Here’s a photo of the cute little make and take that I put together for the event. What I love about this is that believe it or not, this is actually a hybrid card. The butterfly is a digital stamp (or brush) created by Obsidian Dawn. I printed the image onto Neenah paper using a laserjet printer. (Inkjet will bleed when used with Copics, but laser printers work better than almost any other ink. It’s awesome! To create the set of cards, I just chose three markers in the same color value and blended them into the wings. Such a fun simple card. To complete it, I colored a piece of white ribbon to coordinate with each colored butterfly. With copic markers, there’s no need to worry about finding the right color, just buy white ribbon and you’re good to go!

July 9 – July 22, 2009

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. If you have any questions, please e-mail ContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us.

Welcome to the 13th day of Spellbinders CHA Sneak Peek Blog Frenzy!

Spellbinders is revealing 17 new die templates to be released at the Craft and Hobby Trade Show on July 28, 2009, with some of their greatest fans…YOU!  From July 9 – 22, 2009, you will have the opportunity to be a part of these world wide sneak peeks through visiting the Spellbinders designer blogs listed below and trying your luck at winning spectacular die templates!  You will have a chance to win the die I’m introducing AND the dies previously revealed in this CHA Blog Frenzy by entering the contest at the end of this post.  This is a progressive prize, each day the daily prize grows!  Be sure to read all the rules before entering! You still have until July 22nd, 11:59 pm EST to enter Becca Feeken’s blog contest at: http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/ and until July 23rd, 11:59 pm EST to enter mine.

To see previous reveals, or to go to any of the blogs of future reveals, feel free to visit the following:

7/9    Debbie Olson – http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/

7/10    Michelle Wooderson –  http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/

7/11    Karen Hunsaker – http://www.karenskreativekreations.blogspot.com/

7//12    Kazan Clark – http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/

7/13    Linda Duke – http://www.lindaduke.typepad.com/

7/14    Heidi Blankenship – http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/

7/15    Kimberly Crawford – http://www.kimberly-crawford.blogspot.com/

7/16    Julie Overby – http://joverby.blogspot.com/

7/17    Sherry Cheever -  http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

7/18    Debbie Seyer – http://www.debbieseyer.com/

7/19    Lesa Rapp –   http://paperpossibilities.blogspot.com/

7/20    Becca Feeken – http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/

7/21    Jennifer Davis – http://www.preservationarts.com/

7/22    Keri Lee Sereika -  http://pinklemonade.typepad.com/my_weblog/

After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each Blog Frenzy reveal as stated in the “Rules”. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that e-mail to claim the prize.  If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize.   Winner will receive the new die templates being revealed on the specific daily blog post they are entering.

Entrants visiting all 14 Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy Reveals and correctly entering their information into the separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of the CHA Summer 2009 die templates and Impressabilities releases, 29 products, with a retail value of $561.71.

I am so excited to share the projects that I’ve created here for you today. I love Christmas, even in the middle of the summer! These dies are fantastic for both scrapbook pages and those Christmas cards we’re already planning to make.

The scrapbook page I created to share features lots of distressing. I’ve put together a video to take you through the creation of this page. Watch and enjoy!

Spellbinders Supplies:

S7-015 Grand 12″ Holiday Lights Border

S4-225 Holiday Cheer

S4-224 Snowflake Borderabilities Petite

Other Supplies: Digital Frame: Rhonna Farrer/House of 3; 3D Foam Squares: 3L; Chalk Ink: Clearsnap; Distress Ink: Ranger; Cardstock: Bazzill; Versamark Ink: Tsukineko; Clear Embossing Powder: Stampendous; White Embossing Powder: Mark Industries; Ribbon: Creative Impressions; Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Designs; Pen: Creative Memories; Metal Charms: Unknown.

The second project I put together is a really exciting one that I think my kids are going to love. This is a fantastic low-cost gift idea for Christmas and I just love the way it turned out. I used an old frame, plastic baseball card pockets and several Spellbinders dies to put this together. This was also a great “use your stash” project. I used lots of older stickers and products that might have otherwise gone to waste. And can I just say how much I love the new Labels 8? It’s perfect!

