Inked Embossing

If you want a different look for your embossing folders, take your Brayer and ink the flat surface of the folder.  Now your raised embossed image really stands out against the inked background.  There are so many uses for the Brayer, and that is the one accessory I need to use more often.

My card base is Very Vanilla cardstock with a layer of Soft Suede and then my inked embossed layer which is just another cut piece of Very Vanilla cardstock run through the Big Shot using Pool Party ink on my Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder.  Instead of using ribbon for my bow, I cut a piece of Spice Cake Designer Fabric.  I have quite a bit of Stampin' Up! fabric, and since I don't really sew I decided to use it in place of ribbon on some of my projects, and I really like the look.  My sentiment was punched out using the Decorative Label Punch and to get the second Soft Suede punch in the background I just cut another Decorative Label Punch with Soft Suede cardstock and cut the center out of it and then placed these pieces behind the full sized punch.

For today's card I used the following:

Cardstock:  Very Vanilla #101650, Soft Suede #115318

Stamp Set:  Curvy Verses #114948

Ink:  Pool Party #122938

Embellishment:  Spice Cake Designer Fabric #124066 (Holiday Mini)

Punch:  Decorative Label #120907

Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder #116824, Dimensionals #104430

Very Simple Masculine Birthday Card

I find masculine cards the hardest to make, because I love adding ribbon or other types of embellishment to my cards.  So, instead I turn to my embossing folders to give the card a bit of embellishment without adding all of that extra frill.

Marina Mist cardstock was used for the card base, and I added a layer of Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, and both were embossed with the Houndstooth Embossing Folder.  A punched sentiment added with dimensionals, and I have my simple masculine card.

I wasn't sure how I felt about the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper for my Christmas cards, but I really like the warm textures for masculine cards.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Marina Mist #119682, Whisper White #100730

Designer Series Paper:  Frostwood Lodge #124002 (Holiday Mini)

Stamp Set:  Perfect Punches #117022 wood or #120516 clear

Accessories:  Big Shot #113439, Houndstooth Embossing Folder #123134, Dimensionals #104430

Triple Treat Flower

Another A' la Carte stamp, Triple Treat Flower, was the focal point for my card.  It is nice when one single stamp gives you just what you are looking for.

Now, for my colors - I went to my Color Coach for the combination - and at first was skeptical of the pairing but when I put it all together I liked it.  The color pattern is Wisteria Wonder for the card base followed by a layer of Elegant Eggplant, and then embossed layers of Lucky Limeade.  These aren't colors I would choose myself, but it is nice to try something different.

The first Lucky Limeade layer was embossed with the Perfect Polka Dots folder, and then a small layer was embossed with the Houndstooth embossing folder.  I stamped my flower in Wisteria Wonder ink and then punched it out with the Fancy Flower Punch.  An In Color Designer Brad was placed in the center before I put it onto my layer of Whisper White which was stamped with leaves from the Awash With Flowers set.  A small piece of "Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon was added for extra embellishment.

For today's card I used the following:

Cardstock:  Wisteria Wonder #122922, Elegant Eggplant #105127, Lucky Limeade #122926, Whisper White #100730

Ink:  Wisteria Wonder #122936, Lucky Limeade #122935

Stamp Sets:  Triple Treat Flower #122909, Awash With Flowers #117062 wood or #120549 clear, Petite Pairs #122495 wood or #122497 clear

Ribbon:  Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled #122973

Punch:  Fancy Flower #118073

Embellishment:  In Color Designer Printed Brad #122940

Accessories:  Big Shot #113430, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder #117335, Houndstooth Embossing Folder #123134

Bringing Baby

Petite Pairs Stamp Set offers you a choice of wording for
the front and inside of your card.

Stampin' Up! offers a variety of A' la Carte stamps, such as Bringing Baby,  making it easy for you to work well within your budget.  Check them out on pages 18-20 of the Idea Book and Catalog.

For my baby boy card, I started with Bashful Blue cardstock, and added a layer of Soft Suede that was sprayed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz.  I stamped my image with Soft Suede cardstock and using my Blender Pen added additional color.  An addition of some Scallop Edge Borders in Bashful Blue were placed under this Whisper White layer and then placed on the card.  I used coordinating sentiments for the front and inside of the card.

My Stamping Tip:  When I want to add a bit of color to a large image, I like to use my Blender Pens.  I just touch the tip of the pen into the ink pad color of my choice, and then I can add as much color or shading as I want.  To clean the tip of your pen, just rub it back and forth across a piece of scrap paper until it runs clear.  The tip might look discolored, but if it is running clear on your scrap paper you can reuse it again for your next color.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Bashful Blue #105120, Soft Suede #115318, Whisper White #100730

Stamp Sets:  Bringing Baby #122905, Petite Pairs #122495 wood or #122497 clear, Baby Bundle #118525 wood or #120576 clear

Ink:  Soft Suede #115657, Bashful Blue #105209

Marker:  Blush Blossom #100037

Embellishment:  Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz #118772

Punches:  Scallop Edge Border #119882, Small Oval #120908, Large Oval #119855

Embossed Gratitude

Gold embossing powder really adds beautiful texture and gloss to my stamped images.  After looking at the card again I think that I might change the brad in the middle to a Pool Party Designer Printed Brad instead of the Gold Shimmer Brad. 

Pool Party cardstock and layers of Very Vanilla Cardstock and Spice Cake Designer Series Paper provided the layers for my card.  I stamped my images with Versa Mark ink and then embossed them with gold embossing powder.  A gold glimmer brad from the Basic  Glimmer Brads pack, was added to the center of my flower.

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Pool Party #122924, Very Vanilla #101650, Whisper White #100730

Designer Series Paper:  Spice Cake #124003

Stamp Set:  Day of Gratitude #120835 wood or #121148 clear

Ink:  Versa Mark #102283

Punch:  Extra Large Oval #119859

Accessories:  Heat Tool #100005, Gold Embossing Powder #109129

Embellishment:  Basics Shimmer Brad #121003

Christmas Doily

I am having fun experimenting with the Hello, Doily stamp and thought I would try it out for Christmas.

I embossed my Whisper White Cardstock with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder before I placed my stamped Doily on top.  I stamped the Doily in Real Red ink and then sponged Wild Wasabi ink around the whole image, and placed it on using Dimensionals.  A Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Button with a piece of Real Red 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon placed through the button holes was added for a bit of embellishment.  I also used the 3/16" Corner Punch on my sentiment, and sponged Wild Wasabi ink on it as well.  

The following were used:

Cardstock:  Whisper White #100730

Stamp Set:  Hello, Doily #122845, Christmas Greetings #115448

Ink:  Real Red #103133, Wild Wasabi #109014

Punch:  3/16" Corner #119871

Accessories:  Big Shot #113430, Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder #116824, Dimensionals #104430

Embellishment:  Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Button #125636 (Holiday Mini)

Craft Fair Items

I participated in a Vendor/Craft Fair this past Saturday to benefit the American Cancer Society.  My biggest concern was what should I take.  With Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all so close together I tried to make a little bit for each holiday, as well as some all occasion gifts and cards too.  I also only had one table so my display was a little bit cramped, but it was nice to support the American Cancer Society and help them raise funds, and I got to meet some really nice people as well

Enjoy the pictures, and if you have any questions about any of the items you see just leave a comment.