Faux Coloring with SSS Vine Canopy Embossing Folder

This Vine Canopy embossing folder is another of the new products I chose from the recent Simon Says Stamp Rainbows release.  I really loved the folder I got in the last release and decided I need to keep collecting them.  

There have been some really amazing cards using these embossing folder where people color/paint the embossed images.  I am definitely going to be doing that at some point, but it's the last week of the school year for my girls and I'm prepping to be out of the office next week with the girls and my mom and sister, so crafting time is at a premium.  As a result, instead of actually coloring the images, I decided to try and simulate the look.  

This was so easy to do.  I used my Distress Markers (I honestly can't remember the last time I pulled them out!), but any watercolor marker will do.  Then I just colored the images on the 'scooped out' side of the embossing folder.  You don't have to be particularly diligent about coloring the whole thing, you just really want to get a bit of color in all the sections.  Here's a look at the embossing folder after I had finished coloring.  You hardly see the color, but there is ink in those spaces.

Then I simply spritzed the folder with water.  You want to spritz pretty liberally.  This is a look at the folder after I sprayed.  You can see that the color is a little more pronounced as it mixes with the water.  I think I actually spritzed it a bit more after I took the photo.

Then I placed a piece of watercolor into the embossing folder and ran it through my diecutting machine.  Here's a look at the finished panels.

As you can see the 'coloring' isn't perfect.  There are some areas where either I didn't have enough ink in there, or it might have bled a bit, but it's a pretty good approximation and can be done in a fraction of the time.  I do love that each panel, even if you use the same colors, will come out a bit differently.  It's a wonderful, quick technique that anyone can accomplish.

OK, on to the finished cards.  This red and green panel was the first one I created.  I actually used four markers on this card.  I started by coloring all the greens with my Mowed Lawn distress marker, and then added a bit of Forest Moss to the large leaves.  For the berries I used Festive Berries and added a couple of touches of Fired Brick as well.

The panel was trimmed down and attached to my card base with double sided tape.

The Holly Jolly die is from The Stamp Market.  I cut the base piece twice, from both green cardstock and watercolor paper.  The watercolor cardstock was adhered to the green with a slight offset.  Then the letters were cut from red cardstock and adhered on top.

The entire piece was popped up with foam tape.

For the next card, I decided to just use two markers because I figured that the water would create variations in color all on its own, even without a second shade of ink involved.  I used Forest Moss for the greens and Stormy Sky for the berries.

The panel was then adhered to my kraft base.  To finish this card off, I used some hexagon dies from My Favorite Things.  I used two sizes, cutting them from a navy cardstock and stacking them together, just to add a little more texture/interest.

The Hello die is an oldie but goodie from Neat & Tangled.  It was cut from the watercolor paper and adhered directly to those hexagons.  The entire piece was then popped up with foam tape.

These were really so fast and easy to create.  Hope you will try it!

SSS Sea and Sky Background

I am ready for summer!  This is the last week of school for my girls, so I thought it was fitting to create some summery beachy cards.  This Sea and Sky Background was my absolute favorite new product from Simon Says Stamps' recent Rainbows release.  I just love how easy it is to create this gorgeous landscape, and I love that the scene can be both graphic and soft.

For this first card I went pretty basic.  I started by stamping the sky using Altenew Sea Glass ink.  Once I had stamped that layer, I cleaned it off, nested the wave piece into it, and then removed the sky piece.  The waves were stamped with Altenew Dusk ink.  

Again, I cleaned that stamp off, nested the sand pice into it, and then removed the wave piece.  The sand was stamped with MFT Kraft Hybrid ink.

Once my landscape was stamped, I trimmed the image down to create my card panel. I added a bit of color to the waves using B00 and B02 Copics, and a sentiment from The Greetery's Destination Summer set.

For my second card, I wanted to add some texture/sparkle.  I again started by stamping the sky, again using Sea Glass ink.  I cleaned the stamp off, applied Versamark, stamped again, and then embossed using Ranger Frosted Crystal Antiquities embossing powder.

Instead of stamping the water next, I actually nested both the water and the sand pieces to my stamping platform, and then removed the sky and water pieces.  

