Spellbinders Blog

Hi folks, Kavya from @handmadebykavya here with some creative ways to level up your dipped strawberries from Simon Hurley’s newest collection, Berry Best! If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that I love finding ways to make my die cuts more realistic. In this tutorial, I am going to share my favorite tips to make your paper strawberries look so delicious, you’ll practically want to eat them! Instructions Step 1: Start by die-cutting your strawberry outlines and leaves using Wild Berry and Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock. To add dimension, ink blend these pieces with coordinating inks and add a few splatters of watercolor using coordinating color paint. Step 2: Next, prepare your "chocolate" dips by selecting Truffle ColorWheel Cardstock for dark chocolate, Alabaster ColorWheel Cardstock for white chocolate, or Blush ColorWheel Cardstock for a sweet pink chocolate look. Now, here is the secret! For realistic dips, we will apply an even layer of Ranger Glossy Accents to give these dips a three-dimensional shine. While the surface is still tacky, sprinkle on either white/clear glitter, gilding flakes, or embellishments from the sets like Serenade Mix Upz set to mimic delicious sprinkles. You can also use the Glossy Accents to the drizzle die cuts to add dimension.     Step 3: Assemble your strawberries and leaves, then use a white gel pen to add small highlights for the seeds. Step 4: For this project, I will create 4 tags using the Essential Arches Etched Dies with Coral and Alabaster cardstock. I will show you 4 simple quick and easy tag bases that can be used for any other project. For each of the tag bases, I finished them punching a hole in each tag, threading them with embroidery floss, and adding some decorative white gel pen lines.

1. Tag #1: This is the easiest. Simply ink blend one corner of the Coral cardstock with coordinating dye ink and stamp a sentiment using pink ink at the bottom.

2. Tag #2: Start with two Arches out of Coral cardstock. Die Cut a smaller center arch for one of the arches and ink blend using coordinating dye ink. Attach on the base die cut using foam to add dimension.

3. Tag #3: Start with a base Coral Arch ink blended on one side. Make a think frame using Alabaster cardstock and adhere using foam.

4. Tag #4: Start with a base Coral Arch. Make a think frame using Coral cardstock, ink blended and adhere using foam. Add an Alabaster arch in the center.

Step 6: Finally, adhere your realistic strawberries to the bases to complete your beautiful handmade tags! [spellbinders-supplies]BD-0954,S5-526,CS-8-106,CS-8-119,CS-8-141,CS-8-144,CS-8-103,CS-8-110[/spellbinders-supplies]

Other Supplies

Ranger Glossy Accents, MXZ103, Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen That’s it! I hope you like all these projects! Can’t wait to see what you all make. Happy Crafting, Kavya

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Looking to bring the beauty of real botanicals to your handmade cards? Jean Manis here, sharing my experience working with The Poet’s Garden Collection by Susan Tierney-Cockburn for Spellbinders. Susan’s flowers are known for their lifelike detail, and this collection is no exception. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I approach her dimensional florals with a beginner-friendly process. Let’s step into the garden together!   To start, cut each flower from white cardstock and use Susan’s videos to create the blooms to see their true size and form. Because the flowers are dimensional, making a “draft” version is helpful because you won’t know their scale until you make one. Next, decide how many blooms each card will need and which ones will be used. An option to make the process less intimidating is to sketch circles the size of the blooms on scrap paper and play with the arrangement on a card base. A vase card is often a go-to choice because it is a predictable structure and makes arranging blooms straightforward.

• Dry-emboss a Fairy Tale cardstock panel with the Distress Mix 3D folder and add to an A2-size card base.
• With a plate in The Poet’s Garden Sentiment set, press the “Thank You” sentiment in green ink on Porcelain BetterPress cardstock; cut with the coordinating die.
• Cut the Love-in-a-Mist, Wild Violet, and Clematis Poet pieces from Susan's Garden Specialty cardstock. Color with Distress inks. Assemble and shape the flowers and foliage according to the product videos. Add prills to the Wild Violet

Note: I began by coloring with alcohol ink markers, then switched to Distress inks in the interest of time. Susan often colors her blooms with alcohol ink, which is always an option if you enjoy that approach. Additionally, the flowers were colored as they appear in nature. For Love-in-a-Mist, which has natural color variations, the shades were adjusted from card to card to add interest.

• With a die in the Mirrored Arch Labels set, cut gold cardstock for the vase. Add the vase to the prepared vase with foam adhesive.
• Adhere the blooms and leaves to the prepared base. Add the sentiment over the vase with foam squares.

For the second card, the blooms are arranged within a frame for visual focus.

• Dry-emboss a Lilac cardstock panel with the Distress Mix 3D folder and add to an A2-size card base.
• With a plate in The Poet’s Garden Sentiment set, press the “Thank You” sentiment in green ink on Porcelain BetterPress cardstock; cut with the coordinating die.
• Cut a frame from Classic White cardstock using two dies from the Mirrored Arch Labels Cut a Seaside panel that is sized between the two frame dies and attach it to the back of the frame. Adhere the assembled frame to the prepared card base.
• Cut the Love-in-a-Mist and Wild Violet pieces from Susan's Garden Specialty cardstock. Color with Distress inks. Assemble and shape according to the product videos. Add prills to the Wild Violet
• Adhere the blooms and leaves within the frame and add the sentiment with foam squares.

