Wanna Be a Cowgirl Card by Jennifer Ingle

Today Jennifer Ingle is back with a Guest post sharing her Wanna Be a Cowgirl Card with Samantha Walker Spellbinders Dies and the Grand Calibur!

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I am so excited to be back as a guest designer here on the Samantha Walker blog!  Today I am going to show you the basics on how to use the Samantha Walker Dies by Spellbinders with the Grand Calibur Die Cut and Embossing Machine.  It’s SUPER easy and gives GREAT results!

The Grand Calibur comes with all the plates you need to get started!  I am using Samantha Walker’s Ornate Artisan Tags and Accents die set.  This set also has a coordinating Samantha Walker stamp set, Ornate Artisan Stackers, over at Unity, however, I will not be using the stamps for today’s card.  I have them, though, and they are GORGEOUS!!!  A wonderful companion set to the dies!  I am also using the Samantha Walker Cowgirl Collection by Creative Imaginations.  This collection is SO FUN!

Let’s begin!

Place the die you wish to use, flat side down, on the Grand Calibur Base Plate.

Trim the paper you wish to cut to size and place, upside down, over the die.  Because I am making a 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inch card, my paper is slightly smaller than my die.  You may want to tape the paper in place with repositionable tape to prevent it from shifting in the cutting process.

Next, you want to place the Cutting Plate over the die and paper to create your sandwich.  Rotate and flip your plate regularly to avoid warping.  Carefully lift the sandwich and use the handle on the Grand Calibur to run the plates through the machine.  To  get a deeper embossing, you can run it through a second time or switch the cutting plate with the embossing plate and rubber embossing mat after the first run.  For a more subtle embossing, or with thinner papers, just once is fine.  I have chosen to run it through just once for this project.

Now you are ready to play with your freshly cut die!  Use an ink tool to apply ink while the die is still on the paper.  This gives you a sharp mask giving a wonderful illusion of depth!

Carefully remove the paper from the die.  For an intricate die like the one I used here, a pair of sharp tweezers or a paper piercer can come in hand for loosening the smaller, more detailed bits.  Work slowly and gently to prevent tearing.  Then you can apply your die cut to your card!

I used the fabulous felted cow print paper as my background, layered my die cut over that, and then added a fabulous Samantha Walker dimensional chipboard sticker!  I LOVE these things! 

And here is my completed card!  If you have never worked with the Grand Calibur before you are missing out!  This machine is AMAZING!  I lived without a machine like this for years, finally decided on this one and got it for my birthday last February and I use it ALL.THE.TIME!  I had no idea just how useful it is!  And Samantha’s dies are gorgeous and a perfect fit with this wonderful tool!    If you enjoyed this, I’d love for you to stop by my blog, Just Jingle, and join me over there!  We have a good time!

Thanks for reading!

Jingle Out!

A Perfect Match!

Like Peas and Carrots, PB&J, and cranberries and turkey...this is a perfect match!  I'm so thrilled to be designing coordinating products for Unity Stamps and Spellbinders!  If you haven't heard yet, all of my Spellbinders sets have matching stamp set coordinates.  That means...you can stamp images with my Unity stamps, and cut them out with Spellbinders dies!  How easy is that!

This release also included a new concept that I came up with when designing for both Spellbinders and Unity.  That is my Stacker sets---stamps you can "stack" to get a plethora of creative combinations.  There are two of these sets available through Unity.  Blossom stackers, and Ornate Artisan Stackers.  We are always looking for the perfect background shape for our cards....or interesting journaling block...or gift tag...these sets with their practically endless combos offer just the right look you are going for!

Here's a peek at what kind of combos you can get with the Blossom Stackers...I'll feature combos for the Ornate Artisan stackers in a few weeks.  This should get your juices going for the meantime:

I got to squeeze a little paper play time in this weekend, and it was fun!!!  I concentrated on my stacker sets and coordinating dies.

I wanted to show what can happen if you cut some of the tags and backgrounds in half....you can come up with a whole new shape!  The biggest background in this stamp and coordinating die set has flourishes on either end.  When cut, the flourishes can create a place to tie a ribbon.  That's just what I did with this gate fold card!  

I used paper from my new Blossom Collection for Creative Imaginations.  It's a fun and funky 70's inspired paper line. 

Jennifer Ingle has also been playing with my Unity Stacker Stamps.  I LOVE this card she created!  So feminine,  so very beautiful!  That gauzy flower epitomizes Summer!

Creative Team Member spotlight Jennifer Ingle

Cuckoo Clock Card created with Cuckoo clocks stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp Co. Papers are the Kokeshi collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

I have the privilege of sharing the work of Jennifer Ingle with you today. She is such a fun spirited member of my creative team. Her designs always have an innovative twist.  She not only works with paper...but also fabric in her one of a kind art dolls, which she affectionately names.  I asked Jennifer a few questions about herself and here is how she responded:

Ice Cream card was created with "The Sweet Life" Stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp company. Papers are from the Heidi collection for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  What is your favorite Technique?

That's a hard question, but I think lately it has really been paper piecing.  I love cutting out the tiny pieces from various papers and putting them back together like a little puzzle and the results are just too fun!

Butterfly card was created with "Be You" Itty Bitty by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp Company. Paper is from the Blossom collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  Where did you learn to design?

Well, I've been making stuff since I developed fine motor skills, pretty much, so I'm not sure if I can define where I learned to design.  I pick up new techniques by looking at the art of others, working with new supplies, and coming up with ideas and then trying to find a way to make them work.  I am constantly learning in every aspect of my life and since my creative life is such a huge part of who I am, learning and growth is something I am always striving for.

Flower card was created with paper and stickers from the Blossom collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  What influence your design choices?

Product.  I think that might be a horrible answer, but it's true!  When I get a new product in my hand, be that a fresh pack of paper clay, some great new patterned papers, a set of stamps, or a vial of vintage buttons from the antique shop it generally spurs me on to create something!  I am pushed by my desire to try out new things and make them work in my own way.

Doll was created with Wanna Be a Cowboy fabric collection by Samantha Walker for Riley Blake Designs

Q.  Who are your artsy inspirations?

Well, she will kill me for saying this, but Eva Dobilas is an amazing card maker and I am constantly inspired by her work.  Becky Shander  and Terry Stevens are wonderful mixed media artists and Rachel Wetzel and Abi Monroe are some really inspiring art doll artists.  I could keep going, as there are so many fabulous people out there creating so many fabulous things!  

Organdy Ribbon card was created with the Heidi collection by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations.

Q.  What do you enjoy doing besides crafting?

There is stuff other than crafting???  HA!  No, really, I love to read and I collect children's literature.  I like to make cupcakes when I have time and I absolutely LOVE hanging out with my fabulous Hubbums and my two beautiful black labs, Maggie and Thatcher. 

Ear rings were created with shrinky dink film. They were stamped with the Kokeshi stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity Stamp Company.

Sympathy card was created with Encompassed Grace stamp set by Samantha Walker for Unity StampCo.

Jennifer has such a fun blog as she writes from the heart and her delightful personality shines through.  You will have to visit her blog frequently.