Today, we will be doing something new…a new technique that one of our innovative design team members stumbled upon when doing another project. Got to LOVE those A-HA moments! LOL!

Design Team Member Heidi Blankenship will showing us how wax paper can turn your project into something beautiful…Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ style! Heidi introduced this technique on her blog a few days ago but didn’t want you all to miss this - it’s good! Sorry, ladies, you’ll have to bring out your irons for this one. I know mine is buried somewhere in the laundry room. But trust me, you won’t be disappointed in the results - do it for craft’s sake! LOL!

An encore presentation from Heidi:
I am so excited to be sharing a New Spellbindersâ„¢ Technique with you today! Before I get started I want to let you know how I came up with the idea for this technique. I don’t know if you have heard this before or not but sometimes when making a die cut the cardstock can really stick in the die template and if this happens Spellbindersâ„¢ recommends placing a piece of wax paper in between the die template and the cardstock and then your die cut will pop right out from the die template. If you haven’t heard this before it’s a great little tip!

I was making some pendant die cuts one day and I had several pieces of wax paper die cuts, they were so pretty I didn’t want to throw them away. Being a paper crafter you can’t ever throw anything away! *wink* I started trying to think of things I could do with the wax paper die cuts. Then I remembered doing a technique about 15 years ago where you crumple up wax paper and iron on top of cardstock creating a resist. Hmmm… That really had me thinking and wondering if I could do the same thing with wax paper die cuts and the answer is Yes!!

If you like to play with die cuts, the iron (only for crafty purposes-LOL!) and inks then this is a perfect tutorial for you! If you don’t like getting messy with the inks you can also do this technique on solid colored cardstock creating a watermark effect.

The New Technique is called “Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style!”

Here is the card I created using the Wax Resist.

Step 1: Start with a large piece of wax paper and fold in half and then in half again. (So it’s quartered) This is nice if you want to make multiples and have extra pieces to play around with this technique.

Cutting Sandwich (Stack from the bottom)
1. White Master Mat
2. Magnetic Spacer Plate
3. S4-210 Lattice Pendants (cut/ridge side UP)
4. Wax Paper
5. White Master Mat
6. Run through the Wizard machine.

Embossing Sandwich (Stack from the bottom)
1. White Master Mat
2. S4-210 Lattice Pendants (paper in place and the cut/ridge side up)
3. Tan Embossing Mat
4. White Master Mat
5. Run through the Wizard machine

Step 2: Cut/Emboss * You don’t have to emboss but it will show more of the detail in the resist.

Step 3: Before removing the wax paper, use a paper piercer, stylus, or even a toothpick will work to pop out the drop out pieces from the die cut.

Step 4: Remove the wax paper from the die template. Carefully separate the pieces. The reason you have to be very careful with this step is because any creases you might get in the wax paper with show up in the resist.

Step 5: Set the iron to the hottest temperature without having steam, lay wax paper die cut with the embossed side face down onto the cardstock, place paper towel on top and iron about 30-45 seconds being careful not to move the paper.
***You can use the paper of your choice to do the Wax Resist. On the card I created I used white glossy cardstock but it will also work on regular white cardstock. If you use regular white cardstock the colors of ink will be a little more intense because the paper has more fibers to absorb the ink. You can also use a solid colored cardstock for the Wax Resist and you will have a watermark effect.

I know it’s a little hard to see in the picture but after you are done ironing your cardstock should look like the one pictured above. You can see a light pattern from the wax paper.

Step 6:In this next step you will be applying ink to the cardstock. I like to use cotton balls to apply the ink. Ink up the cotton ball, in a circular motion rub off some of the ink on your scratch paper until it is a shade you like. Then apply the ink to the cardstock, remember to work in a circular motion, this will help for blending and smoothing out the ink. Use 2-3 colors of ink, layering them to add more depth. For my card I started with Ranger Distress Ink Broken China (Blue). When you are applying the ink leave some open space for the other colors.

Next I applied Ranger Distress Ink Vintage Photo. Heat setting the wax paper die cuts into the cardstock creates a resist and then when ink is applied the resist really pops! If you don’t have distress inks you can use other inks too.

In the picture above the Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style was done on glossy cardstock on the left and regular white cardstock on the right.

Here is another picture with a piece of solid color cardstock (sorry, it’s a little hard to get a good picture) so you can see the watermark effect.

Take another look at the finished card.

Supplies:
Stamps: Taylored Expressions (Whimsical Wishes Branching Out); My Mind’s Eye (Laundry Line Flirty “Lil Girl”)
Paper: My Mind’s Eye (Laundry Line Natural “Encourage” Proud Print Paper); The Paper Company(White, Brown Cardstock); WorldWin (White Glossy)
Ink: Ranger (Distress Ink Vintage Photo, Broken China), Tsukineko (Memento Rich Cocoa Ink)
Spellbindersâ„¢: Wizardâ„¢, S4-210 Lattice Pendants, S4-235 Fancy Tags
Others: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (White 3D Foam Squares); Beacon Adhesives (3-in-1 Advanced Craft Glue); My Mind’s Eye (Laundry Line Sundress “Sweetness” Rub-ons); Wax Paper; Paper Towels; Iron; and Cotton Balls

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. Give the New Technique - Wax Resist, Spellbindersâ„¢ Style - a try! I would love to hear what you think about the technique. If you do give it a try please leave a comment with a link to your project–I would love to see it!

After reading Heidi’s tutorial, I came up with these card fronts for hot chocolate pocket cards. I’m thinking of these for my boys’ teachers as holiday gifts (sticking in a gift card as well!).

I used S4-223 Create-A-Flake Two (the three largest sized die templates and their centers) as the background and S4-224 Snowflake Border Petite (the border that can cut/emboss a decorative edge) was used as a stenciled band on one of the cards. Then I embellished with the border’s snowflake cut outs and Hero Arts Pearls. Just love how it turned out! Makes you want to grab a hot cup of chocolate! Thanks, Heidi!

Hope you have a wonderful Saturday!
Thanks for stopping by… MargieH

Borderabilities Grand, what a wonderful product from Spellbinders, especially for scrapbookers. Where else can you get 12-inch border die templates with incredible detailing featuring three functions: cutting, embossing and stenciling? (If that weren’t rhetorical, I’d say, “Nowhere!”)

Today, I’m going to share a layout with you. But first, you might want to watch our very own Stacey Caron demonstrate the Borderabilities Grand in the Wizard. Check out this video below. She cuts/embosses the Grand Borderabilities with the accessory Grand Cut Mat Kit for efficient cut/emboss functions, and she shows the Extended White Master Mats that are included with a Wizard.

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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

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