Don’t forget Spellbinders™ 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 Spellbinders™ and Tattered Angels products!

I really enjoy this Spellbinders™ 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

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 Impressabilities™ 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 Impressabilities™ 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 Impressabilities™ 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 Impressabilities™ 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

Thank you, Karen Hunsaker for a beautiful CHA Blog Frenzy project!  And thank you to all who visited Karen’s blog, entered to win, and left comments.   Day 3’s lucky winner is Tammy from Victoria, BC, Canada!  Wa-hoo,  Lets hear it for our neighbors to the North!

Tammy is anxiously awaiting the delivery of these shiny new Spellbinders die templates!

S4-229 Labels Five

S4-220 Nested Pine Tree

S5-019 Labels Eight

Tammy exclaimed “Oh my goodness!! I am so excited I can barely type! I love all your products so much and tonight I was just looking through all my dies and trying to organize them so I could see them better and make room for more if I won! So, very good timing! Oh and did I say that I love your dies? lol Thank you so much!!”

The prize package grows each day, so keep on visiting and keep on entering!
Beth

What a great home decor idea that Karen Hunsaker did by using S4-229 Labels Five set - thank you! A reminder for those who are entering our Frenzy contest, you have until July 12th (11:59PM EST) to send your email…the link is in Karen’s blog.

As we approach Day Four, we will be visiting Design Team Member Kazan Clark who will be revealing S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2 set.

Get to know Kazan as we posed a few questions her way!

Do you have a scrap room or a scrap area?
I am lucky to have a scrap room that is part of our walkout basement. I do share it with our girls who have a craft table there but 99.9% of the area is mine! To top it off, we have a big screen TV and large sliding doors that lead out into the garden. The shelves on the walls keep my goodies organized and within easy reach. During the summer, I can watch the girls play outside and in the winter, the snow is equally inspiring.

Are you a messy crafter or an organized crafter?
Both! When I create, my desk is filled with everything from papers to embellishments plus the tools I need to work with. After each project, I clean my desk by packing away everything in the right containers and then start from scratch. All my products are organized into baskets and containers so I know where to find something when I need it.

Are you an altered arts, scrapbook or card kinda gal?
Cards come first, then scrapbooking and finally, altered arts. I do enjoy working on all three immensely especially if I am inspired with a project. So the order of that list can change depending on what I am working on.

Who is your favorite promotional partner?
Hmmm..I especially love My Mind’s Eye and Cosmo Cricket for their pattern papers. Everyone loves Core’dinations cardstock - it is amazing to work with. Clearsnap’s ink is so smooth and delicious…then there are those amazing JustRite Stampers too! And lately, I’ve been into vintage so Crafty Secrets products have been top on my list! Oh, boy! Did I just name almost all of them?!

Favorite music or TV programs while creating?
I have so little time to watch TV so I usually put on a news channel like CNN and have that playing in the background. I am a bit of a news/political junky so I get the best of both worlds: News & Crafting! If the girls are crafting with me, it is Angelina Ballerina or a Princess Barbie DVD.

Here are some of Kazan’s works of art!

Many thanks to Michelle Wooderson for her projects using our newest reveal, S4-220 Nested Pine Trees set. Don’t forget to send in your email (link is in Michelle’s blog) by July 11th (11:59PM EST)!!

For Day Three, we have Karen Hunsaker up to bat with our next reveal, S4-229 Labels Five set. Wait until you see this set…a definite addition to your wish list!

We hope you will get to know this fun Design Team Member as we asked Karen some “difficult” questions…

Do you have a scrap room or a scrap area?
I do have a scrap room, and it is well named at the moment! Due to all the bits and pieces that are cut out of the new detailed pendants, the floor is covered with confetti! It is well worth the mess though. They are all gorgeous!!!!

Are you a messy crafter or an organized crafter?
Well, looking at my room today, you would have to say MESSY! But I’ve been very busy working on projects, so I haven’t had time to clean up much. BUT I did find a clear stamp set that had been missing for weeks! LOL! It was in with some papers. I really do like my area more organized though. It drives me crazy to have to hunt for my tools over and over. Uh oh, I guess I’d better clean up!

Favorite Spellbinders™’ storage tip?
I have lined the inside doors of my cabinets with magnetic sheets and lots of my Nestabilities® are stored there. I love being able to look at them and so easily choose which ones are best for my project.

Are you an altered arts, scrapbook or card kinda gal?
I have to say that cards are my favorite, but I really learning to love layouts and altered arts more and more. Spellbinders™ dies make all of it so much easier and way more beautiful!

Who’s your favorite promotional partner?
I find myself reaching for Core’dinations papers again and again! I love that the papers have two different sides, and sanding them shows the details of our beautiful dies so well and makes for such great backgrounds.

