Tuesday, February 28, 2023

February Group of Seven Cardmakers: Technique - Resist Debossed Background

It's time for the February Group of Seven Cardmakers post, playing with the Resist Debossed Background technique. 

Our group met for a zoom call in early February to try out a recent video tutorial from Splitcoaststampers (created by Anna-Karin Evaldsson).  

I love how this came out and I think blues and browns are my favorite colors to use with this technique!

So, basically, you lightly run a Versamark ink pad over the raised, inside, back of your embossing folder. (3D embossing folders seem to work best because they give a deeper impression).  

Take a piece of water color paper (or any water friendly paper like Mixed Media), rub over the paper with an Embossing Buddy (powder), put it in the embossing folder powder side down (over the Versamark inked side) and run it through your machine.

Take the panel out and cover the back side (the debossed side with the Versamark ink on it) with white embossing powder.  If the powder sticks to too much of your panel background, you can brush some off gently with a paint brush.  You want the powder to be on the design which is 'debossed' since you are using the back of your panel.

Then heat emboss the panel.  

To add color to the parts not white embossed on my panel, I pulled out two Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass and Frayed Burlap and two Distress Oxide Inks Salvaged Patina and Walnut Stain (DOX inks leave a darker color than the regular Distress inks).  You want to use water based inks.  I rubbed the inks (one at a time and do the Distress first, then the DOX since they are darker) onto my craft mat, spritzed with water and then pressed the panel randomly into the ink, then looking where there were open spaces and pressing that section into the ink.  

Notes: 

1.  You can just use one or two water based inks. 

2.  You should try several different embossing folders, as some work well and some not so well?!


A close up:
I added the die cut sentiment and some enamel dots to the panel.

I made a second card (below) using the same technique, embossing folder, white embossing powder and inks - and you can see it looks very different.  

The white embossing powder stuck to more of the card rather than just the debossed image and so just small bits of the panel absorbed the smooshed inks. (I didn't brush off the excess white powder on the flat bits!)  But it still makes for a pretty and interesting background I think?!

I'm linking my birthday card to:



Three more cards I made using this technique.
Embossing folder:  Tree Rings - Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  White Embossing Powder/Distress Oxide Vintage Photo Ink.  The bird is Feathered Friends Thinlit dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix covered with strips of DP.

I'm linking my tree ring card to:

anything embossed - optional things with wings


Embossing Folder:  Vintage Button - Eileen Hull/Sizzix.  White Embossing Powder, Distress Tumbled Glass and Frayed Burlap Inks.  The horse is an old wooden stamp by Judith, colored with markers.

I'm linking my Baby card to:
Feb - anything stamped


Embossing Folder: Circuit - Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  White Embossing Powder/Distress Lost Shadow Ink. Die: Voltage Bigz Die - Tim Holtz/Sizzix

I'm linking my voltage card to:

First time using both the circuit Emb Folder and the Voltage Die


For the full tutorial of this Resist Debossed Background and inspiring samples from the rest of the Seven Cardmakers, please pop over to the Group of Seven Cardmakers Blog.

We post a new technique on the 28th of each month that we hope will inspire you to try it out as well!

  We've added a Mr. Linky to the post - so you can link up your creations if you try this technique -  It's not a challenge, just a place you can put your card so everyone can see it and be inspired! 



Birthday Card
Paper:  Water color - Canson Cold Press, Tropical Teal - Papertrey Ink.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Frayed Burlap, Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Salvaged Patina, Walnut Stain, Versamark.
Accessories:  Gracious Leaves Embossing Folder - Memory Box, white embossing powder, heat tool, water mister, craft mat, Happy Birthday Die - Simon Says Stamp, Happy Birthday Poe Script Die - Poppy Stamps, Enamel Dots - Altenew.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

St. Paddy's Day with Stitches

 Time for a new challenge over at Inkspirational! #284

Pia is the Designer choosing the challenge this week and she wants to see Stitching - real or faux!


I went with the faux stitching option, using the Square Peek a Boo Window die from MFT.  

The front green panel is a textured cardstock so I stamped the sentiment on a  strip of plain green cardstock so it stamped cleanly.

Below is a close up so you can better see the colors on the patterned paper behind the shamrock.  The paper is Ink Drops: Earth from Craft Consortium.  
The Shamrock is 3D Impresslits Lucky Love from Sizzix and also includes a lovely heart die.  The shamrock is up on foam dots as well as the front green panel.
I added 3 gold Droplets from Idea-ology for a little sparkle


We can't wait to see what you create using real or faux stitching.  You'll find the challenge and lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team over at Inkspirational!

This challenge ends on March 10th so be sure to post your 'Stitching' card before then!

I'm also linking my card to:
I added gold metallic droplets

mines St. Patrick's Day





Stamps: A Beary Good Year - The Cats Pajamas.(no longer available)
Paper: light green textured card - Parklane Precision Cardstock Pack - JoAnn, New Leaf, Pine Feathers - Papertrey Ink, DP Ink Drops Earth - Craft Consortium.
Ink: Versafine Clair Nocturne
Accessories: Square Peek a Boo Window Die - My Favorite Things, 3D Impresslits Lucky Love - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Skinny Strips Dies - Neat and Tangled, Droplets Metallic - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology, foam dots and strips,

Monday, February 13, 2023

Moon Lit Anniversary

 I needed some anniversary cards for my stash and so created this.  I've had the moon mask and stencil for a while but it's the first time I've gotten it out -  it comes with 3 moon sizes.  I inked over the stencil with the new Lost Shadow DOX ink.  I sponged around the rest of the card with Speckled Egg DOX ink.

The tree is Tree of Dreams from Lavinia and the cute bunnies and sentiment are from two different sets by Colorado Craft.  I colored the bunnies with Copics.  The bunnies and sentiment strip are up on foam dots.  I added 3 black Tuxedo hearts.

