Sign Up For our Newsletter

Newsletter

Blog & Community Forum

Buggy

Shopping cart:

View Cart | Checkout


Posts Tagged ‘Heidi Blankenship’

Can’t Help Resisting…

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

I hope you enjoyed Beth’s take on the Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style post! I think this is my newest favorite technique :0) Thanks to our Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship for the technique!

Last Saturday, Heidi created a beautiful card and I made a hot chocolate pocket card - can’t decided if I want to give it away or keep it! LOL! This time I thought I’d make a window card using S5-017 Snowflake Frame and cut a sentiment by using S4-110 Classic Ovals LG #3 (the smallest die being #1). The sentiment “Let It Snow!” is from JustRite Stampers’ Christmas Joy Borders & Centers set.

First, I cut a sheet of wax paper into quarters in case I need more than one (aka mistakes). I understand that there some of us who can’t get wax paper locally. Are there papers that have a wax film on them available? I was thinking freezer paper, butcher’s paper or even parchment paper might do the trick.

I cut and embossed the wax papers. The cut sandwich is the same as using “regular” paper.

From the bottom:
White Master Mat
Magnetic Spacer Pad
S5-017 Snowflake Frame (cut/ridge side up)
Wax Paper
White Master Mat

Then after cutting the wax paper, I embossed it.

Embossing Sandwich from bottom:
White Master Mat
Tan Embossing Pad
S5-017 Snowflake Frame w/ Wax Papers Embedded (cut/ridge side down)
White Master Mat

Carefully take the wax paper out of the die template. Avoid any wrinkles because they might show up in the resist. I flipped the embossed wax frame so that you can see how well it took the embossing.

Now this is where the “magic” begins! Heat up your iron on high (keep it on dry, no steam setting), place your wax frame onto the card front and with a paper towel on top of the it, iron your wax paper into the cardstock. Be careful not to move the frame and make sure to spend a few minutes ironing so that the wax melts onto the cardstock. Not sure if you can see the resist in the picture…


Then with a cotton ball, tap into your dye ink and color in the card front to expose the waxed image for that beautiful resist effect.


Taking the center of the S5-017 Snowflake Frame, I taped (to make it less tacky, I tapped the tape on my jeans = removable tape!) it into position to cut/emboss and make a window into the card.


I stamped my sentiment “Let It Snow” onto a piece of blue cardstock and cut/embossed with the S4-110 Classic Ovals LG #3. Notice I taped again to make sure that I get the image centered properly.


Time to assemble the card! I inked the edges of the center pieces of the S5-017 Snowflake Frame and adhered it to the inside of the card centered so that when the card is closed it would come through the window. Using Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares, I adhered the oval stamped sentiment in the middle to give it dimension. I also added a little glitter in the snowflakes of the stamped image but hard to see in the picture. Tied white ribbon on the side to give it some texture. To finish off, I added Hero Arts Gems for a little sparkle!

This is the finished look! Hope you get a chance to try this technique!

Just a reminder about the Spellbindersâ„¢ Seasonal Limited Edition die templates , they will no longer be manufactured after November 30th 2009 which is not too far off! WOW! So if you’re sitting on the fence about some of these products, I wouldn’t sit there too long! If your favorite Spellbindersâ„¢ retailers run out, they’re gone. So hope you order yours soon!

Have a good day!!
MargieH

Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style, Part 2

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Wow Heidi and Margie, what an amazing technique! I just had to try it for myself! I gathered my supplies:

Spellbindersâ„¢ S5-018 Poinsettia Frame; Crafty Secrets, Vintage Christmas Stamp Set; SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, 3D Foam Squares; Copic, Sketch Markers R22, R24, C1, B21, B23, E00; Household Iron, Red and White Cardstock, Kitchen Wax Paper, Yellow Brads, Green Dye Ink, Cotton Balls.

I cut/embossed the wax paper in my Wizard™ with the S5-018 Poinsettia Frame.  I set the wax paper die cuts on a sheet of smooth white cardstock.  I placed another sheet on top of it and placed my hot iron on top of it.  It takes a few minutes for the wax to melt onto the cardstock, so be patient, and also careful not to move the die cut around if you are peeking at the progress. 

