dry embossing

Just For You……

Hello. I have a slimline card to share with you today incorporating some new products from Spellbinders – dies and embossing folder:

Onto a black slimline card base I adhered a dry embossed panel with 3D foam – this card has a lot of dimension – this is just the beginning….

I die cut the flowers and leaves from various Spellbinder sets in black, magenta and grey, played a little with which colour for which layer, mixed and matched, then arranged them onto the card base.

The flowers were adhered with 3D foam squares, with the leaves and stems attached using glue.

The sentiment is from the Spellbinders Advent Calendar, die cut with a top layer of magenta, two layers of white, then a bottom black layer – slightly off-set.

A final touch was to add some gems – in groups of two – around the sentiment and the floral arrangement.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – magenta, black, white, grey

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – something new

Crafty Catz – anything goes – option hobbies/pastimes not taken

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

MMM Challenge – use something new

Beyond The Blue – use some new craft supplies

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Sending Snowflake Kisses

Hello there. I have been playing with different media over the weekend, and trying some new techniques. One of those I want to share on a card:

This card took quite a bit of thinking about – and a few changes along the way.

I started by die cutting the Hero Arts snowflakes ornament die out of silver glitter card stock, cutting off the ornament topper to create a circle. I then die cut a silver circle frame using a couple of different sized circle dies, and layered on top.

The blue background to the circle, which was previously created using Brushos, again die cut with a circle die and adhered to the back of the snowflakes.

For the background panel, I tried the ink pad to embossing folder technique – on both sides – debossed and embossed, to see what happened. I tried this several times, with different blue Distress inks, and liked this debossed panel the best. I adhered that to the white card base using 3D foam, then stuck down the snowflakes circle.

I wanted a little more bling, so I added some separate snowflakes die cut in the same silver glitter card, from a Pinkfresh Studio set, snipping and placing as you see – of course – this would have been easier had I done this prior to adhering the circle – but there we are……

I added the foiled sentiment – and then decided to add more shine by adding a little silver gem to each of the little snowflakes in the circle…….who knew there were many of them in there?

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder – option Christmas

We Love 2 Create – anything goes mixed media

Beyond The Blue – snowflakes

Peace On Earth Christmas – anything goes Christmas

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Golden Congrats…..

A little more crafty playing yesterday to create this card:

I began by picking the colours out for the current Color Throwdown Challenge and then browsing the ‘Color My Life’ app for ideas. I had no idea where I wanted to go with these colours.

I decided to use these new-to-me dies from Honey Bee Stamps to create a couple of bells, which I die cut and created first. I then decided I wanted a dry embossed background, so turned to one of my favourite embossing folders from Stampin Up.

I wanted a gold layer beneath the embossed layer, so after cutting the panel, I die cut the sentiment – from Lawn Fawn – out of the middle, then layered the two panels together, adding to the card base with 3D foam.

I played with the placement of the bells, but thought a little more dimension was needed, so I used two ovals from a Gina K Designs Master Layouts set, and stuck everything down as you see.

The sentiment was added, but only after I had layered the gold with a couple of white die cuts.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – gold, pink, ice blue

CYHTP – embossing folder, option of Christmas not taken

Inkspirational – prompt word – gold

Dragonfly Dreams – anything but Christmas

Crafters Café – anything goes

Poinsettia and Holly

Hello. I created this card using Spellbinders dies, using colours from a previous challenge – but I liked how the colours worked together so I played with them again:

Behind a die cut square aperture, I placed a dry embossed panel which had been splattered with a copper acrylic paint from Liquitex.

I then die cut the poinsettia – putting more layers with it for a fuller look, die cut some ferns from green card stock, and the holly leaves and mistletoe from gold card stock.

I played around with the arrangement a little, and glued when I was happy.

The sentiment is a previously gold foiled one from Spellbinders.

Here is a picture of the shine from the foiling and gold card stock:

I am absolutely loving the gold card stock from Spellbinders at the moment, and can’t seem to stop using it. You have to make sure that your cutting plates are quite new – you do get some marks on the card if the die cut is large and plain enough…….ask me how I know….!

As an aside – I mentioned on a previous post that the ‘Color My Life’ app – which I used to catalogue my stash – was broken for a few days. It now works, the updates have been sorted and I can see and search from this again – I was really quite shocked how dependent I was on this app. I search for things for challenges – colours, or animals, or tags I have inserted myself. It has saved me buying the same thing twice a few times, but just the ability to be able to ‘look’ through my stash for items I know I have – but forget who made them, or where I’ve stored them – it really is a great way to organise electronically.

Now – to continue with the card – I shall be entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – holiday cheer

Creative Fingers Challenge – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Shopping Our Stash – Christmas greenery

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Crafting Happiness – Christmas

2 Sisters On The Blog – Christmas and Holly

Winter Wonderland – anything goes Christmas

Just……..Hello…..

I have a CAS card to share which incorporates several of my favourite techniques – ink smooshing, die-cutting, and using embossing folders:

I dry embossed a white panel and stuck to the card base with 3D foam.

The Tim Holtz flower (Holiday Brushstrokes) was die cut from a previously created orange ink smooshed panel – the different small layers had some extra ink blending on the edges to make them a little darker – and glued together. The yellow centre is from another panel using mica sprays.

I also die cut the leaves in that die set from a brown card stock, then adhered these with a mixture of 3D foam and wet glue.

The sentiment if from Lawn Fawn, die cut three times in white, then a brown die cut on top.

