Friday, November 11, 2011

Spellbinders Series: Butterflies and Brackets

I don't have a Cricut.
I don't have a Cuttlebug.
I don't have a Silhouette.
I don't have a Cameo (yet...like I mentioned, I DO want this)
I don't have a Sizzix Big shot.
I don't have a Gazelle (don't even know what this is, but it popped up when I search cutting systems).
I don't have the Epic (Quickutz)

I DO have a Slice, which you will find me occasionally using. It was the first edition model, no Elite here.

And something else I have been wanting for a long time is the Grand Calibur from Spellbinders...and looky what I just got....



What I loved about this machine was how big it cut...I like my die cuts big. :) I've had a little bit of time to play with it now, and I plan on doing a series of blog posts on what I have created with my Grand Calibur and different ideas for using die cuts. I wanted it to something creative like "Spellbinders Saturday" but I have noticed that not as many people go blog hoppin' on the weekends, so I chose Fridays instead. So every Friday (for 4 or 5 weeks) I will have a Spellbinders post up on my blog. Hope you stop by for each and every one of them. :)

First up...

MY REVIEW of the GRAND CALIBUR machine from Spellbinders:

This machine is very easy to work. It walks you through the few simple steps it has. It can cut very detailed images out perfectly. As I have already mentioned, it is capable of creating large die cuts for your projects as it can cut and emboss up to 8.5 x 11.75. If you don't want to cut that large of die cuts, you can cut several smaller die cuts out at once (even using multiple pieces of paper).

You DO have to crank it to move the plates through the machine.

According to their site, this machine is compatible with Sizzlit™, Cuttlebug™, and Quickutz™ sized dies, as well as Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and Fiskars® Texture Plates when used with the W-025 Raspberry Spacer Plate. I have not tried anything but the Spellbinders dies in mine so far.

Tips for the Grand Calibur (just a couple of things I noticed):

* When embossing a die cut after it has been cut, make sure that the piece of paper has not moved or is snug in the center of the die to emboss correctly.
* When removing a die cut after embossing, if you lift the pink embossing plate first, separating it from the rubber embossing pad (rather then pulling both the plate and the pad up together), you will get less curve in your die cut. However, it is easy to work with curved pieces, simply use a strong adhesive and glue down well or place it under a book to flatten it.
* I was able to cut a butterfly from a piece of canvas. I put it through first and it did not cut all the way through, so I placed a piece of cardstock underneath it (as a shim) and tried again. It still wasn't completely cut so I did this once more (so I now had 2 shims) and this time it worked. It's harder to crank, the more layers you put in though. But if I can do it, you can do it. :)


Now let's take a look at a couple layouts I made. Both of these layouts use papers and embellishments from BasicGrey...mostly from their Indie Bloom collection.

On this layout I used the Grand Labels One die to cut my 6 bracket squares, and the Wonderful Wings die to cut the butterflies.

Here are some close up's:


(See that piece with the flowers and buttons? That is exactly how these BasicGrey buttons came, packaging and all. I thought it was cute that way, so I just cut the packaging and adhered it all on there.)


And then on this next layout, I took it a step further and layered the Grand Labels One die cuts...

Pretty much uses all the same products. :)

Here are the close up's:



I loved how I added the journaling to this page. At first I wasn't sure where to put it...but then I got a bit creative. :)

Ok, well thanks for stopping in today!!! I will be up next Friday with more from my Spellbinder's series. And at the end of my series, there may just be a cool giveaway. ;)

Have a fantastic day!!!

20 comments:

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

I love love love love SPELLBINDERS!!!!! I am soooooooo excited you got one!! My friend works in their corporate office (they are here in AZ) and another friend is a rep for them... so I get to play with theirs all the time and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!! You mentioned the paper moving when you go to emboss... what my rep friend taught me is to use blue painters tape handy to help keep the paper steady! :):):):) Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee both lo's!! Such bright cheery papers and love love love those frames on the second one! :):):):):):):):):):):)

Mary Pat Siehl said...

looks awesome! what a fun new tool!

Becky said...

Congrats on your new purchase and I LOVE how bright and fun your layout is!!

sue said...

I have not seen this one yet, what great things you have done with it!

Mary Jo said...

I do not own any die cut machines, but have been tempted from time to time.
Very pretty layouts and beautiful colors :)

Johanna said...

Congratulations on your new toy!! I don't have a Grand Calibur but I do have a Big Shot and I LOVE LOVE LOVE to play with Spellbinder dies... I Don't have enough though!! I am sure you are going to have a blast... Can't wait for your next post on Friday :)

PS: I love how you used the backing of the buttons!!

Sandie said...

How fun does that look? I have the large Cricut, but almost never use it. I need to buy some cartridges for it, I guess. I only have a few. And I'm bored with them. I really want a machine that embosses. REALLY want one. :) Can't wait to see what you do with this. I'll be watching. I love how you placed those buttons. I thought it was genius and creative, and then read that you cut them out with the background... wow. That was such a good idea. I love it. It looks so great.

You are really good at your layering. And your layouts are always so well put together. Mine can be off kilter, or crooked. Yours are so straight and aligned. Do you use a ruler? Or is it just done by eye?

Sandie said...

Pamela.. thanks so much for the great suggestions on challenges that you gave me on my blog! I'll pass whatever new ones I come across, to you. I am continuing to look... and I'm checking out the ones you gave me. Awesome challenges. I'm excited to get started.

Jingle said...

I want one, but I DO have a Cricut, so it is hard to justify - particularly to the Hubbums. LOL! I love your layouts!

Nitasha said...

Gorgeous work! I don't have a Spellbinder, but I love learning, so I'll be here on Fridays for your sessions! Thanks so much for sharing the information!

ScrappnBee said...

Ironically, I am the opposite! I have very few dies...because I have a cricut. Love the way that the pages came out! The colors and layering are fabulous!!! -Amanda

Christa said...

Love how these turned out!

Tracy said...

I was wondering about this machine.
But sadly it doesn't take the thick dies, like the ones Tim Holtz has out :(
I do like that it cuts large dies though.

Your layouts are so bright and cheerful. Love how you used the dies on them
I do notice that not as many blog surf during the weekend

Chantal Vandenberg said...

I haven't got anything! Loved reading your post! Awesome work!

Connie Mercer said...

The only machine I have is a big shot, no cricut here either. The spell binder looks very inetresting great review on the product!!

Sue Althouse said...

I have a Slice Elite and a Cuttlebug. Looking forward to seeing what your Spellbinder will do!

Cindy S. said...

I am SO GLAD that you are still scrapping! I love what you did with the dies and the papers are FAB! I wil be checking back to see what you do with the GC. I have been wondering about this one for awhile..

Arlene said...

Enjoy your new toy! Love what you have done on this layout...beautiful.

Margie Higuchi said...

CUTE~! Love that you are playing with the Spellbinders and taking the time to share what you are learning :) Spellbinders is my favorite subject ;0P Great job, Pamela!!

Kimberly Crawford said...

Wonderful projects!

The reason your die cuts are "sticking" to the embossing pad is because it is brand new and a bit sticky from manufacturing. If you dust it off with a wee bit of baby powder, no more curling/sticking. :)

And with the fabric, just turn the fabric and die template 45 degrees and run it again. That will allow all the cut points to be reached more easily. Thicker fabrics usually takes 2-3 passes.
Try 100% wool felt-you will flip over the detail that can be cut out of it! :)

Just wanted to share with you, so you can enjoy your machine even more! :)