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)

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.

Close-up ...

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

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! :)

Close-up ...

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

Birthday Wishes for Bonnie!

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for my sweet friend, Bonnie (Stamping with Klass).  It's her birthday and I made a special card to celebrate.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY BONNIE!!

I was inspired by an earlier challenge at Seize the Birthday - Fancy Folds, to dig out this fun Box Card die from Honey Bee that I've had for probably two years.  It's the first outing!! :)  Unfortunately, I didn't get the card made in time for the challenge ...

I started by cutting my pieces from white card stock.  I then stenciled the outside of the main box layer with Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired).  I used Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint distress inks with sponges.  I love how it turned out.  It gives me a base of stylized "leaves" to show off the flowers inside.  The flowers are an older set from PoppyStamps (Peony Stems & Blossoms).  I stamped in black, clear heat embossed, and then watercoloured with more distress inks.  I used the matching die to cut them out.  The sentiment (gift from a dear friend), was stamped in more of the Peeled Paint ink and then cut out with a matching die.

I then assembled the box card following this wonderful video.  It was pretty easy to put together, but I did fuss a lot with where to place the flowers and sentiment. :)

Close-up ...

I'm also sharing a photo straight on and one with it folded up for mailing (creates a card that fits a standard A2 envelope).

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

2)  Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies.  2nd entry.  Used dies for the box and for all the flowers.

3)  NBUS Challenge #76 - first time using this box die

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Peony Stems & Blossoms (PoppyStamps - retired); Signature Greetings (Memory Box) - gift from a dear friend

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Box Card die (Honey Bee); Wander & Find Stencil (Carta Bella - retired); Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges, watercolour paint brushes, Signature Greetings die (Memory Box)

Challenges:

Seize the Birthday #309 - Anything Birthday Goes

Darnell's IDEAS - Week 2 - Dies

NBUS Challenge #76

Postage Christmas Cards

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing my most recent Christmas card using the Postage stamp image (Posted - Penny Black) as my background.  I have made a few of these types of cards in the past, but have decided I want to make several using this Postage Stamp with various Christmas images as the design. :)  You'll be seeing more of these, similar to last year's JOY postings.

My first one uses a wonderful stencil from Tim Holtz (Layered Poinsettia).  I didn't bother to mask in-between the poinsettias and holly, opting to use a smaller stencil brush and being fairly careful, although the colours did get mixed a bit. :)

I used Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness.  This is a great set of Christmas colours together.

The sentiment (Bright & Light - Penny Black) is stamped with more Candied Apple ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stenciling

2)  Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63 - Anything Christmas Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Bright & Light (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Shadow Grey (Archival); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Layered Poinsettias Stencil (Tim Holtz), brushes for sponging, silver metallic pen (Pilot)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stenciling

Merry Little Christmas Challenge #63

Happy Birthday Dolly!

Hi everyone.  Today is Darnell's (aka Dolly's) birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my dear friend!! :)

I'm sharing the card I made for her ... hopefully it arrived in time!

This is from a stamp, die, stencil and embossing folder set that Dolly gifted to me when she came for a visit in May.  This is such a beautiful set and I had so much fun making this card for her.  I used teal for the main flowers on the card, which I believe is one of her favourite colours.  The stamp/stencil set made this a quick and easy card, even though it looks complicated. :)  I added my own shading rather than using the stencil, because I like to control the blending of the colours.  And I used the fabulous sentiment from the set too. :)  I finished by adding a few dots and dashes of white with a posca paint pen.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stencils

2)  Seize the Birthday #308 - I used the Anything Birthday Goes option. :)

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wilted Violet, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz) 
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, sponges, white paint pen (Posca)

Challenges:

Darnell's IDEAS June Challenge - Week 5 - Stencils

Seize the Birthday #308

Special card for Leisa

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card to celebrate Leisa's birthday (daughter of a dear friend).  I hope she's received it by now.

I made this card using the lovely Nature's Magic Set (Altenew).  This set has two pretty flower sprigs that come with a stamp, die, and matching stencils.  You gotta love that! :)  I used only one of the flower sprigs to create this CAS birthday card.  Stamped the flowers in black ink and heat embossed in black before watercolouring with distress inks (Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint).  I have used these colours before with this image ... they just seem perfect to me, so why change it??!! :)

I used a sweet die-cut rectangle frame with stitched lines (AliExpress) to cut my aperture.  I stamped the sentiment (Super Day - Penny Black) on the card front and then popped it up over top of my card base.  I tucked the flowers into the aperture.

Close-up ...

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes (2nd entry) - I used stenciling

2)  AAA Cards #293 - Anything CAS Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Nature's Magic (Altenew); Super Day (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Saltwater Taffy, Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz)  
Accessories:   Stitched Rectangle die (AliExpress), Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, sponges

Challenges:

IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes (2nd entry)

AAA Cards #293 - Anything CAS Goes

Colourful Hello

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a fun card I made, inspired by AAA Colourful #17 challenge.  Here's the colours of the challenge ... it closes July 14.

I just love these colours together.  They made a bright and happy card. :)

I started with a stencil (Textured Mesh - Memory Box), randomly sponging each of the colours over the background.  I die-cut two of the flowers (Refresh - Penny Black) from black card stock, shaping them with a stylus and mat before adding them to the card front.  The sentiment (Hello Builder - Penny Black) is stamped in black ink to finish the card.

Close-up ...

This was a very easy and quick card to make ... you gotta' love that! :)

I'm sending this card to the following challenges:

1)  AAA Colourful #17

2)  Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

3)  PBSC June Challenge - Anything Penny Black Goes - I used Penny Black die and sentiment.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Hello Builder (Penny Black)

Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz); Black (Memento)
Accessories:   Textured Mesh stencil (Memory Box), Refresh flower dies (Penny Black), sponges

Challenges:

AAA Colourful #17

Darnell's IDEAS Challenge - Week 4 - Anything Goes

PBSC June Challenge - Anything Penny Black Goes