Happy World Card Making Day!  We’re doing a little celebration on our Facebook Page, you can add your Spellbindersâ„¢ creations and we’ll pick a winner via random drawing.  You could win a free Spellbindersâ„¢ die template!  Be sure to become a fan!

On to today’s project!  I recently organized a fundraiser for a family adopting a child half a world away.  My friends and family supported my efforts and I wanted to make them each a thank you card.  I’m a slow crafter, so my goal was to design a card that was not too complicated and efficient to make.  I already had coordinating cardstock and enough pattern paper to make the cards. 

Next I needed to do some die cutting and embossing.  If I make 20 cards, and each has four die cuts using four different colors of paper, I’ll either be up all night or I’ll have to streamline the process.  This is what I did:

I stamped the JustRite Stampers ”Thank You” sentiment 20 times onto white cardstock.  I cut/embossed  2  die templates in one pass, the S4-114 Standard Circles, Large #3, and the S4-116 Standard Circles, Small #3 .  The difference between the dies is 1/8 inch.  Eli explained the differences between the Nestabilitiesâ„¢ sets here.  Yes, I had 2 different sized circles, but that’s ok, they both look nice with the stamped image.

I used my Grand Cut Mat Kit to cut four Labels at once.  I chose the #3 die in each set, that is, the third from the center, or the third smallest die template. From left to right, the die templates are S4-233 Labels Nine,  S4-229 Labels Five, S4-161 Labels One, And S4-189 Labels Three.

I placed the S4-220 Nested Pine Trees, #1 & 2, and S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 & 2, close together, but not touching, on the Magnetic Spacer Mat, and was able to cut with a 4×4″ square of colored cardstock.  I used 3 different colors and mixed them up on the cards.

Next I assembled the cards.  I used either two trees or two leaves on each, and used a 3D Foam Adhesive Square from SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L to add dimension.

I know, they are not complicated cards, but I think my friends will appreciate my efforts.  I’ll also add a personal note to the inside.

I am using World Card Day to make the world just a little bit smaller for one family.  I hope you can make your world smaller by sending a few cards to those you care about.

Beth

Today we’re getting back into our Savvy Saturday mode, and what better to do that with than a card boasting our newest die templates!

This card features the S5-019 Labels Eight, S4-210 Lattice Pendant,  S4-110 Classic Oval Large,  S4-112 Classic Oval Small, and S4-234 Ribbons Tag Trio 2 die templates, I2-1002 Impressabilities™ Butterfly, as well as F-005 Gold Premium Craft Foil, 7gypsies patterned paper, Clearsnap ink and Hero Arts stamps.

I started by cutting/embossing black cardstock with the largest (#6) of the Labels Eight die templates.  Then I cut a piece of Gold Premium Craft Foil with  the S5-019 Labels Eight (#5) die template.  To get the finished border around the Labels Eight die cut, as well as the I2-002 Impressabilities™ Butterfly embossing, I used this sandwich:

• White Master Mat
• Impressabilitiesâ„¢ Butterfly
• Labels Eight die template, cut side facing up
• Die cut of Gold Premium Craft Foil, gold side down, fit into Label die template
• Tan Embossing Pad
• White Master Mat

By feeding it into my Wizard™, it resulted in an embossed die cut!  With a piece of fine sandpaper, I sanded the top of the die cut to reveal the silver color.  I adhered it onto the black die cut.

Next, I cut/embossed a black oval from S4-110 Classic Oval Large (#5).  Then I cut a Gold Foil Oval from the S4-112 Classic Ovals Small (#5).  Using the same sandwich as above, but I replaced the Impressabilities™ with the Center piece from the the 4-210 Lattice Pendant. I fed it into my Wizard™ and the shape of the Center embossed into my gold foil oval.  Again I sanded the detail for more definition.

I trimmed the 7gypsies patterned paper 6×4.5″ so that it made a nice  background for the Labels Eight die cuts, which are big, measuring at nearly 5.5″ long!

I also cut/embossed the Long Rectangle Tag from the S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2 set.  I used the the back side of the 7gypsies pattern paper.  Then I stamped a sentiment on it from Hero Arts, distressed with Clearsnap Black pigment ink and set aside.

