Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Stamping

Hi blogging friends

A short while ago, I came across a card that was stamped with an embossing folder and I really, really loved how it looked but had no clue how it was done because there was no information with the card.  Fortunately, Splitcoaststampers recently uploaded a tutorial including a video HERE so I have spent alot of time playing in my Craft Room trying to learn the technique. 

My initial attempts were quite frustrating because I wasn't sure how much water to spray on the folder.  I found that if I sprayed too much water, the pattern was lost - and then if I didn't spray enough water, I wouldn't get a lovely graduation of colour.   I also played with different mediums such as Tombow Pens and Distress Inks and tried different colour combinations plus I experimented with different embossing folders and found some worked better than others.  I also tried watercolour paper and smooth white cardstock and they both gave very different results but worked really well.  I also learned to let the cardstock dry before thinking that it looks terrible because it looks different after drying.

I was so fortunate that yesterday someone else was caring for my loved one all day so I spent a large part of the day with no interruptions where I could really get stuck in.  And it was great because the day before, we had been at the hospital for appointments for a good deal of the day so I appreciated having a day off after the appointments.   It is very, very rare that I get a whole day to myself at home where I not only have a physical break from being a Carer but also a complete emotional break.  I felt on-top-of-the world at the end of the day and so excited to learn a new technique.  And I didn't even need to make dinner that evening - that was made for me as well - ahhhh, bliss!!

So, without further ado, here is my card:

I used a Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder and randomly applied Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage and Faded Jeans Distress Inks then sprayed the water onto the folder using a Ranger Mini Mister and lay my smooth white cardstock down on top.  I left the cardstock there for almost a minute and pressed down with my fingers so all areas of the cardstock received the ink then lifted it off.   Where there was a darker pool of colour that stood out a bit too much, I simply used a tiny piece of paper towel to blot it up a little.  I left the cardstock to dry by itself but I guess you could dry it with a heat-gun if you were in a hurry.  I was a little afraid that I would spread the ink into the white areas and spoil the effect so I just waited patiently for it to dry because this was my favourite one out of all the ones I had done and believe me, I did tons of them LOL!  Ohhh, I just love how the colours mixed - so pretty don't you think?!

I added the teal cardstock strip then stamped the sentiment using Colorbox Peacock pigment ink and heat-set it using Satin Pearl embossing powder.  I diecut a heart from teal cardstock from the Memory Box Hearts and Stars die set and popped it up on a 3mm dimensional.  Lastly, I corner-punched the RHS of the main panel then tied on the twine.  It really is a simple card even if it took a loooooong time to get to that point but I am so glad that I persevered!

Challenges:

I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers Challenge - TLC482 - To Emboss or To Stamp which is specifically for Embossing Folder Stamping

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #323 - Blues and Hues 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog today - I appreciate it very much.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Sentiment from Stamp-It Australia self-cling rubber sentiment set siset014

Designer paper:  None

Ink:  Ranger Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans and Bundled Sage; Colorbox Peacock pigment

Accessories:  Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder, Darice Hemp cord (Riot Art and Craft), 3mm dimensional, Memory Box Hearts and Stars die set, Big Shot, Ranger Mini Mister, heat-gun, Satin Pearl embossing powder, cardstock - teal, white

Punches:  Stampin' Up corner punch

Penny Black Strawberry Jam thank you card

Hi blogging friends

The card I am sharing today is a "Thank you" card for a wonderful friend who has been very kind and supportive during our loved one's illness so what better way to say thank you than a handmade card!

The image is by Penny Black - Strawberry Jam and is my new favourite PB stamp (which I am sure I could say about every PB stamp LOL!).  It was stamped onto watercolour paper using Ranger Archival Sepia ink and coloured with various mediums:  Winsor and Newton watercolour paints, Faber-Castell + Albrecht-Durer watercolour pencils and Tombow pens using a No. 2 round Kolinsky Sable paintbrush.   I dry-brushed a little bit of white acrylic paint on the strawberries for the highlight.   I really love stamping some of the Penny Black critters in brown ink instead of black as it gives a softness to the image.

I punched some tiny hearts using pink and red parts of the designer paper using an EK Success Arrows border punch (they are the leftover punchies after using the punch that look like tiny hearts - too cute!) and glued them around the image then added Kindyglitz Crystalina glitter glue. 

The sentiment was a freebie stamp from a set called "Sweet Treats" - designed by Beth Gunnel and came free with a Quick Cards Made Easy magazine back in 2012.  I stamped it using Versamagic Gingerbread ink.  I originally stamped it with the Ranger Sepia ink but it just looked too dark and didn't look right so went for a softer and lighter brown.  The red heart was punched from one of the strawberries on the designer paper using a Carl CP-8 Heart duo (I used the smallest heart on the punch) then added Kindyglitz Crystalina to add some sparkle.

