The tips included here have been submitted by the Spellbinders Design Team and other paper crafters. To submit a Tip, email it to education@spellbinders.us.

Craft Glossary

Crafting has come a long way since the only tools were bark, honey and leaves. Now there are 75 different kinds of adhesives, a dozen ways to emboss, colorants, tools and all kinds of other stuff that spel lcheck can’t figure out. So we created a craft glossary. Lots of stuff here applies to the what, how and why of Spellbinder’s tools and products. But also, we have lots of general craft terms that might be helpful while you are perusing our site for new ideas, etc. If you find you need some additional info, e-mail spellbinderseditor@yahoo.com.

Sandwich Recipes for the Wizard

Creating with the Wizard Embossing and Die cutting system ranks right up there in the crafting world! Besides the patented triple function: cut, emboss, stencil, that it can do for Spellbinders Die Templates, the machine masquerades as a stamp maker, printing press, bottle cap flattener, eyelet setter and so much more. Find out the Wizard “recipes” to make the sandwiches needed to perform these various crafting techniques. So, definitely check it out and let us know if you have any questions or suggestions for other sandwiches.

Label Your Master Mats

Spellbinders recommends labeling your White Master Mats with the words "Emboss" and "Cut." This is to remind you not to allow your dies to cut into one of the Master Mats. When embossing with Spellbinders dies, brass stencils or charms, cut marks will etch themselves into the embossed detail. Always using the "Emboss" mat will prevent this!

Cutting Card Windows

Take a piece of magnet sheet (such as you would buy for covering heat vents or to make large fridge magnets) and cut ⅛th inch smaller on both sides than your card front. Or use the magnetic spacer plate available with the Raspberry Wizard. (Instead of  ½x4¼for instance you would cut the mat 5⅜  by 4⅛). This will give you just that little extra space you need to place in the card.

Now on the magnet side you can lay the die template wherever you want to have the shape cut. Slip it in your card and add your white spacer plate if needed depending on thickness and cut. Perfect placement every time!

Unjamming the Original Wizard

Our design team has submitted a very helpful set of photos for those who need assistance getting a sandwich “unstuck” from the old version of the Wizard. They can be downloaded here in pdf form.

Brass Stencils Without the Lines

Trim a Tan Polymer Pad to just smaller than the edge of the brass stencil you are using. This will prevent the lines from the outer edge of the stencil from being embossed with the design. Spellbinders has 12x12 sheets of polymer pads available for sale separately.

Adhering Metal

E6000 adhesive is a great way to adhere metal objects to your page.

Cutting Fabric or Foam

For cutting fabric or foam, slide about 4 pieces of thin paper like computer paper under the sandwich so it's just the tiniest bit closer to the blades. This makes the difference between completely cutting the fabric and cutting it all except for a couple of spots.

Filling in Embossed Areas

One creative suggestion is to fill in embossed areas of your foil or cardstock with a product like Diamond Glaze, Embossing Paste, or Silicone Glue to prevent crushing when mailing.

Sandwich Sticker

Print out instructions for your Wizard 'Sandwiches' on sticker paper and stick them right on the machine where you will have easy access to them. This is a great tip if you travel with your Wizard.

To Keep Your Wizard from Sliding

Put a double layer of skid mat under it. This can be bought at the Dollar Store, Wal-Mart etc. Look by the shelf liner section.

Keeping Your Cardstock in Place for Embossing

To keep your cardstock properly aligned for embossing with a die cut, hold the mat with your left hand just over the cutting mat, with the end of the pad just touching the mat. Walk the mat down with your fingers. This keeps the paper from sliding when you lay the mat over it.

Unjamming the Purple or Raspberry Wizard

On the yoke of the handle is a reversing button. Push in and the movement will reverse as you push or pull the handle. Push the button again to go back to original direction. Getting a sandwich stuck can be caused by pulling the lever back beyond the notch after the sandwich has been engaged under the rollers or by attempting to force a sandwich through the Wizard that is too thick. Some newer models have a switch on the handle that moves back and forth to change directions.

Inserting Sandwiches Into the Wizard

If you're having trouble getting the sandwich to "catch" between the rollers, place the die and paper down on the back end of the cutting mat. (As opposed to putting it in the middle.) Put the other cutting mat on top of it and insert the end of the sandwich without the die into the machine first. Gently push the sandwich centered, between the rollers and use you right hand on the top of the rollers to give the sandwich a little scooch to help engage the mats the first time. If the dies are closer to the back, remember that the sandwich may exit the machine with a bit more force than usual.