Pre-CHA Sneak Peek #10!!

EDIT: "Thanks to everyone who entered the Spellbinders' 5th Anniversary Party to win my Die Template release. You can no longer enter to win my release. Please check out the links below to enter the contest on other blogs. Check Spellbinders Blog for the announcement of Daily Winners. Grand prize winner will be announced on January 30th."

It’s Spellbinders’ 5th birthday, and I am sure many of you know that they are celebrating by sharing LOTS and LOTS of new dies via Sneak Peeks on the blogs of various designers (see the complete blog roll on the sidebar to the right). And can you say PRIZES??? Every day there is an opportunity to win the dies that are been showcased PLUS all the dies that have been showcased up to that point! Each day an additional die is added to the daily give-away list for a grand total of 16 dies on the 16th day of reveals! Who DOESN’T love FREE????

You still have until 1/14 until 11:59 CST to visit and enter Jeni Calkins' release at Mixed Media Madness.

Commenting on this post is welcome but does not enter you into the contest. This contest is sponsored directly by Spellbinders Paper Arts. Please read the post to find directions for entering the contest. If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us.

For those of you who have been religiously following our peeks (and for those who haven’t!), here is a list of the remaining peeks. Be sure to check them ALL out!!

Jan. 15 Beth Pingry - Cookies for Breakfast
Jan. 16 Keri Lee Sereika - Pink Lemonade
Jan. 17 Sally Lynn MacDonald - Inky Heart
Jan. 18 Donya Schroeder - Donya Schroeder
Jan. 19 Linda Duke - Linda's Works of Heart
Jan. 20 Trudee Sauer - Follow Your Bliss

Winners will be announced on Spellbinders Blog

When I was sent the image below and told that it was the die set that I was going to feature here on my blog, I was STOKED out of my MIND!! These little flowers are the dang cutest things EVER!! I see SOOOO many possibilities with them!! Cards, layouts, borders, altered items . . . the images in my head are endless!!



DIE NAME: Flower Bouquet Miniabilities
DIE SKU # S4-200
MSRP $19.99

How stinkin’ cute are these??? I see everything from fun and whimsical to classy and elegant with these little flowers! They are all approximately 1" to 1.25" wide and tall (the little flower with the heart in the middle is the only one that is out of proportion . . . it is about 1" tall and 1.25" wide).

Now, it’s time to play!! I made three different projects here. The first is a little more on the “over-the-edge” side, while the other two are quite simple. I wanted to be able to showcase different ways you could use these flowers with reverse stenciling, regular stenciling, and just plain ol’ cuttin’ and embossin’!





With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I thought making a framed wreath in a heart shape would be fun! I started by selecting the three dies from the set of 8 to use as elements in the wreath.









First, I cut/embossed all of the pink and white flowers. I used a technique known as “reverse stenciling.” Basically, you need to ink up the die BEFORE you run it through the Wizard. That way, all of the ink on the die will transfer to your finished image . . .



Don’t forget that you need to both CUT and EMBOSS the die in order for this technique to have it’s full effect, so each flower will need to run through the Wizard twice (I know, I know, that’s a lot of cutting/embossing, but well worth the effort!)

For reverse stenciling, pigment or chalk inks work best. You basically are going to need to use an ink with a slow drying time. This will allow you the time you need to cut and emboss while the ink is still wet so that it will transfer to the paper. Spot (meaning small) inks work the best, but you can use full-sized ink pads (a little harder to maneuver, but not too difficult). Another way is to use an ink refill and squeeze some of the ink onto a sponge and dab the die (as I did here with the silver ink).

Next, I did the same reverse stenciling technique with the little white and silver flowers (the ones with the heart in the middle). This will take a little patience and some time, but you will be happy you did it.





The black and silver flower square is done a little bit differently. I cut/embossed the image like usual. Before disengaging the cardstock from the die, however, I used a silver gel pen to trace the holes in the die onto the cardstock. A totally different look using the same little dies. I love it!!




