Group of Cardmakers - Embossing with Dies

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Cardmakers to try a new technique, this month we are embossing with our dies. it's a great way to change the way you use your dies.

We have a few videos for you watch and to give you inspiration.

Video:

Embossing with Dies by Scrapbook Expo (2:45).  General outline of supplies and technique.

Embossing with Metal Dies by Jo (first 3:00).  Tip:  Use 3M removable tape - does not rip card stock.

How to Use Dies to Emboss by Rebecca Keppel (12:07).  Lots of alternatives for this technique.

My first card is made using a Spellbinders Poinsettia Die, The die has an outline which it cuts separate from the poinsettia leaves when you use it in the regular way to die cut. For this card I created the impression, cut the die out of thinner card stock and used the outer stencil to blend inks on the poinsettia leaves. I didn't worry about cover ing other parts as I then die cut the shape in an old gold card. I popped out the leaves and placed it over my embossed image. Sentiment BetterPress

I used a PennyBlack postage stamp die to create the embossed outline for my cute Elf (AAL and Creates) I coloured the elf with pencils and added a little gold pen to the outline of the bell. Sentiment Simon Says Stamp.

My final card I used a misiletoe die to make the impression, and the outline of the die cut image as a stencil to blend the colours on the leaves. I used Liquid Pearls for the berries. The edge of the card was outlined using a silver pen to create a faux frame. Sentiment BetterPress

This is a fun technique, and one I will be using again to make the most of my dies.

Card Recipe
Stamps: AAL and Create, Sentiments BetterPress and Simon Says Stamp
Paper: 110Lb White
Ink:  Morning Mist card 2
Accessories: Coloured Pencils, Distress Inks, Blending Brushes
Techniques: Die cutting, Blending, Pencil Colouring

Group of Cardmakers - Northern lights Technique

Hi everyone, it's been a while since I've posted life has just gotten too busy.

I now have a new laptop, which is a little bit of a learning curve for me as I've switched from a Windows based system to an Apple MacBook Air. My poor brain is going into a tail spin as everything I do I have to look up and re learn. As we all know old habits die hard 🤣

Also we were away visiting family and friends In eastern Canada or three weeks in July and came home to a tree fallen on our garage. Luckily it only damaged the guttering.

The tree has now been removed and the gutter replaced, The hot summers we have been having over the years caused the trunk to die, I must admit I'm not sad it's gone, it was a twisted willow which was just in the wrong place.

I'm finally back to card making and now just catching up with a past technique by the Group of Cardmakers. When I made mine I wanted to try Pastels on black card, I used Pan Pastels, Pastel Pencils and some Cheap Pastel chalks just to try them out. The pastels were blended in the same way as the inks in the videos below. The Northern Lights technique works well with die cuts using the silhouette images.

As you can see I had to use my Polar bear dies for this technique.

Different suggested ways to do the technique or try your own way!

Videos:  Some of the video are quite long, but worth watching ...

1) Ink Blended Northern Lights by Lydia Fiedler (7:17)

2) Beautiful Northern Lights by Ciara T. Designs (16:19)

3) Northern Lights Demo by Marilyn G. (31:19)

4) Quick Northern Lights by Kevin Nakagawa (19:32)

Penny Black Polar Bear die, BetterPress Sentiment

Stamping Up Polar Bear and Iceberg stamp and die set, Better Press Sentiment

Stamping Up Polar Bear and Iceberg stamp and die set, Better Press Sentiment

Sizzle Santa Better Press Sentiment

Card Recipe
Stamps:
Paper: Balck Card
Ink:
Accessories: 
Techniques: Pastels, Northern Lights, Die cutting, Better Press Sentiments

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Generation Stamping

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Seven Cardmakers technique. This month we are using generation stamping. This is a great technique to add depth to your cards and also create different shades of colours from one ink pad. 

Here are a few videos for you to check out if you haven't tried it before.

Two Minute Tip - Second Generation Stamping by Ellen Hutson LLC (1:47)

Second Generation Stamping by Catherine Pooler (4:30)

Second Generation Stamping by Unity Stamp Company (1:21)

One thing you have to remember if you first stamp partially off the card the inked area will now be uneven and have a noticeable ink line will appear. You can see the line on the second stamped image and the rubber stamp. It is better to stamp off the first ink on scrap paper then stamp on your card.