The sand was stamped with Versamark and the embossed using Hero Arts Sand embossing powder.

Then I added the water back in and stamped it with Sea Glass ink.  I just wanted a hint of the water so that I could line up the masks that I created by stamping the water image on a piece of printer paper and fussy cutting.  

I used a blending brush to add Sea Glass, the Ocean Waves, and then a bit of Dusk ink to the water.

After using my heat gun to dry/set the ink, I then  stamped the water image with Versafine and then embossed with WOW! Pacific Wave embossing glitter. 

The sentiment is from an old My Monthly Hero kit and was embossed with that Sand embossing powder also.  I actually stamped and embossed twice to make sure it stood out since it's partially stamped on top of that antiquities embossing powder.  Isn't all that sparkly pretty?

The entire piece was then popped with foam tape over my card base.

That's all for me today.  The girls and I are heading out for a girls week/vacation with my mom and older sister next week and I can't wait!  

MFT Hooray Kind of Day

I realized that I hadn't really done any coloring since Kathy Racoosin's last coloring challenge in April, and thought I should rectify the situation.

I'm always in need of birthday cards, and these little critters by Stacey Yacula for MFT in the Hooray Kind of Day set were needing to be colored.

This one is pretty simple on this one, I wanted the images to be the star of the show.

They were all stamped with Gina K black amalgam ink, colored with Copics, and die cut.

Then I added some simple inking to the background using Tumbled Glass distress ink and Moon Rock ink from Altenew.

The inked panel was adhered directly to the card base, and then the die cut images were adhered on top.

Hope you are having a day that is just as happy as these guys!

The Greetery Goodness

I love The Greetery products, and have a number of sets that I've gotten over the last year that I have just not gotten around to using.  This weekend I decided I really needed to get my act together!

Today I have a couple cards using several Greetery products.  I thought it would be fun to make a version using both kraft and white cardstock.  They aren't exactly the same, but in terms of stamping and die cutting, I was able to make all the pieces at the same time, and then added some variation when it came to assembly.

I started off by stamping and die cutting my watering cans from the Sprinkled with Kindness set.  All the colored inks I used for today's cards are Altenew, and for the cans I used Misty Morning, Cloudy Sky, and Nimbus.  I really love this watering can.  I actually also have The Greetery's Just Mason Around set which is similar, but a mason jar.  The realist in me has a hard time using that set because I always feel like the stems of the flowers should show in it, and I've not figured out a great easy way to make that happen when using die cuts.  This watering can serves the same purpose as the mason jar, but I don't have the inner conflict that it should be see through.  

Next up, I stamped and die cut the florals from the Budding Beauties Spring set.  I stamped and die cut two of each of the different florals on both kraft and white cardstock.  For the tulips, I used Bamboo and Olive for the greens and Citrus Burst and Maple Yellow for the blooms.  I decided I wanted a little more contrast, so I switched from Maple Yellow to Honey Drizzle on my second stamping on the white and for the kraft images also.

For the Cherry Blossoms, I used Dark Chocolate for the branch, Rouge and Velvet for the buds, and Parrot for the leaves.

For the Baby's breath, I used Mountain Pine for the stems, and for the stamping on white I used Sea Glass, while for the stamping on kraft I used white pigment ink.

To add a little texture and contrast to the background, I die cut the Square Dance die from both white and kraft cardstock adhering it to my card bases for a tone on tone affect.

Then it was time to create my floral arrangements.  I used a kraft knife on the white card to create a slit where the opening of the watering can was and tucked the yellow tulips in first, then I 'built' the rest of the flower arrangement around that.  

The complete piece was adhered directly to the card base.  The sentiment is from a retired Neat & Tangled set and was popped up with foam tape.

For the kraft card, I started by threading one of the cherry blossom pieces through the handle opening, and, just as in the last card, built the rest of the arrangement around that piece.  The completed piece was again adhered directly to my card base.

This time I used a sentiment from an older Hero Arts set.  I added a bit of soft inking to the little pennant it was stamped on for some contrast and popped it up.

I am not a very good stamper, and in the old days would never have contemplated purchasing these multi-step stamps, but using a stamping platform really is a game change.  Sometimes, even with a stamping platform it's hard to line things up, but I found these images really easy to work with.  

