Circles Template

I found this template on the Gourmet Rubber Stamps website and found that I drew quite a lot of inspiration from it:

http://www.gourmetrubberstamps.com/blog/
The first card I made was using the new Boofle range from Do-Crafts:

I reversed the template design around and substituted the smaller circle for an oversized paper flower. I die cut the circle and used a Boofle card stock sticker. I sewed the edge of the circle and outlined the sticker with black fine-liner pen to make it stand out. I also added the sentiment to the strip along the bottom and buttons were used as the finishing touch.

I had made these flowers a few weeks back and wasn't sure what to do with them, when I realised I could follow the same format as the template:

The flowers were made using the clear embossing and acrylic paint technique that I tried a few weeks ago (which I have explained in an earlier blog post) and then layered up in alternating colours.

The background was made using a script stamp from Crafty Individuals, embossed with purple pearlescent WOW embossing powder. It doesn't stand out too well in the picture, but this shines when held in the right light.

I dropped the border down slightly and this time used the flower doily X-Cut border punch. The sentiment was added along with some adhesive pearls.

Then I decided to change the shape of the card blank and try some stamps I hadn't yet used, which are by Kanban:

The main tree image was heat embossed with silver powder. I then stamped the owl in black pigment ink and embossed it with clear powder. This helped for cutting out as it gave a slight ridge for me to follow.

The border was stamped with a 3 tree stamp onto dark brown card and heat embossed with a metallic bronze powder. Three dark brown brads finish off the card in the top right hand corner.

I found this template very easy to use and quite versatile, meaning that it can be adapted to several different layouts and occasions.Why not have a go?

Distressing, clear embossing powder and acrylic paint

I found this new technique in the latest issue of the Do Crafts magazine and I have been meaning to try it for a few weeks. Being as it makes use of my favourite product - clear embossing powder, I couldn't ignore it for long.

Here is a version of the card that was shown in the magazine so you get an idea of what I am talking about:

The technique involves stamping with Versamark clear ink onto coloured card. Make sure this is the colour that you want to show through the paint. Then emboss the image with clear embossing powder.

Then, paint over the whole image with your chosen acrylic paint and leave to dry. When it's completely dry, use a damp cloth (I actually used a face wipe but I think this might have been a bit too wet) to wipe over the stamped image to lift the paint off the embossing to reveal the colour of the underneath card. Then leave it to dry. You might also need to flatten the paper as well as it's prone to curling after heating and painting. Putting it under a heavy book or box will do the trick.

Here is a close up of the card:

On the flowers, once they had dried, I added a bit of turquoise ink to make it slightly darker. I painted on the gold elements in the background and on the flowers centres with sunshine sparkle perfect pearls powder. I then added some jewels.

I then tried a variation on a theme:

For the main image I used red card and the metallic bronze paint. For the background, I used black card and then covered it which Tim Holtz picket fence distress stain as I didn't have any white paint. This didn't work quite as well as the paint, but it did still work. I had to apply quite a bit to get the white you can see in the picture and I rubbed it away before it had dried. Once the background had dried I inked the edges with victorian velvet distress ink and left to dry.

The ribbon was secured to the back of the card and then twisted and fastened on the other side. Two lengths of the same ribbon were tied into a bow and secured to the front using glue dots. Some grey pearls where added to the corners of the main image:

I love this new technique and although the cards aren't perfect, there is plenty of room for experimenting and perfecting the technique. It is a little bit messy and time consuming as you have to wait for each piece to dry, but the effect it creates is certainly worth the wait.