A Peek Into My Stamping Room

My First Video!

Yes, you read that correctly.  I have had a flip video camera for at least the past 6 months, just sitting here in front of me everyday I work at my crafting table.  I have used excuse after excuse to try to get out of making a video and today I decided that I am no longer making excuses.  So I filmed a short video on how I made the musical background paper for this scrapbook page.  Hopefully its okay and you can see it fine.....let me know what you think!  Please be kind.....I haven't really figured out how to edit yet!  LOL

 

 

 

Hopefully this will work great AND I can learn to edit the video better, I will be making more tutorial videos.  So be sure to comment and let me know what you would like to see!!  Hope you have a great day!

A Poinsettia Christmas Basket

Yep, you read that right......I am working on Christmas Projects.  Its kinda depressing how fast this year has gone by, isn't it?   Well the project I have to share with you today was easy to make because the die template does all the work!  Here is a basket I made using the Hexagon Petal Grand Template from Spellbinders.

To make this basket, I used 1 sheet of 12 x 12" Sunset Rose Dotted Swiss cardstock.  I cut the sheet to 8 x 12" and cut/embossed using the Hexagon Petal Grand Die.  Then using the left over piece, I cut six 1 x 2" pieces to hold the petals together and a handle that measures 1" x 12.

Here is what my pieces looked like before I started.

To begin, fold up each petal on the "fold" line that is created by the die template.  Its kinda hard to see but you can kinda see it in the picture above.  It should look like this:

Then using a fast dry liquid adhesive, I glued each little 1" piece between each petal.  This will hold the basket together and give you a nice base for each poinsettia flower.

When you are done with this step, here is what your basket will look like!

Now all you have to do is add your handle and decorate the basket with your Poinsettia flowers!  Like I said this was a pretty simple project because I let my Spellbinders die templates do all the work!  Here are a few more close-ups!

Here is the flower I put on the top of the handle.

Supplies Used:

• Cardstock - Blissful Dotted Swiss, Clover Leaf Dotted Swiss, Gold Pearl Linen Metallic Cardstock from Discount Cardstock
• Die Templates - LF-007 Hexagon Petal Envelope, S5-055 Layered Poinsettia, S4-328 Foliage die templates - Spellbinders Paper Arts
• Accessories - pearl brads, gold pearls, Beacon's 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue, Krylon Gold Paint Pen

Want2Scrap™ Christmas Album!

Hello!  Hope you are having a great weekend.  Today I would like to share with you my first project for Want2Scrap™  I made a Christmas Album using Grand Chipboard Album - Big Scalloped Circles.  This album matches Spellbinders™ (FL-249) Grand Big Scalloped Circles.  I used a 6x6" paper pad from Teresa Collins called Christmas Home to cover the album.  Here is my album.

This album measures about 8" so using a 6x6" paper pad kinda presented a challenge.  So here is what I did.  First I layed out my 6x6 papers onto a piece of copy paper and arranged them the way I wanted them to look when I cut/embossed them to fit.

Then I adhered these paper to the sheet of copy paper using repositionable tape.  I then cut the papers to fit the size of the Grand Calibur.

Then using the largest die in the Grand Big Scalloped Circles die set, I cut/embossed this to create the cover.  Here are my individual pieces.

Now all I had to do was to adhere them into place onto the Grand Chipboard Album-Big Scalloped Circles.  I used some Beacon's 3 -in-1 Advanced Craft Glue for this because it dries super fast!  This step is kinda like putting a puzzle together!  LOL

I did these steps for both the front of my album and the back.  They aren't perfect matches but its close!  I wanted the back to be flat so the album would sit nicely on the coffee table in our living room.

Here are a few close-ups of the front of the album.

Here I used the 72 Count Black Rhinestones to embellish the Lacey Circles die cut. I created a medallion from patterned paper and trimmed it with red tinsel like trim.  The 25 came from the Teresa Collins 6x6" paper pad.

For this detail, I layered the lacey and scalloped oval die cuts and added some Nestabling™ for a finishing touch.   I haven't finished my inside pages yet, but I can't wait to get started!  I know this album will be a family keepsake for many years to come!