Spellbinders Supplies

S4-225 Holiday Cheer

S7-015 Grand 12″ Holiday Lights Border

S5-019 Labels Eight

S4-234 Ribbon Tag Trio 2
S4-207 Kaleidoscope Pendant
I2-1003 Impressabilities Snowflake
S4-092 Stars 5
S3-004 Symbology
S4-160 Nested Birds
S4-210 Lattice Pendant
F-001 Red Foil
S4-114 Standard Circles, Large
S4-014 Timeless Heritage
S3-139 Holly & Lights
S4-085 Snowflake Wonder
Snowmen

Spirellabilities Petals
Spirellabilities Rounded Petals

Other Supplies: Copic Markers: Copic; 3D Foam Squares Adhesives: 3L; Mini Glue Dots; Red Ink: Clearsnap; Teal Cardstock: The Paper Company; Stamps: Hero Arts; Ribbon, brads, pearls: Creative Impressions; Paper, Dew Drops: Robin’s Nest; Felt: CPE; Candy Cane Digital Kit: Crystal Wilkerson; Acrylic Paint; Flocking Powder: Doodlebug Designs; White Cardstock: Neenah; Stencil Paste: Dreamweaver; Glitter: Martha Stewart; Turquoise Foil: Amaco; Patterned Paper: Colorbok; Baseball Card Holders; Xyron Machine; Cereal Boxes

Here are the images of the two awesome dies that I’ve been working with for this sneak peek. They are: S4-225 Holiday Cheer (MSRP $19.99) and S7-015 Grand 12″ Holiday Lights Border (MSRP $24.99).

Rules

Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders CHA  Blog Frenzy give-away must adhere to all of the following rules. We are happy to welcome US and international blog guests for this Frenzy.

To enter each drawing on sneak peeks between July 9 and July 22, visit the reveal blog and click on the contest link to reveal an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed. Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours. Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and 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 July 9th  through July 22nd  and plan accordingly.

Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the CHA Blog Frenzy Grand Prize must enter all 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 communications

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 for their newsletter.

Spellbinders CHA Blog Frenzy drawing

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

(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:  ContestDay13@spellbinders.us

For more Spellbinders new product release information go to:   http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/new

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

Thanks for stopping in today and good luck!

Jen

In recent years, font developers have been creating more and more Open Type Fonts, denoted with “OTF” at the end. This font type is an extension of the True Type format and will also work with both Windows and Mac, but here’s something that many font users don’t know… Open Type Fonts have many more capabilities than True Type Fonts. Many Open Type faces come with options called Stylistic/Contextual alternatives, meaning that you can change the way a certain letter looks in different situations. I’ve put together the example on the right using the font Reminga. (By the way, there are lots of free Open Type fonts out there, check out this list for a few ideas).

In the first example, you can see that I’ve turned on the Stylistic Alternatives option, and the “s” becomes an old-fashioned one, giving the whole phrase a new look. To do this in Photoshop, I opened my Type dialog and checked out the menu options. Not all Open Type fonts have all options. In fact, many don’t even take advantage of the feature at all.

With contextual alternatives you can really change the look of certain letters, depending on the situation or where they are in your text or title. So let’s say I want to create a piece of word art for a title on a scrapbook page or a sentiment for a card. I can do several different options using different alternatives.

In the last example below, I’ve created one title with the default letters in the high-end font Affair, a second with stylistic alternatives, and the third with contextual alternatives. The “s” changes with each selection, and the “l” changes with the contextual alternatives.

Next time you’re playing with fonts, check out the Open Type fonts you have on your computer. You might be delighted at the fun titles you can create and print by changing up the type face with Open Type features. What I’ve shown you here is just the tip of the iceberg. There are thousands of Open Type fonts out there with many fun alternative letters. Have fun creating!

I hope you’ll forgive me for bringing Halloween into your lives a bit early this year. For this layout, I printed the journaling straight onto the round paper. I used my wide format printer for that, taped the patterned circle paper onto another 12×12 sheet of paper and ran it through. This is a great way to add journaling to shaped items or any patterned paper.

I’d like to note that when using large border dies from any company, the Grand Cut Mat Kit is really nice to have, but it’s not necessary! Early next week, check back here soon for a video containing instructions on using the 12″ borders with your regular sized plates.

Supplies

Patterned Paper: Robin’s Nest, Crate Paper; Letter stickers: Me and My Big Ideas; Pumpkin Embellishment, bracket sticker: Crafty Secrets; 12″ Sticker: Cosmo Cricket; Dew Drops: Robin’s Nest; Glue Dots; Epoxy Stickers, rub ons: Crate Paper; Classic Lace Border Die, Labels One, Assorted Leaves: Spellbinders;

When I heard about Jessica Sprague‘s free class in photo editing, I decided to follow along. While I haven’t learned vast amounts of new information, her methods are solid, and she definitely sparks creativity in others.

So Assignment 1 is here, adding a frame and word art to a photo. The first photo is just the class assignment, since I’m so busy with house and projects, the second is a quick version I did on my own.

