Spellbinders Out-of-the Box Technique & Copic Tips

Here are the instructions for the out-of-the-box technique I created on this card.

Start by stamping your image on cardstock, then position the die of your choice over the image (cutting side down).  Where you DON'T want the die to cut, slip a piece of the Spellbinders Tan Embossing Mat under the die.  Trust me, the die won't cut into that mat -- how cool is that?!!

Tape the die & mat in place with scotch tape (preferably removable).  I try not to tape into the image area, just in case the tape doesn't remove properly.  Then FLIP YOUR IMAGE AND DIE OVER, so the die is now facing up and run thru your Wizard machine, using the normal cutting sandwich.

Once cut, gently remove the small piece of Tan Embossing Mat, leaving the die and tape in place.  If you don't remove that small piece of tan mat first, this is what you'll get when you try to emboss with the double thickness of mat:

Oops!!  After removing the small piece of mat, run the piece back thru your Wizard, using the normal embossing sandwich.  This is what you'll get, after trimming around the flower portion that was outside the die cutting area:

Pretty cool, eh?!!  Now, you see where I accidentally colored outside the lines of my stamped image on the orange flower?  You can easily fix that, when using Copic markers.  Just take the Colorless Blender pen and remove the color -- it works like an eraser!!  BEFORE:

AFTER:

Something else I love doing with the Copic markers . . . have you ever wished you had the perfect color of an embellishment?  Well, if you keep white, clear or another similar neutral color on hand, you'll always have the exact color match you want, with your Copics.  Here, I colored a plain white pearl with a green Copic to match my project:

One more Copic trick . . . have you ever noticed or wondered why there is a gray band around one end of your marker?  This applies to all types of the markers (not just the Sketch I've shown here):

A real slap your head moment, huh?!!  The gray band indicates the brush end of the marker, so you don't have to keep flipping the marker over, looking for the brush end indicator!  The chisel end does not have a gray band.

I hope these Copic tips help you out and you try the out-of-the-box technique with your Spellbinder dies -- I think you'll enjoy it!

Comments

[Elaine]

1.

Some of the best tips I've seen for Copics and dies!! Thank you for sharing - you rock!!

[Lisa]

2.

Oh my gosh! Thanks for the tip on the gray band on the copics! I hate looking for that indicator! I always have the wrong side. You'd think with a 50/50 chance I'd get it right some time, but no way! You just saved little bit of my sanity! And thanks for the tutorial with the nestabilities! Great card, btw!

[Linda C.]

3.

Who knew?? Thanks for the tips Sharon!

[dana j]

4.

Thanks so much for those tips! Now I just need (a) more copics and (b) a colorless blender! :)

[Beth]

5.

Definitely a "duh" moment here! It's those little things that make such a big difference. Thanks for this awesome tutorial. I have been using my Coluzzle for out-of-the-box images but this will emboss, also. How awesome is that!

[Lynn Mercurio]

6.

Oh Sharon, I do so appreciate all of your tips when it comes to copic markers...the information you share is so very valuable!

Hugs,
L.

[CherylQuilts]

7.

Sharon, first of all, I LOVE your new photo! Hope you are feeling much better. Second, this is SO helpful...I love your tips. You are amazing! Love this technique...now I need the courage to try it. LOL!

[Juliana]

8.

I was just trying to figure this out the other day.

You rock!

[Cheryl Sims]

9.

I love your explanations Sharon. You make things so clear. I don't have any copic markers and there don't seem to be any in my near future, but they sure look neat to be able to color embellies. Great job. Thank you.
Cheryl Sims

[Shel9999]

10.

Well, the gray ring is definately the cause of a "duh" moment for me! lol. I NEVER noticed that!!! Thank you. :)

[Pat]

11.

Wow. I love your Spellbinders cutting tip. That is awesome. Thank you so much.

[liannallama]

12.

wonderful card and thanks for the tut!

[JaneAnn]

13.

Thank you very much for the detailed instructions. I LOVE tips like these.

[Elizabeth S.]

14.

Very helpful. Thank you for the tips.

[Jennifer Buck]

15.

Where do I start!!!...It never occurred to me the tips were color coded! You have just saved me a little time! Second, thanks for the wonderful tutorial! I can't wait to try this out! Love it! Take care! :)

[Melissa (SCS: stampin_melissa)]

16.

Thanks so much for the tips! Ahhh, now I don't have to keep turning those markers over to see which tip I want! :D

[Kristy V]

17.

Thanks for all of the Copic tips! I am trying to figure out why some have little 'x's and some have other letters but they are not on all of them...maybe something is going over my head.

[Bev S]

18.

Thanks for the tutorial and the tips! I hope to try the Copics one of these days...

[Terri Honz]

19.

Sharon, I absolutely love your tips for copics and nestability dies. They are sooo helpful! Please keep them coming!

[Juanita]

20.

Thank you sooooo much for the awesome information and sharing!!!

[lacyquilter]

21.

Thanks for the great tip with the nestabilities. I never would have thought of that.

[Keri Lee Sereika]

22.

Ok Sharon, that is a totally neat tutorial! Thanks for the tips!

[Tex]

23.

Leave it to Sharon to come up with this uber-cool technique! I love that "gray band" tip, too! I never realized that, yet I'm guilty as charged with flipping & flipping!! Thank you!

`Bev

[Carol]

24.

Hi Sharon, thanks for the helpful hints. I always learn so much from your site. Hope you're still feeling well.

[Carole (TruCarMa)]

25.

OMGosh, Sharon! That was totally an "aha" moment re: the gray band around the Copics!!!! You don't know how you've opened my eyes. Now, here's some of the best advice I've ever received in exchange for that essential piece of knowledge. I hope it helps you as much as it's helped me over the years since my MIL told me it about 19 years ago: you can always fit one more thing in the dishwasher. Truer words were never spoken!!!

Big hugs, and so enjoyed meeting you at CHA!!

[Cindy Lyles]

26.

***faints***

GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TexasGrammy]

27.

Fun! Using a strip of embossing mat is cool news, Sharon! Thank you!

~Bev