WISH - Entry for Sunday Stampers Challenge

Well this is my entry for Hels Sheridan's Sunday Stampers Challenge. to view hers and the other entrants click on the link ink on my fingers . 

List of crafting goodies used 

Large tag

Tim Holtz on the edge die

Sizzix make a wish embossing folder

Tim Holtz Alterations texture fades pattern and stitches

Tim Holtz Idea-ology kraft resist paper stash

Craftwork cards mini bohemian pad

Clarity Stencil - square set

Paper Artsy grunge paste

Tim Holtz Idea-ology foliage set

Bead cap ( found with jewellery making items)

Recycled handle from a paper carrier bag !

Treasure gold sapphire metallic wax

Treasure wax gilt pewter

1 brad

Versa-mark ink pad

Adirondack ink pad  watering can

Paints

Paper Artsy Fresco in nougat, pansy and french toast

Liquitex in green gold and white

Stamps

Inkydoodles butterfly set

Kaiser decorative tape pieces

Pan  Pastels in magenta extra dark and turquoise shade

This was made as an experiment using some Pan Pastels which I received for christmas and were completely new to me so it was a bit of the " Give it a go and see ! " I really like the smooth coverage and will be playing with them much more in the future. The leaves around the metal flower and the butterfly at the top were stamped in versa mark and then the pan pastels sponged over the top and I was so pleased at how clear these came out. I will not go through the complete process of making this tag as it is a bit on the long winded side but if you have any questions please leave a comment at the bottom of the page and I will get back to you asap. Thanks for stopping by and reading this blog and hopefully will see you again soon. Take Care and happy crafting Jane x 

Reindeer Card Using Grunge Paste

Happy Friday 13th folks! Hope you are all having a good day and not being plagued by any old superstitions. Well todays card will probably be  the last christmas card I blog this year as the time seems to be galloping on but I will hopefully do one on something different time permitting.

Ok so here's todays card, this using various techniques but I feel it's worth that little extra time spent on as it's got a lovely variety of textures.

Items Used

White square card blank 

White card for centre image of good thickness i.e. 230mg

Gold or contrasting colour card for layering

4 Metal Brads

Distress inks in Brushed corduroy, antique linen and walnut stain

Brilliance ink pad in starlight black

Grunge Paste

Tando Creative Reindeer stencils

Lavinia Believe stamp

Snow flake stamp ( found in many sets)

Stampendous Frantage Aged Ivory embossing enamel

Treasure Gold in Renaissance

Water in a spritz bottle

Versa-mark ink pad

To start with I secured the reindeer stencil onto the white card with low tack masking tape spread the grunge paste through the stencil with a craft palette knife. This I left to dry over night although I think this would be ready to use after about an hour.

The next stage is to stamp "Believe" at the bottom of the greeting card in the starlight black ink. I love this make of stamps as they are so different to many on the market and they also seem to print out so beautifully with the Brilliance Dew Drop ink pads.

Once dry I then coloured the edges of the card with the distress inks starting with the palest, antique linen first and working through the shades. The very centre will be covered up so there is no need to waste time and ink on that. The snow flakes were then stamped around the edges in the starlight black to keep in tone.

Now for the fun part !

I started by inking the complete card with the distress inks, again starting with the palest colour first. Once I was happy with the overall colour and shading I gave the card a light spray with water, left it for about 20-25 secs and then blotted the card with kitchen paper. Its very easy to over do this part so it's perhaps best to do a little first and see how you like it once its dry as you can always give it another quick spray. Once you are happy with this stage its onto the embossing round the edges. This is quick and easy, just hold the versa-mark ink pad at an angle and apply small amounts to the edges then sprinkle with the aged ivory embossing enamel. This is quite thick compared to embossing powder so you will need to apply sufficient ink for it to stick to the card. Then emboss with the heat gun. Once cool apply the treasure gold metallic wax with your finger to the areas you want to shine and buff with a soft cloth after about 10mins when dry.

I love how this picks up the different textures on the reindeer, and you can add little bits of the wax to  give the effect of shading around the image.