Here is a close-up of the sweet image:

The designer paper is one I picked up from a Craft Show which I thought was just perfect with the image.

The middle panel was embossed using my Big Shot and a Cart-Us embossing folder (sorry, but there is no name on the folder nor the packaging).  

The bottom brown layer is actually the flip-side of the designer paper as it matched the strawberry pattern so beautifully and the pink layer is cardstock.  All the layers were trimmed to 1/8" using my Perfect Layers Tools,

The fancy bottom border was punched using a Martha Stewart Lace Doily edge punch.  I recently replaced this punch because I wore the old one out and it is still my favourite punch:  just so feminine and pretty and never tire of it.  I am tempted to buy another one to put away before it comes unavailable just in case I break my new one or I wear it out.  Hmmm, wonder if should?  What do you think?

The twine is by Trendy Twine - Krazy for Kraft.  I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.  

Challenges:

I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - May - You're favourite PB stamp 

Thanks for visiting my blog today and for any comments that you care to leave - they are very much appreciated!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black Strawberry Jam 4254J wood mount, Sentiment Sweet Treats (freebie from Quick Cards Made Easy Magazine in 2012)

Ink:  Ranger Archival Sepia, Versamagic Gingerbread chalk

Designer paper:  Crate Paper Pretty Party - Cake Stand (2011) - both sides

Accessories:  Winsor and Newton watercolour paints, Faber-Castell + Albrecht-Durer watercolour pencils, Tombow pens, JoSonja Titanium White acrylic paint, No. 2 round Kolinsky Sable paintbrush, Kindyglitz Crystalina glitter glue, dimensionals, 140lb watercolour paper, Fray Stop, Trendy Twine - Krazy for Kraft, Big Shot, Cart-Us embossing folder (unknown name), Lifestyle Nesting Rectangle dies, Lifestyle Nesting Circle + Scallop Circle dies, Perfect Layers Tools, cardstock - pink

Punches:  EK Success Arrows border, Martha Stewart Lace Doily, Carl CP-8 Heart duo

Shirt card for a Masculine Birthday or Father's Day

Hi blogging friends

Sorry I haven't been around for a few weeks:  I've had some medical appointments to attend to for my loved one so that has meant multiple trips into hospital - and then had a few issues to deal with following those appointments (but all is OK) - and I have had a very sore back and neck (just an old injury playing up from a fall from a horse many years ago probably because I have been feeling a little anxious!) so crafting time has been frustratingly limited to short bursts.   Anyway, enough about me and onto what I have been playing with in my Craft Room.......

Today I am sharing a Shirt Card:
 

Have you ever come across a card by another Blogger and thought:  "Wow, I really like that - I must try it" - and then a couple of years later, you FINALLY get around to making it?  I first saw this Shirt card on Nancy Riley's blog:  iStamp in June 2010 - see Nancy's post HERE - and printed it out and kept it in my "To do" folder.   I thought it was a fabulous idea for a masculine card as you could do alot of variations on the basic card and it would be great for a birthday or Father's Day and it would be appropriate for a great range of ages!  Yep, it's only taken me 4 years to try it out LOL!

Now, I didn't follow the instructions at the link that Nancy provided - I followed instructions from another blogger:  Susan Roberts from Rainy Day Creations - who made these fantastic variations HERE - and then pinched the shirt sleeve/cuff idea from one of my favourite Bloggers:  Kerry Cox from her blog - A load of old pickle - from Kerry's shirt cards HERE.

The card is very simple and so quick to make - and I would really encourage you to try it.  The collar is popped up on dimensionals as is the shirt sleeve/cuff and I rounded the edges of the cuff with a corner punch.  I wondered if I should put a sentiment somewhere (?) but nothing looked right so left it off.  Next time I make a Shirt Card, I won't glue the tie down flat - I will pop it up on dimensionals as I think it will look better.  The buttons were glued down with Crafter's Pick Incredibly Tacky glue. The designer paper that I used on the tie is old and by Kaisercraft - at least back from 2009.

Here is a side view so you can see the dimension and also see how I trimmed off the back of the card to match the front:

So don't wait 4 years like me to try a Shirt Card - make it today!  There are many variations on this type of card including origami ones - just Google it and you'll find a ton of inspiration out there.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  none

Designer paper:   Kaisercraft Lone Ranger P128 Shotgun (retired)

Accessories:  green buttons (from stash), green sewing thread, Crafter's Pick Incredibly tacky glue, dimensionals, cardstock - pale green

Punches:  Stampin' Up corner