Cardmaking with Embossing Paste

Hey, Peeps. Here's a Declare and Dash, just to show you quickly what I'm working on. I'm a stencil designer and seller on Etsy, and I have found that I don't really make time to create with my stencils as much as I'd like, so I'm going to change that pronto. I'll be posting some process tutes, including on my YouTube channel, but here's a teaser for now.

These cards were made using my tag stencil, which can be found in my shop here.

In this Hugs card, I used some Dreamweaver's crackle paste, let it dry, and then rubbed some Inka Gold paste in the cracks to give it some dimension and visual interest.

And in this Thinking of You card, I just used smooth white Dreamweaver's embossing paste for a different look.

And as always, please feel free to visit my Etsy shop- Howsewears

Fondly, Tami

Techniques Galore

I decided to make a special thank-you card for someone who was extremely generous to me and my family this Christmas. Let's just say that when I received it, I cried and cried. So, I thought a beautiful thank-you card was in order. It didn't matter how much time I spent on this. It was worth it. 

I started out by stamping a grey card with a music stamp. I prefer to take the ink to the stamp when I'm using a large background stamp.

I place the card on the stamp.

And I like to put something over that like a very messy piece of non-stick craft sheet, or a piece of card stock. And yes, I just did my manicure yesterday, but now it's all messed up.

I decided to use my MicroGlaze, which I've had for about a year and have never used. NO JUDGING!!! I'm sure YOU don't have anything laying around like that. 

It acts like a mask, which I've discovered is lots of fun.

I used my Oval Boulders stencil, which is available in my Etsy shop here.

I just rubbed some MicroGlaze into the ovals. 

However, I used a little bit too much. A little goes a long way.  

You don't need ridges like this. I pulled the excess toward the center of the ovals to smooth it out.

Then I lined up a piece of Washi tape along the center line so my next step wouldn't seep into the back of the card.

I used some Claudine Hellmuth paints. I don't really like any of the colors as is, but I do love mixing them. I added a little bit of matte medium to extend the paint, and then I sprayed a few spritzes of water to thin it out. 

Then I gently washed the paint over the front of the card, using a brush.

I used a heat gun to dry the paint.

Then I pulled the Washi tape off of the card, which I applied to the front bottom. 

Then I used my Leaf Stem Tag Stencil. I masked off the area with tissue tape that I didn't want the paint to seep through. 

I just dabbed some green, blue, and white paint through the stencil with a make-up sponge. Remember, when stenciling, dab, don't swipe (unless you want a totally different look, then if that's the case, GO for it!).

I stenciled two more leaves, then I dried them with the heat gun. I added two pieces of tissue tape on the bottom for a border. 

I stenciled a contrasting green leaf stem onto white card stock, then I fussy cut it. 

A rub of Distress Ink and a few drops of water, then a blast of the heat gun.

I dabbed the leaf stem into my Versamark pad, which is pretty dirty. NO JUDGING!

I didn't take a pic of the next step, which was to put clear embossing powder on the leaf and heat the powder until it was shiny (use your embossing imagination).

Then I put tissue tape along the right edge, leaving a small margin. 

I inked the edge with Versamark. This is one of my fave techniques....

...using aged ochre, which is one of my fave embossing powders because there are different colors, so there's lots of dimension.

You can see here that some of the tissue tape is covered, which is very cool. 

I pulled the tissue tape off at an angle, leaving a crisp, straight edge. 

I put the adhered the tape to my craft mat and heat embossed the "leftovers", which I will use for another project.

I then heated the edge that I had just created.

I cut several "inerds" of my pop-dots (sorry, but I'm a nurse so that's a "normal" word around here).

I put pop-dots under the leaves, but adhered the stem directly to the card using Glossy Accents. And, I added a colored lace knot.

One always needs a vintage button and some Stickles.

 And, here's the final outcome. I believe the recipient will like it.

I'm liking the depth. I stamped a Thanks sentiment in the upper right corner with Versamark, then I embossed it with black embossing powder. 

And again, thanks so much for looking!

Fondly, Tami

Simple cards with hand- carved stamped images

Hey, Peeps. This is just a quick post today, featuring my latest cards. I don't know about you, but sometimes it takes me FOREVER to make a card. I sit at my craft table and obsess about the Perfect Design. Then it takes me SO LONG to make my embellies, because I really get a kick out of making them myself.

Well, these cards are a departure for me. I decided to keep them simple, partly because they're thank you notes that are WAY overdue. 

In this one, I used a linen flower, cut with my Sizzix die. The panel is made by stamping with my hand-carved key stamp, and embossed with white embossing powder. Then I tied it with a little vintage ribbon. I lined up my "thanks" letters (which pretty much are permanent on my acrylic block because I like the look and I'd never be able to line them up straight again) and stamped. I inked the edges, and that's it, Folks. Sometimes simplicity is better.

This one is a similar design, with a little bling in the center.

I did decide to do something a little different with these, however. Many friends have told me that it's a shame that my cards can't be used again. Well, now they can. I used a little hand-carved stamp design in the inside of this one, but then I inserted my note. That way, my friends can keep the note, but send the card to someone else. I am thrilled that they can recycle these. Why didn't I think of this before???

Here's one of the note inserts.

Here's the other one.

And, that's it. Sweet and simple. And, around the holidays, that works for me.

Thanks again for looking.

A Few More Original Stencil Designs

This is just a quick post to show you creative peeps some of my new stencil listings in my Etsy shop. These are tag designs- perfectly sized for your smaller projects, including tags and cards, but they're also great for use with the small Gelli Plate. I hope to have a post in the near future with some layered looks. Stay tuned, Peeps! And again, thanks so much for your support. My stencils have been flying off the shelves! 

Fondly, Tami