A lot has been happening for the folks at Spellbinders since we reviewed the Wizard in October of 2004. During my last review, I focused on the many ways of using the Wizard - with and without dies (using the machine with brass stencils and objects found in my backyard are still favorites of mine), but this month the focus is on the new dies available at Spellbinders. These dies cut and emboss, plus are extremely easy to use. I no longer need to tape down the cardstock to keep it from shifting during the embossing phase. The new dies have ridges - which, incidentally, are the cutting ridges - and they keep the cardstock in place when you run the sandwich through the Wizard to emboss. The ridges are also safer - there are no sharp edges!

Speaking of sandwiches, they are easier to remember now too! This is in part because there are fewer pieces to switch out when going from cutting to embossing. And the embossing is fantastic. I would have done all my samples with Mirricard (a highly reflective cardstock), but the shine it gives off is hard for me to photograph. (Marco's Paper carries a full spectrum of mirricard colors... I stocked up the last time I saw them at a rubber stamp convention.)

The Wizard has also undergone a change. The new Wizard wasn't available for review, but I hear that the improvements are quite nice. These improvements are spelled out on their website. I used my "old" purple Wizard for this review - all the new dies work with the "old" Wizard. The only item an "old" Wizard owner needs is the new spacer plate. At one point Spellbinders was offering a spacer plate free to owners of the old Wizard. (check with them if this offer is still available, and if there are conditions that need to be met)

Spellbinders has also improved upon the texture plates. I didn't own any of the old ones, but I heard that they didn't last long. The new texture plates are made of the same material as the new dies. I've my favorite ("stones"), but I used several in my samples. These plates will never wear out!

Spellbinders also carries alphabets. There are many fonts to choose from (last time I looked, there were 15 to choose from). They are pricey, so choose wisely. My choice was "Enchanted". The size of the letters was important to me - I wanted letters that would fit on cards. I also wanted both large and small letters, as well as numbers. I also liked the name of the font. :-)

To put a little variety into my samples, I did try one new technique. The new technique (for me) involved velvet. Embossing on velvet without an iron was fun. While I wouldn't want to attempt to emboss a scarf, a card front or element for a scrapbook page is doable, and using the Wizard is preferable to breaking out the iron for a small project. I read about this technique on the Spellbinders website, where they list different ideas for using the Wizard. I recommend looking over their ideas gallery and recipes & tips.

For a long time I've been fascinated by a company called SARS (Some Assembly Required). When I heard they carry dies, I made sure to talk to them the next time I saw them. They recommend using the Wizard with their dies. So I did. Their dies work extremely well in the Wizard, using the same sandwich as the new Spellbinders dies.

New dies from Spellbinders are coming out all the time (or so it seems). Case in point - the beach dies came out after I had received the dies I was planning on using, otherwise they would have been on my list! Their catalog is online, and it's a good idea to visit it periodically.

I will still keep the Gemini dies I used back in October ("Abstract" is still my favorite, as is the square grid), but it will be Spellbinders dies that I'll be adding to my collection. It really is all in the detail!

 Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Die: Abstract frames
• Black, Green, Navy Cardstock
• Versamark Pad
• Pearl Ex- 3 colors
• Fine Line Paint Writer - Black Slick
• Paint Brush
• Double sided tape, Pop Dots, Foam Tape
  

Directions

1. The Abstract Die was used "as is" - ie - I did not separate the channels - I left it intact.
2. Create basic Wizard sandwich - white master mat, white spacer plate, die (cut side up), black cardstock, white master mat, and put through the Wizard.
3. Using the Fine Line Paint Writer, decorate each frame a little differently (dots, dashes, squiggle lines, etc). Allow to dry.
4. Coat each frame with Versamark, and brush on Pearl Ex. Do not use the same color on adjacent frames.
5. Adhere the middle piece directly to a navy cardstock. For each of the frames, turn over and put pop dots, foam tape, or double layers of foam tape - alternate to vary depth - and then place on the card.
6. Trim and layer to green cardstock.

 Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Die: Bugs
• Spellbinders Alphabet: Enchanted
• Background Stamp from Just Jhone
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels
• Watercolor Paper, coordinating cardstock for layering
• Brilliance Inks
• Versamark Pad, chalks
• Gold Krylon Pen
• Double sided tape, Pop Dots, stick glue

Directions

1. Using 1/2 sheet of watercolor paper, spritz Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels. (I used shades of green and purple)
2. On another 1/4 sheet, spritz with water first, and then the same colors as in step 1. The water will create a lighter shade of the colors, and this piece will be used for the background.
3. Allow to air dry or use a heat tool to speed up the process.
4. Cut the darker colored watercolor paper to the size of the Bugs die, and run it through the Wizard twice - once to cut, and once to emboss. Depending on the thickness of the watercolor paper, you may need to trim out the pieces with scissors. Repeat to create the 2nd dragonfly.
5. From the darker colored watercolor paper, use the Enchanted Alphabet, and die cut & emboss the word "Hi".
6. Using Brilliance inks of your choice, swipe color on the embossed areas of each of the pieces.
7. Ink up the background stamp with Versamark, and stamp the lighter color washed paper. Gently dust with chalk powder, then edge with gold Kryon.
8. Use pop-dots or double sided tape (or stick glue) to adhere the parts to the background.
9. Layer onto 2 coordinating pieces of cardstock.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Dies: Bugs, Circles
• Rubber Stamps - small Heron, small Fern, Hibiscus, palm frond - all from Stamp Zia
• Fun Foam
• Various Dye Based Inks
• Glossy Cardstock
• Brilliance Ink - light green
• Black Document Ink
• Acetate
• Double sided tape, Pop Dots, stick glue

Directions

1. Fold half sheet of white glossy in half. Open the card, and position it so that the front of the card will have a circle window. Use the Wizard and the largest Circle die to achieve this.
2. The leaf stamped on the front was created with fun foam and the Bugs die. Treat the fun foam as you would a piece of cardstock, and cut / emboss using the Wizard. I made no modifications to the standard sandwiches.
3. Using rubber cement, adhere the leaf fun foam to a piece of wood or foam core.
4. Using various shades of yellow and light green, randomly stamp the cover with the foam leaf.
5. On a quarter sheet of white glossy, randomly stamp the fern with Brilliance light green. Allow to dry, or use a heat gun to speed up the process.
6. Randomly sponge on dye inks - I used light blue, light orange, yellow, olive, magenta. Adhere this into the card, on the side where you would normally write a message.
7. On a 2nd quarter sheet, randomly apply dye inks, then stamp the Hibiscus with Document Black. If desired, add bleach and then change the color of the leaves to green. Trim closely and set aside.
8. Ink the Heron with blue ink. Ink the palm frond with green ink. Stamp the frond onto the Heron, and then stamp the Heron onto glossy cardstock. Trim closely.
9. Place a piece of acetate in the window, adhering it from the inside of the card. Run the Heron through the Xyron or use spray adhesive, and attach to the outside of the card as shown. To finish, add the Hibiscus.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Dies: Harvest 2 Leaves
• Rubber Stamps words - all from Stamp Zia
• Fun Foam
• Foam Core, Rubber Cement
• Various Dye Based Inks in Red and Orange
• Watercolor Paper, black cardstock
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels
• Brilliance Ink - Coffee
• Black Document Ink
• Double sided tape, Pop Dots, stick glue
  

 Directions

1. On a 1/2 sheet of watercolor paper, spritz various Color Wash Jewels. I selected fall-like colors.
2. Allow to dry or use a heat tool to speed up the drying.
3. Cut in half and run through the Wizard to cut and emboss, using the Harvest 2 plate (Leaves).
4. Depending on the thickness of the watercolor paper, you may have to trim with scissors.
5. Repeat to create the 2nd maple leaf.
6. On the raised areas of the die cuts, gently color with Coffee ink.
7. Cut a piece of fun foam, and run it through the Wizard. Cut and emboss. I did not modify the standard cutting and embossing sandwiches.
8. Create a stamp from the large maple leaf. Use rubber cement and adhere to foam core or equivalent.
9. Randomly stamp the fun foam maple leaf, using orange and red, on white glossy.
10. Using Black Document ink, stamp the months and "autumn" as shown. Layer to black cardstock.
11. Using double sided tape or glue or pop dots, adhere the maple leaves and double acorn.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Dies: Bugs
• Fun Foam, Foam Core, Rubber Cement
• White glossy cardstock
• Watercolor paper
• Purple, metallic black cardstock
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels - Tanzanite, Sapphire, Blue Topaz
• Brilliance Ink - Gold, Purple
• Run 'n' Buff - Gold
• Double sided tape, glue dots or stick glue

