Embossing resist technique

I've been playing with the embossing resist technique. Basically,Thi you heat emboss a design on the card stock with clear embossing powder. Then you sponge ink over the embossed design. I embossed several sheets at a time and then starting sponging them. My 20 yr old daughter was 'bored' so I gave her some and asked her to pick out some colors and sponge.


This is one of her color combinations - Marina Mist, Real Red and Pretty in Pink. The stamp set is the new Delicate Doilies (available July 1).

This card is a combination of Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango and one of the new IN colors, Calypso Coral. The hearts are from the I {heart}Heartsset. The sentiment is from one of the new hostess discount sets, Tagtastic. The whole hostess program has changed. You earn hostess dollars and those can be used to purchase discounted hostess sets or anything in the catalog.

This is the same stamp set but uses the 2011-2013 IN colors (available July 1). Indigo Island, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, and Pool Party inks were used. The background is Island Indigo. I dyed the ribbon using the Calypso Coral ink refill. This card is a little different in that is a tri-fold. You untie the ribbon and open the first flap....

Then you open the other flap....

The center is covered with a piece of Calypso Coral.

This is another tri-fold. I embossed the French Foliage leaves using gold embossing powder. The inks used were More Mustard, Lucky Limeade and Pumpkin Pie. ( I just looked at the combination of 'foods' and that would not be a very good combo if you were eating, but it makes a great color combo ) The sentiment comes is from one of the retired sets.

Here you open the first flap......

then the second flap to reveal a piece of More Mustard in the center.

While I had my heat tool out I thought I might finish up some of the heat embossed ribbon flowers. I got the ribbon too hot and it started to actually melt.

This is what the adhesive sheet on the back looks like - it was a mess but I think it is salvageable. However, I also got some of the melted hot adhesive on my finger tip.

It sure did hurt! The gooey adhesive did not want to come off my finger. I pull it off but it still hurt. It blistered almost immediately. I soaked it in some ice water and put some ointment on it and it stopped hurting enough that it did not stop me :-)

Technique Tuesday

This month's Technique Tuesday ( June 21) will be Faux Silk. This is the card we will be making.

The technique uses tissue paper and I have a bunch of tissue paper in various colors so tried a piece of orange that went well with Peach Parfait.

I stamped the flowers in Cajun Craze and Early Espresso. The card stock used is Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze and Peach Parfait. The colors are so vivid on this - I love it!

I've also been playing with the Stampin Pastels. I don't use them much so I forced myself to do a few things with them today. This was stamped on vellum and then sponged on the pastels.

This is the Poppin Pastels method. Using Versamark ink, stamp the image on card stock and then sponge on the pastels. It really does pop - can't tell that from the photo.

For this card I stamped the leaves (have I mentioned how excited I am that this set is in the catalog - I love it!) on Very Vanilla card stock. Then I sponged on the pastels in autumn colors - just smeared them around in the background.

New Tutorials Posted

I have posted some new tutorials. You can access all my tutorials by using the link on the right or use the link below the photos to go directly to the tutorial.

Altered Notebooks: So many possibilities. This is a simple way to dress up a notebook for yourself or as a gift for someone special.

Waterfall Cards: Once you make one of these you will want to make more and more.

And here is my new punch storage area. The hardware is from IKEA = thank goodness I have two nieces that live near an IKEA. They did my shopping for me. The ribbon spools forthe 5/8 satin and 3/6 taffeta ribbon fit very well in the hanging baskets.

And here is a teaser for the new catalog. I have been dying some ribbon in the new IN colors. These ribbons remind me of my sister's rainbow wedding.

It's here!

My new Stampin Up Idea Book and Catalog 2011-2012 (IBC) arrived yesterday and I had a much needed day off - so I got to play with my new toys :-) I got the new IN color kit (paper, stamp pads, refill inkers and markers) and what fun I had! These were all inspired by something in the new IBC. The IBC is not just a catalog but it also has lots of ideas and special hints on how to use the products.

This card uses Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party and Basic Black. The ribbon is the 1/8 inch taffeta in Whisper White, dyed using Wisteria Wonder ink refill. The smaller scallop circles are from the triple layer punch that is in the Summer mini but also available in the IBC. Stamp sets used are Friends Never Fade and Teeny Tiny Wishes.

This is Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade. This ribbon is also dyed using the ink refill. To get the faded look under the greeting, I sponged on a little Whisper White craft ink. This is also the Friends Never Fade stamp set. The greeting is from the Bring on the Cake stamp set which was in the mini-Occasions but is also in the new IBC.

This card features all of the 2011 IN colors. The card base is Calypso Coral. The tags from left to right are Indigo Island, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade and Wisteria Wonder.

This card features the Look Who's Turning stamp set. The card base is Lucky Limeade. The hippo is stamped in Indigo Island which I cut out and placed on Pool Party and Calypso Coral. The '5' is cut using the Timeless Type Sizzlet for the Big Shot. A little bit of Baker's Twine (summer mini - but also in the IBC) was added for an accent.

And this is my dining room table :-) We have house guests (DD and SIL) in the craft room/guest room so I have moved my work out to the dining room table.

Good-bye to some favorites

Some of my favorite stamp sets are on the 'retirement' list from Stampin' Up. After June 30th, these will no longer be available for purchase. So - I thought I would re-post some photos to honor some of these retiring items. If you want to purchase any of these - you will have to do so before June 30th - let me know ASAP!

A Cardinal Christmas stamp set - this is project I did last fall. The folder holds 4 matching cards and envelopes.

Star Punch - the smaller star punch was retired some time ago and now the larger one is following suit. The Seeing Stars stamp set is also retiring ( not used here) .

Simply Said - This card was made to show off the 2010 In Colors. Those will be around for another year and 5 new colors are added this year so that every year there are a total 10 In Colors but they will rotate. The 2010 In Colors will retire in 2012 and 5 new colors will be added.

Pick- a - Petal - such a fun set! I'm sure glad I bought it this year. This was one of our club cards.

Hello Again - a very versatile stamp set. This Bright Hello is one of my very favorite cards !

While it is sad to see these favorites go away (of course, they aren't going away becuase I have those stamp sets ) but I am excited to get my new 2011-2012 catalog and see all the great new stamp sets and products. Don't miss out!