Embossing Paste - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month at Group of Seven we are focussing on a product - Embossing Pastes.  We are exploring the different kinds of pastes, ways to use them, and ways to alter them in order to stretch the use of this amazing product (adding colour and/or texture).

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

My card uses Dreamweaver Embossing Paste coloured with Brushos Powder (Lime Green).  I added a bit of the powder to my paste on my work surface and used a palette knife to work in the colour until there were no longer streaks.  The powder is very concentrated, so I only used a small amount.  I placed a stencil (Wander & Find - retired) over top of my mixed media card front, secured with tape and used my palette knife to add over top of the stencil, covering just the middle as I had planned to add a card front over top with a circle aperture.  Once I was happy with the coverage, I removed the stencil and immediately washed it along with my palette knife.  I let the paste dry and then added my card front with circle aperture, showing off the stenciling underneath.  And I add a small image of watercoloured and fussy-cut flower over top, tucking the stem into the opening.  A simple sentiment was added to finish the card.

The embossing paste creates a lovely design as well as adding texture and colour.  It really gives the card something special to build on.

Sending this card to the IDEAS Challenge - A for Anything Goes.  I used embossing paste as my Anything Goes. :)

... and sending to Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March.  The flower image is Penny Black.

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Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• You can use a lot of different colouring mediums to colour your pastes.  That way you can save money by buying white paste and colouring yourself.  Make sure to use a colouring medium that is water soluable (re-inkers, watercolours, acrylic paints, watercolour powders, etc.
• Make sure to mix up enough paste (or even extra) so that it easily covers the area you want.  It's hard to make more afterwards and match the same colour tone.

* * * * *

Violeta & Jessie settling in for a nap after a long walk. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Flower Collection (Penny Black); Sentiment - Scenic Sampler (Stampendous - Closed)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Obsidian (Black - Altenew); Brushos (Lime Green); Distress Inks:  Mowed Lawn, Ripe Persimmon, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Wander & Find stencil (retired), White Embossing Paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, Circle die (Spellbinders), 

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Embossing Pastes

IDEAS Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - March

Elegant Writer - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  Today for Group of Seven, we are working with the Elegant Writer pen.  Christine first introduced me to this marker several years ago, but I didn't buy one for myself until last year.  I'm sorry I waited so long! :)

The pen is filled with water soluable ink.  When you add it to your card, the ink looks black, but add some water and you will have inks in gray, green, blue and pink show up.  It's really magical.  A little goes a long way. 

Please check out the details for the technique and link to video on the blog ...

Group of Seven Cardmakers

For both my cards today, I kept things CAS.  I was busy making cards ahead for upcoming commitments and packing up our house at the same time, so I kept things simple.  :)

For the card above, I used a wonderful image called Tree Poem (Stampendous), stamped in black and clear heat embossed.  I added a few lines of elegant writer here and there and then took a wet brush to spread the colours, dabbing with a paper towel which shows off the pink and blue colours.  I love the classic black and white colours with just a touch of added colour in the background.

Close-up ...

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...

• If you decide you want to buy one of the Elegant Writer pens, make sure it has a silver/gray casing.  This is the pen with the water soluable ink.  I mistakenly bought Elegant Writer pens that were in a black case ... permanent markers in black.  :)
• I found the video by Karlyn invaluable (you will find it on the Group of Seven blog).  She is an artist and also teaches art ... and she has lots of tips on how to use these amazing pens.
• I outlined images or partially outlined images and then added water to spread the ink.  If I wanted to add just a touch of colour, I would use a damp watercolour brush to pick up just a bit of colour directly from the tip of the Elegant Writer pen. 
• Once you add water and move the colour around, you must blot with a paper towel and that's when you will see more of the pink and blue colours.  
• As per Karlyn's video, I misted lightly from above to set the ink once I was finished.  Then I could leave my image as is, or add more watercolouring using inks or paints of different colours easily without any bleeding. 

* * * * *

Here's another CAS card using a black heat embossed image with the Elegant Writer pen.  Simple, but so pretty!

This time I used an image from the Create Chaos (Visible Image) stamp set.  Again, I kept it black and white with just a touch of colour from the elegant writer.

Sending this card to Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:

Stamps:  Tree Poem (Stampendous); Many Everyday Message (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Elegant Writer
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes

Card #2:

Stamps:  Create Chaos (Visible Image); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Elegant Writer
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour brushes)

Challenges:

Group of Seven - Elegant Writer

Simply Clean & Simple April Challenge

Sunflowers!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for a couple of challenges;

Beautiful Blossoms - Optional Mood Board #8 (I focused on the sunflowers) ...

and Double D August Challenge - Sunflowers ...