Curious if you are more a fan of the kraft, or the white?

May 2021 in Books

There were a lot of really great books this month, especially if you like historical fiction (both adult and YA).  I'm still trying to balance the adult/kid books too which is why my totals are always so inflated.  Here are the recaps:

Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk - Kathleen Rooney - fiction - five stars - So I actually read this book in April, but forgot to put it into Goodreads/the April blog post.  I really enjoyed this one.  If you're a fan of New York City, or just how cities change over time, I think you'll really enjoy it.  Eighty-five year old Lillian Boxfish heads out on New Year's Eve to go to dinner at her usual place.  After dinner, she decides to take a walk around the city she loves, and as she is traversing New York, she reflects on her life.  How she came to the city, her career as an advertising executive for Macy's, her family life, and her retirement years.  She lived a very full life, one that was ground breaking for her era, and Rooney does a really amazing job weaving that together with overall cultural changes and changes in the city.  I loved Lillian's character and voice.  Definitely worth the read!

Sunflower Sisters (Lilac Girls, #3) - Martha Hall Kelly - historical fiction - five stars - I am so sad that this is the last book in Kelly's exploration of the Ferriday women.  I have loved each of the books in this series and this is no different.  This book explores the life of Georgeanna Woolsey, a Ferriday ancestor, who was a Union nurse during the Civil War and later went on to found a school for female nurses.  Her story is woven together with that of Jemma, a slave on Peeler Plantation who lives through terrible tragedies, ends up masquerading as a boy in the Union army serving as a drummer, goes to New York with Georgeanna, and returns to Maryland to try and free the rest of her family.  The stories of both women are compelling and remarkable.  This, like the rest of the books in the series, is a must read.

No Ordinary Thing - G.Z. Schmidt - juvenile fiction - four stars - Carina read this one and really enjoyed it, and insisted that I read it too.  It's about a 12 year old boy named Adam.  His parents died and he lives with his uncle.  One day he discovers a snow globe in his parents effects.  The snow globe is magical and he discovers that it transports him to the past where he meets new friends and tries to unravel the mystery of the snow globe and how it works.  Meanwhile the book also tells the story of Elbert the Excellent, a magician and candlemaker whose story affects Adam's.  This was a little bit predictable, and I felt there were some things that could have tied together better, but overall it was a good story.  Adam is likable as are the people he meets along the way.  A fun read.

Missionaries - Phil Klay - fiction - three stars - I thought this one would be better.  I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but overall it was just kind of meh.  It's probably more like two and a half stars, but I rounded up.  Lisette is a foreign correspondent who has been covering America's military in Iraq and Afghanistan.  She needs a change and asks a friend where is a war that America is winning?  He directs her to Columbia.  But at the end of the day, it seems like war is war regardless of where you are.  The book also follows the story of Abel, whose family was killed when he was young.  He then went to work for one of the militias, but you see that in that area of Columbia, it doesn't really matter who is in charge.  That changes frequently, what doesn't chance is the 'vaccine' or fee that the locals must pay to whoever is in charge.  In general this book was a pretty depressing look at war and the struggle for power that transcends location.

The Paris Library - Janet Skeslien Charles - historical fiction - five stars - Last month I mentioned that I was tired of books about libraries, historical fiction set in Paris, and historical fiction with dual timelines (one being the present).  This book is all of those things, but I loved it.  It's the story of Odile Souchet, who gets her dream job working for the American Library in Paris in 1939.  I loved learning about the library, which I never knew existed.  You're introduced to a whole variety of characters - those working in the library as well a the regular subscribers/patrons.  This mostly happy community is, of course, affected by the war.  Roles change as people go off to war, as they have to change how the library functions/serves the community.  I loved hearing about the book service they created collecting donations and sending bundles of books/periodicals to soldiers during the war.  Soon enough the library can no longer serve Jews, and Odile and others begin delivering books to these patrons, at great risk to themselves.  I think the thing that I liked about the dual timeline in this book is that the focus was really all on Odile.  The present-day story is about a girl named Lily, growing up in Montana who lives next door to the very private Odile.  They get to know one another, and Odile helps Lily through a very difficult childhood.  But the focus of the book is on Odile, and rather than an even sharing of the story it's probably about 75%/25% Odile vs. Lily.  Highly recommend.