Favorite music or tv programs while creating?
I just saw Wicked yesterday…maybe the soundtrack will be my favorite kind of music for awhile. Hmmmm, I wonder if my creations will all be GREEN! Bwahahahahahaha!!

Samples of Karen’s wonderful creations!

Yes, that’s right! Spellbinders is doing it again, and it’s bigger and its better than before! You didn’t think we could stop with the new Pendant Collection did you? Oh no! We’ve got 17 more new Spellbinders products to reveal from July 9 – 22, 2009. And we want to share them with you!

Each day we will direct you to one of our talented Designer’s blogs where you will be introduced to our latest and greatest Spellbinders Die Templates. Enter to win by sending an email to the address listed in the blog. Daily winners will be chosen randomly from eligible entries. But wait, there’s more!

This time the prize is progressive! On Day 1, we give away the Day 1 release. On Day 2 we give away the Day 1 and Day 2 releases! The prizes grow each and every day for 14 days!! By entering each day from each blog, you become eligible to win the Grand Prize… COMPLETE set of CHA Summer 2009 Die Templates and Impressabilities releases, a total of 29 products with a retail value of more than $560.00!!

Check out this line up of talented Designers on the dates noted and then enter for your chance to win:

7/9 Debbie Olson

7/10 Michelle Wooderson

7/11 Karen Hunsaker

7//12 Kazan Clark

7/13 Linda Duke

7/14 Heidi Blankenship

7/15 Kimberly Crawford

7/16 Julie Overby

7/17 Sherry Cheever

7/18 Debbie Seyer

7/19 Lesa Rapp

7/20 Becca Feeken

7/21 Jennifer Davis

7/22 Keri Lee Sereika

Remember to stop here each day as we will introduce our featured Designer and provide a link to her blog. Subscribe to the Spellbinders Blog here to get the daily posts emailed to you, and don’t miss out on a single thing!

See the entire line of Spellbinders products on the Spellbinders’ website.

Official Rules

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy give-away must adhere to all of the following rules. We are happy to welcome US and international blog guests for this Frenzy.

To enter each drawing on sneak peeks between July 9 and July 22, visit the reveal blog and click on the contest link to reveal an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed. Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours. Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from July 9th through July 22nd and plan accordingly.

After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each Blog Frenzy reveal as stated in the “Rules”. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that e-mail to claim the prize. If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize. Winner will receive the new die templates being revealed on the specific daily blog post they are entering.

Entrants visiting all 14 Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy Reveals and correctly entering their information into the separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of the CHA Summer 2009 die templates and Impressabilities releases, 29 products, with a retail value of $561.71.

Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the CHA Blog Frenzy Grand Prize must enter all 14 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.
Please note:
*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.
*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.
*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications
other than to contact the winner.
*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up for their newsletter.

For more Spellbinders new product release information go to New Products
If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an e-mail to ContestQuestions .

Either way…it’s all good!

Hello, everyone! I’ll be pinch hitting for Eli while she is out for the summer.

Since reading this past Savvy Saturday post, I have been wanting to try this flower pounding technique! It seems like I didn’t have any flowers that were “pound-able.” So as I was doing yard work this past weekend, I noticed the ever growing pile of dandelions and then “AHA!” Why not reuse these into my work?! This is the only time I’m glad we had those pesky things!

When using your Wizard™, your sandwich is pretty much the same as embossing with the exception of using flowers instead of the Die Templates.

From the bottom:
White Master Mat
Watercolor/Cardstock paper
Flower (facing down)
Watercolor/Cardstock paper (or wax paper, plastic wrap, paper towel)
Tan Embossing Mat
White Master Mat

Pass through the Wizard™ once - that should do the trick! Yellowing in the flowers tend to dry brown so I sprayed an archival “fix” so the color will keep.

With all this pounding, I came up with a page called “One Fine Day” to celebrate my boys enjoying a sunny summer day! I used the S4-171 Nested Butterflies and S4-114 Standard Circles LG. The papers are from My Mind’s Eye “Feeling Groovy” collection and embellished with Clearsnap Queue and Hero Arts Gemstones.

Design Team Member Karen Hunsaker shared her pounding skills by picking out some Bougainvilleas and making this beautiful card, “Sending Sunshine.” Karen used a combination of S4-161 Labels One, S7-014 Classic Lace Borderabilities® Grand and S3-149 Double Ended Tags to start the card’s shape. Finishing touches were added with Hero Arts “Thoughtful” Stamp Set, Clearsnap Fluid Chalk Ink, Scrapbook Adhesives 3-D Foam Squares and Creative Impressions Bit of Bling Pearls.

This “Thanks A Bunch” card is from Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship, using the S4-190 Labels Four, S4-192 Blossom, S4-199 Floral Accent and I2-1004 Impressabilities® Flower. She pounded some violas to get this beautiful effect. WOW!

