Embossing with Dies - Group of Cardmakers

Hi everyone.  Today at Group of Cardmakers, we are sharing our experimenting of Embossing with Dies.  This is a super simple technique that uses your dies and makes them into an embossed image. :)

Check out the post at Group of Cardmakers for links to wonderful videos and more sample cards from Christine, Pat, & Susan.

First up, my fav card of this post ... a pretty Peace Rose.  I watercoloured the rose in colours of a Peace Rose that I had in my garden at my last house.  The bloom was a delicate pink.  The edges turn to soft yellow when it opens.  I stamped my flower in black ink, heat embossed in clear; then watercoloured using Distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut it out before mounting it on my debossed background of a pretty leaf die.

Close-up ...

Sending the above card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Embossing with Dies (2nd entry)

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A Christmas card featuring a holly die.  I created a deboss of the holly image for the background, then die-cut the same die from Mixed Media paper and watercoloured, placing it over top.  A simple sentiment is added to finish the card.

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I've made two cards using a postage frame die.  And I used it two ways, embossed with the cut side of the die showing a thin outline; and debossed with the backside of the die recessed (thicker outline).  That is a bonus to this technique.  With most dies, you can use either side of the embossed image depending on the look you want.  See below two cards using the same die but different sides of the embossed impression. 

Thin outline of die (embossed)

Thick outline with die (debossed)

One more card with a different way of doing this technique.  Sorry for the long post, but as you can tell, I had a lot of fun playing! :) 

This time I used a stamp and matching die to stamp the flower onto mixed media paper, heat embossing in silver.  Then I watercoloured the image using Distress re-inkers.  I finished by placing the matching die over top of the image, but instead of cutting it out, I embossed the image so that my stamped image has it's own outline.  This also adds texture and a bit of dimension to my otherwise flat card. :)  It's subtle in the photo above, but so pretty IRL. :)

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Bonus ... you can take a lot of your dies and turn them into embossed images, then use the same die to cut matching stencils to use over top of your images.  Lots and lots of options!

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Enchantingly (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black ink (Memento); Disttress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Delicate Leafy Branch die (Simon Says Stamp); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Enchantingly die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Happy Snippets (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Crackling Campfire, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Ground Espresso (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Posted die (Penny Black), Autumn Decor dies (Penny Black), sponges 

Card #3:

Stamps:  Love & Magic; Jolly Snippets (both Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Posted die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, red chalk

Card #4:

Stamps:  Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R - long retired)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Holly and Berry Branch die (Penny Black), watercolour brushes, Clear Wink of Stella, Crystal Glaze (Nuvo)

Card #5:

Stamps:  Amazing Things (Pinkfresh Studios)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Versamark;  Distress Re-Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Silver embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, Amazing Things die (Pinkfresh Studios)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Embossing with Dies (2nd entry)

Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today I'm Guest Designing at Rudolph Days August Challenge.  Thanks so much to Helen for inviting me!

For today's card I have made another using the Immense Joy die (Penny Black).  Last year I made a series of cards using this amazing die, and I just had to pull it out again this year. :)

I brayered a piece of Bristol card with distress inks and cut out the "O" from the Joy die.  I also die-cut the Deers & Tree scene; then die-cut again for the "O".  These were layered together and then inlaid into the "O" opening.  I splattered diluted white acrylic paint for falling snow.  The completed JOY was placed over top of a snowflake embossed card front (Snowflakes - Cuttlebug).  Merry Christmas is stamped on the inside using the closest ink I had to kraft.

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Sending this card to a few other challenges besides Rudolph Days ...

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes - Brayering

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree - the tree is part of the winter scene inside the "O".  Hope that qualifies

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Bristol card; Kraft card stock
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories:   Immense Joy die (Penny Black), Brayer, Deer & Trees die (AliExpress), Acrylic white paint, Snowflake embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Challenges:

Rudolph Day August Challenge

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly 4 - AG 

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #175 - Include a Tree 

Summer Ride

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by the latest challenge at Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers. :)  I pulled out a bicycle die after seeing a card on-line (sorry, don't know who made it), using this wonderful colour combination.

I die-cut the bike from mixed media paper and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  I created the background using the Acetate Smooshing technique and the same colours.  I stamped the sentiment (Signature Greetings - Memory Box), and then added a little more ink to ground the bike.  Very simple card that was fun to make!

Close-up ...

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Signature Greetings (Memory Box)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Bicycle die (AliExpress), Acetate sheet, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #311 - No Flowers

Lovely Iris

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a CAS Mixed Media card.  I started by using a background that's been in my stash for a long time.  The background is coloured using blue powdered inks.  Once dry, I placed a flourish stencil over top and used glitter paste to fill in the design.  It's so pretty in real life ... but glitter is almost impossible to photograph.

I added a die-cut Iris, that is watercoloured using Distress Inks.  A simple rectangle frame was popped up over top with the sentiment stamped in purple ink.