Unbound: A Novel in Verse - Ann E. Burg - juvenile historical fiction - five stars - I think this is the third novel in verse that Ellie and I have read from Burg.  The topics have all been varied, but they have all gotten five stars.  This book is about a slave named Grace who is called up to work in the Big House.  She doesn't want to go, and misses her family desperately.  She struggles working under a very demanding mistress and eventually she and her family must flee.  They head into the Great Dismal Swamp seeking refuge and freedom.  Burg is such a good storyteller and does an amazing job bringing her characters to life .  

The Light in Hidden Places - Sharon Cameron - young adult historical fiction - five stars - Both Ellie and I loved this one.  This is based on the true story of Stefania Podgorska, a Polish girl who at the beginning of WWII had been working for and living with the Diamant family who owned a grocery store in Przemysl, Poland.  Stefania was considered part of the family, and was in love and had promised to marry Izio, one of their sons.  When the Germans invade, the Diamants are sent to the ghetto, and Stefania is left alone and without a family.  She does all she can to help the diamants, smuggling them food and supplies, but as conditions in the ghetto worsen, she's asked to do more.  Meanwhile, she becomes the caretaker of her younger sister Helena after going home to visit her family and finding that her mother and brother have been taken to work camps.  As the Diamant family shrinks, she's asked to shelter the few remaining members. She agrees, but ends up sheltering 13 Jews, which becomes even more complicated and dangerous when the extra room in her home is claimed by the Nazis to house Nazi nurses.  An amazing story of survival and sacrifice.  

The Explorer - Katherine Rundell - juvenile fiction - five stars - This was one of Carina's picks for me to read.  I'll say that the whole scenario is generally unbelievable, but if you let go of that fact, it is a really good story, and one that I think is great for middle grade readers.  Four children are headed back to England from Manaus when their pilot suffers what sounds like a cardiac event and crashes in the jungle.  The kids survive and find a way to survive in the jungle, figuring out what they can eat, learning to build a fire, creating raft that they hope will lead them to safety/home.  They find a map that leads them to an ancient city and a potential way home.  I liked the characters, I liked how the kids worked together, discovered things, had to deal with difficult choices and 

The Queen's Gambit - Walter Tevis - fiction - five stars - So I'll start by saying that I haven't watched this Netflix show, but lots of people I know did and raved about it, and I didn't even realize it was based on a book until I saw this at the library.  Based on the buzz about how good the show was, I figured I would give the book a try.  It's about Beth Harmon, orphaned at eight when her mother dies, who learns to play chess at her orphanage.  She is a prodigy.  She is also addicted to tranquilizers as are many of the kids at the orphanage because the director gives them to the kids like vitamins to keep them docile.  Beth is adopted by an older couple, it turns out that it's mostly for the stipend they receive to adopt her, they're not that interested in having a child, but when the husband abandons the family, and the mother realizes that there's money to be made in winning chess competitions, Beth and her adopted mom slowly start to become a team/family.  There's a lot about the ins and outs of chess not all of which I followed since I know only rudimentary chess, but it was a really fascinating glimpse into that world and a compelling book.  Now I'm trying to decide if I should watch the show, or if it would annoy me (if it deviates too much from the book).  Definitely recommend.  

We Begin at the End - Chris Whitaker - fiction - five stars - This was such a good book, the kind where I immediately want to borrow other books by the author.  It's a heartbreaking sad book about how one little mistake ripples and causes  and changes the lives of so many people.  Walk is the sheriff of his small town, years ago his testimony sent his best friend Vincent to jail.  Now Vincent is being released and Walk wants to help him reintegrate.  Meanwhile the crime he committed, accidental death of the sister of his then girlfriend Star continues to haunt him.  Star's daughter Duchess has grown up in a broken family, her mother is on a path to self-destruction and Duchess is trying desperately to retain a sense of normalcy for her little brother with the help of Walk.  There is so much sadness and misunderstanding in this book, and as it progresses there are revelations that were definitely surprising for me.  I think the agonizing thing is the good intentions at the heart of so many of the characters, but they are misunderstood and taken on in a vacuum don't have the intended effect.  Such a good read.

