Trick or Treat!  No tricks, just treats for you here!  The first treat is a double on the Tattered Angels Blog Hop!  Design Team Member Lisa Rapp and our very own Eli Harlan are both showcasing some Tattered Angels love today, be sure to visit both of their blogs.  And don’t forget to see what Tattered Angel’s Blog has in store too.

Now on to Halloween.  Halloween is for kids, and kids of all ages dress in costumes!  Super Heros, Princesses, Monsters, Celebrities, Politicians, Ninjas, Ghosts and just about anything else goes when it comes to Halloween.  Some people even wear costumes to work! This picture is the Spellbindersâ„¢ crew in Phoenix!  I’m sure they had a lot of fun, and plenty of candy too!

For today’s post I put together a cute Halloween mini book.  I had a sheet of vintage images waiting for the perfefct project, and this is it!  I didn’t take a lot of step shots, but you will see it is a pretty straight forward book.

I started with the largest of the S4-227 Pumpkins and cut 4 chipboard pumpkin shapes as bases for the pages.  In my Wizard™ I cut/embossed 8 more from patterned paper, Fancy Pants Trick or Treat Collection and an orange piece from Daydreams, these covered both sides of the chipboard.  I spritzed the pumpkin die cuts with Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels, and when they were dry I sanded the edges.  I have several colors of Glimmer Mist and tried to match them with the colors of the papers.  Look at the results!

Ohhhhh, glimmery!

I cut a piece of Core’dinations Black Magic Cardstock with the S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities, to make pumpkin shaped frames by nesting the die templates.  See how I set them on my Magnetic Spacer Plate.  This gave me 2 frames and 3 full pumpkins.  I cut/embossed then sanded the black side to reveal the orange color underneath.

The rest of the book is just stacking, layering, inking, sanding and having fun.

The book includes a variety of Spellbinders™ die templates, including the following:
S4-227 Pumpkins; S7-014 Classic Lace Border Grand, S5-014 Deckled Mega Rectangles SM; S4-131 Classic Scalloped Rectangles SM; S4-235 Fancy Tags; S4-169 Small Labels; S4-200 Flower Bouquet; S4-161 Labels One; S4-190 Labels Four; S5-019 Labels Eight; S4-233 Labels Nine, S4-134 Classic Paisley.

Other supplies include: Fancy Pants, paper; Tattered Angels, Glimmer Mists; Crafty Secrets, Heartwarming Vintage images; Creative Impressions, Ribbons; Clearsnap, Colorbox Charcoal Fluid Chalk Ink; Copic, Atyou Spica Pitch Black; Cardstock; Alpha rub-ons; adhesives; hole punch; book ring.

Happy Halloween!
Beth

After reading Beth’s Savvy Saturday idea, I had a “light bulb” moment! Why not finish my fall holiday card swap using this method?! Rarely I join a swap because when it comes close to deadline, I haven’t even started! Has that happened to you? I’m sure I am not the only one! LOL! But using the W-026 Grand Cut Mat Kit, I can create these cards in half the time so why not start today. Maybe an incentive to join more swaps?!

I gathered my Spellbindersâ„¢ items to start creating: S4-114 Standard Circle Large #3 die (#1 being the smallest die template), S4-116 Standard Circle Small #3, S4-161 Labels One #4, S4-229 Labels Five #4, S4-233 Labels Nine #4, S4-230 Labels Six #4, S7-014 Grand 12″ Classic Lace Border, S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #2 & #3 and S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 & #2.

With My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love Collection (using various pattern papers), I cut/embossed S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #2 & #3 and S4-228 Nested Maple Leaf #1 & #2 by using the W-024 Magnetic Spacer Plate. I then edged the die cuts with Clearsnap ColorBox inks and set aside.

I will be creating five fall holiday cards that will shipped to Japan where the host lives. This swap is an international swap so I am excited about getting ideas from different countries…a worldwide card making effort! If some of the participants follow this blog, I will only show two of the cards and leave the others as a surprise!

Grabbing the JustRite Stampers Favorite Occasions images, I stamped a total of five times on a 2 1/2 x 12″ strip of Core’dinations Color Core cardstock. Taking household tape and tapping it on my jeans to make it a less tacky (very high level technique!), I taped the flat side (not the cut side) of the die template to the cardstock to hold it in place when cutting and embossing. Notice I’m using two different sizes of die templates (S4-114 Standard Circle Large #3 and S4-116 Standard Circle Small #3) but as mentioned before they are only 1/8″ difference and really doesn’t hinder the design of the cards. Another advantage is I am able to cut/emboss two images in one pass instead of one at a time with the Grand Mat Kit.