I then cut out the second largest heart from the Spellbinders Classic Heart die set. This is an important element, as it serves as a base for your wreath and allows you to make a true heart shape (mine would have been VERY wonky if I had not had this!). If you don’t have the heart dies (and you DO need them!), any heart shape that you cut out will work just fine. Then, arrange your little flowers around the edge of the heart to form the wreath. I started with the little white/silver flowers, then added the black/silver flowers.


It is important at this point to use some glue dots or other adhesive to stick the black flowers to the white flowers on the points where they make contact. After doing so, transfer the flowers to the cardstock base underneath the entire wreath (in this case, the Berry Red cardstock, cut into a 10" x 10" square). I literally used a spatula to move the dies over. A few of them didn’t quite make it, but I had enough of the wreath intact to be able to replace them where they belonged once the wreath had been moved over. Center the wreath on the base cardstock and adhere (you will basically have to slide little glue dots or some other adhesive under the flowers here and there to hold them in place). Don’t worry too much about adhering each and every flower . . . when you place the white/pink flowers down with pop-up glue dots, they will help to hold the rest of the wreath in place.

At this point, you will be ready to add the white/pink flowers. I used pop-up glue dots to give them added dimension. I then added some rhinestones to the center of the flowers for some added “pop.”

The “forever” sentiment was typed up on my computer and printed out. (I used the third smallest Classic Heart die template and cut the sentiment out once it hat been printed). Just place the sentiment in the middle of your wreath and you are NEARLY done!

The last step on this wreath was just a little finishing touch . . . I intertwined some silver cord amongst the flowers . . . I think it adds just the right amount of sparkle, don’t you? This close-up shows the details a little more closely!

Supplies

Tools/die templates: Spellbinders Wizard, Spellbinders Flower Bouquet Miniabilities (S4-200 – MSRP $19.99), and Classic Heart (S4-136)
Ink: Colorbox Warm Red Chalk Ink, Encore Silver and silver gel pen
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, and WorldWin DoubleMates Berry Red
Accessories: 10" x 10" Square Frame, Pop-Up Glue Dots, silver cord, flat-backed rhinestones, CK Wistful font, sponge

This next project was easy and fun! (My teenage daughter fell in love with these!) I also am proud to announce that this is a totally GREEN project!! I used soda pop cans as the medium for the cut/embossed flowers. I also used a cereal box for “chipboard” to back the largest flowers on which I adhered the little Flower Bouquet Miniabilities. Cute and environmentally friendly! Cool beans!!

The Wizard cuts through soda pop cans like they were buttah!! No problem at all! And the embossing detail really jumps right out at you!

Supplies

Tools/die templates: Spellbinders Wizard, Spellbinders Flower Bouquet Miniabilities (S4-200 – MSRP $19.99), and Shapeabilites Nested Flowers (S4-159)
Paper: Brushed Gold and Bronze Cardstock (manufacturer unknown) and WorldWin Elan Metallics Obsidian cardstock
Accessories: Soda pop can, cereal box, jumbo paper clips, gold and silver ribbon (manufacturer unknown), Pop-Up Glue Dots, ZipDry by Beacon

For my last project, I made a card I have affectionately been referring to as the “Mod Squad” card! (I swear I think Peggy Lipton had a pair of pants that inspired this baby!) I used a sponge to stencil the flower petals before I removed them from the die. The background paper was created by placing the die, with the flat side down, on the paper and sponging around all the edges . . . inside and out! Yet another fun way to create a totally different look!

Supplies

Tools/die templates: Spellbinders Wizard, Spellbinders Flower Bouquet Miniabilities (S4-200 – MSRP $19.99), Labels One (S4-163), and Classic Scalloped Circles Small (S4-125)
Ink: Hunter Green, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, WorldWin Treasures Sherwood Green and Prism Prismatics Majestic Purple Dark and Majestic Purple Medium
Accessories: black gingham ribbon, hardware, ¼" and ½"circle punches, Pop-Up Glue Dots

One of my favorite things about Spellbinders dies is that they are universal . . . which means you can use them with ANY die cut machine and still get professional-looking projects. Here are a few links to some tutorials that will help you see not only how to use the dies in the Wizard, but other machines as well: Check out this link on Spellbinders’ site:

Wizard Tutorials

Now, for all the details on the BIG CONTEST!

Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration

Sneak Peek Party Drawing Information
Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each of the 16 Spellbinders Sneak Peek Blog reveals as stated in the “Rules”. This name will be drawn to receive the die being revealed and any other dies listed as a part of said blog give-away. These entries must follow all rules stated below to be valid for the drawing.

Entrants visiting all 16 Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peeks Blog reveals and correctly entering their information into the 16 separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of all 28 NEW RELEASE dies debuting at the Winter Craft and Hobby Association Show in Anaheim, California, on January 25-28, 2009!

Rules

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek die give away must adhere to all of the following rules:

1. Participant must click on the provided link on Reveal blog to enter each individual drawing on sneak peeks between January 5 and January 20, 2009.
2. Participant must type in the subject line the name of the die being revealed.
3. Participant must send their entry for this blog before 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time on January 15, 2009.
4. Participant is only allowed to enter each of the 16 Spellbinders sneak peek blog give away drawings one time per sneak peek. Participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry, no exceptions. Please consider whether you will have access to the same e-mail address from January 5th through the 20th and plan accordingly.
5. Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.
Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Spellbinders 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Sneak Peek Grand Prize drawing, must enter the drawing from all of the 16 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:
*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.
*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.
*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communications(close up this paragraph)other than to contact the winner.
*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage SpellbindersPaperArts.com and sign up SpellbindersPaperArts.com for their newsletter.

(If you use an e-mail client that does not work with this pop-up box, you may copy and paste this address to send your entry to: ContestDay10@spellbinders.us)

For questions regarding the contest, please send an e-mail to: ContestQuestions@spellbinders.us

For more Spellbinders product release information go to www.SpellbindersPaperArts.Com

Thanks for stopping by to visit me today! I had SOOO much fun creating these projects with the darling Flower Bouquet Miniabilities (S4-200) die templates! Just one more set of dies to add to your wish list, right???

Spellbinders Pre-CHA Sneak Peek #3!!

Let the party continue!! I am SOOOO excited to be sharing one of the new Spellbinders die sets coming your way at Summer CHA!! (Don’t forget to check out the “official rules” for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek Party Drawing – Wow! That’s a mouthful!! – at the end of this post!! Entering the drawing will make you eligible for the GRAND PRIZE – a new raspberry Wizard and $500 in Spellbinders dies – Hooray!)

The die set I am sharing with you is called “Nesting Birds” (S4 160), and has a suggested retail price of $19.99. As you know, birds are “oh-so-HOT” right now . . . and you KNOW we can always count on Spellbinders to be on the CUTTING edge!! (Sometimes I am too, too PUNNY!!) The smallest bird is 2” long from beak to tail and 1” tall; the middle bird is 3 1/8” long by 1 ¾” tall; and the “mama” bird is 5 ¼” x 2 ¾”.

I had a difficult time trying to decide WHAT kind of project to share with you with these fun dies, so I ended up making THREE different projects to give you the “full effect” of what possibilities are in store with this die set.

First, I made this gatefold wedding card. I wanted to give the bird a more “dove-like” appearance, so I cut the medium-sized bird from white sugar-coated cardstock by Doodlebug. It really isn’t covered in sugar, it’s just very sparkly! I then used an embossing folder to give the bird some swirls. I used some pink pearl paper by Sparkraft to add some iridescent wings (I actually cut off the bird's little beak to make this piece appear more like a wing.)



To create the “gates” for the fold, I used the largest of Spellbinders’ Mega Long Scalloped Rectangle Nestabilities. With a folded piece of cardstock (Perfect Plum), I ran the die through my Wizard, making sure to leave the folded edge slightly inside the die so it would not cut and would remain folded. I then “joined” the two halves of the card together with a 6” wide by 5 ¾” high piece of Pale Plum cardstock.

Next, I created a top layer for each side of the “gate” using a 2 5/8” x 5 7/8” piece of Pale Plum cardstock. I then stamped an image (using Perfect Plum ink) from the fun “Simply Stated” stamp set by Fancy Pants. The sentiment, which I created on my computer using the CK Bella font, was mounted on small classic and scalloped oval Nestabilities. I then added some 3/8” white organza ribbon and silver cord as a finishing touch.