Want2Scrap™ Products Used:
Model 9500 Big Scalloped Circles Grand Chipboard Album
Model 2054 72 Count Black Rhinestones -Self Adhesive
Model 9053 Nestabling™ Lacey Ovals Black/Silver Rhinestones


Other Products Used:

• Patterned paper - Christmas Home 6x6 paper pad - Teresa Collins
• Cardstock - Posh Cherry Satin Sparkle, Posh True Black Linen, Posh White Linen Cardstocks - Discount Cardstock
• Die Templates Spellbinders- (LF-249) Grand Big Scalloped Circles, (S4-293) Lacey Circles , (S4-314) Lacey Ovals, (S4-114) Standard Circles Lg, (S4-124) Classic Scalloped Circles Lg, (E8-001) Classic Scallop Edgabilities, (S4-235) Fancy Tags
• Embellishments - Christmas Home Ribbon Embellishments (Teresa Collins), Black Organdy Ribbon (May Arts), Beacon's 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue, Scor-Pal

 

Thursday is almost Friday!

Yep, I am wishing for the weekend.  Thankfully its Thursday so its almost here.  This weekend will be busy with many graduation parties,a birthday party and a book club meeting, so I won't have a relaxing weekend but it will be fun!

I have had a request for a small tutorial on how to just emboss using your SpellbindersÔ dies.  This is so simple!  Whatever machine you use, it just couldn't be easier!  I will show you a few of the steps using the WizardÔ and the Big Shot. 

Here is the process using the WizardÔ:

Cut your cardstock to make an A-2 sized card and fold.

As you can see, I am positioning my die where I want it with the cut edge facing down onto the cardsfront.  Using some Scotch Repositionable tape, I will tape the die into place.  To get the great embossing, you will need to place your tan embossing mat INSIDE your folded card.  Like this:

Then you can make your sandwich for the WizardÔ.  

• White Master Mat
• Folded card with die (remember you taped it to the card front) laying on the bottom Master mat and Tan Embossing mat in the middle -(your folded edge will be on the right-side) 
• White Master Mat

 

 Now here is how you build the sandwich for the Big Shot.

Fold your card base and place your die just like the above example I showed you.  Then open your card so that it lays flat onto the Multi Purpose Platform and the smooth part of the die is touching the platform.  Then build your sandwich by placing 2 Tan Embossing Mats (made by SpellbindersÔ), a 6x12" piece of cardstock folded in thirds and ONE Acrylic mat in a stack.  

After you run this thru your Big Shot its time to complete your cards!  Here are my two cards.  One embossed using the WizardÔ and one embossed using the Big Shot.

 
 
 Sure hope this tutorial helped you understand how to emboss only using SpellbindersÔ die templates!  It's just super easy!

Unique Chipboard Tag!

So in the next few weeks, a few important people in my life will be having birthdays plus Mother's Day is coming up.  My oldest daughter will turn 17 next week and I wanted to make something for her that was a step above a card.  So while playing around with my supplies, I decided it would be neat to make a chipboard tag for her present and then she could use it in her room as a wall hanging, too.  Here is the finished project!

I have created a small tutorial to show you how I made this project.  This is the type of project that is fun to make because I got to use a bunch of my stash of goodies!

First step - Using a pencil trace around the piece of chipboard onto the patterned paper.  Here I am using some Prima Watercolor Rainbow Collection - Whimsy - paper.  It's so beautiful that I had a hard time cutting into it!

After cutting out the patterned paper, I glued the paper to the chipboard and used a sanding block to smooth the edges.  In the past, when doing this step, I have usually used a glue stick.  But a friend of mine told me about Zip Dry Paper Glue from Beacon Adhesives and it works great!  It allows you some wiggle room to get the piece of paper into place but there is no need to wait for it to dry!  Fast, fast, fast!

 

Using a blending tool and Tattered Rose distress ink pad, I sponged around the edges of the tag.  Then using my Crop-a-dile, I added a hole with a large pewter brad.