Tap a cotton ball into the dye ink and tap off, then swirl the ink over the paper.  I did this several times, and each layer of ink revealed a a better result.  Once I was happy with the ink, I lined up my die templates and cut/embossed the Poinsettia Frames.

The inside frame needed something, so I stamped and colored a Crafty Secrets image, then cut/embossed the image with the smaller frame. I used 3D Foam Squares to adhere the image to the cut out from the frame.  I also cut/embossed the poinsettia flower with red cardstock, hand trimmed the flower and used the 3D Foam Squares to lift the petals, just like I did on this card.  I added three yellow brads to the poinsettia.

I assembled the card as shown:

Yes, I do have a Christmas Tree set up already, but its not decorated yet.

Beth

Wax Resist, Spellbinders™ Style

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

Today, we will be doing something new…a new technique that one of our innovative design team members stumbled upon when doing another project. Got to LOVE those A-HA moments! LOL!

Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship will showing us how wax paper can turn your project into something beautiful…Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ style! Heidi introduced this technique on her blog a few days ago but didn’t want you all to miss this - it’s good! Sorry, ladies, you’ll have to bring out your irons for this one. I know mine is buried somewhere in the laundry room. But trust me, you won’t be disappointed in the results - do it for craft’s sake! LOL!

An encore presentation from Heidi:
I am so excited to be sharing a New Spellbindersâ„¢ Technique with you today! Before I get started I want to let you know how I came up with the idea for this technique. I don’t know if you have heard this before or not but sometimes when making a die cut the cardstock can really stick in the die template and if this happens Spellbindersâ„¢ recommends placing a piece of wax paper in between the die template and the cardstock and then your die cut will pop right out from the die template. If you haven’t heard this before it’s a great little tip!

I was making some pendant die cuts one day and I had several pieces of wax paper die cuts, they were so pretty I didn’t want to throw them away. Being a paper crafter you can’t ever throw anything away! *wink* I started trying to think of things I could do with the wax paper die cuts. Then I remembered doing a technique about 15 years ago where you crumple up wax paper and iron on top of cardstock creating a resist. Hmmm… That really had me thinking and wondering if I could do the same thing with wax paper die cuts and the answer is Yes!!

If you like to play with die cuts, the iron (only for crafty purposes-LOL!) and inks then this is a perfect tutorial for you! If you don’t like getting messy with the inks you can also do this technique on solid colored cardstock creating a watermark effect.

The New Technique is called “Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style!”

Here is the card I created using the Wax Resist.

Step 1: Start with a large piece of wax paper and fold in half and then in half again. (So it’s quartered) This is nice if you want to make multiples and have extra pieces to play around with this technique.

Cutting Sandwich (Stack from the bottom)
1. White Master Mat
2. Magnetic Spacer Plate
3. S4-210 Lattice Pendants (cut/ridge side UP)
4. Wax Paper
5. White Master Mat
6. Run through the Wizard machine.

Embossing Sandwich (Stack from the bottom)
1. White Master Mat
2. S4-210 Lattice Pendants (paper in place and the cut/ridge side up)
3. Tan Embossing Mat
4. White Master Mat
5. Run through the Wizard machine

Step 2: Cut/Emboss * You don’t have to emboss but it will show more of the detail in the resist.

Step 3: Before removing the wax paper, use a paper piercer, stylus, or even a toothpick will work to pop out the drop out pieces from the die cut.

Step 4: Remove the wax paper from the die template. Carefully separate the pieces. The reason you have to be very careful with this step is because any creases you might get in the wax paper with show up in the resist.

Step 5: Set the iron to the hottest temperature without having steam, lay wax paper die cut with the embossed side face down onto the cardstock, place paper towel on top and iron about 30-45 seconds being careful not to move the paper.
***You can use the paper of your choice to do the Wax Resist. On the card I created I used white glossy cardstock but it will also work on regular white cardstock. If you use regular white cardstock the colors of ink will be a little more intense because the paper has more fibers to absorb the ink. You can also use a solid colored cardstock for the Wax Resist and you will have a watermark effect.