I added some red enamel dots as extra accents.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

TTCRD – anything goes

Krafty Chicks – CAS

Creative Knockouts – anything goes

Color Throwdown – red, orange, brown, yellow

Mix It Up – anything goes – option to use a technique

Thankful For Your Friendship

Hello once again. It’s my turn to host the new challenge starting at Cardz 4 Galz. I have chosen the theme of ‘stencils’. Here is my card:

This card is – obviously – a slimline card – but slightly longer than the usual. I started with the card base, and die cut the Pinkfresh Studio deco frame twice – it wasn’t as long as I needed it – but I knew I could cover the join with my other elements.

I dry embossed a panel to go inside the frame and adhered the frame with 3D foam – I wanted to add the elemenst with 3D foam, and to tuck them under the frame in certain places.

The birds and branches are from a stamp, die and stencil set from Pinkfresh Studio. I stenciled this several times with different colours of birds and flowers, then used the matching die, which created lots of separate pieces, and set about arranging them in my frame.

I knew I wanted to cover the join in the frame, so I started there, then looked for a sentiment and arranged everything else around that. Some of the leaves and flowers I trimmed down to fit, and added gold gems to match the sentiment.

I hope you can come and join us with your creations which include a stencil – I look forward to seeing your creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge – Anything goes (option to add number/s not taken)

MMM Challenge – thank you

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

CYHTP – embossing folder (wreath option not taken)

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with die cuts

Here Is A Place To Start – anything goes – option words of thanks

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes (option fancy folds not taken)

Stencil Fun – stencils (option fall colours not taken)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – stencil it

Gold and Green Christmas

Hello. After playing in my craft room I created this card. So very different to my recent posts – but the kind of many layers card I used to create back in the day. I had forgotten how much card stock this takes – and I must admit I ‘gutted’ a few of the layers. The dies used are from Sue Wilson – stitched squares, holly octagon – and are many years old:

I created a white card base to be slightly over the size of the first layer – and two layers of green, two layers of a brushed gold were matted – with one gold layer dry embossed – also a Sue Wilson embossing folder. The two smaller gold and green layers were die cut from the two larger layers – no waste, and you can’t see that I did that – don’t tell anyone!

Aligning the snowflakes on the gold layer took a minute or two – straight lines all over the place on that background.

The holly berry octagon was die cut in the green, and the other additional holly layers either green or gold – depending on how it all fit together.

I decided not to add a sentiment, but I’ll certainly add something to the inside instead of the front.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Krafty Chicks – Christmas

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge – anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Daring Cardmakers – Holly

Crafty Friends Challenge – Christmas

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenges – anything goes Christmas

Birdie Christmas Greetings

Hello. I have a card to share inspired by the current colours at Color Throwdown:

I decided to make a Christmas card with those colours, and used a few Spellbinders die sets I have.

The background is embossed using an older embossing folder from Sizzix – not a Christmas design by any means, but I liked that it add some interest.

The central die is from Gina K designs and one of her Master Layouts, raised and adhered with foam.

The birds were put together using all the layers in each die set, but for the bird which is supposed to be a cardinal, I changed his/her tail feathers to the smaller ones from the other bird.

The floral elements and ferns are also from Spellbinders.

I played with the layout a little, stuck the elements down when I was happy with a mixture of 3D foam and glue, then added some sequins – I restrained myself to only adding three – and found that the sequins actually shine a little pink – so matches the colours perfectly.

I added the previously foiled sentiment for a total contrast so there is no mistake that this is a Christmas card……! Despit the colours…..!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – mustard, pink, green

CYHTP – embossing folder – option pumpkins not taken

Christmas With The Cuties – anything goes Christmas – option food/drinks not taken

Sparkles Forum – festive and things with wings

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with die cuts

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Christmas Greetings

Hello once again. I have a card to share using a Spellbinders die set and embossing folder:

I first die cut the images out of the colours of card stock you see, not really sure what colours for what layers that I wanted to use to create the final card.

I layered and played with the colours, then played with the layout until deciding on what you see.

I used the Spellbinders embossing folder and layered that with 3D foam onto a white card base. The floral arrangement was added using a mixture of 3D foam and wet glue, and I think I changed my mind so many times where all the elements were going…..I have enough left over for a couple more cards too.

The sentiment is a previously foiled strip, and some iridescent sequins were added for a bit of bling.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – anything goes

Color Throwdown – plum, blush, sage

Krafty Chicks – occasions

Allsorts – any special occasion

CYHTP – embossing folder – option pumpkins not taken

U Got This…..

I have a card to share today using lots of bright colours and die cuts:

The base panel is a previously created panel when ink smooshing and mixing some bright colours, then I embossed it with a Stampin Up embossing folder. I splattered this some black acrylic and set it to dry.

I then turned to die cutting all the pieces from the Tim Holtz die set – choosing bright colours – and using more previously created ink smooshed panels from my stock. I also found some black glimmer card which I had used some glimmer polish on so thought that would be ideal for the eyes.

Once all the pieces were die cut, I played with layout and decided to go with the face as you see, sticking down with a combination of 3D foam and glue.

The sentiment is also from Tim Holtz – using the letters which fell out of the metal die – a big ‘U’ instead of the full word as I felt it wouldn’t fit in and look right……

A bright and cheerful encouragement card – I have someone in mind – with a lot of fiddly work – but I like the result.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Cut It Up Challenge – big image or sentiment – include a die cut

CYHTP – embossing folder – option orange and black not taken

Time Out Challenge – cancer awareness/friendship/encouragement

Creative Fingers – anything goes

Allsorts Challenge – add a sentiment

Addicted To Stamps and More – die cuts/stencils

We Love 2 Create – anything goes mixed media