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Heat Embossing with a folder

Hi once again. I was inspired by the current challenge at Just Us Girls to try a technique – heat embossing with embossing folders. I have tried this before – with very poor results – but this time their link to the Jennifer McGuire video helped me a lot:

I played with numerous different colours of card stock, and different colours of embossing powder – but this the one which inspired me the most. A dark blue card with silver embossing powder.

I used the Lawn Fawn snowflake dies to create a matt silver and glittery large snowflake and smaller snowflake, and layered them as you see.

Here are some of my other ‘trials’:

The tip which helped me the most was using a brayer to add the embossing ink – that seemed to create a better overall coverage.

The other thing I noticed – the purple and silver piece is an A4 piece of card. I used an A4 folder, and my 12 inch Big Shot Pro – it seems I don’t get an even pressure across the whole piece – I will have to use a little shim in the future – but I actually like the effect of almost outlining the images instead of fully heat embossing the background.

On the blue floral piece, I used a thicker embossing powder, with larger embossing bits – not exactly a powder……maybe granules would be a better word? Anyhoo – I heated from the back, and created an uneven almost distressed and vintage look to that piece, which I’m liking too:

So – the outcome is that I enjoyed playing an experimenting, and also have some pieces which can be used as backgrounds, or even for die cutting in the future.

I shall be entering the card into the following challenges:

Just Us Girls – heat embossed embossing folders

Peace On Earth At Christmas – Christmas Inspiration Board (snowflakes and snow)

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

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Shiny Holly Leaves

After another playtime in my craft room, I have a card to share:

I have no idea why the card doesn’t look white on that photo, and no idea how to correct it, but here are some other photos:

I actually went up to my craft room to get messy – ink smooshing etc – but then I changed my mind as this circular holly image was there drying from the previous day – so I decided to create a card using this first.

The image was stamped, coloured with Copics, die cut – then glossy accents added for some shine. This was then added to a small circle.

I used Heffy Doodle red card stock as the base, and added the white layer after dry embossing with a Sue Wilson embossing folder – one of my favourites and one of my oldest.

The layout of the card was to follow the current Freshly Made Sketches Challenge. I added plain white strips – something I wouldn’t have considered up until a few weeks ago……yep – another virtual craft session!

Sentiment-wise – I think I’ll put something on the inside, more of a verse sentiment, so the front stays clean.

Hello Friend

I’ve been playing with a layering stencil received as part of the Crop and Create kit a few weeks. I seem to be getting the hang of stencils – whether they are layering or not – and I’m enjoying creating variations using the same product.

The six layers to the flower stencil from Pink Fresh Studio were all still used for this card – but two shades of orange for the sunflowers, and the leaves and other floral images I used two – maybe three – shades of grey – all Distress Inks.

I didn’t mask anything off – just used a little – make that tiny – blending brush for each section. The stencil also comes with a die to cut the inner part out – which I obviously used – and die cut the whole slimline panel using a Mama Elephant slimline die I had.

The Kraft card base has a Kraft panel, embossed with a Sue Wilson pin-point embossing folder for some added interest, and the floral panel raised with 3D foam strips

The two words are also from the Crop and Create kit – one from Gina K and the other from The Stamp Market. This is the second version of the words – the first was by heat embossing with gold – but I didn’t like that, so went back to just layering three each of the words – Kraft – on top of the shadow layer.

But I did add some gold(ish) sequins – just because I could……..!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

The Color Throwdown – orange, brown, grey

Addicted to Stamps and More – dies and/or stencils

Time Out Challenge – friendship/encouragement card – option to use pink not taken

Stamplorations Stencil Challenge – use a stencil

N for No Layers

At The Alphabet Challenge we have reached the letter ‘N’, and Veronika has chosen the theme of ‘No Layers’. None. Zilch, Zip. Nada………

Here is my card:

I have taken a liking to stencils, particularly layering stencils. I struggle with them – I usually get some black ink on the layers somewhere – whether or not I’ve used black ink. Goodness knows where it comes from. And usually one of the colours I use ends up in the wrong place – handy for sequin placement – but this time I couldn’t use one due to being one layer.