In the Wizardâ„¢, I cut/embossed the different label die templates on to a 3.5 x12″ strip of Core’dinations Chocolate Box cardstock and sanded the edges to finish. From left to right: S4-161 Labels One #4, S4-233 Labels Nine #4, S4-229 Labels Five #4 and S4-230 Labels Six #4.

In addition to this clever idea, I also wanted to use the Grand Mat Kit for its original use - cut/emboss Borderabilities® Grand. Cutting the S7-014 Grand 12″ Classic Lace Border with a strip of white cardstock, I wanted to add a little vintage accent to the card. I stenciled with Clearsnap ColorBox Ink in Dark Moss and lightly tapped brown chalk to the lace.

With the 4 x 5.5″ card base made out of My Mind’s Eye Fall In Love Collection, I rounded the corners and inked the edges with Clearsnap ColorBox ink. Using the various die cuts, I adhered them for each card front along with ribbon and other embellishments to accent. The use of Crafty Secrets Heartwarming Vintage Cuts “Autumn Blessings” and Creative Scraps “Calendar” really made it come together. Now I think it’s ready to be sent off on a worldwide journey!

Thanks for stopping by!
MargieH

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

®The weather has turned a bit chilly around here, and the leaves will begin to turn colors soon.  To celebrate the season I have this card to share.

I gathered these supplies: Spellbindersâ„¢ S4-226 Harvest Borderabilities® Petite; S4-233 Labels Nine; S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities®; My Mind’s Eye, Patterned Cardstock, Free Bird Collection “Beauty”, “Love” and Maggie May “Katie Lou”; Clearsnap, ColorBox Roan Brown Fluid Chalk Ink; SCRAPBOOK ADHESIVES by 3L, 3D Foam Squares; Creative Impressions, Leaf Ribbon; Brown Cardstock.

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I cut/emboss the S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® #4 in orange “Love”,  the S4-233 Labels Nine #5 in blue “Katie Lou”, and #6 in the striped cardstock, which is the back side of the green “Beauty” cardstock.  I lightly inked the edges with the brown ink to camoflage the white core of the paper.

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Next I cut the green paper to 5.5×5″, and cut/embossed the S4-226 Harvest Borderabilities® Petite, Pumpkin Border on each side of the green paper.  Since one edge cuts and the other embosses, I aligned them so the cut edge was along the outer edge of the paper.  I used tape to secure the border so it didn’t move around.   After embossing, I inked the paper through the die template like a stencil, so the embossed areas were accented.  I also let the ink rub a little over the edge of the die template to enhance the embossing along the border’s edge.

I simply layered the pieces onto a 5.5×6″ piece of brown cardstock.  I used 3D Foam Squares on the S4-233 Labels Nine and S4-227 Pumpkins Nestabilities® die cuts, to give them some dimension.

And here is the finished card:
 

 Celebrate Fall!

Beth

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.

The last, but certainly not the least of our daily CHA Blog Frenzy winners is Joni, from Keene, New Hampshire, USA! Pinch yourself, make sure you are awake! Joni visited Keri Lee Sereika’s CHA Blog Frenzy and entered to win, and boy, did she ever!

“OMG I can’t believe it. This email just flashed across my screen. Am I dreaming??? Thank you thank you thank you. I love Spellbinders and use one in every card that I make. Thank you so very much! I am shaking just typing this. I hope there are no typos!”

Typos, schypos! Get your mojo ready Joni, because you’ll have a lot of cardmaking to do when you get a package full of these:

S4-227 Nested Pumpkins

S7-015 Holiday Lights Borderabilities Grand

S7-016 Poinsettia Borderabilities Grand

Our Grand Prize Winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 28.  You will see 29 new Spellbinders™ releases and the one very lucky crafter who wins them all!

We are not quite done yet, even though we’ve given away over $4,000 in Spellbindersâ„¢ die templates and Impressabilitiesâ„¢ so far this summer! (I hope the big bosses aren’t reading this!) The Pendant Project Contest is open until August 10, and there will be 5 more lucky winners to add to the winners circle!

Congrats to all of our winners, and thank you everyone for joining in on our CHA Blog Frenzy!  We hope you are as excited about Spellbinders’â„¢ new products as we are!  Do you have a favorite?

Beth

Amy from Kearney, Nebraska, USA, has her happy dance going on! She’s the winner of Day 13’s Blog Frenzy contest. After visiting Jennifer Davis’s Blog Frenzy, Amy entered to win all the dies that had been revealed to date.

