Stamp Club Olathe: August 2012

Can you believe it's September already?! I have some catching up to do, but I'm determined to get back in the saddle here in blogland this month, despite a number of things working against me.

I taught an "emboss resist" card in Olathe for the August session. Above are two possible layouts using the same set of elements. It is such a thrill to watch the clear-embossed "invisible" image appear as if by magic when you start to sponge on color!

When you sponge, remember to work from lightest to darkest ink color. Here I've used So Saffron, Regal Rose and Raspberry Ripple.

Inside, the card repeats the image using Regal Rose for the background images and Raspberry Ripple for the simple sentiment. The card combines an image from the must-have Serene Silhouettes with sentiments from So Sorry.

Here's an alternative color scheme in blues, using Just Believe for the stamped images. It's actually a Whisper White background, but I was editing the photo in bad lighting and seem to have overcompensated in the wrong direction! Anyway, as you can see, this technique is ideal for silhouette stamps and adapts well to a variety of themes.

Emboss Resist of Many Colors

Today I want to introduce you to a demonstrator of only a few months, Joy Robinson. She has been working very hard to master new techniques and grow her confidence in composition, and I'd say we're seeing the beginning of a real success story, wouldn't you?! Note how she has repeated her colors multiple times to tie together the composition, the creative use of punches, and the subtle visual texture she achieved by embossing the Cajun Craze with the new stripes folder. Subtlety was important so that the complex pattern of the stamped image could shine! And speaking of that embossed image, I want to point out how, simply by the choice of colors, Joy shifted it into an autumn theme. You could easily sponge on blues and it would be wintry, or pastels for spring... General, flexible images like this are great to have tucked away in your arsenal for when nothing else seems to quite match the theme you had in mind for you card. Way to go, Joy! -Kathy

All Supplies Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Day of Gratitude
Inks: Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Summer Sun, Old Olive
Paper: Night of Navy, More Mustard, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla CS
Accessories: Stripes Embossing Folder and Big Shot; Lace Border, Decorative Label and XL Oval punches; Black Stampin' Emboss powder and Heat Tool; Stamping Sponges; Stampin' Dimensionals

Spice Up Your Embosing

I discovered heat embossing early on in my stamping career, and fell instantly in love with it! It's still my favorite "wow" technique, giving me a thrill each time I watch those granules change from tiny colored grains into a smooth, shiny image.

As with many things, I bought all kinds of brands and types of powders before I learned to simplify! How to store this collection efficiently when only two were alike to begin with? I saw an idea somewhere for putting the powders into spice jars. I commented at stamp club one evening that I was looking for a wall-mount spice jar rack, and my friend Lori came bringing me this from a garage sale a couple of months later. I LOVE IT. Most of the colors I had accumulated just got dumped into the spice jars, and I ran lid labels onto Whisper White and punched them out. A couple of the jars had lids missing. Amazing as it seems, the lids from the SU! embossing powders fit perfectly, completing my set.

Want to learn from my mistakes as you start out? Here's what you need to know when you can't find anyone to ask in the craft store aisles:

When you first begin to heat emboss, invest in a good quality heat gun. Tool temperatures can vary by as much as 300 degrees, and you don't want to be disappointed because your powder won't melt! Be sure the metal tip of the gun is not exposed so you avoid burns (it's hotter than your curling iron, gals!). It's also nice to have a tool that comes with a guarantee - think Stampin' Up! here. This is an investment for the long haul, not worth the "savings" when you have to buy two or three cheaper heat guns over the same period of time that one quality tool will last.

Next, you'll need a way to stick the embossing powder to the paper until you can melt it. Here's where the amazing VersaMark ink comes in. It remains tacky for about 10 minutes, giving you plenty of time to work.

Of course, you'll need some embossing powder. Did you know it comes in three grades? Fine or "detail" is good for those really delicate images, medium (most readily available and not usually labeled as to grade), and thick/heavy (sometimes used for an overall coating, such as the clear "Glassy Glaze" which makes such an interesting cracked or stained glass effect). A one ounce jar will last...and last...and last! To keep your powder true to color, make sure you shake it into a clean receptacle to return it to the original container.

Top Secret Tip: You do not need one of every color embossing powder. You need black, white, metallics (including Ver-de-gris if you like that), and clear. This is true with very few exceptions and simplifies things so much! Here's what to do: Coat your stamp with Versamark. Next, stamp into the classic ink color you want your embossed image to appear. Now stamp onto your cardstock, apply clear embossing powder and heat set. Your finished image will appear to be whatever color ink you used! This saves you so much space and $$! And it will not damage your ink pads (just be sure to clean your stamp before you put it on the Versamark again).