Now you can set the tag aside and begin working on the embellishments.  I just love those swirly, flourish chipboard frames you can buy now but I really hate paying so much for just 2 or 3 of them.  So I decided to make my own frame using the Fair Isle Pendant die templates from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts.  The pendant has the perfect center to use to make a wonderful frame!  First, I cut some 120lb Kraft cardstock using just the largest die in the Fair Isle template set.  Then I left the paper in the die and positioned the center into place using some repositionable tape.  See how it looks in the picture?  I fed this thru my Wizard™ and cut the center.

After cutting the center, I left the cardstock and both dies in place and embossed.  The sandwich I used in the Wizard is:  White Master Mat, die (cut side up) with cardstock, Tan Embossing Mat and White Master Mat.  Feed that thru the Wizard and it looks so nice!

Now its time to get messy!  On my Non-Stick Craft Sheet, I inked up the Kraft cardstock frame using White Craft Ink .

After inking, I applied some Heat & Stick powder to the wet and inky frame.  I heat set that just for a few seconds following the directions for Heat & Stick powder.  Now the only place I know to get Heat & Stick Powder is from Stampin' Up!  It's cool stuff and I used it alot!

Apply some micro glitter all over the frame and heat set again.  Now you have a beautiful white, sparkly frame to use on your tag!  Isn't it gorgeous?  I wish you could see it in real life cause its so pretty!

Using the otherside of the Prima patterned paper, I cut a small square to fit inside the sparkly frame.  Using the Fair Isle Borderabilities, I cut/embossed the bottom scalloped detail for the tag. 

I used 1/8" Sookwang Adhesive tape to adhere my square of patterned paper to the frame and to attach the scalloped border to the tag.  This tape is the same as Scor-Pal tape only cheaper!  It's another great adhesive to have on hand.  I also use this size of the tape to adhere lace to a project and its so thin that it works perfectly!

I stamped this sentiment from Gina K. Designs onto the patterned paper and punched it out using a new EK Success punch I got a couple of weeks ago.  I added all my embellishments and the pearl flourish to complete the tag!

Those paper roses are from Prima, too!  The letters are from the sale bin at Hobby Lobby.  Sometimes you hit the jackpot on those sales, don't you?  The pearl flourish is from Zva Creative!  I love how you can shape the pearls to fit where you need them to go!

After making this tag, I cut up another cereal box and made a second tag.  Yes, I used a cereal box.  I cut 2 pieces of the box and glued them together to get the weight I wanted.  It's a great way to recycle, don't you think? 

This tag is for my mom.  I used some Shabby Green Door patterned paper that was a present from my friend, Heidi.  The flowers and pearls are from Zva Creative.  I used some more of those sale bin letter tiles and some ribbon at the top of the tag! 

So what do you think?  Are you ready to make something unique for the next special birthday in your life?  I think you should give it try!

Card Box Tutorial

The directions for this box came from Paper Crafts magazine in 2006.  Its a great box that you can change to get different looks.  I use it alot and doesn't take much time to put together.  So rather than re-invent the wheel, I found the thread on Splitcoast Stampers that will show where to score the paper for this box.  Check out Paper Crafts Tote thread for all the details.  Here is a picture of how I scored this box.

 Step 1:  Place the 8 1/2" edge of the cardstock at the top of the Scor-Pal or paper trimmer.  Score at 1 1/4" down each long side of the cardstock.  If you are using a Scor-Pal - the picture to the left shows you what to do to find the 1 1/4" mark.  After scoring these two place turn the cardstock 90 degrees.

2.  Score at 4 1/2" and 6 1/2" down the middle of the cardstock.  Like I said, this is the easiest box to make but typing out how to make it is alittle harder!  LOL

3.  Cut the flaps as shown.  Just cut from the edge to the score line and pre-fold along all score lines.

4.  Place strong adhesive along edges as shown in the picture.  Dry fit the box together so that you understand why you are putting the adhesive where I am showing you.  Okay?

Here is how I put together the first side.  Then bring the other side up and you are done!  Easy to make - hard to explain!!  LOL

Here are two boxes I made but decorated each one differently.

This box just has a strip of patterned paper down the middle.  I used ribbon for the handles.