Card 1- I used Lavinia stamps and second and third generation stamping. It can actually give your image a little movement, the bird has first, second and a very faint third generation stamping and I lightened the colouring as I went along. The background has lots of second a third generation stamping to add depth and lighter colours. To finish the card off I went around the edge with a Gold Pen to create a faux mat.

Card 2- Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous images. I stamped my first image high on the page and each time I stamped again I moved it down. You can see the Queen Anne's Lace get lighter and lighter, I also stamped the numbers a second time. I also finished the card by going around the edge with a Blue metallic pen to create a faux mat.

We hope you give this fun technique a go and don't forget to show us the cards you create 😊

Card Recipe
Stamps: Lavinia and Stampers Anonymous
Paper: 110lb White
Ink: Versafine Clair, Distress Inks
Accessories: Gold Pen, Blue Metallic Pen
Techniques: Generation Stamping

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Gilding Flakes on Acetate

Hi everyone, it's time for our Group of Seven Cardmakers technique for this April. This month we're playing with our Gilding Flakes and applying them to Acetate.

The video below shows you how to use the Gilding flakes on Acetate.

Video:  

Gilding Flakes on Acetate! by Meerkat Makes by L (9:58)

For my cards I took some craft glue and spread it out on my craft mat. I picked up the glue with piece of foam and pounced it onto my rubber stamps.  Be careful in that you need to put your stamps in water immediately after stamping on the acetate. I left one of my stamps a little too long so removing the glue took a little effort.

Card 1 -Deep Red Church and street lamp, Janes Doodles Sentiment.

I used Simon Says thin frame die to outline the image,

Card 2- AAL and Create Fibonacci background stamp,  IO Seth Apter - Solar System.  The acetate was layered over a background from my stash, it will eventually be a masculine birthday card.

Card - 3  Art Specially Hare stamp, Simon Says Stamp thin frame die, I think this is my favourite of the all the cards.

This was a fun technique but as usual there's a big clean up at the end, we hope you give it a go.

Card Recipe
Stamps:
Paper: 110 lb White, Silver, Gold Acetate
Ink: Card 1 Versafine Clair Nocturn for the Sentiment
Accessories: Craft Glue, Gilding Flakes, Dies, Acetate
Techniques: Gilding Flakes

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Embossing pastes

Hi everyone, it's time for the monthly Group of Seven Cardmakers post and this month we are looking at Pastes.

The great thing about pastes is there are so many options and they also don't need to be expensive. With some basic supplies you can make your own texture and coloured pastes.

You can make your own texture paste using the following ingredients

Method 1 

1/4 cup of Baby Powder

1 tablespoon of school glue

1table spoon white matte acrylic paint

Instructions -

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Stir well till blended

Add colour medium if desired.

Use on you projects.

Method 2

1 part Cornstarch

1 part Elmers Glue

Optional white acrylic paint

Instructions

Combine cornstarch and glue in a mixing bowl

Mix well

Add paint or other colour medium if desired.

Use on your projects

Here are my samples for you to check out.

Card 1-I used an acrylic block and distress oxides to create my background and stamped the image and used a circle stencil to create the moon. I used a snowy stencil to add pearlized embossing paste. This is a great way to add a little bling to your  Christmas card.

Simon Says Stamp Stencil, Card-IO stamp, BetterPress Sentiment

Card 2-  I did another acrylic block print with distress Oxides for my background. This time I used some texture paste through my script stencil. What I love about using texture paste in this way is that it pulls some of the colour from your background and you get a really nice muted colour to the paste.

Finnabair Stencil, Art Specially Stamp

Card 3- I added some powdered inks to the texture paste to colour it. I masked off the lower portion of the card before I placed the stencil and then spread the blue grey texture paste over it. When it was dry I watercoloured the trees to give them a little depth. I used white sparkle snow texture paste over the ground using a palate knife and die cut the deer and glued them in position. I then added a little extra snow texture paste around their feet.

TCW Tree Stencil, Memory Box Deer Dies, BetterPress Sentiment

Card4/5 these two cards were cut from the same panel and was a little bit of an experiment. 