I arranged and adhered the Labels Eight and Classic Oval die cuts on top of the 7gypsies patterned paper as shown.  I mounted the patterned paper onto a piece of black cardstock.  Taking the stamped Ribbon Tag Trio 2 die cut, I strung a 1 3/8″ wide ribbon (the openings are 3/4″, allowing for thicker ribbon!) and wrapped it around the front of the card, and adhered it to the back side of the black cardstock.

Here are a few more examples from our fabulous Design Team:

Holly Simoni’s layout features her daughter and her love of horses.  Holly used S4-215 Renaissance Hearts Borderabilities®, S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant and S5-018 Labels Eight.  Her supplies include 7gypsies pattern paper, Clearsnap ink, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L.

Christy Farneth-Kerr’s card is Magically Delicious!  She cut an opening in the front with the S4-189 Labels Three,  and covered it with S4-207 Kaliedoscope Pendant.  She used the S4-216 Kaliedoscope Borderabilities® cut from Premium Craft Foil and from cardstock to make the other elements.  Christy folded a Pendant to make the iris flower element.  Other supplies include Chatterbox paper, The Paper Company paper, and Flower Soft adhesive.

Kimberly Crawford employed reverse stenciling to get the 2-toned effect on this S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendant card.  She added Clearsnap’s Smooch to the small heart accents.  Kimberly used My Mind’s Eye paper, Clearsnap ink, Hero Arts stamps, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L supplies.

So if these Pendant ideas get your mojo flowing, be sure to enter the Pendant Party, and you could win some fabulous prizes!

Happy Saturday!

Beth

Making frames is a fun and easy technique. Frames can be whimsical, elegant, funky, or whatever style fits your mood or project. With the versatility of Spellbinders’ Die Templates, the sky’s the limit!

Start with your favorite Nestabilities Die Templates, today my favorite is  S4-190 Labels Four. To cut a frame,  place the largest die template on the magnetic spacer plate. Then line up the smaller die template inside of the larger die template. Cut/Emboss in the Wizard and viola! You have a beautifully embossed frame to accent your art.

Consider using different shapes together. Look, you can emboss them too, for additional texture.
Try some Pop Up Glue Dots for even more dimension, or layer thin frames over thick frames, use different colors, different materials…is your head spinning yet? Mine is!  This example employs S5-005 Curved Rectangles and S4-112 Small Classic Ovals.

Blog Team Member Becca Feeken’s use of frames on these cards really adds to the interest, texture and elegance of project.   Becca used Classic Ovals and Classic Ovals Scalloped to make this frame.

On this card Becca used Classic Scalloped Circles and Classic Squares.

For this layout, I used S4-189 Labels Three and S4-194 Large Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles in the center, then added the center Classic Circle stamped with a Just Rite Stampers sentiment. (In case you were wondering, yes, those are my boys.  And yes, that’s how we get a picture taken, one decent shot amidst the rough and tumble! I’m so proud!)

Go ahead and frame yourself, you might like it!

Happy Saturday!

Beth

 

We just keep giving and giving and giving…and we like it. We hope you do too. The die template pile is getting higher and the winners are certainly appreciating it… The die template added today was featured on Beth Pingry’s Blog: Cookies for Breakfast. You all know her from here…she’s our blogger, with me, Eli. Let’s check out that pile right now.

That is quite a treasury! We can’t wait to give it away. This time, we had just under 2,000 entrants and the program over at Random.org gave us this:

Here are your random numbers:

350

Timestamp: 2009-01-18 04:54:43 UTC

So we contacted this contestant and found out she lives the farthest away of any winner so far…

Jessica of Sundbord, Sweden

When we heard from her, this is what she said,

Jessica, we’re excited for you and inspired by the projects as well. Also glad to see so many of our international friends commenting and entering. Superb!

Tonight (January 19th around midnight) will be our last 5th Anniversary Party release. So go and visit Linda Duke today and tomorrow (19th and 20th) to enter and be sure to visit Trudee tomorrow and Wednesday (20th and 21st) to enter. Then for a special message from Stacey Caron, simply come back here to see what she has to say…

Happy crafting, Eli