Yep, this is  the same box but the handle is different and I decorated the whole front.  Now I hope you will give this a try!  It was fun to make and I think the ladies getting them will be very happy!  If you have any questions, just shoot me an email or comment on this post and I will get back to you asap!!
 

 

How to use Borderabilities

I have been wanting to show you this for awhile and finally had the time to take some pictures.  I use Spellbinders™ Borderabilities™ so much in my paper crafting.  They really replace border punches for me because they don't take up much space and they are so detailed and beautiful.  For this card, I used the In Spades Pendants and In Spades Borderabilities.

I used the center piece from the In Spades Pendants as an accent behind the Cattail Ribbon Slide image from DRS Designs.  I stamped the image using the Faux Craft Ink technique.  Just ink your stamp in Versamark and then ink it again using your dye ink pad and then stamp.  I then applied some clear embossing powder that I mixed with red glitter and heat set.  I cut out the ribbon slides, attached them to the In Spades centers and added the pearl brads.  

Here is what the In Spades Borderabilities™ look like.

For the border, I cut the brown cardstock to the size I wanted, then using some repositionable tape attached the border die (with only one cutting edge)  right where I needed it to be.  Like this:

 

I then prepared the Wizard sandwich:  White Master Mat, Magnetic Spacer Plate, Die cut side up, cardstock, White Master Mat.

After cutting and embossing, the cardstock will look like this:

 

For my pictures, I used some yellow cardstock so it would show up.  I think you will find Borderabilities™ to be an excellent value and love the wonderful look they will give all your projects.  Hopefully I have helped you learn how to use and love these!

SPELLBINDERS™ SURPRISE PARTY - - Day Two!

 

The contest on this blog has now ended, but check the list below for several more chances to win. Have a great time and good luck!

SPELLBINDERS™ SURPRISE PARTY!!

January 7- 13, 2010

Commenting on this post is welcome but does NOT enter you into the contest.  This contest is sponsored by Spellbinders™ Paper Arts.  Directions on how to enter are in the Blog Post and Official Rules at http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/spellbinders-suprise-partyspellbinders-suprise-party/.   If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Welcome to the second day of the Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!!

Spellbinders™ Paper Arts is hosting Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!!  We will introduce 25 new Die Templates and 2 Impressabilities™ templates!  These sneak peeks are part of the collection that will be released at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show on January 24, 2010.  We want to invite YOU, our greatest fans, to join the party from January 7-14, 2010! See the newest Spellbinders™ products, visit our Designers’ Blogs, and win fabulous Spellbinders™ prizes! 

Today you have the opportunity to win a Spellbinders™ prize package (including all three Spellbinders™ Die Templates revealed today) through the contest entry email address listed below.  Be sure to visit the other Designers’ Blogs participating today, and enter from those blogs for additional chances to win!  You may enter once from each Blog!  Each Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!! blog post is open to contest entries for 48 hours.  You have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time January 10, 2010 to enter this contest through my blog.  Be sure to read the rules at http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/spellbinders-suprise-partyspellbinders-suprise-party/ before entering so that your entry will be valid!

To see previous  Spellbinders ™ Surprise Party!! posts or to go to any of the future blog posts, feel free to visit the following:

January 7

Debbie Olson

Julie Overby

Lesa Rapp

January 8

Becca Feeken

Janine Blackwelder

Debbie Seyer - You are Here!

January 9

Heidi Blankenship

Karen Taylor

Cathy Chlebana/Beth Pingry

January 10

Linda Duke

Jennifer Davis

Terre Fry

January 11

Keri Lee Sereika

Kazan Clark

Mary Pfaff

January 12

Karen Hunsaker

Christy Farneth Kerr

Holly Simoni

January 13

Sherry Cheever

Kimberly Crawford

Sharon Johnson

After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders™ Paper Arts will randomly pick one winner from each Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!!  blog event as stated in the rules at http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/spellbinders-suprise-partyspellbinders-suprise-party/.  Winner will be contacted by email within 24 hours of the contest deadline.  The winner will have 72 hours to reply to that email to claim prize.  If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be drawn for said prize. 

