 

S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand, I only cut and emboss a small part as I only needed one of its leaf to add onto the pumpkin…don’t forget to ink the leaf before adding (hint: I inked the edges first and then gently pressed the entire leaf face down onto the ink pad)! I cut and embossed three (3) S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf die #1. With the rest of the die templates, I cut and embossed one of each using My Mind’s Eye pattern papers. Inked the edges of all including the card base and Crafty Secret Cotton Scraps image. Adhere all as shown below…note that the S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® and the orange S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf are raised using foam tape by Scrapbook Adhesive By 3L. Also, if you look closely, you will see I added touches of Flower Soft onto the image where the leaves are…wonderful accent!

Design Team Member Karen Hunsaker also created a card by cutting apart the I2-1001 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Paisley. Going further with the Paisley theme, she also cut and embossed the S4-135 Classic Scalloped Paisley with the Core’dinations Chocolate Box cardstock. Stamped “thanks” from Hero Arts using Clearsnap ink, this card is ready to go!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Saturday!
MargieH

For Savvy Saturday, I thought I go over my first technique that I did when receiving my order of Impressabilitiesâ„¢…a straight emboss.

A friend of mine just started her teaching career and I wanted to send her a card to congratulate her for surviving her first few days! LOL!! Of course, I will have to tuck in a gift card to her favorite coffee house for those cold fall mornings.

I will be using the following Spellbindersâ„¢ products: I2-1004 Impressabiltiesâ„¢ Flowers and S4-114 Standard Circles LG #6 die (#1 being the smallest size) and of course, the Wizardâ„¢.

First, I will emboss a piece of 5 1/2″W x 4 1/4″H Core’dinations cardstock. Note: I mist the paper to get a more enhanced embossed design - this will help when using a thicker cardstock too.

Then I used the following sandwich (from the bottom):
White Master Mat
I2-1004 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flowers
Cardstock
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

Once I walked the sandwich through the Wizardâ„¢, (another note) I left the Impressability in the cardstock and sanded over the design. I find that the design stands out even more when you have it underneath. After taking the embossed cardstock off the I2-1004 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flowers, I sanded the edges.

Setting it aside, I went to stamp my image from JustRite Stampers’ Friendship set on Core’dinations cardstock and cut/embossed with the S4-114 Standard Circles LG #6. I edged the circle with Clearsnap Queue ink and adhered it with Scrapbook Adhesive by 3L’s 3D Foam Squares (stacked three squares to life the circle above the flower) onto a 6″x4 7/8″ Core’dinations white card base which was edged with ink. Then I colored the stamp image with Copics, added Flower Soft and glittered the accents.

Another fun “Back To School” project - a card with a gift card tucked inside for that favorite teacher! Hope everyone made it back to school safely.

And for those of you who are a visual type, I am including a video of our lovely Miss Stacey demonstrating some fun things to do with the Impressabilitiesâ„¢…

Oh! Don’t forget to vote for us on “When Creativity Knocks!” - Great Crafter’s Tool Hunt…there’s a good chance you might win something real nice. Look HERE for details!

Have a great Saturday!
MargieH

Today we’re getting back into our Savvy Saturday mode, and what better to do that with than a card boasting our newest die templates!

This card features the S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-210 Lattice Pendant,  S4-110 Classic Oval Large,  S4-112 Classic Oval Small, and S4-234 Ribbons Tag Trio 2 die templates, I2-1002 Impressabilities™ Butterfly, as well as F-005 Gold Premium Craft Foil, 7gypsies patterned paper, Clearsnap ink and Hero Arts stamps.

I started by cutting/embossing black cardstock with the largest (#6) of the Labels Eight die templates.  Then I cut a piece of Gold Premium Craft Foil with  the S5-019 Labels Eight (#5) die template.  To get the finished border around the Labels Eight die cut, as well as the I2-002 Impressabilities™ Butterfly embossing, I used this sandwich:

• White Master Mat
• Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Butterfly
• Labels Eight die template, cut side facing up
• Die cut of Gold Premium Craft Foil, gold side down, fit into Label die template
• Tan Embossing Pad
• White Master Mat

By feeding it into my Wizard™, it resulted in an embossed die cut!  With a piece of fine sandpaper, I sanded the top of the die cut to reveal the silver color.  I adhered it onto the black die cut.

Next, I cut/embossed a black oval from S4-110 Classic Oval Large (#5).  Then I cut a Gold Foil Oval from the S4-112 Classic Ovals Small (#5).  Using the same sandwich as above, but I replaced the Impressabilities™ with the Center piece from the the 4-210 Lattice Pendant. I fed it into my Wizard™ and the shape of the Center embossed into my gold foil oval.  Again I sanded the detail for more definition.