I used my Stampendous Pop Sunflower stamp set and the jug is from Penny Black's Country Charisma set.

I stamped the jug and sunflowers onto mixed media paper in black ink and heat embossed with clear.  I fussy-cut the images and then watercoloured using Distress Inks (Mustard Seed, Crackling Campfire, Walnut Stain, Rustic Wilderness, Blueprint Sketch).  

I used a piece of brown patterned paper with text to cut a strip to go behind my jug of sunflowers, tearing the edges to add some depth and interest.  The sunflowers are popped up for added dimension.  The sentiment (Amy R --- long retired) was stamped in more Walnut Stain ink. 

Close-up ...

Sunflowers make me happy and it was fun creating this card. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

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Stamps:  Pop Sunflowers (Stampendous / Spellbinders); Amy R - retired

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Documented Patterned Paper (Simple Stories)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Crackling Campfire, Walnut Stain, Rustic Wilderness, Blueprint Sketch (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms - Optional Mood Board #8 - Sunflowers

Double D August Challenge - Sunflowers

Hello Sunshine

Hi everyone.  I'm back with a card using a new stencil (Random Triangle Stencil (That's Crafty!) that I received from a dear friend for my birthday.  I sponged through the stencil with Distress Inks: Ripe Persimmon and Picked Raspberry (my favourite colour combo).  I thought the background was fun and summery looking ... perfect to add a couple of summertime drinks.

I stamped two drinks (Stampendous Fruity Drinks) in black and heat embossed with clear before watercolouring.  I fussy-cut them out and popped them up over the stenciled background.  To finish, I added a cute sentiment (Stampendous Spring Sentiments) to the bottom of my main panel.

Close-up ...

Since this is a new stencil, I'm sending this over to the NBUS Challenge #41.  

Thanks for stopping by!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

Make sure to add "subscribe" to the message.

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so Google recognizes the address and delivers the updates.

To unsubscribe, please use the same form making sure to add

"unsubscribe" to the message.

Thank you.

Stamps:  Fruity Drinks (Stampendous); Spring Sentiments (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Festive Berry) Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Random Triangles stencil (That's Crafty!); sponges, Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, watercolour paint brushes

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #41

The Flower Challenge #61 Reminder

Hi everyone.  Today is the reminder for The Flower Challenge #61 - Use a Shape.  It's also our 5th Birthday Celebration for our Challenge ... lots of prizes to win!

I rarely get freebies in the mail, but with my last on-line order I received this background.  Actually it was advertising the pad of paper for sale.  All the designs were on the back, but just one on the front, so I used it today. :)  I love the vintage look of this paper.  I stayed with the pink and brown to add my elements to the card.. 

I stamped a bouquet of peonies (Perfect Peonies - Clearly Besotted).  I love this stamp and have used it A LOT. :)  Looks awesome in pink and brown.  I used Ground Espresso, Kitsch Flamingo, and Picked Raspberry distress inks, mixing the pink and brown to get the colours for my blooms.  Stamped the peonies in dark brown ink and clear heat embossed.  Then watercoloured the image.  I die-cut the bouquet with matching die, but thought the white edging left from the die looked too stark so just added a light coating of pink.  The background is die-cut with a postage stamp die (Postage Stamp - Spellbinders retired).  I did a little stenciling in the top left and bottom right corners with Ground Espresso ink and Pebbles Stencil (Lavinia).  I stamped the sentiment (Happy Messages - Stampendous) in brown and then placed everything on a white 4 1/4" square card base.  Popped up the flower with pop dots for some dimension. :)

Close-up ...

Happy with how this card turned out ... I need to use patterned paper more often.  I have lots, but make so many of my own backgrounds, I rarely use them. :)

I hope you'll check out the reminder post for The Flower Challenge #61 to see the amazing cards from our Designers.  Then come play along.  Challenge is open until end of day Oct. 25th.  Hope to see you in the gallery.

This will be my last post for The Flower Challenge.  After a year of enjoying being on the team, it is time for me to step down and concentrate on running my own two challenges.  Thank you to Aileen and the team for making my time at The Flower Challenge so enjoyable.  A special shout-out to Viv, who works tirelessly to keep the team happy and well-informed as well as keeping the challenge running smoothly.  Thank you Viv for all the help you gave me over the past year!!