“OH…MY…GOSH….I broke out in a sweat when I saw this in my inbox! You have no idea how much I’ve been drooling over all these amazing new reveals. If I scream I’ll totally freak my neighborhood out, but that’s what I’m doing on the inside!! Thank you SO much, I’m beyond thrilled! *happy dance* I can’t wait to use all these goodies!”

Lets take a look at those goodies:

S7-015 Holiday Lights Borderabilities Grand

S7-016 Poinsettia Borderabilities Grand

Congratulations Amy!  We can’t wait to see your creations!  If you have made Spellbindersâ„¢ Pendant creations, why not enter them into the Pendant Contest?  You could win even more goodies!  Check out the rules and prizes here.

While it may seem a little bit like Christmas, for Day 12’s winner it is more like a birthday!  And what a great birthday present! Sharlene of North Bay, Ontario, Canada is getting this package of birthday bliss:

S5-018 Poinsettia Frameabilities

S7-016 Poinsettia Borderabilities Grand

Can you believe it? “I AM REPLYING AND THANKING YOU VERY MUCH FOR PICKING MY NAME FOR THE DRAW. IT COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME BECAUSE MY BIRTHDAY WAS JULY 22. I THOUGHT WOULDN’T THIS BE FREAKY IF I SHOULD WIN. I HAVE BOUGHT FOUR OF THE LAST NEW SPELLBINDERS THAT WERE RELEASED LAST MONTH. I BOUGHT S4-210 Lattice Pendants, S4-218 Lattice, S4-204 Fleur de Lis Pendants, S4-213 Fleur de Lis, S4-208 In Spades Pendants, S4-217 In Spades, S4-206 Renaissance Hearts Pendants, and  S4-215 Renaissance Hearts. THEY ARE JUST SUPER AND I DO A LOT OF CARD MAKING AND SCRAPBOOKING. I HAVE SO MANY OF THE OTHER ONES THAT THESE ARE GOING TO GO GOOD WITH MY COLLECTION. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I WON AS I NEVER WIN ANYTHING! THANKS AGAIN AND CANNOT WAIT TO GET THEM.”

Sharlene entered from Becca Feeken’s Blog Frenzy.  Thanks for visiting with us, and for entering!

Oh Sharlene, one last thing.  I am anxiously awaiting your entries into the Pendant Project Contest! You can enter up to 3 times, and there will be 5 very luck winners! You have until August 10 to submit your projects!

Happy Birthday Sharlene!

Beth

“YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOSH!!! I AM SO DARN EXCITED I COULD JUST P** IN MY PANTS!!! I LOVE SPELLBINDERSâ„¢ PRODUCTS!!! WHAT AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY THIS WAS AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ALL ENOUGH!! I THINK I’D BETTER RUN TO THE LADIES ROOM NOW….LOL!!!!!!! I REALLY WON???????? WOW!!!”

Hmmm, I think we caught Gina of Los Angeles, California, USA, by surprise! Go ahead and take a break Gina, while I let everyone else know what you’ve won! Gina’s prize package includes all these brand new Spellbindersâ„¢ die templates and Impressabilitiesâ„¢:

S7-016 Poinsettia Borderabilities Grand

Gina entered to win on Lesa Rapp’s Blog Frenzy. Thanks to everyone who visited, commented and entered.

There is still time to enter on days 13 and 14, so don’t delay! We have a few more lucky winners to announce and then the Big Kahuna of prizes, the Spellbindersâ„¢ CHA Blog Frenzy Grand Prize! Oh yes my friends, if you have entered each and every one of the 14 Blog Frenzy contests you will be automatically entered to win each and every Summer CHA Spellbindersâ„¢ newly released products. That’s over $550 in product!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Beth

Stress-busting and happy dancing, now if we could only figure out how to bottle and sell those! Somehow, we’ve been able to put them in a package and send it off to Rhodeen of Converse Texas, USA.  Oh, and we’ve added a few other tidbits to the package, like these:

S4-233 Labels Nine

S7-016 Poinsettia Borderabilities Grand

“I cannot believe it, this has been such a stressful week with my family. You made my day Spellbindersâ„¢~ I can’t thank you enough! I am so happy and in awe of so many wonderful dies. I can’t wait to play with all of them. If you could see my face, it is doing the happy dance right now! I love all your artists, especially Sherry~ Thank you again, Rhodeen”

Glad to be of service, Rhodeen!  Thank you for visiting Debbie Seyer’s CHA Blog Frenzy and entering the contest!

Don’t forget to visit Jennifer Davis today, and then Keri Lee Sereika tomorrow, you can find an quick introduction and link to their blogs right here!  You could win a stress-bustin’ happy dancin’ package too!

You also have until August 10th to enter the Pendant Project Contest!

Have a wonderful day!

Beth