Notorious - Gordon Korman - juvenile fiction - four stars - I honestly think Carina has checked out every Gordon Korman book that our library owns.  I'm working through them at a much slower pace than she is.  This was a cute story about Keenan, a boy who normally lives abroad with his mom, but contracted tuberculosis and is now living with his dad on Centerlight Island, a fictitious island split between Canada and the US, while he recovers.  Centerlight is a very small island, most of the population has lived there for years so being the new kid he is quite the novelty.  Keenan is befriended by Zarabeth, aka Zeebee, who loves the island and it's history.  It was a stomping ground for organized crime in the Prohibition era and there's rumored to be treasure buried on the island.  Zeebee is famous on the island as the owner of Barney, a dog that wreaked havoc and was hated by almost everyone.  Barney died recently, Zeebee considers his death suspicious, and her parents replaced him with a much smaller dog who adores her, but who doesn't compare with the original Barney.  This is a cute story about friendship with a bit of mystery mixed in as Keenan begins to believe Zeebee's claims about Barney's death.  As always Korman creates funny and sympathetic characters.  If you like Korman, you'll like this one.

The Cross and the Switchblade - David Wilkerson - auto-biography - five stars - Our old pastor has a list of books that he had his kids in high school and college.  I'm working my way through the high school list as I'd like to do something similar with our girls.  This was the first book I picked up from the list and I read a chapter a day as part of my devotions.  What an amazing story!  Wilkerson is country preacher who is moved by a newspaper article about a vicious gang killing in New York City.  He feels called to go there and as he does, discovers a vast mission field ministering to the gangs of New York.  Wilkerson's call was completely unexpected and required him to step out completely on faith, and it was amazing to see how his efforts and faithfulness were rewarded.  Such an uplifting and encouraging story.  That said, this is one that I will probably share with Ellie in another year or two.  The kids Wilkerson worked with were definitely in need and some of the circumstances/situations are a little more on mature than I think she is ready for.

This Light Between Us: A Novel of World War II - Andrew Fukada - young adult historical fiction - five stars - Another great WWII story.  Alex Maki, a Japanese American boy who lives on Bainbridge Island in Washington is assigned a pen pal Charlie (who the teacher thought was a boy but is actually a girl) from France in 1935.  Their correspondence long outlasts the school assignment.  The book shares sone of the letters between the two and their growing friendship.  The correspondence is interleaved with narrative about Alex's life in Washington.  Following WWII, Alex's family begins to experience discrimination, curfews, difficulties at school, etc.  His father is arrested.  He writes to Charlie about these difficulties, and she too shares her troubles as she is Jewish.  Eventually, Alex's family interned at Manzanar, and then the letters from Charlie stop.  In the camp Alex decides to enlist.  He believes that if he does his father will be released, but he also wants to go to Europe to search for Charlie.  Really well done.  I loved both Alex and Charlie and their friendship.

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (Enola Holmes, #2) - Nancy Springer - juvenile detective - five stars - So the last Enola Holmes book I read was actually book #3 which was OK, but not as good as the first one.  This one was more of a return to that first book for me.  In this book Enola is looking for Lady Cecily who has disappeared all while trying to evade her brother Sherlock.  This book filled in a few of the blanks from that third book, how Enola set up her office and business and I also really loved the developing relationship between her and Sherlock.  

The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan (Enola Holmes, #4) - Nancy Springer - juvenile detective - five stars - I had also borrowed this fourth Enola Holmes book, and I really enjoyed this one as well.  I think it's because I read them back to back and the mystery here also involves Lady Cecily who Enola runs into unexpectedly, and who appears to be in trouble.  At the same time, Enola's relationship with Sherlock continues to evolve, and they even work together on the case.  Just a fun dynamic.  Looking forward to the next book (which is waiting for me at the library)!