So does this make you go out to your garden and pound some flowers?! Go for it and have fun!

MargieH

Or is it pressing?  I had to look it up.  Flower Pounding, generally done with a hammer, causes the juice and pigment from flowers to bleed into the paper or fabric.  Flower Pressing is a method of drying and preserving the actual flowers.  I will be showing you basic Flower Pounding using your Wizard.

I started by scavenging my yard for flower blooms.  Then I searched my craft room for watercolor paper, which I cut to 4 x 6″ pieces.  Fabric such as silk or muslin would work well too.

These are some of the blooms that work nicely:

This English Ivy leaf embossed, and left a tiny bit of green.  Other leaves more or less embossed the paper.  Leaves are difficult, they don’t contain pigment.

To “pound” flowers with the Wizard, you need the White Master Mats and Tan Embossing Pad, which came with your Wizard. The sandwich is the same as the embossing sandwich, just add flowers instead of die templates!

This is how I stacked my sandwich:
White Master Mat
Watercolor paper
Flower, pretty side down
Watercolor Paper (or wax paper, or plastic wrap, or paper towel- try each!)
Tan Embossing Mat
White Master Mat

Feed the sandwich into the Wizard once and your flowers are pounded.  Gently take apart your sandwich and peel off the spent flowers.  If the bloom is still intact you can pound it again, but know the result will be lighter.  You will find some blooms are juicier than others and some colors provide more pigment than others.  Allow the paper to dry and pound more flowers to make a larger design.  Flower pounding is a unique and fun way to capture a bit of nature in your artwork.

For my examples I chose the lobelia, creeping phlox and pansy poundings seen above. I cut/embossed them with Spellbinders Die Templates in the Wizard.  I started with My Minds Eye Penny Lane paper (both sides),  Core’dinations Whitewash cardstock, Creative Impressions ribbon and brads, and some lace from my stash. I used S4-174 Scalloped Edge Petite Border, S4-171 Nested Butterflies, S5-016 Polka Dot Frame (middle piece), and the S5-011 Scalloped Edge Frame (middle piece).

I made 2 cuts into the Nested Butterfly and tied the ribbon through the frame and butterfly.

Design Team Member Karen Hunsaker pounded blooms from her yard to make her See the Flowers Smiling card.  Karen embossed I2-1002 Impressabilities Butterfly and cut/embossed S4-138 Petite Ovals Large, included in her supplies are cardstock from The Paper Company, the Thoughtful stamp set from Hero Arts, and 3D Foam Squares from Scrapbook Adhesives.

I need to send a special Thank You to Design Team Alumnae Jeannette Stumpfel for her wisdom!

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Beth

Here we are on the brink of Mothers Day and I get to share with you some projects made with Mom in mind,  by our fabulous 2009 Design Team.

To start us off, Karen Hunsaker made this candle and card with S4-163 Daisy Borderability Petite. We saw this the other day, but it’s worth a second look. I love that the envelope flap is embossed, and the edge of the card is cut and embossed, as well as the wrap for the candle.

Debbie Seyer’s card unfolds to 4 panels for Mom and she’s sure to cherish it. Debbie cut and embossed S4-111 Classic Scallop Ovals Large, S4-145 Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles Small, S4-138 Petite Ovals Large, S4-169 Labels Small, S4-072 Flower Creations, S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles Large, and S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles Small to make this gorgeous tribute to her Mom.

Karen Taylor’s scrapbook layout was made for her daughter. I love how she combined S4-072 Flower Creations, S4-109 Flower Creations 3, and the S7-014 Grand 12″ Classic Lace Border.

Kimberly Crawford’s floral card celebrates Spring, surely that’s Mom’s favorite season.  Kimberly combined S3-147 Labels Trio, S4-114 Standard Circle Large, and S4-124 Classic Scalloped Circles Large.

Julie Overby will score seconds of dessert with this adorable card! S4-190 Labels Four is so versatile, and S4-072 Flower Creations work so well with S4-198 Flourish Accents.

Kazan Clark’s Mum will be thrilled to get this card, here is Kazan’s interpretation of S4- Labels Four.

Designer Linda Duke shares this keepsake box just for mom’s treasures. Linda’s works her magic with the S4-159 Nested Flowers, S4-157 Sunflower Set One (for the leaves), S4-125 Classic Scalloped Ovals Small.

Linda’s mini book is something Mom will treasure. When assembled, Mom has a beautiful tribute to her patience, love and dedication.   S4-072 Flower Creations, S3-004 Symbology, S3-033 Cameo and Brooch, S4-142 Long Classic Rectangles Large,  S4-131 Classic Scalloped Rectangle Small, S4-116 Standard Circles Small, S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circle Small.

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Everyone at Spellbinders’ Paper Arts wishes you, your Mom, and those that are like a Mother to you a Happy Mothers Day.  We love you, Mom!

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