Directions

1. On a piece of watercolor paper, spritz Color Wash Jewels.
2. Allow to dry or use a heat tool to speed it up.
3. Use the color washed paper and Wizard to cut and emboss, using the Bugs plate.
4. Depending on the thickness of the watercolor paper, you may have to trim with scissors.
5. On the raised area of the butterfly die cut, gently color with Gold Rub 'n' Buff.
6. Cut a piece of fun foam, and run it through the Wizard - cut and emboss. I did not modify the standard cutting and embossing sandwiches.
7. Create a stamp from the butterfly. Use rubber cement and adhere to foam core or equivalent.
8. Randomly stamp the fun foam butterfly, using Gold Brilliance, on white glossy.
9. When ink is dry, sponge on the same colors of Color Wash Jewels. Scrunch up a piece of plastic wrap, and place over cardstock. Allow this to dry. If it dries warped, place under a book to flatten.
10. Clean the butterfly foam stamp, ink with purple, and stamp either wing along the edge of a piece of purple cardstock. Layer the butterfly with glue dots. Use double sided tape to complete the layering as shown.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Dies: Harvest 1 Pear
• Fun Foam, Foam Core, Rubber Cement
• White glossy cardstock
• Watercolor paper
• Green, copper cardstock
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels - Malachite, Fire Opal, Garnet
• Plastic wrap
• Brilliance Ink - Copper
• Double sided tape, glue dots or stick glue

Directions

1. On a piece of watercolor paper, spritz Color Wash Jewels.
2. Allow to dry or use a heat tool to speed up drying.
3. Use the color washed paper and Wizard to cut and emboss, using the Harvest 1 Pear plate. (pine cone and pear are on the same plate)
4. Depending on the thickness of the watercolor paper, you may have to trim with scissors.
5. On the raised area of the pine cone die cut, gently color with Copper Brilliance..
6. Cut a piece of fun foam, and run it through the Wizard - cut and emboss. I did not modify the standard cutting and embossing sandwiches.
7. Create a stamp from the pine cone. Use rubber cement and adhere to foam core or equivalent.
8. Randomly stamp the fun foam pine cone, using Copper Brilliance, on white glossy.
9. When ink is dry, sponge on the same colors of Color Wash Jewels. Scrunch up a piece of plastic wrap, and place over cardstock. Allow this to dry. If it dries warped, place under a book to flatten.
10. Layer as shown. The pine cone was adhered with glue dots, double sided tape was used on the rest of the layers.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Dies: Halloween, Enchanted Alphabet
• Various colored cardstock - white, yellow, orange(s), black
• Various Dye Based Inks in several shades of orange
• White Spray Webbing
• Metallic Rub-ons
• Double sided tape, Pop Dots, stick glue

Directions

1. With white cardstock, cut / emboss the Halloween die in the Wizard, according to the standard sandwich directions. Create 2 sets of white, or just do the larger ghost a 2nd time.
2. Repeat step 1 for each color of yellow and orange(s), and black cardstock.
3. Using the Enchanted alphabet dies, create the letters BOO in white, and Happy Halloween in orange.
4. Apply various shades of orange inks on the raised areas of the pumpkins. On 2 of the pumpkin die cuts, I removed the cat. On 1 of the pumpkins, I used different colors of metallic rub-ons to create a "calico cat".
5. Cut out the bats from the black die cut. Cut out the moon a little "smaller" from the yellow cardstock. Layer these pieces to the white moon / bats die cut, using glue dots and/or glue.
6. Spray white webbing on a full sheet of black cardstock, and cut in half.
7. On one half, fold in half. Cut "steps" into the fold. Adhere this to the inside of a black card.
8. Start assembling the inside of the card. I placed the letters and parts until I liked the arrangement, then I carefully used glue to adhere the parts where they should be. Unless you've created a "pop-up" before, this is hard to describe in words. I would recommend that you practice first on scrap paper beforehand.
9. Cut and layer another piece of the black cardstock with the webbing to the front of the card. Glue the letters and ghosts as shown.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Alphabet: Enchanted
• Mirricard - Gold: from Marco's Paper
• Fireworks stamp: unknown
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels
• White, fuschia, dark blue cardstock
• White Glossy cardstock
• Alcohol inks - blue & pink
• Brilliance Ink - purple
• Double sided tape, Glue Dots, stick glue

Directions

1. Using the Wizard and the Enchanted alphabets, cut and emboss the letters for Happy Birthday using gold mirricard.
2. Using pink and blue alcohol inks. sponge onto the white glossy cardstock.
3. When dry, randomly stamp the fireworks stamp in purple Brilliance.
4. Lightly spritz white cardstock with Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels, using pinks / purples. Leave some white showing.
5. Trim and layer as shown. Use glue does on the letters.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Die: Ovals
• Turquoise, Light Green cardstock
• Watercolor Paper
• Branch and crown: ZIMPrints
• Scrap piece of acetate
• Gold Krylon, gold pen
• Black Document Ink
• Dye ink pads in shades of green
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels - shades of greens
• Scraps of colored glossy backgrounds, various techniques
• Double sided tape, stick glue
• Photocopy picture of car (Buckshot)