Similar in design to the previous card, the third card has a horizontal orientation, although it could also be vertical. Here, the frame is cut into cardstock, with a second layer stacked behind to create depth. Note: To keep the outer edge evenly spaced around the cutout shape, the card measures 5 ½ by 4 ½ inches.

• Dry-emboss a Windy cardstock panel with the Distress Mix 3D folder and add to a card base measuring 5 ½ by 4 ½ inches.
• Cut into the center of a Classic White cardstock panel, slightly smaller than 5 ½ by 4 ½ inches, using one of the Mirrored Arch Labels Using a larger Mirrored Arch Labels die, cut into the center of a Tutu cardstock panel measuring 5 ½ by 4 ½ inches. Adhere the cut Classic White panel to the inside of the Tutu panel, then attach the layered piece to the prepared card base.
• With a plate in The Poet’s Garden Sentiment set, press the “Thank You” sentiment in green ink on Porcelain BetterPress cardstock; cut with the coordinating die. Add the sentiment to the card center using foam square adhesive.
• Cut the Love-in-a-Mist and Wild Violet pieces from Susan's Garden Specialty cardstock. Color with Distress inks. Assemble and shape according to the product videos. Add prills to the Wild Violet
• Adhere the blooms and leaves to the card base.

[spellbinders-supplies]BP-325,S3-559,S3-569,S5-613,E3D-155,SCS-122,BPC-002,CS-8-148,CS-8-130,CS-8-104,SCS-267,ANC817,CS-8-123,CS-8-137,S5-712,CS-8-135,SCSP-001[/spellbinders-supplies]

Other supplies

Distress Inks: Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet; Ranger Library Green ink; Flower shaping tools such as Susan's Garden Ultimate Tool Kit (now discontinued) Thank you for visiting and spending time exploring these floral cards created with The Poet’s Garden Collection by Susan Tierney-Cockburn for Spellbinders. Hopefully, you are inspired to create your own paper flower garden!

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Hello crafty friends! It’s Lisa Tilson, and I am delighted to be back on the Spellbinders blog with you today. I’m here to share some inspiration with The Poet’s Garden Collection from Susan Tierney-Cockburn. This is a beautiful release of flowers that are designed to have lots of dimension, and I definitely have that on my cards today! This collection has a choice of Double and Single Peonies, Clematis Poet, Wild Violet, and Love-In-A-Mist Etched Dies, along with an accompanying BetterPress sentiment set. Spending time creating these dimensional flowers is very relaxing, and they really pack a punch when they are done! You’ll need to send them to their respective recipient in a box, as you don’t want to lose all that fabulous drama by squishing them down to fit into an envelope. So, let’s dive into the cards.

Sending Love and Hugs

For this card, I am using the Clematis Poet Etched Dies along with the Petite Criss Cross Press Plate and a sentiment from Crafty Hugs Sentiments Press Plate and Die Set.

1. I started off by die-cutting the clematis petals from 80lb white card using the Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine. There are four dies that layer up, and I die cut two of each layer.
2. They were then coloured with Copic Markers. For the purple flower, I used V15 followed by V04, and then I added a darker colour into the centres, and for that I used V17. I applied a flicking motion for my colouring, making sure to leave some areas free of any colour. I repeated the colouring on the underside.
3. For the pink clematis, I used RV09 followed by RV06 and then RV69 for the darker section. My darker sections got a bit lost once I put the centres in, so next time I shall extend them out a little further. Practice makes perfect!
4. I then used shaping tools and a foam mat to create the dimensional flowers. Susan Tierney-Cockburn has many videos on the Spellbinders YouTube Channel, which show you how to stylize your petals using ball stylus and loop tools. They are hugely informative and well worth watching before you start.

5. Next, I die cut the flower centres from Beeswax and the leaves from Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock.
6. Using a medium-sized blending brush, I blended Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink around the edges of the leaves, and then I shaped them slightly using my loop tool.
7. For the flower centres, I added some Y19 Copic Marker onto the ends of all the pieces and then cut them using 4” detail scissors. They were adhered together and set to one side.
8. The flowers were then glued together using Bearly Art Glue, and the centres adhered into the middle.

9. For my background, I used the Petite Criss Cross Press Plate, and I embossed it using a panel of Anchor ColorWheel Cardstock and the BetterPress Letterpress System. Being able to emboss your press plates gives you another option with them – they are very versatile! I think they are a great way to add some extra interest and texture behind a focal point.
10. The background panel was adhered onto a top-folding A2 white note card, and the flowers added on top using liquid glue.
11. I then glued the leaves around the flowers, again using Bearly Art Glue.
12. The sentiment is from Crafty Hugs Sentiments Press Plate and Die Set , and it was foiled onto Raven ColorWheel Cardstock using White Glimmer Hot Foil and the Glimmer Hot Foil System. I cut it out with the coordinating die and cut an extra layer so that I could form a small stack for stability.
13. The sentiment was popped in place, and I finished by adding some Spectrum AB Color Essentials Gems around the flowers.