If you would like to subscribe by email,

please fill out the subscription form in the upper right sidebar.

It is also important to add sw1subscribers@gmail.com to your contact list

so Google recognizes the address and delivers the updates.

Stamps:  Perfect Peonies (Clearly Besotted), Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned paper 
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Ground Espresso, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolour paint brushes, matching die for Peonies image, Postage Stamp die - retired (Spellbinders), Pebbles stencil (Lavinia), sponges

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #61 - Use a shape

CAS Mix Up September Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new CAS Mix Up Challenge for September - Autumn Colours.  Even though it is not "officially" Autumn yet, some leaves have already changed colour and are falling from the trees.  This is my favourite time of year.  I love Autumn colours and especially love it when it is cool and crisp outside. :)  This month's challenge is being hosted by the lovely Leslie (Running with Scissors).  She is asking us to include Autumn colours in our cards this month and there must be watercolouring as well.

I started by creating a gradiant background wash.  I tried it with two different types of paper (mixed media and bristol).  I used my Liquid Watercolors from Blick Art (concentrate).  I do love the intensidy of these concentrated colours.  I place some on my palette, sprized with a little water and also spritzed my paper with lots of water before using a large brush to pick up the colours and swipe them across the paper.  I overlapped them slightly so they would blend together.  Easy, peasy backgrounds! :)

After they were dry, I decided the mixed media paper was a slightly better blend of colours. I cut the panel to size and added some foam to the background to pop it up on my white card front.  I die-cut a new-to-me die, Leafy Branch (Simon Says Stamp).  I used gold mirror card stock (Tonic) and love how it looks.  Photographing it is another issue. :)  I glued the leafy branch over my watercolour wash and added a simple black sentiment banner with gold embossed HELLO (Happy Messages - Stampendous).

Close-up ...

I'm sending the above card to NBUS Challenge #30.  The leafy branch die is new-to me. :)

I have a Twofer for this post.  I took the negative left from the leaves die-cut gold foil card stock, and placed it over top of the Bristol paper with watercolour wash.  I added a simple white sentiment banner with gold embossed "Happy Birthday" (Many Everyday Messages - Hero Arts).  Sorry for the bad photo ... it was the best I could get because of all the reflection from the foil card stock ...

This is actually pretty in real life.  You'll have to take my word on that. :)

We are thrilled to have Ros (Mikey's Mom) as our Guest Designer this month at CAS Mix Up.  Welcome Ros!

Please check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful Autumn Colours cards from our amazing Guest Designer and our talented Designers.  Then come play along.  The challenge is open until end of day September 24th.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Product Links

Liquid Watercolors (Blick Art Materials)

Leafy Branch die (Simon Says Stamp)

Gold Mirror Card Stock (Tonic via SSS)

Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!); Gold Mirror card (Tonic)
Ink:   Liquid Watercolors from Concentrate (Blick Art Materials):  Yellow, Orange, Red; Versamark
Accessories:   1" watercolour paint brush, water mister, Leafy Branch die (Simon Says Stamp), Gold embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool

Twofer:

Stamp:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)

All other supplies the same as above card

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Autumn Colours

NBUS #30 Challenge

Zoom Session - Embossing with Foil Card Stock

Hi everyone.  Yesterday we had our regular monthly Zoom call.  This month Bonnie shared a new-to-us technique following one of Jennifer McGuire's videos.  

Bonnie graciously mailed each of us a package of different coloured foil card stock to use.  Love happy mail! :)  Thanks Bonnie!  Each of us made several cards from the foil card stock ahead of time and then shared our finished cards on our Zoom call.

Technique is simple.  Dry emboss foil card stock and embossing folders (regular or 3D EFs both work well).  As an added element, use a sanding block to highlight the raised design.  It removes the colour to reveal silver underneath.  Then make your card.

I tried several of the colours so there are lots of photos below.  I cut the pieces to make two cards from each of an A2 Foil card front (5 1/2 x 4 1/4).

My favourite is the card at the top of this post.  I LOVE the rose coloured foil with black and white accents.

Sending the first card to NBUS Challenge #29.  Actually every one of these cards uses a new product. :)  Yay!

All products I used are listed at the bottom of this post.

* * * * *

Love the blue foil paired with white die-cuts ...