I know it’s a little hard to see in the picture but after you are done ironing your cardstock should look like the one pictured above. You can see a light pattern from the wax paper.

Step 6:In this next step you will be applying ink to the cardstock. I like to use cotton balls to apply the ink. Ink up the cotton ball, in a circular motion rub off some of the ink on your scratch paper until it is a shade you like. Then apply the ink to the cardstock, remember to work in a circular motion, this will help for blending and smoothing out the ink. Use 2-3 colors of ink, layering them to add more depth. For my card I started with Ranger Distress Ink Broken China (Blue). When you are applying the ink leave some open space for the other colors.

Next I applied Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo. Heat setting the wax paper die cuts into the cardstock creates a resist and then when ink is applied the resist really pops! If you don’t have distress inks you can use other inks too.

In the picture above the Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style was done on glossy cardstock on the left and regular white cardstock on the right.

Here is another picture with a piece of solid color cardstock (sorry, it’s a little hard to get a good picture) so you can see the watermark effect.

Take another look at the finished card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions (Whimsical Wishes Branching Out); My Mind’s Eye (Laundry Line Flirty “Lil Girl”)
Paper: My Mind’s Eye (Laundry Line Natural “Encourage” Proud Print Paper); The Paper Company(White, Brown Cardstock); WorldWin (White Glossy)
Ink: Ranger (Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Broken China), Tsukineko (Memento Rich Cocoa Ink)
Spellbindersâ„¢: Wizardâ„¢, S4-210 Lattice Pendants, S4-235 Fancy Tags
Others: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (White 3D Foam Squares); Beacon Adhesives (3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue); My Mind’s Eye (Laundry Line Sundress “Sweetness” Rub-ons); Wax Paper; Paper Towels; Iron; and Cotton Balls

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. Give the New Technique - Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style - a try! I would love to hear what you think about the technique. If you do give it a try please leave a comment with a link to your project–I would love to see it!

After reading Heidi’s tutorial, I came up with these card fronts for hot chocolate pocket cards. I’m thinking of these for my boys’ teachers as holiday gifts (sticking in a gift card as well!).

I used S4-223 Create-A-Flake Two (the three largest sized die templates and their centers) as the background and S4-224 Snowflake Border Petite (the border that can cut/emboss a decorative edge) was used as a stenciled band on one of the cards. Then I embellished with the border’s snowflake cut outs and Hero Arts Pearls. Just love how it turned out! Makes you want to grab a hot cup of chocolate! Thanks, Heidi!

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!
Thanks for stopping by… MargieH

More Stamping with Foam

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Today’s Tattered Angels Blog Hop Hostess with the Mostess is Heidi Blankenship. Her personal blog, Embellished Dreams is chock full of Tattered Angels artwork, take some time to look around! This post is especially cool, enjoy!

I”m still having with foam!  Remember this Fall Wreath I made with embossed foam?  I had a few extra S4-228 Nested Maple Leaves left over from that project.  When I saw Eli’s Savvy Saturday and Margie’s Cushy project, I remembered my embossed foam leaf was still waiting to play.  Hmm, that would make a nice stamp!  Remember how nicely these embossed with the I2-1009 Flourish when I heated the Impressabilitiesâ„¢ with my iron?

I attached it to a clear block with a bit of adhesive. Then I inked the leaf with Clearsnap Colorbox Chestnut Roan Fluid Chalk Ink.

 Actually I used the same ink, but from 2 different ink pads, and I think it looks pretty cool!

I also added the S4-226 Harvest Border Petite , with a green ribbon under it to add some color.  It’s wrapped around the My Minds Eye Penny Lane Chasse cardstock.  I inked through the Borderabilitiesâ„¢ die template like a stencil, to color the embossed areas.  That piece is mounted on brown cardstock.