Happy Birthday

My next card uses the Double and Single Peonies Etched Dies. I paired them with the Script Text BetterPress Plate and a sentiment from Always and Forever Sentiment Strips Press Plate and Die Set.

1. I started off by die-cutting the double peony from 80lb white cardstock. There are three petal dies in the set, which create the four layers, and I die cut them according to the number etched on the die itself.
2. I used the same colouring technique as I did on my card above, but this time I used Copic Markers RV34 and RV32. Don’t forget to colour both sides of your petals as you will see the underside after they are shaped!
3. Next, I die cut the centre die from Beeswax and the leaves die twice from Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock.
4. I shaped the leaves according to Susan’s videos and then adhered all the layers of the peony together using Bearly Art Glue.

5. Once again, I used a medium blending brush to add Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink to the leaves, and then I shaped them with a ball stylus and my fingers. The vein detail was reinforced using a small ball stylus tool.
6. I added some Y19 Copic Marker to the edges of the flower centre die cuts and then cut them with scissors before adhering them together. I always use 4” detail scissors for the cutting. The sections you need to cut are very thin, and these scissors work perfectly.
7. My background uses the Script Text BetterPress Plate, and I foiled it onto some Fog ColorWheel Cardstock using White Glimmer Hot Foil, and then I trimmed it with a Guillotine Paper Trimmer and popped some foam tape onto the back.
8. It was adhered to a top-folding A2 white note card.
9. I then adhered the peony in place and tucked the leaves in behind.

10. The sentiment is from Always and Forever Sentiment Strips Press Plate and Die Set, and it was foiled onto Anchor ColorWheel Cardstock using White Glimmer Hot Foil.
11. It was then cut out with the coordinating die and adhered with some foam tape.
12. I finished the card by adding some Pink Color Essential Gems around the flower.

Thanks A Million

For my final card, I used the Wild Violet and Ladybugs Etched Dies along with the Hero Arts Trellis Window Die and a sentiment from Always and Forever Sentiment Strips Press Plate and Die Set.

1. I started off my card by die-cutting the Wild Violet and Ladybugs petals die eight times from Lavender ColorWheel Cardstock.
2. Next, I die cut the stem twice from Rainforest ColorWheel Cardstock.
3. Using a medium blending brush, I blended Dusty Concord Distress Ink onto the lavender petals, and then I shaped them with my fingers and a ball stylus tool.
4. They were adhered together with Bearly Art Glue.

5. I blended Rustic Wilderness Distress Ink onto the leaves and stems, and then I shaped the leaves using a loop tool. I used a very small ball stylus to go over the vein detail and enhance it. I didn’t do this on all my cards as I didn’t feel it was necessary, but it is a quick and easy step if you want to.
6. I set everything to one side to create the rest of the card. First of all, I took an A2 panel of Anchor ColorWheel Cardstock and adhered it on to a white A2 note card.
7. I then die cut the Hero Arts Trellis Window Die twice from Fog ColorWheel Cardstock and adhered both layers together using liquid glue. It was then added onto the dark grey panel.
8. I then adhered both of my stems and the flowers using Bearly Art Glue.
9. The leaves were then glued in behind the flowers.

10. I foiled a sentiment from Always and Forever Sentiment Strips Press Plate and Die Set onto Raven ColorWheel Cardstock using White Glimmer Hot Foil and the Glimmer Hot Foil System. It was cut out with the coordinating die and added onto my card using small pieces of foam tape.
11. I finished by adhering some Chameleon Opalescent Color Essential Sequins to the centres of the flowers.

That brings us to the end of my three cards with this beautiful collection. I hope they give you some ideas for using these gorgeous flowers from Susan. If you would like to see more of my cards, I would love to have you join me over on my blog, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube. In the meantime, thank you so much for joining me here on the Spellbinders blog today. I hope that you have a fabulous day! [spellbinders-supplies]S5-712,S6-169,S3-569,BP-311,BP-298,BP-025,BP-287,GLF-049,CS-8-136,CS-8-145,CS-8-115,CS-8-147,CS-8-119,CS-8-146,SCS-365,SCS-142,SCS-167,SCS-123,T-034,T-035,T-024,T-042,T-043,PCGO4E,T-066,PE-104,GLS-005,BP-001[/spellbinders-supplies]

Other Supplies

Hero Arts Trellis Window Die, Neenah Solar White Classic Crest 80 & 110lb cardstock, Distress Ink Rustic Wilderness, Distress Ink Dusty Concord, Embellishment Wand, Thin Foam Tape, Copic Markers, Foam Mat, tools for flower shaping.

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