Spellbinders Wax Seals Not Just for Envelopes!

I had so much fun designing with Spellbinders new Must Have Wax Bead Mixes I made 10 cards with them for my new new video! I tried to find new ways to feature them on a card like the wheel in this Country Wheelbarrow die from Spellbinders. Or how about the center of an arch that is designed for stitching?

If the sentiment in the wax stamp is not that legible, you can highlight it with a metallic pen as I did here. I used Spellbinders Essential Arches to create this shaped card and the Stitched Kaleidoscope Arch as my "planter." I did the same on this card:

The wax seal on the planter was created with the gorgeous new Pink Must Have Wax Bead Mix and I even made the "flowers" with the wax beads. The sentiments you see on many of the cards are part of Simon Hurley's Everyday Sentiments die set from Spellbinders. 

I decided that the wax seals can be used as embellishments and also added Renfio Broken Crushed Glass for some added sparkle on these two cards:

Of course all the dies, embossing folders and stencils you see on these cards are from Spellbinders. I had so much fun creating all these cards with wax seals and hope my cards encourage you to give some of the ideas and products a try!

Cardmaking With New Colors of Spellbinders Wax Beads

I received 3 bags of the new Must Have Wax Bead Mixes from Spellbinders and had so much fun playing with them, I made 10 cards for my new video here! The video shows many tips for successful wax seals and how they are not just for envelopes. This gorgeous wax seal was made with the new Purple Must Have Wax Bead Mix, the new Timeless Blooms wax stamp, and the Stitched Kaleidoscope Arch die all from Spellbinders. 

I also share several versions of the arrow fun fold and made this card which is a double arrow fun fold card. Here is a peak at the card when opened:

And here are pictures of a traditional arrow fold card and a slimline double arrow fold card all with wax seals made with the same purple wax bead mix and Spellbinders dies:

The other two Must Have Wax Bead Mixes I received were the Pink and Coral. All of these packages include 4 different shades which is perfect because the correct number of wax beads to use per seal is 4. With these mixes, we never have to worry which colors look good together. Here are two more cards with the Pink and Coral mixes:

To see all the cards I made and how to do a double arrow fold card, watch the new video here. If you are pressed for time and would like to see a short 2 minute reel with the highlights, visit my Instagram here. 

More Embossed Die-cut Cards From My Newest Video

I am very excited to share that we can double the use of our dies by embossing them in addition to die cutting with them and then mix and match those on our cards! I am now able to do that technique so much easier because I gave myself a new Spellbinders Platinum 6 die cutting machine with the Universal Plate System for Christmas. I show in my new video here how easy it is now to emboss with dies. I am also finding this machine makes it so much more easy to emboss with any 3D or regular embossing folder without any extra shims, etc. I made this mixed media look card with Picket Fence's Falling Brick Wall die both embossed and die cut and added some white and black spatters.

I have used this Taylored Expressions frame die in the traditional die cut way on many cards but for this one I embossed a light green background with it, then added die cut cream pieces in the center and sides as well as a foliage piece, gems and die cut sentiment. 

In addition to embossing with our dies, we can create stencils with them and I added color to the embossed rays created with a favorite die from Gina Marie Designs before adding the perfect sentiment. 

I had great fun embossing with my dies and hope my cards and video encourage you to try this technique and then send some handmade joy out into this world!

Endless Design Opportunities with Embossed Dies!

Did you know you can emboss with your dies as well as cut with them so you can double the designing possibilities for every die you own? I was reminded of that recently by the amazing Jennifer McGuire and was so excited to try it with my new Spellbinders Platinum Six with the Universal Plate System. I love my electronic machine for die cutting but embossing especially with 3D embossing folders and dies was difficult and time consuming. With this machine, I just simply followed the directions and all embossed images were perfect each time! I had so much fun I created many different cards for my newest video here. Here is the card I create in the video:

The technique works best with background dies like the gorgeous Scrolled Punch and Pierce plate from Spellbinders I used to emboss the background in the center piece of the tri-fold card. I embossed Spellbinders new Fresh Picked Berries for the front flap and die cut for the center piece and added ink with small blending brushes on both. So we can mix and match embossing and die cutting for many more design opportunities with each set! 