Enjoy Fall!
Beth

Spellbinders and Tattered Angels Blog Hop!

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Spellbindersâ„¢ has partnered with Tattered Angels for a Designer Blog Hop!  You can let your fingers do the hopping, we’ll tell you where to see some fabulous projects using the Spellbindersâ„¢ Wizardâ„¢, our versatile Die Templates, and Tattered Angels’ products. 

 

To get us started, Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship has done a fabulous job embossing with her Wizard and Tattered Angels’ Glimmer Screens and Glimmer Mist.  Visit Heidi at Embellished Dreams.

We’ll direct you to each featured blog from here, so be sure you are subscribed!

Enjoy!

Beth

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 Spellbindersâ„¢ 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 Spellbindersâ„¢ 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 Spellbindersâ„¢, 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!

.

.

.

.

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

Love,
Stacey

Come Join Us at ScrapFest 2009!!

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

Are you planning on attending the ScrapFest 2009 at the Mall of America in Minnesota?!

We will be there too, so come by and join in on the fun. Our two lovely Designers (Pictured top: Kim Hupke - Education Director and pictured second: Heidi Blankenship - ‘08 & ‘09 Design Team Member) will be there to show off our Spellbindersâ„¢ products with some wonderful make and take projects…you don’t want to miss it!

The dates and times that Kim and Heidi will be there to help you create the following:

Friday (9/18) 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Make a quick and easy Holiday Photo Card with Spellbindersâ„¢ and 3M. Using the newly released S5-017 Snowflake Frame set, it looks like it took hours to make! Learn the technique on how to make a window card and display your favorite photo! (FREE make’n take)

Saturday (9/19) 9:00AM - 6:00PM
Make a darling holiday triangle ornament or a gift embellishment with Spellbindersâ„¢ and Making Memories. They will show you how to use the newly released S4-220 Nested Pine Trees die template to bring your tree to 3-Dimensional “life”. (FREE make’n take)

Sunday (9/20) 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Make a “Spooktacular” goodie bag for your trick or treaters with Spellbindersâ„¢ and Teresa Collins. Using the newly released S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®, learn how to make this peek-a-”boo” treat bag in minutes! What a cute and easy way to present goodies to your favorite goul! (FREE make’n take)

The first 50 crafters participating each day in the make’n take will receive a FREE Spellbindersâ„¢ shopping bag.

Making it a long weekend?
Spellbindersâ„¢ will be at Scrapbooks Too in Bloomington, MN on Thursday, Sept 17th!! It’s all about Spellbindersâ„¢ all night long (well, until midnight!). Come join Kim and Heidi - they will offer make and takes during this special crop. Make a “spooky” treat bag and a cutting edge layout! They will have all the new release dies for you to see up close and personal!

See you there!!

Day 6’s Winner is Down Under!

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

We are shelling out international postage left and right around here, but that’s OK! Day 6’s winner is Kathy, from Queensland, Australia! G’day Kathy! It will be an even better day when this package arrives and Kathy gets to create with these new Spellbindersâ„¢ Die Templates and Impressabilitiesâ„¢!

S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf

S4-226 Harvest Borderabilities Petite

S4-219 Nested Poinsettia

I2-1006 Impressabilities Floral Stones

S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2

S4-229 Labels Five

S4-220 Nested Pine Tree

S5-019 Labels Eight

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Kathy entered to win from Heidi Blankenship’s Spellbindersâ„¢ Blog Frenzy post.  Between screams of delight, Kathy managed to type this response.  “OMGosh, OMGosh, OMGosh!!!!! I can’t believe it!!!! I literally screamed when I read this email — THANK-YOU so much!!!! I LOVE Spellbindersâ„¢ products and I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed seeing your incredible design team use all these fabulous releases!! I’m excited beyond belief and can’t wait to play with these new ones!!!! THANK-YOU SPELLBINDERSâ„¢!!!”