I trimmed the 7gypsies patterned paper 6×4.5″ so that it made a nice  background for the Labels Eight die cuts, which are big, measuring at nearly 5.5″ long!

I also cut/embossed the Long Rectangle Tag from the S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2 set.  I used the the back side of the 7gypsies pattern paper.  Then I stamped a sentiment on it from Hero Arts, distressed with Clearsnap Black pigment ink and set aside.

I arranged and adhered the Labels Eight and Classic Oval die cuts on top of the 7gypsies patterned paper as shown.  I mounted the patterned paper onto a piece of black cardstock.  Taking the stamped Ribbon Tag Trio 2 die cut, I strung a 1 3/8″ wide ribbon (the openings are 3/4″, allowing for thicker ribbon!) and wrapped it around the front of the card, and adhered it to the back side of the black cardstock.

Here are a few more examples from our fabulous Design Team:

Holly Simoni’s layout features her daughter and her love of horses.  Holly used S4-215 Renaissance Hearts Borderabilities®, S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant and S5-018 Labels Eight.  Her supplies include 7gypsies pattern paper, Clearsnap ink, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Christy Farneth-Kerr’s card is Magically Delicious!  She cut an opening in the front with the S4-189 Labels Three,  and covered it with S4-207 Kaliedoscope Pendant.  She used the S4-216 Kaliedoscope Borderabilities® cut from Premium Craft Foil and from cardstock to make the other elements.  Christy folded a Pendant to make the iris flower element.  Other supplies include Chatterbox paper, The Paper Company paper, and Flower Soft adhesive.

Kimberly Crawford employed reverse stenciling to get the 2-toned effect on this S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant card.  She added Clearsnap’s Smooch to the small heart accents.  Kimberly used My Mind’s Eye paper, Clearsnap ink, Hero Arts stamps, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L supplies.

So if these Pendant ideas get your mojo flowing, be sure to enter the Pendant Party, and you could win some fabulous prizes!

Happy Saturday!

Beth

With all this talk of the Borderability Grands, I thought I would give the Borderability Petites some lovin’. You know how pesky those little siblings can get when they are left out of the fun.  And speaking of fun, I’m so happy to be bringing you art from the new 2009 Design Team!

The Borderability Petite die templates are 5.5 inches long and vary in width, depending on the design.  Each border has one cut line along the long edge.  They are the perfect length for cards, but can be beautiful on any type of project.

The S4-163 Daisy Borderability Petite comes with 2 coordinating die templates with the daisy design. This design coordinates with the S7-003 Daisy Borderabilities Grand and the S4-043 Daisy Patch Edgeabilities die templates.

The S4-164 Rose Borderability Petite comes with 2 coordinating die templates that match the rose design of the S7-001 Rose Borderability Grand and the S4-044 Rose Blossom Edgeablities die templates.

The S4-174 Deckle Scalloped Edge Petite Borders come as a set of 2 5.5 inch borders, one with a scalloped edge and dotted embossing detail, and the other with the decked edge for the worn and torn look.

Lets not forget about the Piercabilities!  Those work in exactly the same way!  You can choose to pierce or not pierce.

2009 Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship’s Anniversary card is stunning.  Heidi loves JustRite Stampers, Copic Markers, and Flower Soft products as well as the following Spellbinder’s supplies: S4-164 Rose Borderabilities Petite, S4-044 Rose Blossom Edgeability, S4-194 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles, S4-114 Standard Circles LG, S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles Large, and of course, her trusty Wizard!

For her Butterfly Dreams card, Heidi used these Spellbinders’ products: S4-114 Standard Circles Large, S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles Large, and S4-173 Piercabilities Fancy Scalloped Butterfly.

Terre Fry, Design Team Member, used the Deckle piece from the S4-174 Deckle Scalloped Edge Petite set on her Christmas card to add the festive detail.  The S4-085 Snowflake Wonder is still one of my personal favorites!

Design Team Member Karen Hunsaker used the S4-163 Daisy Borderability Petite die template set to wrap around the candle as well as to cut and emboss the bottom edge of the card and emboss her envelope flap.  JustRite Stampers made the gift tag look just right!

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Design Team Member Jennifer Davis shows us how a Borderability Petite can accent a layout.  Could Maiah be any cuter?  Jennifer’s layout includes S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles, Large, S4-116 Standard Circles Small, S4-114 Standard Circles Large, and S4-120 Doodles (discontinued).

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Whew, that’s a lot of linky-loo’s!  I hope you have enjoyed your ride across the border, Borderabilities, that is!
Beth