Directions

1. Use the Oval dies and the watercolor paper to create the window.
2. Remove the ovals, and spritz the background with Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels, using various shades in the "green" family.
3. When dry, stamp the ZIMPrints branch repeatedly with green inks. See sample for placement. Edge with gold krylon.
4. Stamp ZIMPrints crown with black document ink on acetate. Let dry, then paint it gold with the Krylon pen, from the backside. When dry, cut out image.
5. Using 1/4" strips of paper created from leftovers from other projects, start layering on the back of the oval window. This is similar to Iris Folding, only you are not using folded strips of paper, but cardstock. The "center" or "iris" of the oval is the picture of the cat.
6. Do as many layers of strips as necessary, then add the picture.
7. Place the acetate crown, upside down, on the top of the oval. Adhere with stick glue. Draw a "hanger" in with gold pen.
8. Layer to light green and turquoise.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Die: Ovals
• Green, white cardstock
• Watercolor paper
• "Color" saying stamp: Stamp Zia
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels - shades of the rainbow
• White tissue paper (the kind used for wrapping presents)
• flat backed "jewels" (inexpensive jewels from a hobby store)
• Black document ink
• Double sided tape, stick glue, pop dots, glue dots, thin white glue
• Tweezers

Directions

1. Use the Oval dies as one "set" and the watercolor paper to create the oval rings.
2. Spritz each oval ring with a different Color Wash Jewel. Dry and repeat until the desired shade of each color is achieved. I colored them in the order of a rainbow or prism.
3. Determine placement of jewels. I used blue jewels on blue oval, red on red, etc. When ready, glue in place with a thin bodied white glue. Use tweezers to help in placement. Allow to dry.
4. Adhere the middle oval (red) directly to a piece of scrap cardstock. On the back of the next oval ring (orange), place foam dots, then attach to the scrap. Continue adding the oval rings, varying the height of each oval from it's neighbor. After the last oval (blue) is in place, trim away the excess background.
5. Spritz the same Color Wash Jewels onto the white tissue paper and allow to dry.
6. Apply adhesive onto a white piece of cardstock, and lay the colored tissue paper on top. Pat into place. Wrinkles are ok, but the area where you stamp should be smooth.
7. Stamp the words in black ink at the bottom, then adhere the jeweled oval in place.
8. Layer onto green cardstock.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Dies: from Some Assembly Required: mini Christmas tree
• from Spellbinders: Leaves / Diamonds Texture Plate, Ovals
• Various pieces of colored cardstock
• Metallic floss
• White cardstock, white glossy cardstock
• Gold Mirricard: from Marco's Paper
• Pre-printed decorative paper
• Gold Krylon
• Christmas Tree Paper Shaper from EK Success
• Thin bodied white glue, other adhesives

Directions

1. Read the directions for using the dies from SAR. These dies can be used in the Wizard - just follow the sandwich for cutting with Spellbinders dies. I used different colors of cardstock, and created enough parts to construct 3 trees. When complete, glue metallic floss to their tops so they may hang. Do not glue the trees "open", as they can be folded and re-opened, so card can be put in an envelope.
2. Take a half sheet of white glossy. Fold in half. Fold again, so that the cardstock is folded accordion style in quarters. Open up, and place the largest oval die from Spellbinders in the middle, and cut with the Wizard. This is the inside of the card.
3. Take a 2nd half sheet of white glossy, and fold in half.
4. Take the decorative paper, and cut a piece that will fit inside the crease of the cover. Glue it down, and trim if necessary.
5. Glue the "accordion" in place - just the 2 ends are glued down, the middle section needs to open / close with card. Cover the ends with the same decorative paper used on the "inside" crease.
6. Using scotch tape, hang the trees from the inside; above or at the top of the oval opening.
7. For the front of the card, adhere a strip of the decorative paper.
8. With white cardstock and the Leaves side of the texture plate, run through the Wizard. Trim and edge with gold Krylon.
9. With gold mirricard and the Diamonds side of the texture plate, run though the Wizard. Using the Christmas Tree from EK Success, punch out a tree.
10. Layer as shown to front cover.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Dies: Harvest 1 Pears, Ovals
• Velvet / Rayon blend - from Hot Potatoes
• Iris (unmounted): ZIMPrints
• Various pieces of colored cardstock
• Watercolor paper (scrap)
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels
• Metallic Rub-Ons
• very sticky double sides tape (on a roll)
• Xyron - adhesive cartridge
• Water in a spray bottle
• Heat gun