Entrants visiting all 21 Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!! events and correctly enter the drawing on each Blog will automatically be entered into the SPELLBINDERS™ SURPRISE PARTY!! GRAND PRIZE give away with a retail value of over $350.00.  The GRAND PRIZE will be announced on January 24, 2010 on the Spellbinders Blog and consists of super secret products being released at the Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show.  You WILL be excited!!

I’m thrilled to share my Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!!  project with you...

 

For this project, I started with a cute little metal planter I found in the dollar section of our local Target.  I cut and fitted a piece of Styrofoam inside the planter.  To cover this Styrofoam, I used Flower Soft.  Using the Flower Soft glue, I covered the Styrofoam completely.

Using an old watercolor brush, I spread the glue all around the Styrofoam.  After that I mixed together two colors of Flower Soft – Pale Green & Shamrock Green- to achieve the look of “grass” that I wanted.  Be sure to fluff the Flower Soft after it comes out of the jars and mix the two colors together on a paper plate.

Apply the Flower Soft all over the Styrofoam , patting it into place.  Now set this aside to dry. 

Now its time to show you my die templates!  Exciting!!  My die templates are called S4-263 Easter Fun.  For my project, you will need to first cut/emboss all the die templates out of white cardstock.  Here is how they look.

The sandwich to use in your Wizard™ for these cute die templates is:

 Master Mat

Magnetic Spacer Plate

Dies (cut side up)

Cardstock

Master Mat

Feed this sandwich thru the Wizard™, cutting the white cardstock.  Now its time to emboss the detail into your white cardstock.

 The sandwich you will use to emboss these die templates is:

Master Mat

Dies with cardstock in them

Tan Embossing Mat

Master Mat

Feed this sandwich thru your Wizard™ and leave the cardstock in the dies.  Now its time to stencil!

Here are the supplies I used to stencil my S4-263 Easter Fun die templates.

Using Colorbox Chalk Ink Queues and cotton swabs, I stenciled each die cut.

 

Just push the cotton swab into the ink pad and swirl it over the cardstock.  It’s not hard and don’t worry about getting ink on your die templates, clean up is so easy!

Here is what the die templates look like after stenciling:

 

Remove the cardstock from the die templates and its time for clean-up.  You will need some easy to find supplies for this part!  I just use baby wipes to clean up when I finished.  That way I can clean the die templates, my hands and my work surface. 

 

Now to get these stenciled die cuts ready to attach to your planter.  You will need toothpicks, Glue Dots and a Copic Marker to match the green in the Flower Soft.  I used YG17 – Grass Green.

Color the toothpick using the Copic Marker, cut the tooth pick in half and attach to the die cut using a Glue Dot.

 

Do this for each die cut in your planter.  I used 4 eggs, 2 chicks, 1 Easter bunny, 2 baskets and 8 flowers. 

To complete the planter centerpiece you will need the following supplies: 

• Wire edged ribbon
• S4-192 Blossom Nestabilities® #4 (with #1 being the smallest)
• S4-205 Eyelets Pendants
• Skewer

Cut/emboss the S4-205 Eyelets Pendants out of celery cardstock.  Stamp the Happy Easter sentiment using apricot ink onto white cardstock and cut/emboss using the S4-192 Blossom Nestabilities®-#4 die template (with #1 being the smallest)   Adhere these together and using a Glue Dot, attach to a larger skewer.  To attach the bow to your project, just use a Glue Dot to anchor it onto the skewer right underneath your sentiment.  Now you have a wonderful centerpiece for your special Easter Dinner. 

 

Easter Fun

S4-263

Bunny  2 3/16 x 2”

Basket  2 x 1 13/16”

Egg  1 7/16 x 1 7/16”

Chick   1 1/2 x 1 1/8”

Flower   13/16 x 13/16”

MSRP - $19.99

Limited Edition - available until 5/30/2010

Supplies Used:

• Stamps:  Happy Easter Sentiment - DRS Designs
• Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink Queue - Clearsnap
• Cardstock:  Certainly Celery - Stampin' Up!; Pure Luxury Pure White 120 lb Cardstock - Gina K. Designs
• Accessories:  Pale Green & Shamrock Green Flower Soft & Flower Soft Glue, Metal Planter, Styrofoam, toothpicks, skewer, wired edge ribbon, glue dots, Copic Marker
  

For my second project, I made a wall hanging.