Thank you, Kathy for following along with our Blog Frenzy!  You can win these Spellbinders™ Die Templates and Impressabilities™ and MORE, just by visiting the daily featured Blog Frenzy and entering to win.  Start here, where Margie has an  intro and link, and keep falling in love with the new Spellbinders™ products!

And now here’s my shameless plug for the Pendant Project Contest.  Just enter your Spellbindersâ„¢ Pendant artwork and you could win one of 5 awesome prizes!

Beth

CHA Blog Frenzy - Day Seven!!

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

We are entering the half way point of our CHA Blog Frenzy! Hope you all are enjoying all the wonderful creations made by our talented Design Team!

A BIG thank you to Heidi Blankenship for her beautiful creations on the Harvest theme of her reveal (S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf and S4-226 Harvest Border Petite).  Can’t get enough of these leaves?! Head over to Lesa Rapp’s blog and see what she has created!

Don’t forget for those of you who are entering our Frenzy contest - you have until July 15th (11:59PM EST) to send in your email. The link is in Heidi’s blog.

On to Day Seven! Please welcome in Design Team Member Kimberly Crawford as she will be revealing our next products, S4-231 Labels Seven and I2-1005 Impressabilities® Circles.

Do you have a scrap room or a scrap area?
Yes, I am so thankful to be able to leave my work out. I can close the door and not worry about our toddler or the cat getting into mischief. My husband and I share the space. So when he works on his projects and I work on mine…it’s nice to be together.

Are you a messy crafter or an organized crafter?
For being such an organized person (obsessively so), my scrap room is a mess. I have yet to find the perfect solution. But my room is set up perfectly for me to work. Everything I use constantly is within easy reach. So my room isn’t pretty but functional.

Your favorite music or TV programs while creating?
Sometimes I will watch my favorite old movies but I am usually singing my lungs out to my iPod. It’s a pretty eclectic mix. Everything from Avalon, The Gaither Vocal Band, Poison, Garth Brooks to Andrew Lloyd Weber.

Do you have a favorite snack or drink while creating?
It used to be a cold Mt. Dew filled with ice. But I quit drinking sugar pop so now it’s water. I prefer a bottle because I am clumsy. My favorite snack food is Harry and David’s Moose Munch, the dark chocolate version.

Are you more of a “collector” or a “as needed” crafter?
I collect because I need :0)

Here are some wonderful samples of Kimberly’s work!

CHA Blog Frenzy - Day Six!!

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Many thanks to Linda Duke for a wonderful job on her reveal of S4-219 Nested Poinsettia and I2-1006 Impressabilities® Floral and Stone. Again, a reminder to those of you who are entering our Frenzy contest…you have until July 14th (11:59PM EST) to send in your email. The link is in Linda’s blog.

Now we are on Day Six of the Frenzy! Today, we will take a look at what Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship has created with our next new release, S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf  and S4-226 Harvest Border Petite.

 

Do you have a scrap room or a scrap area?
Yes, I have two different areas: one is in the basement where I keep all of my personal stuff; and the other area is on the main level where I keep all the products that I use on a daily basis as well as design team supplies.

Are you a messy crafter or an organized crafter?
It depends on what I am doing…right now, it’s kind of a mess! The basement area tends to be messy. I think because it’s out of site and if I don’t feel like cleaning it right away, nobody will see it. I like to keep the main level area very organized - everything has a place and is labeled.

Are you an altered arts, scrapbook or card kinda gal?
I am a card maker first but I really do enjoy doing altered arts and then it would be scrapbooking.

Who is your favorite promotional partner?
I love Crafty Secrets and all of the paper crafting products they carry. Vintage is one of my favorite styles. I also love working with JustRite Stampers. They have a wonderful variety of stamps and I like being able to make personalized cards and gifts. One of my other favorite is Core’dinations paper. I love the look of embossed and sanded cardstock with its color core.

Do you shop for supplies mostly online or locally?
I do both. But I truly believe in supporting my local shop so I always check there first. If the store owner doesn’t have it in stock, she will order it. If it’s from a company that I can’t find locally, I will then purchase products online.

Here are some samplings of Heidi’s beautiful creations!