I used texture paste through the stencil, once it was dry I coloured it with zig watercolour pens. I replaced the stencil and used some Triple thick gloss glaze and my finger to go over the stenciled areas. The glaze when it dried sealed the stenciling, I then sprayed the whole sheet with Lindy's Magical sprays. I'm sure you know I love it when things look a little grungy so I love the end result. There was a little colour leakage and seepage of the glaze and such a beautiful sparkle.

Tim Holtz Poinsettia Stencil, BetterPress Sentiments

I hope you give pastes a try on your projects, you will have so much fun and they really make your card look so special ♥

Card Recipe
Stamps: see the individual cards.
Paper: Mixed Media and Watercolour
Ink:
Accessories: Stencils, Texture Pastes, Powdered inks, Ultra Thick Gloss
Techniques: Stenciling, Watercolours, Texture Pastes, Die cut, BetterPress

Treats on Tuesday at Magenta - Mixed Media Tag Card

Hi everyone, I had some fun creating a tag card using bold coloured sprays and stencil paste. I hope you head over to Magenta and check out how I made this card.

Stamps and stencils used

Hollyhocks

0729.P

Leaf branch

0705.N

Script

07.916.Q

Alpha/Neumeric Stencil

TM219

Card Recipe
Stamps: Magenta
Paper: Tag, 110lb White
Ink: Versafine Clair
Accessories: Crackle Paste, Stencil, Zig pens
Techniques: Stenciling, Distress Oxide Sprays, Watercolouring, Bleach

Group of Seven Cardmakers - Floating Frames

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Seven Cardmakers to try a new technique. This month we have Floating Frames for you. The idea is to create a frame using die cuts and popping them up on foam. This can be done with or without Press N Seal.

I used the BetterPress butterfly set and lay them out on a piece of card. Once I was happy with the position of the butterflies I use Press N Seal to hold them down. I die cut through the Press N Seal and used both parts, one as a frame and the other the central focus of the card. I couldn't resist adding an extra butterfly on both cards.

Even though this technique was a little bit fiddly I am going to try it again with some Christmas die cuts. I hope you check it out with us at Group of Seven Cardmakers

Videos:  Different suggested ways to do the technique

Floating Die Cut Frame by Jennifer McGuire (13:36) 

Floating Frames Version without Press 'N Seal by Natasha Foote (7:45)

Card Recipe
Stamps: BetterPress butterflies, Penny Black Sentiment, Simon Says Stamp sentiment
Paper: 110lb white
Ink: BetterPress Black ink, Versafine Clair Nocturn
Accessories: BetterPress, Zig Pens, Coloured Pencils
Techniques: Floating Frames, Die cutting

Treats on Tuesday at Magenta - Watercolour sprays and Bleach

Hi everyone, I'm over at Magenta with this pretty bird and playing with some ink and bleach. I hope you head over and check out how I made this card.

Stamps used

Bird on a branch

37.285.P

14.677

Good Friends

07.1036.L

Card Recipe
Stamps: Magenta
Paper: Watercolour, 110lb White
Ink: Versafine Clair nocturn
Accessories: Bleach, watercolour sprays
Techniques: Watercolour Sprays, Bleach

Treats on Tuesday at Magenta - Valentines Hearts

Hi everyone, I'm over at Magenta with a Valentines card. I hope you head over and check out how I made this card.

Stamps used

From the Heart

0836.N

Love and Music

0832.L

Script

24.012.J

07.1038.E

I'm adding this to 

Try it on Tuesday challenge - Romance

Card Recipe
Stamps: Magenta
Paper: Watercolour Paper, 110lb White, Gold Mirror Paper
Ink: Versamark, Versafine Clair
Accessories: Gold Marker
Techniques: Watercolour Sprays, Heat Embossing, Faux mat with Markers

Treats on Tuesday at Magenta - Chickadee in the Forest

Hi everyone, I'm over at Magenta with this sweet little bird in the trees, I hope you head over and check out how I made this card 😊

Stamps used

Chickadee Rt

03.125.C

Forest Branches

0859.P

Card Recipe
Stamps: Magenta
Paper: 110lb White, Watercolour- Cold Press
Ink: Versafine Clair
Accessories: Stamp Press, Watercolours, Salt,
Techniques: Salt watercolour background