I can not tell a lie…I love S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® die template, and since it is a limited edition, I want to give you plenty of reasons to get it before it is gone. But before I give you this Savvy Saturday’s tutorial, let’s hear it for our Tattered Angels Blog Hop:

They are hosting it with our Design Team and my friend, Kazan Clark at Nunu Toolies is on deck today. Make sure to visit her blog to see her amazing project using products from Spellbinders™ and Tattered Angels.

Halloween is just around the corner and I wanted a little “tchotchke” to put on my table {my 10 year old said she liked that word, “tchotchke” yesterday…lol…”Me too sweetie!”} Anyway, I’m revisiting a technique that I love: making a stamp with Spellbinders™ die templates and fun foam. Check it out when you are done here.

With the technique in mind, I gathered fun foam, orange ink, S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® and some Dottie Ann Magic Mesh. I love Dottie Ann’s shape and its adhesive backing and thought it might make some fun stamping texture. Here is the full supply list.

Supplies: S4-226 Harvest Border Petite, S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®, S5-006 Curved Rectangles, S4-161 Labels One, S4-162 Labels Two, S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-169 Small Labels, Wizard™, W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, Core’dinations Green color core cardstock (1-3/4″ strips), Magic Mesh Dottie Anne, Clearsnap ColorBox Chestnut Roan chalk ink, Creative Impressions mini brads and photo turns, Glue Dots, lines and dots; SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, 3D squares; white cardstock, Orange Distress Ink, white letter stickers, fun foam, “Happy” stamp, sandpaper, double sided removable tape

I began by creating my own embossing template. I placed a strip of Dottie Ann onto cardstock. Since I didn’t want to notice the “seam” in the final project, I cut off the bottom edge.

I added the second piece, cutting off one edge, placing the cut edges together, matching up the circles.

I cut the fun foam with S4-227 Pumpkin Nestabilities® using the regular Wizard™ cut sandwich:

• Master Mat
• Spacer Plate
• Die Template with cut ridges facing up
• Fun Foam
• Master Mat

.

.

Embossing followed its regular sandwich:

• Master Mat
• Texture (in this case my Dottie Ann sheet)
• Fun Foam
• Embossing Pad
• Master Mat

.

.

After I ran the pumpkin stamp through the Wizard™ with the Dottie Ann texture sheet, I noticed how flat the embossing was, I thought the embossing was too “thin” to show up as a stamp texture. But it was worth a try…I taped it (double sided removable) to a foam block, inked it up and pressed it onto smooth white cardstock and what do you know? I got the look I wanted! I stamped 4 more and love them!

I cut each stamped image out with a different die template. I used #5 die template from the following sets: S5-006 Curved Rectangles, S4-161 Labels One, S4-162 Labels Two,  S4-169 Small Labels, and used #4 with S5-019 Labels Eight.

Using the S4-226 Harvest Border Petite and my W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, I created a long border. Since there is only one cut edge on this Borderabilities® die template, you can create endless borders. This is what I found worked the best:

I built the sandwich “upside down,” placing pieces of double sided removable tape at the ends of the Master Mat and sticking the Core’dinations strip onto it. I added the die template at one end, cut edge down, carefully placing the W-024 Magnetic Spacer Plate and adding the other Master Mat. Through the Wizard™ it went.

To cut the center section, I moved the die template down until the pumpkin “hole” and edge fit snuggly.

I cut again and then repeated the process for the last section.

I embossed the first section and then sanded it–giving me the “fresh” emboss (versus embossing and then running it through the Wizard™ for the second cut and flattening the first emboss). I repeated this 2 times to complete the strip. I created two borders, overlapped and adhered them.

To assemble, I laid out my pumpkins, added the stickers and stamped “Happy.” I embellished the tags with mini pumpkin die-cuts, brads and photo turns and accordion folded the piece so it would stand up on its own. Yeah! Here is is!

And to what it says, “Happy Halloween” not only from us but also from Tattered Angels!

Enjoy the weekend, Eli

On Day 4 of Spellbinders’ CHA Blog Frenzy, Design Team Member Kazan Clark introduced us to the S4-234 Ribbon Tags Trio 2, a versatile and overall awesome Die Template set.  Did you know the openings are 3/4 inches long, allowing you to use this set with wider ribbons and paper strips?  This  is on my ‘must have’ list.

Lucky Heather can cross it off her list, because her prize package is going across the pond to Tyne and Wear, England!  Heather is also receiving the Spellbinders die templates we revealed on Days 1-3, because this is a progressive prize!  Lets peek into her package, all together now “ooooh, aaaah!”

S4-234 Ribb0n Tag Trio 2

S4-229 Labels Five

S4-220 Nested Pine Tree

S5-019 Labels Eight

Heather’s reaction? “Wowee I am overcome…happy happy happy…thank you, Thank You. I am stunned beyond belief. I love all and everything about Spellbinders and I am ecstatic about winning some of the new dies – the latest releases have had me drooling…and to win FOUR!!! (ooo I can hardly type – I’m shaking sooo much) I’ll not know which one to play with first. Thanks once more.”

Thank you, Heather! There are plenty more prizes left to win in the CHA Blog Frenzy, including the Grand Prize! And don’t forget about the Pendant Project Contest too! Your artwork could be on our website, and you could win not only Spellbinders Die Templates, but prizes from our Cross Promotional Partners as well!

Design Team Member Kazan Clark created some amazing cards with the S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2 set and did you notice the S4-208 In Spades Pendant die too - WOW! Can’t get enough of this new reveal? Karen Hunsaker’s blog has another sample of what you can do

A continued reminder for those who are entering our Frenzy contest - you have until July 13th (11:59PM EST) to send in your email. The link is in Kazan’s blog!

Today on Day Five, we will be peeking into Design Team Member Linda Duke’s blog to see what she created with S4-219 Nested Poinsettia and I2-1006 Impressabilities® Floral and Stone.

As long as Linda can remember, she has always been interested in art. Her father was a very talented artist and would spend hours watching him draw. She always had paper and pencil in hand, and tried to emulate his drawings. In high school, Linda took every art classes she could and continued to take art courses in college. Thanks to those classes, she is able to learn to work with all kinds of medium. Linda’s “go to” Spellbinders™ dies are the Nestabilities® as they are perfect for card making and stamping.

Here we are sharing one of Linda’s beautiful art pieces…looks so real!

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!

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 .

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

I thought we’d take just a minute to give you the links to our new Designers Blogs.

Each designer that has a blog has her own style, shares her own inspiring projects and follows her own tempo of posting. So, why not check them out now and then…

But first, here they all are “in class” at our retreat!!

Christy Farneth-Kerr shares her fun and funky projects at Christy’s Creative Journey

Debbie Seyer’s sweetness shines through her projects at A Peek Into My Stamping Room

Heidi Blankenship’s amazing artwork can be found at Embellished Dreams

Holly Simoni shares art and inspiration at Holly Simoni

Janine Blackwelder shows off her delightful style at My S.T.A.M.P. Club

Jennifer Davis’ Preservation Arts is currently under construction but check back often and it’ll be live soon.

Julie Overby never misses a beat on her blog Mini Moments

Karen Hunsaker shares some art and some heart and soul at Karen’s Kreations

Karen Taylor’s spunky style shines at Creative Yearnings

Kazan Clark brings her personality and amazing creations to Nunu Toolies

Kimberly Crawford’s paper creations inspire us at For the Love of Paper

Lesa Rapp shares her amazing Paper Possibilities with projects galore

Terre Fry welcomes new friends and old to her blog Terre’s Scrap Therapy