tutorial #4 and SCS color challenge

Better late than never!! my mom is in town so i have had a full morning!!! as promised today's tutorial focuses on the FABUlous tim holtz distress embossing powders. these powders are a tad bit fussy but OH SO worth it! my card below uses the colors in this weeks SCS color challenge - soft sky, creamy caramel and black.

distress embossing powders are different and give a different effect than your typical embossing powders. these are NOT the usual raised, shiny smooth look. they have a textured, almost grainy look and the colors are just amazing.

Our supplies: Versamark pad, distress embossing powder, embossing buddy, cardstock cut to size, and a stamp. these powders really work best on stamps with a lot of surface area or solid shapes rather than thin lines so you can really see the texture. The Butterflies A Flutter stamp used here was created with this in mind. Today I am using Vintage Photo - a gorgeous medium brown.

BEFORE doing anything SHAKE the powder very well and then open it up. Swipe your cardstock with the embossing buddy and stamp your image using versamark. Cover with embossing powder and shake off excess.

Heating this powder can be tricky.

they will not have the same type of change you usually see as they melt. they will have a slight change visible with most colors and i ALWAYS need to heat them with my heat gun under a good strong light. keep in mind they do not take any longer than regular powders so that can help guage. once heated LET THEM COOL COMPLETELY before touching them or the powder will wipe right off. Once cooled test a small spot to see if the powder is stuck on and re-heat if necessary. once it is cooled rub your finger over the image and the special release crystals will rub off giving a distressed sort of "grunge" or worn look.

Here is another card were i used them on the background with the cobblestone background stamp. after rubbing off the release crystals i smudged on some very pale distress inks to suggest the look of stones:

These powders also look WONDERFUL on other surfaces. i used it on the lid of this box i made for my mother:

after painting i covered the lid with versamark by smooshing the versamark pad directly on to the top of the box. sprinkled on the distress powder, heated it, let it cool and rubbed off. i wanted it to be especially "distressed" so i actually took very fine sand paper and rubbed it in some areas.



these fun powders are even more exciting when used to "color" your image - that will be Saturdays tutorial. but tomorrow tune in for Thinking Outside the block - new and inventive ways to use those studio G acrylic blocks you have lying around. the techniques featured in these friday segments are also good for acrylic/transparencies in general so be sure to come by and pick up some tips!!

Don't forget to stop by Catherine's blog - she is hoping to have something posted this evening - nothing like getting a last minute assignment!!! ha hahaha!

powder kisses!!!

Embossing Tutorial #3 and Technostamper sketch

Tutorial #3 yay!! everyone loved yesterday's which was a really fun one! today we are making an embossed background ala Tim Holtz. I got this technique from one of his 12 tags of Christmas (a MUST-SEE on his blog if you haven't already!) lord went over to grab the link and got distracted - his blog is so chock full of ranger yummy goodness!!!! Todays card uses the sketch from Mary Jo - another of my FAVES:

and here is my take using a background technique done with embossing powders which i will show you today:

Here are a couple other cards done using this same background technique:



(excuse the crooked wording - i was new to stamping at the time!!)

I used a Ranger embossing tinsel in bridal on these for extra shimmeriness but this can also be done with clear and looks really gorgeous as well. So supplies you need: light colored cardstock cut to the size you need, versamark, embossing powder, heat tool, dark coordinating ink, foam blending tool.

Cover your cardstock piece with Versamark - Just stamp the pad right on to the paper. you will see the versamark on the paper so you can be sure to get a good solid even coverage.

Next cover it with embossing powder. For some of the powders I use ALOT i have them in tupperware containers so i don't have to fool with the tray - i just dump the powder on over the container and the excess goes right back where it belongs :) once your cardstock is covered you want to hold it on the edges and flick the back really hard over the trash can to knock some of the powder back off. You want some random blank spaces for your darker ink. i even rub some areas lightly with my fingers if i need to - it takes a few good flicks! now heat it with a heat gun under good lighting and melt it.

Let it cool completely and then take your foam blending tool and ink it up with your darker ink color. Dab and smoosh the ink all over the cardstock, working the ink into any crevices that might be free of embossing.

Once it is covered take a paper towel and wipe the ink off of the embossed areas - the embossing acts as a resist so the ink won't stick. you will be left with a bit of ink here and there in the un-embossed areas.

On the first card above i also used the versamark as a watermark pad on the green panel beneath the flower. i took my Butterflies a swirl stamp and inked it up with versamark, stamped on the panel and then let it dry. nice subtle effect. also to the right another studio G stamp - crisp and clear once it is sanded a bit!

I'd love to see your creations and hear what you think of the tutorials so far! next up - the fabulous distress embossing powders!!!!! LOVE these!!