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. 

Some of that sass!

I used the three spunky gals from the Stay Sassy stamp set, to make a few cards and a treat bag topper.. I just love their modern fashion sense and the phrases that really show their personalities. Color them any way you like to match you or your recipient!

The second card uses Turbo Teal and Sour Lemon Splashes to make a super quick background. Just one spray of each and you've got a bright, cheerful splattering of highly pigmented paint. Don't forget to use a little Journey Glaze to make those sunglasses shine. 

The last girl, who I'm pretty sure likes candy, is the treat topper for the little candy bags I made for my customers at Stamp Camp. I placed her on our super versatile Bread Tag die and then just slid it around the top of the bag. So easy!

Stay Sassy is only available until June 30, 2018, so contact me if you're interested in purchasing these three fun ladies for your next stamping project.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Stay Sassy, Deco Dots ATS
• Dies: Journey Rectangles, Journey Squares, Bread Tag, 
• Inks: Black Licorice True Fusion Ink, Clear Pigment Ink, Cosmic Grape
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Sunday Adventure Prints
• Coloring Tools: Journey Color Burst Pencils, Sparkle Silk, Whip Cream Embossing Powder, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, Turbo Teal Color Splash, Sour Lemon Color Splash
• Embellishments: Candy Dots, Journey Girl Striped Ribbon
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots, Journey Glaze
• Tools: Details Pro Shears
  
  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. 

Technique: Erasing PanPastels

I just love bees...on paper at least. They are such useful creatures, and they really get a bad rap because of their sting. But science tells us that without the honey bee, humans would cease to exist! So let's take today to celebrate the beautiful, essential honey bee.

This card is simple, but really packs a "WOW" factor. To create the background, ink up the Hexagon Background stamp with Clear Pigment Ink, stamp it on Whip Cream Paper, and then gently rub blue shades of PanPastel into the ink to highlight the stamp's detail. It only takes about two minutes to do this and you'll want to use this technique over and over!

Did you know you can ERASE PanPastels? That's right. Whether you want to intentionally remove color to highlight certain areas, or even if you've just made a mistake, you can easily remove it with an inexpensive eraser. I prefer a white polymer eraser because it's not too hard on your paper. You can get these at the dollar store in block form, or pencil eraser tips (for fine details). On this card, which is colored entirely with PanPastels, I erased the highlighted areas on the leaves and flower petals.

Much like butterflies or dragonflies, honey bees have shimmery wings. To add a little shimmer, I've diluted Sparkle Silk with a few drops of water and coated the bees wings. I used undiluted Sparkle Silk to splatter across the card and add extra interest. WARNING: Sparkle Silk is addictive! You'll find yourself wanting to splash it everywhere. 

Supplies List

• Stamps: Summer Garden, Hexagon Background, Hey Honey, Small Things
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Sparkle Silk, Whip Cream Embossing Powder, Black Licorice Embiossing Powder, White POSCA Pen
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares
• Tools: Details Pro Shears, Journey Heat Gun, Media Tray, White Polymer Eraser
  
  To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Vibrant Honeycombs

This is a fun and simple card that showcases the rich, vibrant colors you can achieve with PanPastels. To achieve this look, stamp the Honeycomb ATS using Clear Pigment Ink, then gently rub the pastels over the ink, blending each color into the next as you go. 

The sentiment, bee and flowers are heat embossed in black, and then painted with Sparkle Silk and Gold Silk. Then the Gold Silk is splattered around to look like honey. 

Don't forget to make the inside of your card and the matching envelope just as beautiful! Your recipient will be wowed by your attention to detail.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Hey Honey, Honeycomb ATS, Pretty Petals
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream
• Coloring Tools: Gold Silk, Sparkle Silk, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, PanPastels
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares
• Tools: Journey Heat Gun, Media Tray

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. 

Gimme Some Sugar, Sugar!

Here's a non-traditional anniversary card that I made for the special guy in my life, using his favorite colors. He has a beautiful framed mosaic piece of art that inspired me. This card features the skull images from the Gimme Sugar stamp set by Fun Stampers Journey, and background images from Viva Los Muertos. All those yummy layers sparkle with lots of rhinestones and Silks.

I also made another version with a different color scheme and layout, which would make a fabulous Valentine's Day card.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Gimme Sugar ATS, Viva Los Muertos
• Dies: Journey Rectangles, Heart-Felt
• Inks: Black Licorice True Fusion Ink, Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Sweet Berry, Candle Apple, River Stone, Cranberry Crisp
• Coloring Tools: Journey Color Burst Pencils, Sparkle Silk, Whip Cream Embossing Powder
• Embellishments: Black Licorice Twine, Journey Sequins Pink World, Cut Rhinestones
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots
  
  To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front.