Its back to school time, and this month we’re learning the many uses of Spellbinders’â„¢ Impressabilitiesâ„¢!  Margie kicked us off with her Savvy Saturday.  We hope you decide to go back to school with us,  we have so many things to show you!  Are you subscribed?  Just enter your email in the box where it says “Keep up with this Blog” and you’ll get each post emailed to you.

OK, back to Impressabilities™ School!  While Margie did a straight emboss of a piece of paper on her Savvy Saturday, I wanted to die cut the paper and emboss the I2-1001 Impressabilities™ Paisley, but I wanted to preserve the embossed edge of square die template too. 

First I cut the S4-128 Classic Square, Small #6 die template, using Core’dinations Color Core Cardstock.  Then I placed the I2-1001 Impressabiitiesâ„¢ Paisley on the bottom Master Mat.  Next I placed the die template with the die cut paper still in it on top of the Impressabilitiesâ„¢.  I made sure the die template has the cut side facing up, because I didn’t want to damage the Impressabilitiesâ„¢.  I put the Embossing Pad on top of the die template, then the other Master Mat and fed the sandwich into my Wizardâ„¢.

See the beautiful result!  I embossed the clean lines of the die template as well as the pattern of the Impressabilities™ Paisley.  A little sanding and the paper is georgeous!

For my layout I repeated this 4 times.  I also cut and embossed 5 red squares with S4-126 Classic Squares, Large #6.  I cut/embossed my photos using S4-126 Classic Square, Small #6. Additionally, 2 sets of S4-161 Labels One # 2 & 5 were cut to make frames, then sliced diagonally to make 4 corners.  The book in the center is made from S4-231 Labels Seven # 4 for the pages and # 5 for the cover.

 

I arranged them rather simply on a piece of school themed pattern paper.  And the charming little faces, those are my boys, on the first day of first and second grade, oh so long ago, or at least it seems that way!

Supplies used: Spellbinders™ S4-128 Classic Square, Small # 6; S4-126 Classic Square, Large #6; S4-161 Labels One # 2, 5; S4-231 Labels Seven #3, 4; I2-1001 Impressabilities® Paisley, Coredinations Color Core Cardstock, Black, Blue, Red; Copic, Atyou Spica, Pitch Black; The Paper Company, Homeroom Book Cover paper; Notebook paper; Sandpaper.

Your homework for this lesson is to go to When Creativity Knocks, register (and do the math!), go to the Creativity Forum.  Select Categories, scroll down to the Great Crafter’s Tool Hunt section, select Spellbindersâ„¢ Impressabilitiesâ„¢, and leave a brief message in the forum.  You could win all the tools! And we could win some feature time on their site.  Now go on, do your homework, I’ll be right here if you have any questions!

Beth

Taking some inspiration from Beth’s darling Baby Boy card from Savvy Saturday, I thought I would create something for another thing happening a lot right now: Graduations! So get out your Inverted Scalloped Square and your straight edge Classic Square die templates.

Supplies:

The Wizard
Square Nestabilitiesâ„¢ (S4-128 #7, counting #1 as the center)
Inverted Scalloped Square Nestabilitiesâ„¢ (S4-196, #4)
Black, red and yellow cardstocks (Core’dinations)
Glue Dots
Red ball chain and fine gauge wire
Large brad and star clips (Creative Impressions)
Rub-on Sentiment
Quick drying liquid glue

Instructions

1. Cut the card base from black cardstock 12×5″ and fold in half for a 6×5″ card.
2. Open the card base and place the magnetic spacer plate inside with the black side facing up.
3. Place the Square Nestabilitiesâ„¢ die template onto the magnetic surface with the cut ridges up.
4. Lay the cardstock/spacer plate onto the white mater mat and add the other master mat on top.
5. Run through the Wizard
6. Open the sandwich and keep the inner square.
7. Using yellow cardstock (I used a piece from a mat stacks at 4½x6½” from Core’dinations) cut the Inverted Scalloped Square Nestabilitiesâ„¢ die template. Do not emboss.
8. Trim around the outside of the inverted square, giving about a 1″ border around the scalloped edge. Adhere it to the underside of the square window you cut in the card base.
9. Cut a piece of black cardstock 1¼x4½”. Score at ½”, 1¼”, 2′, 2¾”
10. Fold all scores inward, making a square C shape.
11. With Glue Dots on the ends (that are facing in) adhere the black strip to the black square on the diagonal.
12. Create a tassle from red ball chain by cutting four pieces approximately 1″ long. Hold the four together using a fine gauge red wire.
13. Twist the wire ends together and create a loop in the end. Slide it onto a star clip.
14. Add a large brad to the square and add quick drying liquid glue on top of the brad. Add the star clip/tassel to the top.
15. Trim the red cardstock mat to 4½x5¾” and add to the inside of the card base.
16. Open the card and adhere the graduation cap  where it will show in the card window.
17. Gently push the card to the right so that it lies flat. The tassel should still show through the inverted scalloped window.
18. Add a sentiment and send it off.