 

* * * * *

The bright green makes beautiful Christmas cards.  Three more for my stash! :)

  

* * * * *

Last, but not least, gold foil card stock with a beautiful flower embossing folder.  No sanding on the butterfly card (gorgeous butterfly die-cut gifted to me by Bonnie)

  

I hope you like this technique and will give it a try.

Product Links

Card 1:

Blossom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp) 

Fresh Foilage die-cut (Memory Box)

Greetings (Cavallini & Co)

Card 2:

Blossom Field Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp) 

On the Edge Thank You (Simon Says Stamp)

Card 3:

Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box)

Frieda Curve die (Poppy Stamps - retired)

Simple Sentiments (Lawn Fawn

Card 4:

Gracious Leaves embossing folder (Memory Box)

Berry Branch die-cuts (Penny Black)

Happy Messages (Stampendous)

Card 5:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

holly vine die (retired)

Inspired (Penny Black) - reindeer die

Art Deco Celebrate Christmas - Poppy Stamps - retired

Card 6:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

JOY die (AliExpress)

Card 7:

Holiday Greenery Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp)

Blooming Poinsettia die (Poppy Stamps)

Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things - retired)

Card 8:

Tim Holtz Botanical 3D Embossing Folder

Dreamy die (Memory Box) - butterfly die-cut gifted to me by Bonnie

Brushed Wishes (Stampendous - retired)

Card 9:

Tim Holtz Botanical 3D Embossing Folder,

Two flowers die (AliExpress)

A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)

Challenges:

NBUS Challenge #29

More Sunflower cards

Hi everyone.  After posting a card the other day using the pretty sunflower stamp (Pop Sunflower - Stampendous) - (click HERE to see the card), I decided to make two more.  They do make happy cards. :)

The card above uses patterned paper for the background (I'm on a roll!). :)  Love this woodgrain paper.  Works perfectly with the sunflowers.  I watercoloured the flowers in a new-to-me colour combo of Rusty Hinge and Aged Mahogany.  Love the colours together. Splattered more of the same two colours in the background.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

For the second card, I watercolour with distress inks again, using bright shades of yellow and orange.  Added a piece of burlap to ground the jar.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Sending this over to the CAS on Friday Challenge - Flowers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Card #1 - Sunflowers on Woodgrain

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Patterned Paper (unknown)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Rusty Hinge, Aged Mahogany, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Broken Glass (Tm Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush

Card #2 - Sunflowers on Burlap

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower (Stampendous)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Broken Glass (Tm Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush, burlap

Challenges:
CAS on Friday - Flowers

Twofer #39 Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the new challenge - Twofer #39!

Please follow the rules:

I wanted to use the Rays Layering stencil- retired (Tim Holtz) for my two sunshine cards.  The first card uses a piece of patterned paper from the I {heart} summer collection (Simple Stories).  I was surprised that this paper is still for sale ... it's from 2013! :)

I sponged Versamark through the stencil on the left hand side of the card, sprinkling with Fossilized Amber Distress Glaze before heat embossing.  The design is subtle, but I like how the glaze allows the works in the background to show through.  A simple sentiment "Hello Sunshine" (Spring Sentiments - Stampendous) was also heat embossed onto a thin white sentiment banner near the bottom of the card.  This card is meant as happy mail to celebrate the openings after almost 1 1/2 years of restrictions for Covid.  There are a few quotes on the paper "OK gather with family", "Visit with Friends".  Doesn't that sound great??!!

The second card uses the same sun stencil.  This time I sponged my card stock with Mustard Seed distress Ink before stenciling (sponging) over top with Wild Honey Distress ink.  I added a silhouette die-cut of a bicycle (AliExpress) and a sentiment "Wishing you a Sunny Day" (Pop Sunflower - Stampendous).  This card is meant as an encouragement for a friend that needs a little sunshine in her life right now.

Thanks for stopping by!

Product Links

I {heart} Summer patterned paper - Simple Stories

Spring Sentiments - Stampendous

Pop Sunflower - Stampendous

Card #1 - Hello Sunshine

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower - Stampendous

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!); I {heart} summer (Simple Stories)
Ink:   Versamark
Accessories:   Rays Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz); Fossilized Amber Distress Glaze (Tim Holtz)

Card #2 - Wishing Sunny Day

Stamps:  Pop Sunflower - Stampendous

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!); Unknown (Simple Stories)
Ink:   Versamark; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Wild Honey (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:  Rays Layering Stencil (Tim Holtz), sponges, bicycle die (AliExpress)

Challenges:

Twofer Challenge #39 - Sunshine