Fun Techniques - Emboss Resist

OK, this isn't the first time I have posted about the emboss resist technique, BUT this time there's a little twist. After reading the "Stamp It! Techniques" column in the September/October 2013 issue of Paper Crafts Magazine, I knew I was going to have to test it out. The twist here is that you stamp a pattern or background onto your base project first, then proceed with the emboss resist. Let me show you...

First, stamp a background image onto your project base. In my case, it's a card front:

Next, choose the image you will use for the resist. I chose the cupcake image from this month's Stamp of the Month, "A Chocolate Affair". Using VersaMark ink, random stamp this image over your background:

Now, cover the images with clear embossing powder and heat emboss:

Next comes the fun part! Using one or more different colors of ink and a large sponge dauber, swirl ink onto the base using a circular motion.(NOTE: For a more pronounced result with your embossed images, make sure the inks you use are darker that the color that you stamped your background in.)

After applying all of your colors, use a paper towel to wipe off any excess ink:

Isn't that so cool?! Here is the finished card:

I made the note above because I think my result would have been better if you couldn't see as much of the original orange background through the green and blue inks.

So, I decided to try another card, only this time I used a patterned paper instead of stamping a background. I used a nice, small pattern from the "Frosted" paper pack, and stamped on it with the image of a small piece of solid washi tape from the "Washi Wonders" set. This time, I used Twilight ink to cover the background, and I think it looks much better!

That is just so cool. It looks like I cut small pieces of the patterned paper and glued them over a blue version of the same paper. The snowflake patterned paper on the opposite side is also from the "Frosted" paper pack, and the snowman and sentiment are from the "Flakey Friends" stamp set. This was snow much...I mean SO much fun! I would LOVE to see what cool results you get with this technique!

Creative Chalk Techniques - Part 3

Hello, and welcome to the third and last installment of Creative Chalk Techniques! I had so much fun trying these cool methods - I hope you have, too! The last technique is almost identical to last weeks - just without the dry embossing. You will need cardstock, VersaMark ink (or equivalent clear embossing ink), multiple colors of chalk, and a means to apply the chalk (cotton ball, cotton swab, sponge, etc.) - and a stamp, of course. Start by stamping your image onto the cardstock with the VersaMark ink:

Then, using a sponge applicator (or whatever means you choose), apply different colors of chalk to the stamped image:

This is such a cool & soft effect - perfect for Easter & Mother's Day coming up! Here's the card I created with this technique:

Isn't it gorgeous?! I just love how this came out - and so much easier than trying to ink your stamp up with all of those colors of ink!

I hope you will give these techniques a try. Be sure to send me a picture of what you come up with!

Creative Chalk Techniques - Part 2

Hello! It's Wednesday again, and this week that means another creative chalk technique! For this one, you will need cardstock, a dry-embossing template & stylus, VersaMark ink (or other clear, embossing ink), cotton balls, cotton swabs, or sponges (however you prefer to apply your chalk), and chalk.

The first step is to dry emboss your design into your cardstock. (It's easier to do this if you have a light source behind it so you can see the template under your cardstock. I used a portable light box, but you can also use a sunny window.)

Next, gently run the VersaMark ink pad over the raised parts of your embossed image. The goal is to not get the ink on the un-raised parts, so use a light touch.

Now you can use any number of colors of chalk to make your image "pop". I applied mine with a cotton ball, and used three different colors of yellow & orange.

Again, a light touch is key, so as to avoid as much chalk as you can on the un-raised surface. If you feel the need to erase, a white eraser works great. I did a little erasing around the outside edge of my design.

That's all there is to it! Use the design as is, or cut it out, as I did, and use it on a card or scrapbook page. As with all chalk art, you will want to seal the image with a finishing spray/sealer before using it on your project.

Be sure to come back next week for the third and final installment of "Creative Chalk Techniques"! I created a gorgeous Mother's Day card that I can't wait for you to see!

Creative Chalk Techniques - Part 1

So, when is the last time you broke out your chalks? If you're anything like me, you're thinking, "Well, my kids used their sidewalk chalk over the summer...". But, no, those aren't the chalks I am talking about. I am referring to the chalks that you may have in your craft stash - buried beneath glitter and glue sticks - that you may have used to color stamped images to get a soft, pastel look. It's been years since I've even thought about using mine! Then I came across the "Dear Go-to Gals" column in the March/April issue of Paper Crafts Magazine, which answers a reader's question regarding tips and hints on how to use chalks. I was so intrigued that I decided to try some of these techniques myself. I tried three different techniques, so I am going to post them over the next three weeks.

The first one is my favorite, and honestly, when I saw it in the magazine, I didn't believe it would work! Here's what you'll need for this technique: one color of chalk, a cotton ball, VersaMark ink (or any clear embossing ink), and a stamp (as well as cardstock, which is not pictured).

The first step is to use the cotton ball to apply chalk (I am using dark green) to the entire surface of your cardstock:

Next, stamp your image onto the cardstock using the VersaMark ink:

Then, simply chalk-up your cotton ball again - with the same color chalk as before - and rub it over the stamped image:

Voila! Like magic, the image appears - dark, crisp & clean! I did the exact same thing with a sentiment in the upper left corner, then used it to make this finished card:

How gorgeous is that?! I absolutely love this technique, and can't wait to use it again!

So dig out those chalks and try this. I would LOVE to see what you come up with! Check back next week for another cool chalk technique!

Ready, Set,...Reverse!

Today I'm going to show you one way that you can get the reverse image of your stamps. I saw this technique used on a card once, and I was stumped for the longest time trying to figure out how they had done it - and the answer is quite simple! It involves heat embossing with clear embossing powder.

For this example, I am going to be using one of CTMH's new background stamps from the "Distressed Backgrounds" set. It's a cool chicken wire image, and here's what it looks like stamped in grey on white cardstock:

Now let me show you how you can get the reverse of this image. Start by stamping the image with VersaMark ink (or any other clear embossing ink you might have) onto white cardstock. Then cover with clear embossing powder:

Tap off all of the excess powder and funnel it back into the jar. Now use your heat tool to melt the powder:

Next, using a sponge dauber, sponge, or brayer, apply ink to the surface of the cardstock, going right over your embossed image:

You can put as little or as much ink on as you like - the darker you go, the better you will see your embossed image. When you have completed this step, take a paper towel and rub off the excess ink. The embossing with resist the ink, so your image will appear white on your inked background:

Pretty cool, huh? Here is the card I made with this piece:

Of course, you could also try and get this look by using white ink on colored cardstock, or just using white embossing powder on colored cardstock. However, you can only achieve the following variation with clear embossing powder. This time, instead of stamping onto white cardstock, stamp your image in VersaMark ink onto a piece of colored cardstock. NOTE: Make sure your cardstock is a color that is lighter than the ink you will be using to ink over it.

(Powder has not been heat-set yet, so that you can see the pattern better. I have used Blush cardstock.)

After heat-setting, follow same procedure as above, using an ink color that is darker than your cardstock. I chose to use Hollyhock, and this time applied it with a rubber brayer. The result - your image shows through in the color of the cardstock that you stamped it on, giving a nice tone-on-tone effect, as opposed to the straight white of the first example. Here is the final result:

Nice, right? You can, of course, use this technique with any of your stamps - it doesn't have to be a background stamp. I hope you have fun experimenting with this! I would love to see what you come up with!