I recently attended another virtual crafting weekend, and one of those classes was using a layering stencil, but also masking parts of that stencil to use different colours…..so I thought I’d try with this one from Simon Says Stamp.

I also decided I like to use Distress inks for smaller openings, and Distress Oxides for larger areas.

This particular stencil involved quite a bit of masking to get the different colours on the leaves and petals -those small sticky note arrow thingies work well for that – and small blender brushes too.

Hopefully you can join us in our new challenge – no layers. I look forward to seeing your creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

The Sisterhood Of Crafters – stencils

Addicted to Stamps and More – die cuts and/or stencils

Stamplorations October stencil challenge – anything goes with a stencil

Cardz 4 Galz ‘Oriental’

Hello. Dawn is hosting the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and she has chosen the theme of ‘Oriental’. Here is my take on the new theme:

This actually a one layer card – I decided to do some masking and then colouring – just to keep challenging myself.

The stamps I used are from Clearly Besotted, first stamping the cute creature, then masking, and then stamping the background.

I also then masked the tree – itty bitty cutting required – and masked above and below as you see and ink blended the blue strip.

Once the masks were removed I used Copics to colour, and then stamped the sentiment.

I hope you can come and join us with your ‘Oriental’ makes – I look forward to seeing what you create.

I shall be entering the following challenges:
Colour Crazy Challenge – anything goes with colouring

Cupcake Inspirations – anything goes

Critter Crazy Challenge – anything goes with a critter

Stamplorations CAS Challenge – CAS option ombre (option not taken)

Christmas Words

Hello once again. ABC Christmas Challenge has started a new challenge using the letters ‘U’ and ‘V’. The host is Julie, and the themes using these letters are ‘Under the tree‘ and ‘Vocabulary‘ (use words). Here is my card:

Having bought this cover die for attending the recent Hero Arts Stamp-along, and having used the outside areas for the shaker card we made, I used the letters which were die cut to create this card.

I sprayed them with a Tim Holtz Mica Spray, and whilst I was being messy, I also sprayed a separate piece of card with the green mica spray too.

Once those letters had dried, I stacked them three times with white card stock. and when the green layer was dry I used a slimline die from Mama Elephant to create the scalloped frame.

The letters were added as you see. The scallop frame is raised using 3D foam strips, so I added the letters to get the same height all round, as they didn’t quite fit into the frame – but I wanted it to work so I just got on with it, and some part of the letters on the edge were glued directly onto the frame.

I’m loving playing with these mica sprays – loving it. They are so shiny and vibrant – you will definitely see more makes using these.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas makes following our two themes.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Christmas Cards All Year Round – Christmas with S or T (sprays, scallops)

One Layer Happy Birthday

Hello. A new challenge has started at Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge, this time we want to see your CAS cards with no added layers. Just the card base with your images and/or sentiments on it. No layering. No die cuts – one layer.

Here is my card:

Using a top folding A2 card base out of Neenah card stock, I stamped the two layers from the Uniko ‘Background Blocks Layered Modern Floral’ using Catherine Pooler inks.

I chose these two colours virtually straight away, and chose Catherine Poole rinks as they always stamp first time on new stamp sets – a little rubbing over the stamp with the fingers, but then you are good to go. Of course -having the Misti helps – just in case!

There are some little stamps in the set too which I used to stamp extra in the main image – those little dots and a few leaves….

As a little aside – this is the second card I created for this challenge. The first card just didn’t take my fancy. I used some layering flower and leaves sets from Altenew, some masking – but the end result didn;t really do it for me – I kept thinking about t, and finally – whilst tidying my craft room for yet another virtual crafting session – I came across this stamp set just sat there waiting to be added to the CML app.

Bingo – I prefer this card much better – it just kinda sings to me…..