 

Using Core’dinations Chocolate Box cardstock, I cut/embossed the S4-263 Easter Fun die templates.  Once I removed them from the dies, I sanded to reveal the detail.  I will have a tutorial on how I made the project on my blog January 24 during CHA, so be sure to check back to see how it’s done!

 

RULES

For the complete Spellbinders™ Surprise Party!! rules go to http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/blog/spellbinders-suprise-partyspellbinders-suprise-party/ .

TO ENTER CONTEST:

1)  Send your email entry to:  REVEAL6@spellbinders.us (this email link no longer works since this part of the contest is now over)

 2)  Type the name of the die being revealed on my blog in the “subject” line of the email.

3)  Click send!

If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an e-mail of inquiry to:  ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us

Thank you for visiting my blog and good luck!!

Foil Embossing Tutorial

Hello!  Hope you are all having a great weekend.  If you are here that must mean you have all your shopping done and you are enjoying just surfing the web checking stuff out, right?  Ha Ha!!   Of course, that is what I am doing.  NOT!  I am wrapping and working on Christmas cards that haven't been mailed yet. 

So since you are probably surfing the web trying to reduce your stress, I have put together a little tutorial to help you!!  This is a small tutorial I put together to show how I did the Foil Embossing Technique on THIS card.

You will need the following supplies:

Foil - for this example I used some Heavy Duty Reynolds Aluminum foil. 

Impressabilities™ - Snowflakes(I2-1003) used here

Nestabilities™ - Labels 4 Die Template (S4-190) used here

Paper, stamps, ink and ribbon

Stamp the main image you will be using onto white/ivory cardstock and cut/emboss using Labels 4 die template.  Here is how I position my die so that I get the sentiment perfectly in the center.

I position my Label 4 die template, cut side down onto the cardstock, positioning it where I want.  I hold it into place using some repostionable adhesive.  I cut/emboss it using The Wizard™ .  The sandwich for this is:  White Master Mat, Magnetic Spacer plate, Die template, cardstock, White Master Mat.

Using a piece of 120 lb cardstock or light weight chipboard (like a cereal box), cover the cardstock with some type of adhesive.  I have used spray adhesive in the past but today I used a glue stick.

Place your piece of foil down onto the cardstock and use the bone folder to smooth it out.  If your foil is not heavy duty, be careful!  It will rip easily!!

Using the next bigger Labels 4 die template, cut the foil-covered cardstock.  Leave this in the die and place it on top of the Snowflake Impressabilities™.  Now run this thru your machine to emboss.  If you are using the Wizard™, the sandwich is:

White Master Mat

Impressabilities™

Die with cardstock in it (cut side up)

Tan Embossing Mat

White Master Mat

See here is my sandwich with the embossing mat.  Now run this thru your machine.

  

This is what your die cut will look like.  Carefully remove it from the Impressabilities™ and pop the foil covered cardstock out of the die.

Here is my finished project!

 

The sentiment is from DRS Designs called Holiday Wish to Bring You Cheer (G944) and the patterned paper is from Basic Grey - Figgy Pudding Collection.  I think this gives a really unique look.   Plus the foil embossing gives a simple card that extra touch of elegance.  

Well, now that you are totally de-stressed, get out there and finish up that shopping!  Hope you have a great weekend!

Petite Ovals vs. Classic Ovals?

I have received alot of questions about the difference between Spellbinders™ Nestabilities™ -  Petite Ovals and Classic Ovals.

Here is a picture of them side by side:

On the left is the Classic & Scalloped Ovals Lg.  On the right is the Classic and Scalloped Petite Ovals Lg.  Its easy to see the difference when they are side by side.  As you can see the Classic & Scalloped Ovals Lg. are more of a rounded oval.  The Classic and scalloped Petite Ovals Lg. are long and skinny. 

Hope this answered your question about the Classic Ovals and the Petite Ovals!

Stay tuned for a tutorial on Foil Embossing!