A Burning - Megha Majumdar - fiction - four stars - So this book was interesting.  It's probably more of a three and half, but I rounded up.  It's about Jivan, a Muslim girl who lives in the slums in India.  She has a lot of promise, has a job, and is working to better herself, but after sharing some opinions in a response to a Facebook post about the bombing of a train by terrorists, she is accused of aiding the terrorists.  The Indian justice system leaves a lot to be desired.  The book is really about choices as well, it follows a couple other characters, PT Sir, the PE teacher at the school Jivan attended, who by chance becomes involved in a political party.  Corruption is rampant in India and he's asked to do some favors for the party and the slowly spiral into acts which he would not have been comfortable with in the beginning.  There is also Lovely, an aspiring actress who Jivan had been tutoring in English.  She actually testifies for Jivan, which brings her some notoriety and acting opportunities, but does not help further as she does not want to jeopardize her budding career.  It was an interesting look at India, but also kind of depressing.

How High the Moon - Karyn Parsons - historical fiction - four stars - This is another where it's more of a three and a half and I rounded up.  Ellie read this one and really enjoyed it and passed it on to me.  Fun fact, the author was Will Smith's cousin in Fresh Prince.  This is the story of Ella who lives in the little town of Alcolu in South Carolina.  Her mother has been living in Boston, working building ships for the Navy and singing in night clubs in the evening.  Ella's mom invites her to come stay with her in Boston for a while and Ella is elated.  Boston is a world of difference from South Carolina, especially since the story occurs in the Jim Crow era and Ella is shocked by the difference in treatment of African Americans in the north vs. the south.  When Ella returns to Alcolu, she finds herself in a completely different world, her friend George Stinney has been arrested for the murder of two white girls.  My main issue with this book is that it was almost two separate books.  Ella visiting her mother and then the evens surrounding George Stinney's arrest.  It felt very disconnected and not tied together.  The stories are both compelling, but I felt like I wanted more of each.  George's story is actually true, and heartbreaking.

The Nature of Fragile Things - Susan Meissner - historical fiction - five stars - Another fantastic historical fiction book for this month.  I read this one so quickly, I really liked Sophie, the protagonist.  She is an Irish immigrant who was struggling in New York. She sees an advertisement for a wife/mother in California.  She has always wanted a family, and decides that that life would be preferable to freezing and starving in New York even if the circumstances are unconventional.  Her new husband is aloof and travels a great deal, but she grows to love his daughter Kat, who speaks very little, but slowly comes out of her shell.  On the evening of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake a stranger appears at the door.  Her arrival leads Sophie to discover why her husband is so distant and aloof and sets the women on a path to make things right.  Really enjoyed this one.

Lawless (Lawless, #1) - Jeffrey Salane - juvenile fiction - five stars - This one has been in the to read pile for a while.  Carina read it a while ago and immediately ordered the other two books in the series and Ellie zoomed through the series also.  I'm just now getting around to it, but I agree with them that it's a great book.  It's about M Freeman, a girl who has lived a pretty solitary existence for most of her life.  Her father died when she was young and her mother travels a great deal, she is homeschooled.  She is accepted into the Lawless school, which her father apparently attended, which graduates the most talented criminals in the world.  M has a knack for the business and is invited to be part of the exclusive 'Masters' clique at the school.  I thought it was a really interesting concept and I liked that you really couldn't tell who was good or bad, friend or foe.  M is very likable, and I'm really curious to see where this series is going.

There were so many five star books this month that I really don't feel like I can pick a favorite.  It was just a great month of reading.  Right now I'm reading The Rebel Nun, a book that I saw when I was browsing at the library (Yes!  I was in a library and I got to browse!) that just looked interesting, and I'm really enjoying it.  Next up I have the rest of the Lawless series as well as The Good Doctor of Warsaw.  Would love to know what you've been reading.

SSS Magnolia Branches Embossing Folder

Happy Thursday before a three day weekend!  Today I'm sharing some cards created using the Magnolia Branches embossing folder from Simon Says Stamp.

I haven't purchased an embossing folder in years, but when I saw this one, I just couldn't help myself, and when it came in the mail, I was impressed.  Embossing folders have definitely evolved!  I really love how sturdy this folder is compared to my older embossing folders.  The thickness means that the embossing is deeper and there's a lot more dimension in the finished product.