I have to say, I LOVE how this came out!

My design was inspired by this card made by the Featured Stamper ladystampz over at Splitcoaststampers on Sunday.

I'm also linking my card to:

February - Anything stamped - option use a stencil
my bunnies and tree are stamped - the moon is masked and stenciled.

First time using the bunny stamps and the moon mask/stencil

Love is in the Air - Anniversary




Stamps: Snuggle Bunny, Anniversary Mini - Colorado Craft, Tree of Dreams - Lavinia
Paper: white - PTI, watercolor - Canson Cold Press
Ink: Speckled Egg, Lost Shadow Dox inks, Versafine Clair Nocturne
Accessories: Snuggle Bunny Die - Colorado Craft, Layering Moon Masks - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, finger sponges, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Love is in the Air

 Today there is a new challenge posted over at Inkspirational. #283

So, the challenge is to use Stencils -  with an option of also doing splatters!

I decided to make a Valentine with a beautiful stencil called Spatter Heart from A Colorful Life Designs.  

So the stencil itself already inks splatter (or spatter as the stencil is called!) around the heart but I also created splatter by flicking water onto the heart.  I used Lumberjack Plaid Distress Oxide ink over the stencil and Distress Inks are reactive to water as you can see in the closeup below.

I die cut a 4 3/4"x4 3/4" square of red card stock with a Lacey Square Spellbinders die and used the negative piece as a frame for my heart.  The frame is up on foam dots.
My card is 5" x 5" square.


Please join us over at Inkspirational and link up your stenciled cards! You'll find some lovely inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.   Maybe you will include splatter as well?

You have until Feb 24th to link up you card!


I'm also linking my card to:
Valentine for a guy

Somebody to Love




Stamps:  Happy Valentines Day - River City Rubber Works.
Paper:  White, Pure Poppy - Papertrey Ink
Ink:  Ranger Distress Oxide Lumberjack Plaid, Nocturne Versafine Clair.
Accessories:  6"x6" Spatter Heart Stencil - A Colorful Life Designs, blender brush, foam tape, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee Stamps, Lacey Square Spellbinders Die, water.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

An Egg and a Bunny

 I'm already moving onto Easter Mode -  got the Valentines done and a few St. Pats, so now onto the eggs and bunnies!


I found the smooshed egg die cut in my Easter box (I used it for something last year I think? and had made more than I needed).  I had die cut the egg out of water color paper.  I had rubbed Kitsch Flamingo and Frayed Burlap Distress inks on my craft mat, spritzed with water and pressed the egg onto the mat to soak up the colors.

The bunny is a new purchase - Bunny Games from Tim Holtz/Sizzix.  The bunny is popped up on foam dots and 'sitting' on the sentiment strip.
The sentiment is from a retired Waltzingmouse set and I added two enamel dots to the strip.

I created this card for the following challenges:

Splitcoaststampers Featured Stamper
I cased one of Jay_Bee's cards



first time using the bunny die



Stamps: Spring Baskets - Waltzingmouse (retired)
Paper: True Black, White - PTI, water color paper - Canson, Pale Rose - Bazzill, dark rose - Parklane/JoAnn
Ink: True Black - PTI, Kitsch Flamingo and Frayed Burlap - Ranger Distress
Accessories: Bunny Games Thinlit dies - Tim Holtz/Ranger, Egg die - Spellbinders, enamel dots - Altenew, craft mat, water mister

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Card Chain Challenge - January Reveal

 It's time for the January reveal of all the cards exchanged over at the Card Chain Challenge last month.

This time,  I sent a card to Gundi in Germany and I received a card from Pia in Norway!

For January, I used the suggested colors (on the cocktails!), the sketch,  the cocktail theme option and I even got the ombre technique option on the DP!


Theme Options: Cocktails / Elephants / Friendship

Product / Technique Options: Distress Ink/ Oxide / Ombre
I used two pieces from a recently purchased Brutus Monroe Pastel Deco paper pad for the background, cut to fit the sketch.  The cocktails are stickers from American Crafts mostly in the challenge colors and the sentiment is a Small Talk/Snarky Sticker from Idea-ology.

Please check out all of the cards exchanged over at the Card Chain Challenge -  where you can also sign up to join in this fun monthly challenge!  You have until Feb 6th to sign up for this month.

I'm also linking my card to:


The paper and cocktail stickers are new



Paper:  Pastel Deco 6x6 paper pad - Brutus Monroe, white card base - Papertrey Ink
Accessories:  Cocktail Stickers - American Crafts, Small Talk/Snarky Stickers - Tim Holtz/Idea-ology.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Sending Love in a Cart

 Here's another Valentine I've made for the season.  I made six of these using different patterned papers for the background and different colors of 'frosted' hearts (red/white/chocolate).  

I made a similar card about a month ago with a bigger plain heart in the cart and a die cut sentiment.

I used Glossy Accents on the heart and sprinkled heart confetti over it before it dried.  The Hand Cart die is from Charlie and Paulchen.  The sentiment is the from Good Vibes #4 set by Sizzix.


I'm linking my Valentine to:
Inspired by basket of hearts (mines a cart with a heart!)

Mood Board - inspired by frosted cookies and colors

1st vertical column
Die cut - Heart - Patterned Paper

Love is in the Air



Stamps:  Good Vibes #4 - Sizzix
Paper:  White - PTI, water color paper - Canson Cold Press, DP Be Mine Paper Pad - Recollections (Michaels)
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
Accessories:  Hand Card Die - Charlie and Paulchen (German Company), Transformable heart dies - MFT, Glossy Accents, foam dots, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee, Tiny Hearts Valentine Mix - Ellen Hutson