I hope you can come and join us for this challenge – there are some amazing one layer cards from the Design Team – and such a difference between each make – such inspiration….. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

TTCRD – anything goes

Time Out Challenge – inspired by words (flowers)

Uniko Challenge – anything goes – option autumn colours

Playing with colours and papers

Hello. I’ve spent a little time in my craft room today, playing with different patterned papers I have accrued – and that’s a lot of patterned papers….. I actually don’t know how to layer them, how to play with the sizes of them, or how to put collections together really – but I enjoyed creating this card.

There are so many layers, so many different elements, a lot of die cutting – and a lot of gluing…..

I attended the virtual Maker Mania 4 last weekend – well, I say attended, when I still have lots more to see and lots more ideas to try a re-create from that weekend. A lot of the papers I used today were from the kit sent from MM4 – and some oldies but goodies from my stash.

I started by using a rub-on from the kit – the bird on the centre of the circle – which was also part of the kit. I can’t remember the last time I used a rub-on image – if ever – but this bird just sang to me – pun intended!

The flowers are from MFT, the layered leaves were from Sizzix, as was the embossing folder.

A piece of patterned paper onto the base card, to which I glued the dry embossed piece after I had also distressed that with the same brown distress ink. The circle was glued down with Pinflair glue – I like to be able to move it and lift it when layering other elements, and that glue gives me enough time.

The layered leaves – top layer again darkened with distress ink – were added next, then the orange and purple flowers – and you guessed it – they were dampened down a little with brown distress ink – and all arranged as you see here.

So – outside my comfort zone, enjoying playing – and maybe – just maybe – getting to grips with patterned paper and layering…….but still a work in progress…..

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – purple, orange, green, kraft

Here Is A Place To Start – use patterned paper

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – anything goes

Beyond The Blue Challenge – layered die cuts (leaves and flowers)

Critter Crazy Challenge – anything goes with a critter

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with die cuts

Flowering Cactus

A quick post today to share a one layer card:

I just love that sentiment, and when coupled with the flowering cactus – I just had to buy the stamp and die set and play with it.

The set is from Memory Box, and I stamped the image onto a Neenah 110lbs card stock to reduce the amount of Copic bleed-through to the other side when I coloured it.

I kept the tones quite similar, using the colour scheme from a recent Hero Arts virtual class, and colours suggested by Daniel West.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Colour Crazy Challenge –week 37, anything goes colouring

Allsorts Challenge – anything goes – option nature

AAA Cards – CAS – no layers – option HUGS (option not taken)

Pink Gem Challenge – challenge 20 – anything goes

Lantern and Poinsettia

Hello once again. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge has started a new challenge. The theme is always ‘anything goes Christmas/Festive’ – here is my card:

During the past year I have taken some online classes with Susan Tierney-Cockburn – moving out of my comfort zone and trying something new. I struggled – and still do – when creating these flowers using her Spellbinders collection of dies – but I keep trying. I am pleased with how this poinsettia turned out….

The only thing I didn’t really feel I got to grips with was the centre – I really messed that up – which is why there is Nuvo drops and some glitter there……..!

I managed to create these flowers and leaves following her YouTube videos, and have even invested in the flower forming tools – I feel they would help as I was using my ball tools when I created this and didn’t quite get the detail and lines and veins of the leaves – you will probably see another variation on this theme….

I didn’t put a candle in the lantern either – and I don’t think it’s missed – maybe another variation for the future…..

The base card was layered with squares using Sue Wilson stitched dies, and one of her embossing folders too to add the holly swirl details in the white background piece.

The lantern was die cut from Tim Holtz metal coloured card stock, then I used some of his embossing powders on it to try and create a more weathered and metallic look.

I am definitely going to create this flower again – maybe in other colours – as I actually quite enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas/festive creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

My Time To Craft – embossing (I used wet and dry embossing)

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up Challenge – anything goes mixed media – option monochrome

Mixed Media Lovers Challenge – anything goes Mixed Media

12 Months of Christmas Challenge – Christmas with option of metallic