Technique: Butterfly Dust

I just love the huge butterfly in the Bold Wings stamp set and I'll be sad to see it retire on June 30, 2018. This image can be a little daunting at first because it barely fits onto an A2 sized card, and does't leave any room for anything else. But get yourself used to the idea of only using a portion of a stamp on your card. In this case, I've cut off nearly half of the butterfly by tucking it under a textured frame. The result is a unique and visually appealing card that will wow your recipient.

The butterfly is heat embossed in Black Licorice, and then colored using PanPastels. There are only two colors used here, a pale yellow and a rich blue, but where they meet creates a lovely shade of minty green. PanPastels blend together so easily.

The frame is created with a chevron embossing folder, but you could use any design you prefer. I simply cut a rectangle slightly larger than the card base, ran it through the embossing folder, and then used my Journey Paper Trimmer to cut out the interior rectangle. You could also use Journey Rectangle dies to make it even easier. The just pop up the frame using foam tape, and tuck the wings underneath.

As a finishing touch (before layering everything together), I've sprinkled a bit of loose embossing powder just above the butterfly. I used the Journey Heat Tool from underneath to set the powder without blowing it away, since it's not adhered with ink in the traditional manor. This results in a sprinkle of shiny dust that resembles the dust of butterfly wings. Be sure to curl the wings with your Crease Tool and prop them up with a double layer of Journey Foam Squares so they appear lifelike. And finally, coat the whole butterfly with Sparkle Silk diluted with a few drops of water, to create that beautiful butterfly shimmer. 

Supplies List

• Stamps: Bold Wings, Small Things
• Dies: Journey Rectangles, Chevron Embossing Folder
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Sparkle Silk, Whip Cream Embossing Powder, Black Licorice Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots, Foam Tape
• Tools: Journey Heat Tool, Journey Paper Trimmer, Media Tray, Details Pro Shears

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Fast Flutters

Sometimes you just don't have a lot of extra time to make a card for that someone special in your life. But don't worry, I can help! I have a quick and simple card for you today, that takes just a few ingredients and about 30 minutes of your time. 

I stamped the butterflies in Clear Pigment Ink, and then heat embossed the images using Black Licorice Embossing Powder. I used PanPastels to color the butterflies, and then cut them out with the coordinating die. I curved their wings with the Crease Tool to make them pop up, and attached them to the paper with Mini Glue Dots, only at the body. Then I placed a double layer of Small Journey Foam Squares under each wing. I used an embossing folder to add some interest to the background layer. A bit of Sparkle Silk to add shimmer to the wings, a heat embossed sentiment, and a splatter of Black Licorice Silk for those finishing touches.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things
• Dies: Small Things, Love Letter Embossing Folder
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Rich Coral
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Sparkle Silk, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, Black Licorice Silk
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Technique: Embossing in Any Color

Whether you're a seasoned crafter or you're just starting out, sometimes you don't have the exact color you need for your design. Today, we'll look at a simple way to expand your arsenal of embossing colors.

As seen in my Square Affair post, I've masked off a section of the card with low-tack tape, and then used stamped images, embossed images, and PanPastels to create a unique and interesting background.

Did you know you can heat emboss an image in virtually any color? Simply press your stamp into Clear Pigment Ink, and then into the colored ink of your choice, then stamp on the paper and apply clear embossing powder and heat set. Viola! Custom embossing!

For this card, I used the "rock-n-roll" technique on both the sentiment and the butterfly, to get a two-tone image. To achieve this, stamp in your clear ink first, then in your lightest color, then roll the very edges of your stamp into a darker color, leaving the center only coated in the light ink.

Next, stamp the image over the top of the PanPastel strip, and sprinkle on clear embossing powder, then heat seat with the Journey Heat Tool. Follow the same steps for the sentiment. I also heat embossed some butterflies in white to add interest. 

Note: Test this technique on scratch paper first, as some brands and some colors of ink can change color when mixed with clear ink.

Finally, don't forget to pretty up the inside and envelope. Whoever receives your wonderful creation will really appreciate your attention to detail.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things, Postage Stamp ATS, Bold Wings (sentiment)
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink, Sweet Berry, Pretty Pansy
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Pretty Pansy
• Coloring Tools: Whip Cream Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Scotch Painter's Tape for Delicate Surfaces

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Mirror, Mirror

I love quick, simple cards for those days when you need to send handmade kindness but you have just a few minutes available to create something spectacular. It can be done! I promise. Here, I've backed a sheet of Whip Cream cardstock with a White Liner (sticky paper) sheet, and then die cut it with the Layered Leaves die. This makes the back of the die cut piece all sticky on the back, so you can attach it right to the Mirror Gold paper without using any additional adhesive.

Next, I layered a strip of vellum, and then a butterfly from the Small Things stamp set, heat embossed in Black Licorice and then colored quickly with PanPastels. (Tip: Our Journey Craft Glue dries clear underneath vellum!) Finally, I layered black cardstock onto a White Liner sheet, and die cut 3 of the "congrats" sentiment from the Designer Frames die set. I peeled off the sticker backing paper and layered the 3 sentiments on top of each other. Then I coated the sentiment with Journey Glaze to make it thick and shiny.

In less than 30 minutes (minus drying time) this card is finished!

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things
• Dies: Small Things, Designer Frames, Layered Leaves
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Mirror Gold, Journey Vellum
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Black Licorice Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots, Journey Glaze, White Liner Sheets

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Do Small Things With Great Love

I'm definitely ready for spring and I felt like creating a little slice of sunshine on this dreary, grey day. The bold pop of orange on this otherwise monochromatic card fills the bill! Both the background flowers and the butterfly are embossed in Black Licorice, and the butterfly is then colored with PanPastels. I just adore the sentiments in the Small Things stamp set. The modern font keeps it feeling fresh.

I cut out an extra forward wing for the butterfly, and curled it with my Crease Tool. I then adhered it to the body with a Mini Glue Dot, and placed a double thick layer of Journey Foam Squares behind the curve of the wing to ensure that it stays popped up even through mailing.

I diluted Sparkle Silk with a few drops of water and painted the flower petals and wings to add a pale shimmer. This really makes the colors pop! A drop shadow beneath the flower petals gives the background extra dimension.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things, Pretty Petals
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Sparkle Silk, Black Licorice Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front.