I thought I would try out some of my tried and true embossing folder techniques with this new folder.  I started out by using a brayer to add Versafine ink to the embossing folder.  Then I placed a piece of patterned paper into the folder and ran it through my die cutting machine.  I chose a Pinkfresh Studio patterned paper because those tend to be on the thicker side which really lends itself to embossing.

To finish the card off, I added a mat using the same patterned paper that I embossed.  The sentiment is from an old Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit.  

There was still some residual ink in my embossing folder, so I put a panel of white cardstock into the folder and ran it through again.  The result was so pretty!

I trimmed the panel down, added a black mat, and an embossed sentiment from Simon Says Stamp's Clean Line Faith set.

I forgot to mention that for all of these cards, when adhering my embossed panel to cardstock/card base, I used Scor-tape.  For mixed media type cards, I find that this kind of adhesive just works better and keeps things where they need to be.

Next up another favorite embossing folder technique.  For this next card I cut a panel of watercolor cardstock and inked it with Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron distress ink.

Then I liberally spritzed my embossing folder with water, placed the inked panel inside and ran it through the die cutting machine.  This really saturates the color in the embossed areas and is so pretty.

For some extra texture, I added some gold and black splatter to the panel.  I might have over splattered a bit as the photos read more splattery than embossed, but trust me there's some great dimension on this panel.

The sentiment is an older Concord and 9th die.  Because the surface of these panels is so variable, it's a little tricky to adhere a die cut sentiment.  My solution was to use adhesive backed foam.  I ran the die through my machine, then left the entire piece in place.  Working from the back of the die cut piece of foam (with the die cut piece still intact), I removed the adhesive from the sentiment.  Then I centered the entire piece over my panel, and pressed it down onto my panel.  The negative pieces could then be pulled away leaving the sentiment in place.

For this last card, I used the same technique as in the above card, this time blending Bundled Sage, Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans distress ink onto my watercolor panel.  After spritzing the embossing folder and running the panel through, I decided to step things up a bit and combine the two techniques that I used today.

I first let the panel dry, then I lined it up in the embossing folder, taping it in place with washi.  I flipped it up, and using my brayer, inked the panel with Dusty Concord ink, and ran it through my machine.  I wanted a deeper color, so I then inked the embossing folder with Faded Jeans ink and repeated the process.

Just as in the last card, I die cut a sentiment (Altenew's Waterbrush Hello die) from adhesive backed foam, kept the sentiment intact in my foam piece, and adhered it after removing the backing from just the sentiment, centering it, and then pressing it onto my panel.  

You can really see the dimension of the design in the below photo.

These panels were really easy and fun to create and I'm looking forward to trying out some different techniques with this embossing folder.  I'm also thinking I might need some more of embossing folders!

Thanks for visiting!

*This post contains affiliate links to Simon Says Stamp

Spellbinders Sweet Street by Tina Smith

Hi friends!  I'm sharing a couple cards today using the Sweet Street collection by Tina Smith for Spellbinders.  There are some really cute die sets in this collection, and I happen to have a pretty big sweet tooth, so they are right up my alley.

I kept this first card quite simple.  It features The Cookie Corner die set.  You can create several different types of cookies using this set, but I really loved this shortbread cookie style with the embossed detail.  I cut six of them from cream cardstock, and then used a blending brush to add a bit of Dark Chocolate ink to them.

Originally I was going to place them in a grid, but when I was moving things around while working on the card, they ended up in a bit of a pile, and I liked the look, so I just went with it.  

I used a couple of neutral patterned papers to complement the soft warm tones of the cookies.  The sentiment is from an older Close to My Heart set in my stash.

My next card has a much more bold graphic look, and features The Sweet Shoppe die set.  I decided to use predominately neutrals with some splashes of red for this card.  

It was really fun to create all the little desserts, and sticking with a limited color palette really made the process easier.  

To add a bit more graphic punch, I used a black and white diagonal stripe mat.  I also popped up the awning with foam tape for some dimension.

The sentiment is from an older My Favorite Things set.

Thanks for visiting, be sure to check out the full Sweet Street collection over at Spellbinders!

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