Spellbinders Nestabilities Imperial Gold Dies Scrapbook Layout

Cardmaking, Crafts, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums No Comments

By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds from:

Peg’s Crafting Corner

Learn about the new Spellbinders Imperial Gold Dies at ThinkCrafts.com

I was excited when I was asked to review the new Imperial Gold Nestabilites Dies by Spellbinders.  These dies add even more fun elements to any of your projects whether they are cards, scrapbook pages or even altered art items.  For $19.49 you get 4 to 12 dies depending on which set you choose.  This is a great price for the amount of things that can be created using them.  These dies will cut, emboss, deboss, stencil and letterpress.  You can do one layer or several.  The dies can be used in most die cut machines, too.  All you need is to follow the stack instructions for your machine that is provided with the instructions.

Spellbinders Frames

On this layout, I wanted to create a frame for the pictures.  The top picture I used just one of the dies to create an embossed mat for it and the bottom 2 pictures I made the embossed mats for both of them and then added a die cut and embossed frame over the top of each picture.  See how quickly it is to now create a beautiful frame for all of your pictures?

Different papers and cuts

I experimented with several types and weights of paper to see how well they worked.  On the packaging it is suggested that the paper weight be 65 pounds.  That doesn’t mean that is what you have to use.  Here I tried lighter weight papers and found that most worked.  The foil (the red piece) didn’t cut, but did emboss.  It was too thin using in a regular stack and as I ran it through my die cut machine (Spellbinders Grand Calibur) I could feel the difference as it seemed to easily roll through without pressure.  A shim may have helped with this problem and I will experiment more on this to see if I can get it to work.  It will make a nice mat for a smaller picture, though.

Experiment

I mentioned earlier about the correct stack to use these dies, but you will also have to purchase the Junior Magnetic Placement Mat to add to the stack or the dies will not work.  I was a little disappointed when I first received the dies and went to use them and couldn’t because I didn’t have this mat.  Nowhere on the packaging does it mention that it is required.  It was only when I opened up the dies and read the instructions was it mentioned. It is the only way to achieve the correct thickness for the stack and helps hold the dies in place when layering them.  Luckily, Create For Less has them and they ship quickly.  You will get 2 mats in a package for $8.49.  The mats are thin so when they are used they become etched as shown in the right picture.  This doesn’t affect the use of them, but after a while they will require replacing.  This was a big con for me is that it is not mentioned on the packaging that it is a required item in order to use these dies.

Overall, I would definitely suggest this product to everyone.  I love the different looks that can be achieved by just a few dies and that the price for them is reasonable.  They are great to use for frames around pictures or for embellishments on cards. There are several different designs to choose from which is a great idea, too.   One drawback is that the Junior Mat is required for use and there is no mention of it on the packaging.  Now head on over to check the dies out for yourself and start a new layer of fun on your projects.

Retro Fitted Mini Album Layout Parts 4 and 5

Crafts, Holidays, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums No Comments

By Guest Blogger Kathy Orta from the Blog Paper Phenomenon

Paper Phenomenon is full of in-depth tutorials and kits for your next scrapbooking project. Be sure to check out Kathy’s YouTube channel for step-by-step page making instructions and how-to’s for different scrapbooking tools and attend her scrapbooking classes online at her UStream Channel every Monday at 2 PM Central Time and Friday at 7 PM Central Time!

To celebrate National Scrapbook Day all month long, Kathy will be sharing her tutorial for a Retro Fitted Mini Album Layout every Saturday in May! If you love this layout, be sure to click the links above for even more tutorials and scrapbooking tips and check back next week for parts 6 and 7!

Part 4:

Part 5:

Did you miss parts 1, 2 and 3? Check out last weeks videos!

Do you have a layout you’d love to share? Enter our Scrapbook Layout Contest and you could win a $150 CreateForLess Gift Card!

Retro Fitted Mini Album Layout Parts 1, 2, & 3

Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Holidays, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums 2 Comments

By Guest Blogger Kathy Orta from the Blog Paper Phenomenon

Paper Phenomenon is full of in-depth tutorials and kits for your next scrapbooking project. Be sure to check out Kathy’s YouTube channel for step-by-step page making instructions and how-to’s for different scrapbooking tools and attend her scrapbooking classes online at her UStream Channel every Monday at 2 PM Central Time and Friday at 7 PM Central Time!

To celebrate National Scrapbook Day all month long, Kathy will be sharing her tutorial for a Retro Fitted Mini Album Layout every Saturday in May! If you love this layout, be sure to click the links above for even more tutorials and scrapbooking tips and check back next week for parts 4 and 5!

