Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Embossing, embossing!

I'm not sure if I did this technique correctly, however, I'm really pleased with the end result of this spot of embossing.
On Technique Tuesday, Mynnette showed what she called an 'Embedded Image' technique.
For my version, I triple embossed a Sizzix die cut heart, using Versamark and Red Tinsel embossing powder. When cool, I stamped the image from the SU Vintage Vogue set also in Versamark and embossed it with WOW Black Glint embossing powder. It does look really twinkly in real life.
The flourish I believe is from Dienamics.
I computer generated the sentiment in Dean Martin and Alex Brush fonts.
CASology - Fairytales
Simon Say Stamp - Have a Heart
ABC Challenges - Candy Hearts

Next week I shall be making cards with my 4 year old granddaughter Daisy when she comes to stay for half term... I hope!

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

Waterfall Hearts

The other day I spotted this paper from Pink Petticoat and just had to buy it. It is produced in their new range of colours and they are just scrummy.
I printed off a sheet in soft truffle negative and proceeded to make a bunch of cards using snippets of this gorgeous paper.
This is the first which uses the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch!
My choir requested some Valentine cards, so I thought I'd better get my tail in gear!
These are all sort of variations on a theme, but I just love this paper. This one uses my new gizmo for making stitching holes. It's from EK Success and is for use with my ScorPal. It works like a dream although the 'stitches' are rather difficult to see in this picture.
More of the same it seems!
Isn't it just brilliant paper!
I'll be off to my daughter's again this week, and bringing Daisy back to spend half term next week with Granny and Grandpops, although my husband may not be here all the time as he has to go off to Essex to look after his brother when he comes home from hospital following brain surgery!
We hope all goes well for him.

Saturday, 2 February 2013

LIM's 2nd Birthday

We're celebrating at Less is More today.It's our second birthday and we have been delighted with the following of over 1700 crafters which we are lucky enough to have.
The standard of submissions is wonderful giving lots of inspiration.
This card used a Marianne die, Stampin' Up's  Vintage Vogue Flowers and a retired SU sentiment/ The base piece of cream card was merely crimped.
This one uses the stamp I designed for Craft Stamper Magazine and which was on the front cover in September last year.
It was heat embossed onto the little tile and then inked with SU Crumb Cake ink, applied with a sponge dauber. I then clear embossed the whole thing and added the pearls.
I have only two cards this week, as I have spent 4 days down at my daughter's new house...cleaning!
Floors have been steam mopped, carpets 'Vaxed', windows 'Karchered' (this window cleaning machine is amazing!), paintwork washed and sanitised and I'm now suitably exhausted. I gave up on the ovens and so  my daughter has called in the Oven Rescue man... they were completely beyond me, how anyone could contemplate cooking anything in such filthy appliances completely escapes me!
We also made up a chest of drawers from Ikea. All in all a busy few days!
She has a little decorating to do and then will be moving in with the children. She can't wait!
I hope you all can manage to join in with the colour challenge at Less is More in this birthday week, for our Kraft and Kreme CAS colour challenge.

Friday, 1 February 2013

Craft Stamper Blog Hop

CRAFT STAMPER MAGAZINE
Blog Hop
If you have arrived here from Chris Dark's Blog (the Sketching Stamper), then you're in just the right place!
I have a technique for you today which I discovered a short time ago. 
It involves both heat and dry embossing and can achieve some stunning effects.
This is the card I made and here are the tools and products that you will need to make it
Begin by taking two contrasting Embossing Folders, one with a definite design and the other with a more all-over random pattern.
Ink the inner, de-bossed side of the definite design folder using Versamark. My folder is the Dandelion clocks from Craft Concepts. I removed any stray ink from the centres of the flowers with a Q tip stick.
Place the card inside the folder and run it through the die-cutting machine for the first embossing.
Sprinkle liberally with embossing powder. I used Ranger Distress Embossing powder in Aged Mahogany. For this technique, I love the rough, dull effect which distress powder produces.
Shake off the excess powder and apply heat from a heat gun. The powder does not change as radically as regular embossing powder, so check that it has in fact melted.
Once cooled, place the card into the second embossing folder and run through your machine once more.
I used a Cuttlebug harlequin design.

To get a greater distressed look, I sanded parts of the image, cut it to the size I wanted and distressed and inked the edges before mounting  it on some toning card and punching the edge to add a little interest.
The ribbon and butterfly completed the card.


Here you can see the effect of the sanding on the secondary embossing over the diamond shapes of the folder
Embossing is one of the things which I still find magical in the card making process... it's one of the things which makes it such fun!
The letter you need to collect from me is...
N
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Enjoy your trip and have fun!
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