Directions

1. Velvet Embossing - spritz both sides of velvet with water
2. Prepare the sandwich - White Master plate, unmounted rubber stamp (iris), velvet - nap side down. Heat 10 seconds with heat gun. Immediately place the second White Master plate on top and run through the Wizard.
3. Cut out approximately 1/4 sheet of very sticky double sided tape, and place on the back of the velvet. Leave the backing on for now, as this will give it some stability.
4. Using a coordinating color of cardstock, create an oval frame using the Wizard and the largest oval die.
5. Run frame through the Xyron so that the entire backside has adhesive.
6. Attach this to the stamped velvet piece.
7. Layer as shown to other pieces of cardstock.
8. Added an embellishment to the frame: Use the Wizard, the Pear die and watercolor paper to create the pear. Spritz with color wash jewels, adding more green to the leaves (use a mask over the pear). When almost dry, you may wish to emboss the pear again.
9. When dry, put metallic rub-ons on the embossed area, and add to the frame.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Die: Harvest 1 Pear
• Spellbinders Texture Plate: Wood Grain / Stones
• Black, Pink, Blue, Orange Cardstock
• Double sided tape, Pop Dots

Directions

1. Create basic Wizard cutting sandwich - white master mat, white spacer plate, die (cut side up), colored cardstock, white master mat, and put through the Wizard.
2. Emboss before creating the next pear. Embossing sandwich - white master mat, die w/ cut cardstock, tan rubber sheet, white master mat.
3. Repeat for each pear, using all 3 colors of cardstock.
4. For the next layer, emboss each cardstock color with the Stones side of the texture plate, and trim.
5. Cut a second layer from each of the colored cardstocks, slightly larger than the "Stones" layer.
6. Stack the pieces as shown, using pop-dots on the pears, and double sided tape on the layers.
7. Attach to black cardstock.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Alphabet: Enchanted
• Spellbinders Die: Circles
• Mirricard - Gold: from Marco's Paper
• All images: Stamp Zia
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels
• White Tissue Paper (the kind for wrapping presents)
• CD
• Clock movements
• Black Document Ink
• Colored Pencils
• Gold Krylon
• Xyron w/ adhesive cartridge, thin bodied white glue, tweezers.

 Directions

1. Using the Wizard and the Enchanted set, cut and emboss the numbers needed for the clock with gold mirricard.
2. Using the Color Wash Jewels, spray colors onto white tissue paper. Let dry.
3. Put a junk CD through the Xyron, placing the adhesive on the silver side.
4. Place the tissue paper over the CD, and use a bone folder to press the paper down,
5. Tear pieces of scrap paper, and place over the CD. Spritz color wash jewels, and heat set. Repeat until you are pleased with the background.
6. Stamp images on CD with document ink. Let dry or heat set.
7. Color with colored pencils, and edge the CD with gold Krylon.
8. Using the thin bodied glue and tweezers, place the numbers around the CD.
9. The center of the clock may need to be a little smaller, depending on the clock movements purchased. Using gold mirricard and scrap cardstock, create 2 small circles in the Wizard with circle die. Adhere the gold circle to the front - and scrap circle to the back.
10. Put the clock together according to the directions on the clock movements package.

Supplies

• The Wizard Die Cut/Embossing Machine (Spellbinders)
• Spellbinders Dies: Slide Mounts, Harvest 2 Leaves, Enchanted set
• Mirricard: Copper and Green: from Marco's Paper
• Watercolor Paper
• Stamp Zia Color Wash Jewels
• Brown Brilliance ink
• Double sided tape, glue dots
• 12 x 12 black cardstock (2)
• 2 sheets of pre-printed decorative paper (slightly smaller than 12 x 12)
  

Directions

1. With copper and green mirricard use the slide mounts die, and run through the Wizard, creating as many slide mounts as needed.
2. Using green mirricard and the Enchanted alphabets and numbers, cut and emboss the words and year.
3. Using Color Wash Jewels, spray the watercolor paper in various fall-like colors. When dry, cut and emboss 2 leaves from the Leaves die using the Wizard.
4. Rub brown ink over the raised lines (veins) of the leaves.
5. Assemble as shown. I used glue dots to adhere the letters and numbers. Everything else was double sided tape.