Embossing Paste

This week I thought I would make some Christmas cards using  Dreamweaver products, namely the embossing paste and their metal stencils.  The metal ones are slightly deeper than the thin plastic type stencils, so give more dimension when the paste has dried.









I chose a silver embossing paste, and a dark coloured card as a contrast.








 





I attached the stencil using low tack stencil tape (this doesn't tear your card when removed), and made sure that it was firmly attached to my work mat.  I applied a layer of paste, making sure I had covered all the area and not missed any fine corners or edges.










I then used the scraper to remove the excess paste and give a flat, even surface.
I immediately put the residue paste back into the pot, wiped and cleaned the rim before closing, otherwise it will dry up and be wasted.  I also dropped the tools I had been using, into a bowl of warm soapy water to soak.  




I checked that the image had worked, by removing all but the top piece of tape, and using it as a hinge, I carefully lifted from the open edge to check the image was a good one.  If it hadn't have been, it is at this point that you can re tape and go over what you have done - providing you have used this 'hinge' method, to ensure the stencil goes back down in exactly the same place.  Remove stencil and immerse in warm soapy water until you are ready to clean the tools used.

It then needs to be left to dry fully, preferably overnight.  When dry, you will have a lovely raised surface design....one of those you cannot help but stroke :)

It's then just a case of mounting, whatever way pleases you.







Christine.

Reflective Reindeer

 

I love this technique, but it does take a little practice.

 
As we use a brayer to produce a mirror image (reflection) you will need to choose a suitable stamp that will fit around the brayer, without overlapping, otherwise it will not work.  Because we will be producing this reflection first, I like to position my stamp 'upside down' so that I can clearly see that I am doing it correctly.  Ink the stamp up really well - I used black Archival ink - then with a light pressure, roll the brayer over the top of the stamp, picking up the inked image as you do.  You will then need to transfer this image to the lower part of your card, remember 'upside down'.  *** Make sure you roll the brayer to the start point before you touch down onto the card to transfer this image, so that you start rolling from the edge of the design, in this example, the first reindeer, finishing with the sleigh.
It is also worth mentioning, that it is normal for this mirror image to be paler, a reflection in water or snow would not be as crisp.  CLEAN THE BRAYER WITH A WET WIPE.  Ink up the stamp again, and match up the design.





I then used a fine black pen to draw in the line between land and water, trimmed the excess card ......

 .....mounted onto some black card, and added some Glamour Dust for snow.  I love sparkle :)

As you can see from the finished card, I matted a few more bits, just to make it more interesting.  

I had wanted to use the same tree stamp as last week to show you this technique, but unfortunately it was just a little too long for the brayer. 
Christine

Christmas Forest

A very simple but striking card this week...just what you want when you have quite a few to make.  If you haven't got a stamp that has a collection of trees, perhaps you have some individual ones which you can use to make a scene, and perhaps a fine black pen to add some contour lines to the landscape...a few mounds, hills etc.

I simply stamped this in a black ink, along with a simple greeting.  Monochrome always creates something stunning.  I then used a fine nozzle PVA glue, as this is thick enough to hold it's shape and give some dimension, and sprinkled on some Crystal Glamour Dust (ultra fine glue).  I used the nozzle to trace under the contour lines, and randomly scribbled onto each of the trees.

When it had dried, I mounted the image onto some black card, tied some fine ribbon and bow around the corner that had surplus white card showing, fastening the ribbon behind the black mat, then mounted onto a card.  .

Christine

Christmas Poinsettia

This week I decided to use up some waste...we all have some, you know, those strips of paper that you've saved 'just in case'.  I have used a stamp from a Magenta set, which I felt leant itself to decoupaging.  


I stamped and heat embossed in a variety of colours - gold, silver, black, white, crystal sparkle....and I used all the waste strips.


 

I cut out one as a whole square, then for each, either one flower, or two if you want more dimension.



 
I slightly shaped the petals by rolling each petal over some scissor blades ***DO BE CAREFUL** 

As you can see, I simply matted the square onto a complimentary piece of card (the two shown are on a gold and a silver mat), and onto an A5 card.  I layered the cut out poinsettia flowers using silicone gel, the first I matched up to the base square, the second I rotated slightly.  I added a few glue dots to the centre and some tiny little bead/balls (which I always thought were called ballentine....but apparently not).  A few peel off words (that's two weeks running I have used peel offs to accent.....I must need a lie down),  and some more Christmas cards finished.
Christine