Parts 1 & 2:

Part 3:

Do you have a layout you’d love to share? Enter our Scrapbook Layout Contest and you could win a $150 CreateForLess Gift Card!

Envelope Photo Album

Crafts, Father's Day, Holidays, Mother's Day, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking No Comments

By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds from:

Peg’s Crafting Corner

Create a photo album to carry around in your purse at ThinkCrafts.com

 Create this cute little photo album for Mom this Mother’s Day or change the theme and make a gift for Dad.  No matter how you decorate it, it will surely be enjoyed and used every day to keep those special photo memories in.  It’s so easy to make that with a little help, a child can enjoy making one to give.

Read the rest…

National Scrapbook Day!

Contests, Crafts, Paper Crafts, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums No Comments

Happy National Scrapbook Day! CreateForLess and Think Crafts are celebrating in so many fun ways! We want to inspire you to get out your papers, embellishments and tools, and make some memories!

First up, be sure to enter your best layout in to our annual Scrapbook Layout Contest. We’ll be voting for the winners on Facebook at the end of the month, so make sure to check back and see if you made the cut! Here is last year’s winner:

CreateForLess Scrapbook Layout contest Winner

Check out the rest of the finalists here!

Next, head over to CreateForLess for our Spectacular Scrapbooking Sale where you can save on all of your favorite paper crafting supplies. Treat yourself, this is a national holiday after all!

Scrapbooking-Sale_2

Finally, check out some of our favorite techniques and layouts right here at Think Crafts! Click the images for full tutorials.

Paper Marbling

serenity stack

Photo Canvas Album

mango frost scrapbook layout

Pink Doodle Frame

We hope we’ve inspired you to get cropping and scrapping! Happy Scrapbook Day!

Ask the Experts: Rubber Stamping and Embellishments

Cardmaking, Crafts, Paper Crafts, Rubber Stamping, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums 2 Comments

By Card Making & Scrapbooking Contributor

Peg Rounds from:

Peg’s Crafting Corner

Inkadinkaclings

Q: Why can’t I get a clear stamped image especially with larger stamps?

     A:  Trying inking the stamp with a brayer to make sure all of the area is covered and stand up to do the stamping to get an even pressure on the entire stamp.

Melting Pot

 Q: I’d like to make some of my own 3-d embellishments to put on my layout, but don’t know how to do it.  Any help?

     A:  A melting pot can be used to melt Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (UTEE) which can be poured into molds and cooled.

AntiStatic Bag

 Q: Why would I need an antistatic bag?

     A:  These bags are rubbed onto the project before anything else is applied so it helps to stop ink from smearing and bleeding through.  It, also, removes static when using glitter and embossing powders so they do not stick where they are not wanted and it deactivates the stickiness of stickers so they can be used in other ways on projects.

Art Institute Glitter

 Q: I can’t get glitter to stick to the adhesive sheet.

     A:  The best way to get it to stick is to burnish the glittered sheet.  After pouring on the glitter and removing the excess, place a piece of paper over the top and rub over it to push the glitter down into the adhesive.

Gelatos

 Q: What are gelatos?

     A:  They are a pigment stick that can be used with or without water to add color to your projects.  When used with water, they add a watercolored look to the project.   It can be used on wood, paper and more.

“Art Class” 12×12 Scrapbook Page

Crafts, Guest Bloggers, Paper Crafts, Rubber Stamping, Scrapbooking, Techniques and Mediums 5 Comments

By Guest Blogger Kay Williamson of Club Scrap

Learn high quality techniques and unique ways to jazz up your scrapbooks over at the Club Scrap blog, and join the Club Scrap Kit Club for fun themed scrapbooking.

Make a statement by adding minimal color to a scrapbook page

May 4th is National Scrapbooking Day, and before you break out all of your fun embellishments and stickers, consider taking a minimalist approach for a few of your pages. Using the less is more philosophy for this page, I only used color in three areas of this layout – in the title, the photo, and a rubber stamped embellishment. The rest of the page is basically black & white only.

I altered the 5×7 photo in Photoshop leaving only the actual art project color remaining. Then using Club Scrap’s “Color” rubber stamp , I stamped the image on five different cardstock colors and trimmed out the letters within.

Color and Cardstock

After attaching the trimmed out letters with black mini foam squares, I had a fun embellishment that complimented my page well.

3D Color

Using acrylic paint to color the American Crafts Thickers Alpha Stickers was a good finishing touch I think.

So with or without a lot of color on your pages – enjoy National Scrapbooking Day!!

« Previous Entries