Project #2 was created to show you what a full “nest” of birds looks like. These quick and easy “ornaments” would be a fun addition to any Christmas tree OR as a package topper for a Christmas package or wedding gift! I made all of the ornaments “two-sided”, so that if you DO decide to hang them on a tree, they will look lovely at ANY angle!









Bird #1
Paper: Karen Foster “Ornamentation” and “Season Stripes” designer paper; Prism Prismatics Sage Dark; silver reflective paper (unknown)
Accessories: Spellbinders S3 138 Ribbon & Bells die; lt. 7/8” green apple silk ribbon by Creative Impressions; Glue Dots; Silver Ice Stickles by Ranger








Bird #2
Paper: Prism Prismatics Blush Red Dark; Sparkraft Circles Silver Silver and Red Stars; silver reflective paper (unknown)
Accessories: Spellbinders S3 138 Ribbon & Bells die; Silver Encore ink; Silver Tinsel embossing powder by Close to My Heart; ¼” silver metallic ribbon (unknown)










Bird #3
Paper: Doodlebug Beetle Black sugar-coated cardstock; Curious Iridescents Cyrogen White by Arjo Wiggins; silver reflective paper (unknown)
Accessories: Spellbinders S3 138 Ribbon & Bells die; Silver Encore ink; Simply Stated stamps by Fancy Pants; 3/8” organza ribbon by Offray







And last, but not least, I wanted to showcase that Spellbinders dies are NOT just for paper!! I created these fun and funky earrings using some white Polyshrink Shrink Plastic by Lucky Squirrel. I colored them with an assortment of red and yellow markers by Copic, punched a 1/8” hole in the top, then heat set them with my heat embossing tool (be sure to use a pair of craft tweezers or the tip of a pen or pencil to hold it in place so you don’t blow it away while it is shrinking!). I then sealed the color with some “Make It Pearl” Paint by Krylon. I now just have to fight my 14 year old daughter for these, as she seems to think she is going to claim them as her own!!

Need diecut help? Here is a link to some awesome tutorials on YouTube that show you how to use Spellbinders dies in a variety of diecut machines.

Check out the link on the sidebar at the right for a complete schedule of blog “sneak peeks” continuing through July 13. (And to go back and check out the sneaks by Debbie Olsen and Jennifer Ellefson done on June 30 and July 1.)

Please leave your comments on this post and tell me what you think about this fun new die set.

Questions about the contest? E-mail kim@spellbinders.us for “official” clarifications. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!

Spellbinders Birthday Celebration
Sneak Peek Party Drawing Information

Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each of the 14 Spellbinders Sneak Peek Blog reveals as stated in the “Rules”.

This name will be drawn to receive the die being revealed on said blog. These entries must follow all rules stated below to be valid for the drawing.

Entrants visiting all 14 Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peeks Blog reveals and correctly entering their information into the 14 separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a new RASPBERRY WIZARD and a $500 retail value die package!

Rules

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek die give away must adhere to all of the following rules:

1) Participant must click on the provided drawing link on blog to enter each individual drawing on sneak peeks between June 30 and July 13.

2) Participant must type in the subject line the name of the die or dies being revealed.

3) Participant must send their entry for this blog before 12:00 midnight Central Standard Time on July 3.

4) Participant is only allowed to enter each of the 14 Spellbinders sneak peek blog give away drawings one time per sneak peek. Participant must use the same email address daily to be considered for grand prize entry.

5) Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawing.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Spellbinders Birthday Celebration Sneak Peek Grand Prize drawing, must enter the drawing from all of the 14 blog reveals and follow all the above rules.

Please note:
*Spellbinders will only use email information to contact the winner.
*Spellbinders will not share this email address with any other parties.
*Spellbinders will not use this email information for advertisements or communication other than to contact the winner.
*If you wish to be included in further communications from Spellbinders, please go to their homepage and sign up: www.spellbinders.us

The contest to win the Bird dies has now officially ended. Be sure to check the links at the right for more chances to win other fun, new dies!!

Thanks for stopping by!!