February Technique Class: Adding Texture

This month, the technique group was interested in a few techniques that added texture or dimension to a project. So the techniques that we used were Faux Silk, Fabric Softener, and Dry Embossing.

The first card uses the Faux Silk technique which is a recent tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers, by Beate Johns. I actually CASEd the card in the tutorial, changing the colors and stamps a little bit. The general approach is to stamp and color images on tissue paper, crumple the tissue paper, and then glue it down to a white piece of cardstock.

Stamps: Embrace Life, Warm Words
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Cameo Coral
Papers: Ginger Blossoms Designer Series Paper, Groovy Guava, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral White, White Tissue Paper
Accessories: Brass Brads, Photo Corner Punch, Scallop Punch, Circle Punches, Chocolate Chip Ribbon, Paper Piercer & Template

Notes: For this sample I applied glue stick to the stamped tissue paper before applying it to the white cardstock, leaving a subtle textured finish. We discovered during the class that if you apply the glue stick to the white cardstock and then lay the tissue paper down on top, the surface finish can be much more textured.

The next techniqe that we played with was the fabric softener technique which I wrote a tutorial about previously on this blog. There is also a similar technique on Splitcoast Stampers by Charmaine Ikach that incorporates glitter. Since I have yet to buy a Xyron machine, I omit the glitter in my approach. The basic idea here is to add a soft texture by wrapping a trimmed dryer sheet over the front of a stamped image and and adhering the edges to the back of the accent piece.

Stamps: Close as a Memory, Short & Sweet
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Papers: Pumpkin Pie Prints Paper, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, White
Accessories: Used dryer sheet, Felt flowers, Brass Brad

Our next card focused on Dry Embossing. We used the heart image from the Priceless Classy Brass Template. Beate Johns has a tutorial on Dry Embossing on Splitcoast Stampers. The basic approach here is to use the template on a light table (or glass window during daytime) to create a raised image. To do this you lay your paper on top of the template and trace the image that you see through the paper with a stylus. You'll be able to feel the paper pushing into the template thereby creating a raised image. Rubbing the cardstock with wax paper before using the stylus can help the stylus glide along the paper.
Stamps: Short & Sweet, Priceless (swirls)
Inks: Black , Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Papers: Regal Rose, Black, Pretty in Pink, White
Accessories: Pink eyelets, Priceless Template, sponge
Note: The white image is stamped with Pretty in Pink swirls and the edges are sponged with Regal Rose ink.

Scrapbook Layouts Galore!

Last weekend I had a chance to do some scrapbooking. I apologize for out-of-season themes, but I figured most scrapbookers are probably as behind as I am in their scrapbooking and you won't mind. I was working on Fall stuff, so here are some layouts for some fall events and halloween.

Stamps: All in a Row, True Friend, Typeset Numbers, Letterpress Alphabet

Inks: Chocolate Chip

Papers: Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, River Rock, Chocolate Chip, Apple Cider DS

Accessories: River Rock Double Stitched Ribbon, Scallop Punch, Large Antique Brass Eyelets

Stamps: Typeset Lower Alphabet, Letterpress Alphabet, Haunting Halloween
Inks: Black, Pumpkin Pie, Almost Amethyst, Going Gray, Old Olive
Papers: Pumpkin Pie, Naturals Ivory, Black, Vintage Violet (old in-color), Old SU! Halloween Single Sided Halloween Paper (forgot name)
Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Old Olive Brads, orange grosgrain ribbon


Also, I took some pictures of the empty layouts from my last scrapbooking class, which were Christmas themed. Even without the photos, I thought you might appreciate the layout and color combo ideas.

Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet, Typeset Alphabet
Inks: Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery
Papers: Wintergreen DS, Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Naturals White
Accessories: Artichoke Grosgrain ribbon, Artichoke brads , corner rounder punch

Stamps: Typeset Alphabet - upper and lower, Letterpress Numbers, Season of Joy
Inks: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Garden Green
Papers: Bashful Blue, White, Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Papers from Winter Bright SS Kit
Accessories: Paperclip, Staples, Stickers from Winter Bright SS Kit, Photo Corner Punch, Bashful Blue Ribbon

More Ginger Blossoms

I just love this Ginger Blossom Designer Series paper. Here's a quick card I made recently for a friend who is sick:
Stamps: Embrace Life, Sincere Salutations
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel (flower coloring)
Papers: Ginger Blossom DS, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla, River Rock
Accessories: Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Corner Rounder punch (scalloped edge)
Notes: I removed the corner guide on the corner punch to create a scalloped edge on the river rock cardstock. Since I don't have a river rock ink pad, I used my creamy caramel ink pad and a blender pen to lightly color the blossoms.