Manly Card-Embossing Techniques

 I needed a manly card for a swap and for my DH's birthday.  Then the gals at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com issued a challenge for embossing.  So I created a card to knock all 3 out of the park (sorry, lots of baseball talk around these parts-GO RANGERS!).


"Dry/Ink" embossing: I started with a card base made from CTMH Cocoa cardstock.  I used an emery board on the edges to distress.  The next layer is a fun technique I saw Tim Holtz use this summer.  I took his woodgrain embossing folder and rubbed chocolate ink directly on the inside of the folder and then used my Cuttlebug to emboss  CTMH brown bag cardstock.  I love how it embeds the ink into the recessed areas to bring out the grain.  I then sanded the cardstock a bit and used brown bag ink to rub over the raised edges.

Emboss resist: I used Versamark ink with a stamp from the CTMH set "Live Inspired" to stamp the bird image.  Before it dried, I sprinkled clear embossing powder over it and shook the excess off.  Using my heat gun, I melted the powder.  Then I took brown bag ink and sponged over the image and cardstock (CTMH Colonial White).  I sponged more with Chocolate ink. I rubbed the excess ink off the embossed image. I tore around the embossed image and inked area and then inked the torn edges.

Gold Embossing:  I stamped the sentiment on the tag with Versamark as well but used gold embossing powder on it.  I also sponged around it with the same colors as above.

The finishing touches were a little brown waxy flax around the tag, topped with a filigree charm.  The memo pin is from Tim Holtz tied with a little bit of Colonial White waxy flax.

Thank you for stopping by.  Leave me some love with your comments!

Punkin' Glass Block

I love making these glass block lights.  The self adhesive vinyl that I get from www.expressionsvinyl.com makes it so easy.  I used black, orange, dark green and brown vinyls.  The pumpkin was cut using Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridge and the spiders are from Doodlecharms cartridge.  I added a little sparkle with clear rhinestones for the spiders' eyes.  BOO!

His & Hers Homecoming Mums

We do homecoming  bigger in Texas.  It wasn't enough to only bedeck our girls with mums and ribbons and doodads.  Nowadays the girls make a "garter" mum for the boys.  This is the 4th mum I've made over the years and I will probably have to make 2 next year when son #3 will be old enough to date.  Fun times!  And, no, this mum wasn't big enough to need to wear around her neck like some others I've seen but she was marching in the parade and this just was easier to wear that way.

Leaves & Lip Balm

The challenge this week at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com this week is leaves and trees.  It sparked a great idea on how to present these fall lip balms to friends, family or teachers.  I cut the leaf shape from the Doodlecharms Cricut cartridge using Close To My Heart cardstock in various shades of brown and then embossed them all in different folders with my Cuttlebug.  An emery board helped me reveal the white core of the cardstock.  I swiped various shades of CTMH ink over the leaves-brown bag, cocoa, goldrush.  To attach the lip balm tubes, I punched 2 holes in the center of the leaves, put a glue dot on the back of the tube for extra hold and tied a ribbon through the holes.  The tags are just scraps of cardstock that are stamped with various sentiments and leaves from the following CTMH sets: Flourished Blessings, Timeless and our current Petite Perk stamps.  Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Stamping & Embossing Christmas

Over on www.fabulouslyartsy.com, the question for the day is "what have you been stamping?".  For me the answer is anything for Christmas!  One of my favorite projects I've done so far is this little card/tag holder.  I'll try to post instructions and photos of my cards this weekend.  I stamped the cute little trees using the very affordable Close To My Heart stamp set called A Timber (7.95!) and the ornament with All The Best set.  The papers are all from CTMH's Mistletoe collection.  To get the shimmery gold look, I first stamped with Versamark and then embossed with gold embossing powder.  Hope you like!

Tissue Tape Tree

I just had to have this music tissue tape from Tim Holtz but then had tons left over after completing my page and didn't know how to use it up.  I knew exactly what to do with it when I received my latest issue of Paper Crafts and saw a Christmas Tree Card made using painted masking tape.  I love how it turned out and am now planning to make several for quick Christmas cards.  The papers I used are nameless because they have been in my scrap drawer for some time just waiting to be used!  The card itself is made out of CTMH New England Ivy cardstock.  The twill tape is also from CTMH as well as the stamped sentiment which is from the Holiday Trinkets stamp set.  The angel, brads and star buttons were in my stash of goodies.  Let me know what you think!

Fall Banner

Banners are all the rage right now in scrapbooking and card making.  I jumped on the bandwagon wholeheartedly and have created a few for decorations.   I have a fence attached to my dining room wall with birdhouses above it and I change out the foliage on it every season.  This is my Fall banner for the fence.  I used premade canvas triangles and then cut the letters from chipboard and paper using the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge.  I attached other embellishments that have been hanging around my studio and just seemed to be waiting for this project.  The paper I used is from Close To My Heart and is called Grace.  It's absolutely one of my faves for fall projects.

It's a birthday challenge!

This is my entry for this week's birthday challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  The following products used are from my fave, of course-Close To My Heart. You can order anytime of day or night on my website http://belindak.myctmh.com.  Paper: chocolate and Sweet Leaf cardstock, patterned paper from Cherry O collection Flowers:chocolate and Colonial white with Hollyhock brads Stamp: this is no longer available and I can't remember the name! Ink: chocolate and black Staz On and Glitz Glitter Gel on the cake, flowers and dots.   



I used the Bloom Cricut cartridge to cut the leaf and 2 oval shapes (they were skewed a bit from the original with the help of Design Studio).  I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the zig zag line and the green oval.  I used black Staz On ink to stamp the cake and then colored in with my Copic markers.  Now to check my calendar for a lucky birthday girl!

Lighthouse Glass Block

I love making glass block lights.  This is my newest one using the Life's a Beach and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges from Cricut.  The vinyl is cut and adhered to vellum and then I adhered to the glass block.  I used black rhinestones to accent and a gold one for the light.  The red ribbon is a fun scrunchy one I found in the clearance aisle at HL.

Purpose Card

Our oldest son received his ministers credentials in September.  We are so proud of him and he is loving his ministry as a youth pastor.  I made this card to give him to recognize his accomplishment.  I decided it also would qualify for the latest challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com.  The challenge was to use A-alphabet stamps or stickers, B-make it for a boy, C-use chocolate somewhere.  I went a little crazy with the gold embossing but since it was "from the heart" and not from a well thought out design, I am happy with it.

The stamps I used are from a set that is no longer available but one I have used over and over-"Felicity".  The cross was cut with my Cricut.  Thanks for stopping by!