Here’s to a great Wednesday!

Click the image to visit Clever Some Day and download the free dingbat font.

This free font from Clever Some Day is so cool, and I can just imagine the uses for this with hybrid crafting. Just type one of these out in a word processor or photoshop, resize as desired, give it a color (or leave it black!) and print. Then match up with a Nestability and cut and emboss! So cute!

While it is made for electronic cutters, I think it would work fabulously to decorate traditional die cuts in a different way. I plan on giving it a try very soon. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I am so thrilled to have been a part of the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy. I’ve been overwhelmed by the kind comments several of you have made. I’m so glad that many of you appreciated the tutorial. I can’t wait to make more for you.

As promised, I’ve put together a digital kit containing the embellished shapes from my scrapbook page as well as five free digital papers. For tips on printing out digital paper and using it in your papercrafting, check this post from a few weeks ago.

I put together another card with the digital files that I created for the layout. I love how quick and easy the hybrid thing is!

Supplies

S4-207 Kaleidescope Pendant, S4-216 Kaleidescope Borderabilities, S4-161 Labels One: Spellbinders; Renew Digital Kit (download below); Everyday Photo Paper: HP; Cardstock: The Paper Company; Brad: Creative Imaginations; Ribbon: Unknown; 3D Adhesive Squares: 3L

Here’s the zip file containing the five papers, three kaleidoscope printables, plus a bonus of three Labels 1 shapes. All of the pendant die templates are available to order starting today directly from Spellbinders. Those of you who find this kit via digi-free or other freebie service, please keep in mind that the shapes are designed to specifically work with the Spellbinders dies listed. They are not meant to stand alone and to use them as such is to violate my terms of use.

If for some reason the download window does not automatically pop up when you click on the above preview, right click the image and select “save as” to download the file.

Comments are greatly appreciated on my freebie kits! Have a great day!

Jen

Spellbinders Introduces:
Shapeabilities Pendants Blog Frenzy
June 22 through June 29th, available for ordering June 30, 2009

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. If you have any questions, please e-mail PenContestQuestions@Spellbinders.us.

Welcome to the 8th (and last!) day of Spellbinders Pendants Blog Frenzy!

Spellbinders is celebrating the introduction of Pendants die templates, a new die line that will inspire your creative mind.  You have the opportunity to win the Pendant and Borderabilities dies I’m introducing today by entering the contest at the end of this post.  Be sure to read all the rules before entering! You still have until June 29th, 11:59 pm EST to enter Linda Duke’s blog contest at: http://www.lindaduke.typepad.com and until July 1st, 8:30 am EST to enter mine.

Edit: due to issues with my blog and Internet Explorer, the contest deadline for Day 8 has been extended until July 1st, 8:30am EST. I am very sorry for the inconvenience this issue caused. I believe the problem is now fixed. Thanks for your patience!

To see previous reveals, feel free to visit the following:

June 22, 2009 -  Beccca Feeken     http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/

June 23, 2009  – Debbie Olson     http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/

June 24, 2009  – Michelle Wooderson     http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/

June 25, 3009  – Keri Lee Sereika    http://pinklemonade.typepad.com/my_weblog/

June 26, 2009 –– Sherry Cheever     http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

June 27, 2009  – Heidi Blankenship     http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/

June 28, 2009 -– Linda Duke     http://www.lindaduke.typepad.com/

I am so excited to present the last of the Pendant die templates: S4-207 Kaleidoscope Pendant

and the coordinatingS4-216 Kaleidoscope Borderabilities.

I am so thrilled to have been assigned this particular set to reveal because I think it really embodies some of the latest cool trends in papercrafting. The S4-207 Kaleidoscope Pendant set features a large pendant, a matching center, and two coordinating accent pieces. I love how the centers can be layered over the top of the pendants or used to cut out the middle of the pendant. The S4-216 Kaleidoscope Borderabilities set features two beautiful border dies, one of which has an “open” side and makes a fantastic edge to any card. The other border cuts on all sides, making perfect accessories for any project. Both of these sets will be available for order starting tomorrow, June 30, 2009.

For my first project, I chose to create a pop-up card with an edgy “rock-star” feel to it and I really love how it turned out. The front of the card features a variety of fun techniques including digital die embellishment, air-brushing with Copic markers, reverse stenciling with acrylic paint and cutting and embossing felt. I should give a special mention to the method I used to decorate the pendants on this card. I used my computer to digitally embellish the shape, then printed it out and used the Kaleidoscope Pendants to cut and emboss the digitally-decorated design. Such a fun way to add character to your die cuts!

