A very cool Savvy Saturday from Eli on how to put all the techniques covered in the last couple of weeks into one project! So I thought I’d try my hand at making a project with letterpressing, partial impressing, chalking and adding to the equation with flocking!

Today I’d like to share my altered piece - an 8×10″ artist canvas panel that I had for awhile. I used a fall theme and plan to display it in my hallway during the season and through Thanksgiving!

Here’s my list of Spellbindersâ„¢ goodies I gathered for the project: I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish, I2-1010 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Pebbles, S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf and S5-019 Labels Eight die #6 & #4 (die #1 being the smallest).

First I cut and letterpressed my frame with the S5-019 Labels Eight die #6. I used the I2-1010 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Pebbles to press with and inked with Clearsnap Colorbox Ink in Warm Red. For more details on this technique, please click HERE for Beth’s helpful tutorial. I also chalked the frame to give it some yellow coloring to match with the leaves in the picture. Then I cut my picture using the S5-019 Labels Eight die #4.

I used the Partial Impressabilitiesâ„¢ technique for my border at the bottom of the canvas using Core’dinations The Chocolate Box collection. For more information and helpful tips on how to do this technique, please see HERE.

Then I cut all the S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf (all three die sizes) with My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love collection. As you can see I have cut and partial impressed two of the leaves. To keep the chalking in the equation, I used the chalk technique that Eli had done on the largest S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf (die #3). I first cut the leaves. Then covered the I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish piece with embossing ink and embossed with the S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf. I used the embossing ink because I was too slow (my pigment ink I wanted to use was a little dried out) and the ink kept drying up on me! LOL! So I thought why not embossing ink and it worked like a charm for me.

Embossing sandwich (from the bottom) is:
White Master Mat
Copy Paper (for protection)
I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish (inked side up)
S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf with paper embedded (ridge/cut side up)
Tan Embossing Pad
White Master Mat

For the flocking part, I used Sparkle’N Sprinkle Burnt Orange Flock. Moving quickly, I removed the die from the I2-1009 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Flourish and covered the inked area with flock. Then I removed the excess, the result is a subtle flocked image in the leaf. The rest of the leaves were a straight cut and emboss process.

I painted the edges of my canvas panel and the edges of my layout page from My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love collection. Adhered all the pieces as shown. Note that I used foam tape to give dimension to some of the leaves. Lastly, I added my title which was originally white fabric letter stickers but added fall colors with chalk and done!

You can make these canvas panels as personalized gifts for loved ones during the upcoming holiday season. Can you believe it’s almost October? Happy Fall!
MargieH

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 most, we are in full swing of “Back to School” mode - the early mornings, the bag lunches and the routine. Here in an empty (and quiet!) house, I was cleaning my closet and found a box of pictures of my boys in their younger years…they were so cute! What happened? They grew up…a little! LOL!

As the theme is ”back to school” today, I am learning something new. I thought I’d try my hand at Karen Taylor’s technique of using the Impressabilities to make a “Back to School” layout of my oldest when he hit first grade. Then add into the mix, my favorite technique of letterpressing.

First I gathered what I needed from my Spellbinders’ stash: I2-1010 Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Pebbles, S4-230 Labels Six die #5 & #6 (#1 being the smallest size) and a retired tag die template.

I had some foam shapes and letters in my sticker binder for awhile so it was a great excuse to use them! After reading how Eli and Beth heated the Impressabilities™ to emboss, I thought what about heating the foam instead?

Before I started my experiment, I had everything for my Wizard™ all set up so I can make that mad dash to the sandwich of (from bottom):

White Master Mat
Favorite Impressability
Foam Shape or Letters
Tan Embossing Mat
White Master Mat

Using my tweezer, I heated the black foam arrow with its white backing intact (I cut the shape from its sticker sheet) and the surface turned into a shiny coat. Quickly I put the heated foam face down, placed the Tan Embossing Mat and White Master Mat on top. Passed the sandwich through the Wizardâ„¢. Repeat the process for the foam letters that spelled out “Back To School.”

After heating all that foam, I used the letterpress technique that I had posted last month by using Clearsnap Queue ink (notice the frame behind the journaling box?). The journaling was written on S4-230 Labels Six die #5 and the letterpressed frame, I used S4-230 Labels Six die #6. For more details on how to letterpress, please refer HERE.

With Cosmo Cricket “Boyfriend” collection (papers, ribbon and rub-ons) and chalking the edges with Clearsnap Fluid Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan, I was able to complete a real fun layout for my first grader of long ago! LOL!

First of all, many thanks to all those who participated in the contest entries, blog comments and excitement surrounding our CHA Blog Frenzy! BIG THANK YOU!!!

Our lucky winner has entered all 14 CHA Blog Frenzy contests to be eligible and has been drawn randomly. As a result, the winner will receive all 29 newly released Spellbinders products valued at over $550.00!

And the winner is (opening the envelope):

LAURA from Virginia, USA!!!

“OMG! OMG! OMG! I am literally shaking right now with excitement. I saw the email title and thought you were announcing the winner. It never dawned on me that I WAS the winner! (I had to read the email twice to make sure).

I have followed the day-to-day CHA announcements by your design team and can’t tell you how excited I am about the new release. The dies are amazing! I would also like to say that I am so impressed by your design team. I appreciate how much time and effort they put into their detailed step-by-step tutorials on how to use the new dies. Not only did they make me excited about the new products, but I feel as though I will be able to “hit the road running” with the new release.

I can’t tell you enough how much this prize means to me. I wish I could put into words what is going through my shaky, adrenaline-rushed body. Money is really tight right now, and I feel truly blessed to be given such a grandiose prize. It simply doesn’t feel real. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of the heart.”

S7-017 On The Vine Border Grand

S5-017 Snowflake Frame

S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®

S7-015 Holiday Lights Border Grand

S7-016 Poinsettia Border Grand

And from the bottom of our hearts, we thank Laura and the other winners for participating! Again, congratulations!!

See any that you like? I have my list. Be sure to ask your favorite local retailer to order yours.