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Sending this card to:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Powdered Inks, Flourish stencil, Glitter Paste, Palette knife, Iris die (Penny Black), watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 3 - Embossing - this time I used Wet (glitter paste)

Inkspirational Challenge #348 - CAS - Optional: Flowers

AAA CAS Cards #297 - Anything CAS Goes

Christmas Wreath

Hi everyone.  Today's card is again inspired by several challenges.  I just received a new twig wreath die in the mail ... so perfect timing to use it right away for the Christmas Kickstart challenge.  I die-cut the wreath four times (2 from both light and medium gray card stock), and also did a little sponging around the outside edges with Basic Gray ink (SU!).  A simple hole punch was used to create the berries from Cherry Cobbler card stock.  The wreath is placed on top of an embossed card front (Snowflake Oval Frame - Simon Says Stamp embossing folder).  To finish, I added a die-cut sentiment in matching Basic Gray ink.

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Sending this card to the following challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #101 - Let's Wreath it Up!

NBUS Challenge #77 - first time using wreath die and snowflake embossing folder

Cut it Up Challenge #336.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  N/A

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, and Cherry Cobbler card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Basic Gray (SU!)
Accessories:   Wreath die, Snowflake Oval Frame Embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), sponges, Handy Christmas Sentiments (Amy R - retired)

Challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #101 - Let's Wreath it Up!

NBUS Challenge #77

Cut it Up #336 - Add a Sentiment

Summer Flowers

Hi everyone.  Today's card is inspired by four (now five!) challenges and I'm so happy that I was able to make a card that fits all of them - it's a first for me. :)

Starting off with We Love Staming - Flowers, couldn't resist making another card for this challenge. :)  The colours from AAA Colourful just scream summer.  I stamped the images in black ink, then die-cut using the matching die to the set.  The matching stencil was used to add the colours from the challenge (see below).  And then, used a new-to-me background die (for both IDEAS and NBUS Challenges) to cut a pretty design to use as the "lattice" for my summer garden. :)

I had lots of fun making this card.  That's what this hobby is all about! :)

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Here's the links to the challenges I'm entering with this card - thanks to all who take the time to run these challenges.  I know how much effort and energy it takes --- I appreciate YOU!

Edited to add:  Lisa let me know that my card fits the Just Us Girls Challenge #787 - Die Week - Florals.  Perfect.  Thanks Lisa!! :)

We Love Stamping - Flowers - 2nd entry

AAA Colourful #18

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #77 - 2nd entry this month

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Nature's Magic dies (Altenew); Nature's Magic Stencils (Altenew); brushes, Geometric die (Background)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping - Flowers

AAA Colourful #18

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #77

JUGS #787 - Die Week - Florals

Happiest of Birthdays

Hi everyone.  I was inspired by three challenges for today's card - YAY! :)

I wanted to make a dainty, feminine card. :)  A layer of dry embossed vellum is added overtop of my card front.  I was hoping it would show more in the photo, but it looks as though I simply dry embossed my card front.  In real life, you can see the difference.  My card front this time is ivory ... not my usual white. 

The vase of flowers is stamped twice in black and heat embossed with clear before cutting out with matching die.  I watercoloured the flowers only on one of the images and cut out around the bottom of the flowers.  I popped the flowers up over top of my vase of flowers to add some extra dimension and then placed it inside a frame.

To finish, the sentiment is stamped in black ink and heat embossed in clear to match the rest of the stamping on the card front.

Close-up ...

Sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers - hosted by my dear friend Hilary

2)  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry) - 2nd entry - used both Heat and Dry Embossing

3)  Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Wings and Vases (Penny Black); Watching Bloom Sentiment (Memory Box - retired)

Paper:   White card stock base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Vellum
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour brushes, Wings and Vases Cut Out (Penny Black), Whirl Frame Cut Out (Penny Black), Dots & Dashes embossing folder (Penny Black)

Challenges:

We Love Stamping August Challenge - Flowers

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - August - Optional:  Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Just Us Girls #787 - Die Week - Florals

Sleding Sweetness

Hi everyone.  I pulled out a fairly new Penny Black set to play with (Sleding Sweetness) - my first time using this set.  Their critters are so adorable, especially the winter bears.  I had fun colouring these adorable images. :)

I started by sponging the card front with Distress inks (Mustard Seed, Salvaged Patina).  I stamped the branches in the background (Refined - Penny Black) in Hickory Smoke ink and added a torn snowhill at the bottom.  The bear and mouse are stamped in black and clear heat embossed on mixed media paper, before cutting them out with the matching dies (Sleding Sweetness Cut Out).  More Distress inks were used to watercolour.  I splattered the background and the images with diluted white acrylic paint before putting them all together.  A simple "JOY" sentiment (Full of Christmas - Penny Black) finishes the card.

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Sending this to Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 1 - Inks.  And I'm also sending it to Darnell's other challenge - NBUS Challenge #77.  Both these challenges help to keep me making cards and using a variety of my supplies, along with NBUS items that might normally languish in the cupboards for years!  Thank you, dear friend!!  :)

Also sending this to PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing.  I used heat embossing for my images and sentiment. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Sleding Sweetness (Penny Black); Refinded (Penny Black; Full of Christmas (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Salvaged Patina, Mustard Seed, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Lumberjack Plaid, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Salty Ocean (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Sleding Sweetness Cut Outs (Penny Black), diluted white acrylic paint

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Weekly - 1) Inks

NBUS Challenge #77

PBSC August Challenge - Optional:  Embossing