Spellbinders Supplies:

S4-161    Labels One
S4-207    Kaleidescope Pendant
S4-216    Kaleidescope Borderabilities
S4-199    Floral Accents
I2-1004    Impressabilities Flowers
S5-001    Unicase Mosaic
S3-150    Ribbon Tag Trio
S4-126    Classic Squares, Large

Other Supplies: Medallion Journal Spots Brush Kit: Rhonna Farrer/House of 3; RV19 Marker:  Copic; Ribbon, Bits of Bling: Creative Impressions; Black Chalk Ink: Clearsnap;Sentiment & Flower Stamp; Stamper’s Anonymous; Cyan,Black Cardstock: The Paper Company; 3D Foam Squares, E-Z Dots Scrapbook Adhesives; 3L, Flourish stamps: Technique Tuesday; Green & Blue: Printed Paper; Jennifer Davis; Pink Cardstock: Worldwin; White Cardstock: Neenah; Tuxedo Momento Ink: Tsukineko; Fuschia Stick-It Felt: CPE

The inside of this card opens to reveal an awesome surprise. I’ve layered three pendants together to create this cool pop-up – and the best part is that it is super easy!

There are so many techniques on this card that I thought the best way to share a tutorial would be through video. This two-part tutorial was very fun to put together. Please watch and enjoy!

Part 1:

Part 2:

The next project I created is a scrapbook page of my children taken this past Easter. We have such a hard time taking Easter Sunday pictures, and I truly have no idea why! Nonetheless, my kids are adorable, and these pendants and centers make absolutely perfect embellishments to this page!

As in with the card above, these pendants are digitally decorated and I will be posting up a downloadable kit tomorrow containing the digital papers and files I used to create this project.

Spellbinders Supplies

S4-207    Kaleidescope Pendant
S4-199    Floral Accents

Other Supplies: Ribbon, Brads: Creative Impressions; Orange, pumpkin spice, green chalk ink: Clearsnap; Rub on: Crate Paper; 3D Foam Squares Adhesives: 3L; Cheese Cloth; Printable die template: Jennifer Davis; Digital Patterned Paper: green stripe, green, pink, peach; Jennifer Davis; InkJet Transparency: OfficeMax; Computer Fonts: Champignon, Optima; Foam: STYROFOAM Brand

So… we’ve reached the final day of the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy, and here’s the contest low-down one last time…

After the entry deadline is reached, Spellbinders will randomly pick one entry from each Blog Frenzy reveal as stated in the “Rules”. Winner will be contacted by e-mail within 24 hours of the contest deadline. Winner will have 72 hours to reply to that e-mail to claim the prize.  If Winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new name will be drawn for said prize.   Winner will receive the new die templates being revealed on the specific daily blog post they are entering.

Entrants visiting all 8 Spellbinders Pendant Reveals and correctly entering their information into the separate drawings, as described below, will automatically be entered into a GRAND PRIZE give away of a full set of the 8 Pendants die templates and 8 matching Petite Border die templates being revealed.

Rules
Any participant wishing to be included in the daily drawing for the Spellbinders Pendants die templates Blog Frenzy give-away must adhere to all of the following rules. We are happy to welcome US and international blog guests for this Frenzy.

To enter each drawing on sneak peeks between June 22 and June 29, visit the reveal blog and click on the contest link to reveal an e-mail window. In the subject line of the e-mail, enter the die template name being revealed. Each blog reveal will remain open for 48 hours. Only 1 entry per blog is allowed and 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 June 22nd through June 29th and plan accordingly.

Spellbinders Design Team members and employees are not eligible for drawings.

Any participant wishing to be automatically entered into the drawing for the Pendants Frenzy Grand Prize must enter all 8 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 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 for their newsletter.

Spellbinders Pendants Blog Frenzy drawing

Click Here to enter

(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: PendantContestDay8@spellbinders.us

For more Spellbinders product release information go to SpellbindersPaperArts.com/blog

If you have any questions regarding the contest, send an e-mail to: PenContestQuestions@spellbinders.us

Thank you for visiting! Come back soon!

Have a great weekend Karen!

ETA: Here are the black on white dots you requested. HUGS! ~Jen

In an effort to repent of my slacker-hood, I’ve created three Father’s Day cards for the dads in my life. I’ve kept them quick, simple and to-the-point. The first of the three shown here is for my stepfather. He’s amazing, supportive and an all-around great guy.

I’ve included the sentiment for you to download as well, just click on the file, download and unzip. I used Spellbinders circles and pinking circles to outline the sentiment before covering it with buttons. Check back in the next couple of days for the other two cards!