An embossing buddy isn't essential to the actual process of heat embossing, but you'll be especially glad you have one in the winter or if your crafting space is carpeted. It's a little bag filled with a powder that cuts static electricity, which can cause rogue granules to stick to your project where you don't want them! This little gizmo will save you lots of time and angst and ensure a clean, clear finished image with just a simple swipe across your card stock before you stamp the image.

Speaking of those receptacles. I started with flexible paper plates. These work okay, and it's what I could afford at first after I bought the above. You can just fold the plate in half to create a channel and send those unused granules back into the jar for the next time. However. Once the plate has uncooperatively "popped" on you a couple of times, showering embossing granules all over you and your work area, you may want to rethink the decision to purchase a set of the Powder Pals. Their shape helps control the flow of the powder, and the little removable plugs in the narrow end let you keep control of what falls out, when!

Finally, I keep a couple of tiny paint brushes and a larger brush (for cleaning my work area) nearby. The small brushes work well if I want to remove embossing powder granules from part of the image before heat setting.

Hope you find this helpful as you work with this very rewarding technique! -Kathy

Tiles Two: Another Technique

This series of tiles is created using craft inks and clear embossing powder. The tiles are then baked in the oven - if you try using your embossing gun, it will take you forever and a day, as the tile absorbs and equalizes the heat faster than the embossing powder melts. I was very pleased with the range of color I achieved, the "painterly technique" I tried on the second example, and the fact that this technique works equally well on glazed and unglazed tiles. The first and third examples are 6x6", but the second tile measures 12x12". If you wanted to do coasters, I suggest the 4x4". -Kathy

Goodbye, Cameo Coral

By now I expect you've heard about the Color Renovation going on at Stampin' Up! I've seen some of the new colors and they're luscious. Still, it will be hard to let go of favorites. I've decided to show you some projects featuring retired colors while I still have them to work with! Cameo Coral is a color that I didn't warm up to at first. It's a strong color, but so fresh and tropical feeling. Here's a super simple card you might like to try.

The card is a standard 8.5"x5.5", folded. I stamped the flower from Embrace Life three times in Versamark ink, starting in the center and allowing the stamp to overlap the original image and hang off the bottom edge of the card to anchor all the images. I then drew a line using my clear ruler and the fine point of the Versamark pen (Yes, Virginia, there is a Versamark pen!). Working quickly, I applied white embossing powder, then got rid of any stray granules. I set the embossing powder with my heat gun.

Next, I used a watercolor pencil in Real Red to fill in the areas where there were "double lines". I smoothed these areas by brushing on good old H2O with an aqua painter. Finally, I stamped my title sentiment with the set Heard from the Heart using Real Red classic ink. I especially liked this sentiment because I can put a more specific message on the inside as needed - it would be a great birthday, wedding, anniversary, Mother's Day, or "just because" card.

Hope this helps you imagine new possibilities. We'll take a closer look at more retiring colors in the weeks to come. Kathy

All supplies Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Embrace Life, Heard from the Heart
Ink: Versamark & Versamark pen, Real Red classic
Paper: Cameo Coral
Accessories: white Stampin' Emboss powder, powder pal, heat tool, watercolor pencils, aqua painter

Bloomin' Birthday

I promised to make things bloom in the studio, and here's my first project: a birthday card for my mother-in-law. She enjoys painting landscapes and likes soft colors, so I've used a Versamark Resist with sponging (you can see another example of this technique under the "Lisa's Notebook" post).

I used a couple of images from Vintage Vogue and stamped them onto a whisper white base in Versamark, then clear embossed (note that I intentionally placed these in the upper left and lower right corners). I sponged on Apricot Appeal classic ink in small patches, then added some Certainly Celery.

Here's a little technique tip that I used on the flowers. I didn't have Apricot in a craft ink, so I layered color onto my stamp by first pressing it into the Versamark, then into the apricot classic ink. When I stamped onto my paper (a separate scrap so I could cut out the flowers), this left the Versamark on top so that I could emboss as usual. Also, by putting the Versamark on first, I can stamp onto another color ink pad without "polluting" the color!

I popped the flowers up on Stampin' Dimensionals. The leaves are snippets from a Little Leaves die cut that I curled slightly before attaching, and of course the butterflies are from the Beautiful Wings embosslit.

Whoops, gotta go! My delivery bunny just went dashing off across the yard muttering something about being late for a very important date... and here I thought I was early for this one!!

May your day be filled with magical moments, Kathy

Note: Concept/layout inspired by demo Glenda Mollet.

All supplies Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Well Scripted
Ink: Versamark, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery
Paper: Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Apricot Appeal CS
Accessories: Beautiful Wings embosslit, Little Leaves sizzlet, Stampin' Dimensionals, ribbon from my stash