 Now its just putting the card together, firstly I stuck the reindeer to the gold card with double sided tape and then added the brads to the corners. Then the mounted image was stuck to the card also using double sided tape.

So there you have it, quite a grown up card in a way but still on the magical side and fun to make as it's great to see how the image is transformed from the gooey pot of grunge paste at the start.

I hope you have enjoyed todays entry, do add any comments at the bottom of the page and I hope this will inspire you to give this technique a try.

Thank-you for stopping and reading this blog and I hope you will pop back soon, until next time, take care and Happy Crafting whatever it may be  Jane x

SPECIAL My entry for The Sunday Stampers Challenge

Hi Everyone, and a very Happy Weekend to you all. My blog entry today is also my contribution for Hels Sheridans Sunday Stampers Challenge, to follow her blog and weekly challenges click on the link ink on my fingers

List of Items used
Packaging card 15cm x 12cm
 White Gesso
Grunge Paste by Paper Artsy
Distress Stains in salty ocean, broken china, bundled sage, pewter and scattered straw
Archival black ink pad
Walnut stain Distress ink pad
scraps of craft card and white card
Aqua markers on various colours
Versa mark ink pad and clear embossing powder
Stamps : Jofy 12 by Paper artsy, Petal set by Clarity stamps and Text Background and words by Inkydoodles
Glossy Accents by Ranger
Treasure Gold gilding wax in Indigo, Pewter and Renaissance
Flower Charm by Tim Holtz
Scraps of wool

Firstly I gave the card a coat of white gesso, and once this was dry I applied the grunge paste through the mask in the top right hand corner. Unfortunately  I do not know the name or make of this mask as it's one I have had years and no longer have the packaging but I vaguely remember it being a german make ?
Next I applied various coats of washes using the distress stains, these were dabbed onto a ceramic tile and mixed with a light spray of water till I reached the tones I was happy with. Once all was dry I stamped the flower and petals in archival and the text background in walnut stain. The 3 petals with special on were scraps of white card coloured at the same time as the background, then the petal shape stamped on followed by the word special both in archival black ink.

The 3 individual petals were then heat embossed with clear embossing powder twice to give a smooth glossy effect.

The words You Are So were stamped onto the craft card in walnut stain and then distressed round the torn edges. Whilst still damp the edges were then curled using the point of a thin knitting needle.

The tag was stamped with the centre of the flower stamp from the Jofy 12 set in black archival and the edges distressed with the walnut stain also.

The centres of the 2 flowers were coloured with aqua markers and then once dry glossy accents were applied.

The flower petals with the small flowers inside were also coloured with aqua markers and the blue petals with the spirals in had a little of the distress stains brushed on just to give a deeper colour.

The leaves in the bottom right hand corner were embossed with clear embossing powder and then the centres were made paler by gently brushing over with a wet paint brush and then dabbing with some kitchen paper to dry.


The deeper blue to the embossed design was obtained by gently rubbing with the indigo wax using my little finger and then after a couple of minutes buffing up with a soft cloth.


The 3 special petals were cut out and glued on at a slight angle to the stamped image on the picture. The metal flower embellishment then had the wool secured through the centre hole and was then stuck onto the picture with glue.


The edges of the tag and words had a small amount of the treasure gold wax in renaissance applied, the wool was then attached to the tag before securing them all to the picture with glue.

The flourish in the top right hand corner was then given a thin coat of the treasure gold wax in the pewter and the indigo. This just helps to hi-light the fact that this is a raised image.



This was also buffed with a soft cloth once dry, this only takes a couple of minutes to dry but is essential otherwise you will just rub it off again. I have only used my finger to apply this wax, but if you use a brush then a solvent would be needed to clean the brush afterwards as it is not water soluble. Having said that it comes off my finger with a quick wipe with a baby wipe and a wash with soap and water.




Well thats my entry for today and the Sunday Stamper Challenge, hope you have enjoyed todays project and until next time, take care and happy crafting,  Jane x