I embossed the background on this card with Simon Hurley's Zig Zag Chevron die from Spellbinders and then added some die cut zig zags for fun. I didn't have a zig zag embossing folder but now I do! The cherries (from the same Fresh Picked Berries set) were embossed rather than die cut- so many extra options are exciting! The sentiment dies on both of these cards are from Spellbinders Thanks Enclosed die set. 

I also do not own a small all over butterfly embossing folder but I do have Hero Arts Butterfly Confetti Fancy Die. I was able to easily emboss pink mirror card and white pieces, then make this card with the positive and negative images connecting and the same on the sentiment die from Sue Wilson. I added a few die cut butterflies on the white side. 

As you can tell I am very excited about doubling the design possibilities with my dies and hope you will watch the new video here and give this technique a try!

I am entering the first card in the Something New challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

Frantic Stamper January Release Guest DT Cards

I am honored to be a guest dt member at Frantic Stamper and I had fun playing with some new dies and stamps just released by Frantic Stamper. One of my favorites of the new sets is called House Plants, and I made a fractured card with a pretty house plant as the focal point. The stamped sentiment is from a new set called House & Home. I used both of these sets on the inside of this card too:

I used both sets and the same dp on this diagonal z-fold card. As you can see, there are many plants and vases to choose from. Here is a look at the center of this fun fold card:

I hope you will check out the whole release of new dies and stamps here at Frantic Stamper. Don't forget, in addition to their own Frantic Stamper line, this website has thousands of other cardmaking supplies and dies - even Crealies! 

I am entering the first card in the Something New challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday. 

Bonus Love Card with Karen Burniston Dies

The theme of my new video this week is Love Cards and Projects featuring new dies from Karen Burniston, and to see all of them just click the link and watch. I didn't get a chance to play with the new Heart Add-ons die set before I filmed the video but did make this wedding card in time to share this week. The new Hearts Add-on (and Birthday Candle Add-on which I will share when I can) work inside the Fancy Label Accordion and make fun folding accordion cards so easy. I have a special family wedding coming up this year and this card would be perfect for the wedding couple. It stands up for display as you see here and then folds flat so the front shows as seen here:

Love Cards and Gifts with New Karen Burniston Dies

Valentine's Day is perfect for sending or giving handmade love treats and surprise pop up cards, but so is any day, right? In my new video I share cute easy to make bags and boxes made with new dies from Karen Burniston. Here are the little bags I made for treats or gift cards with the new Mini Gift Bag die set:

In the new video, I show that making these boxes with the new Candy Hearts Box die set from Karen Burniston is quick and easy, and you can fill with candy or a gift card or cash. I think both of these would be perfect for a wedding favor or at a bridal shower.

My favorite dies from Karen Burniston are her interactive pop up dies, and in this release we got the new Raising Platform die set. Here is a picture of the inside of the card I made for my grandson in the video:

The heart in the middle pops up and the best way to see that is to watch the new video here. But here is a mini video showing that action:

I made two similar cards as I have two grandsons I adore and here is the front of both of them:

I embossed the white card front with the 3D Beveled Diamonds Embossing Folder from Spellbinders and then pounced on the red color with a Picket Fence pouncer through A Colorful Life Design's Flaming Love stencil.  The sentiment die with a new shadow die is also from Karen Burniston. Here is a picture of the inside of the 2nd pop up Valentine I made:

I cut hearts with a die set from Crealies called Hearts with Little Stripes, and pounced on red color with the same stencil and pouncer, then tucked in a gift for my grandson. What ever is raised on the Raising Platform has to be folded in half and I chose "love you" and conversation hearts on the hearts on the two cards I made. 

In the video I show how easy it is to create this interactive raising platform, and I know I will use this die again and again to add fun interactive motion to my cards. Happy New Year and Happy Valentine's Day to you!