Here’s one more look at the card, but this time, let’s show you how it actually pops up.

Have a great week! Eli

My inspiration for this Savvy Saturday was two-fold. My friend Kim was blessed with her first grandchild last weekend, a baby boy! I know a thing or two about baby boys, I have two of them myself.  I know how easy it is for grandparents to scoop them up and, well, give them back when it’s time.  My other inspiration is the S4-174 Deckle Scalloped Edge Petite Border. It has that certain “I don’t know who ripped it, Mom!” look to it. Mothers of boys, you know what I’m talking about!

To start, I gathered my supplies.

It’s so easy to use the Petite Borders. Looking at the die template, one side has the raised ridge, which is the cutting edge, and the other does not. That is the embossing edge.

Simply align the cutting edge where you want to cut, with the cut side down, facing the front of the card, and secure in place with some household tape. I touch the tape to my jeans to lessen the tackiness of the tape.

If I don’t want to cut through both layers of the card, I have to invert the fold of the card and insert the Spacer Plate inside of the card. Now the cutting edge of the die is facing up, and only one layer of the card will be cut.

To emboss this card, remove the Spacer Plate and place the Tan Embossing Pad on top of the card, and feed it into your Wizard. To enhance the embossed areas, I used a sanding block on this Core’dinations cardstock.

For the rest of the card I cut/embossed the S4-129 Classic Scalloped Squares Small, S4-197 Small Classic Inverted Scalloped Squares, and the S4-128 Classic Squares Small. The little boy embellishment was made from piecing together different colored die cuts from Cordinations with S3-014 Baby Boy, and a small scrap of Premium Craft Foil.

I placed a square die cut on the inside of the card with a stamped sentiment from Hero Arts, using Clearsnap Colorbox ink.

This is the finished card, ready for the mail!  Now if I could just find those stamps…

Happy Saturday!

Beth

So by now, if you are a regular reader of our little Blog, you know that Spellbinders’s Die Templates cut, emboss and can be used as a stencil to embellish your die cuts.  You also know that the Wizard does a fabulous job of embossing Impressabilities as well as other textures.

That’s right, on this card I used the S4-129 Classic Scalloped Squares Small die template to emboss the yellow Core’dinations Cardstock then sanded it to enhance the texture.

Then I cut and embossed the brown Core’dinations Cardstock with S4-128 Classic Squares Small and S4-196 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Squares to cut a frame.  I cut and embossed the S3-150 Ribbon Tags Trio and strung a piece of ribbon through it. I inked the edges with Clearsnap Colorbox chestnut Roan Chalk Ink and stamped the “just because…” sentiment from Hero Arts stamps.

I assembled as shown with 7Gypsies patterned paper and attached it to a card made from Core’dinations Cardstock.  It was fun and easy!

Becca Feeken used the square to emboss the center of her mat in this example.

Happy Embossing!
Beth

I admit it.  I can’t for the life of me cut a perfect square.  That makes Spellbinders’ Square die templates perfect for me!  Squares are so versatile in scrapbooking, card making and even multi-media, they’re something everyone should own.  Lets explore some artwork and see why its so hip to be Square!

Heidi Blankenship is hip!  She shows off not only the Classic squares, but the Inverted Scallops and how they look layered the the Classic Scallops.  Great Job, Heidi! She used S4-196 Large Classic Inverted Squares, S4-129 Small Classic Scallop Squares, and S4-191 Dahlia.

Heidi Blankenship

Becca Feeken is hip! She cut a frame from the Scalloped Circle  and layered her stamped image with squares.  I love it, Becca! She used S4-128 Classic Squares Small and S4-125 Classic Scalloped Circles Small.

Becca Feeken

Sherry Cheever is hip! She mounted artwork on the squares and matted with the larger scalloped square and made a beautiful focal point.

Sherry Cheever

When you open the card, you see that she also used a square to cut an opening in the front of the card. Great idea, Sherry! She used S4-126 Classic Squares, Large, and S4-127 Classic Scalloped Squares, Large.

Sherry Cheever

Debbie Olson is hip! Her square would make anyone smile. Fabulous, Debbie! She used S4-129 Classic Scalloped Squares, Small and S4-128 Classic Squares, Small

Debbie Olsen

I love hanging out with these hip ladies, don’t you?
Happy Savvy Saturday!
Beth