Technique Tuesday - Stencils & Embossing Paste

Welcome to another edition of Technique Tuesday - I am sharing the mixed media fun of Embossing Paste.

Shout out to the following challenge groups for their inspiration in pulling together my final design.

The Paper Players sketch challenge #PP757

Just Us Girls Use a Stencil #JUG794. I am using the Snowy Delights Decorative masks from the online exclusives at Stampin’ Up!

Just Add Ink colour challenge Bubble Bath, Fresh Freesia and Highland Heather #JAI770.

Embossing Paste is a versatile technique to add to your tool box as it adds a great texture pop to a card design. It comes in lots of different options on the market. I am using Silver tinted from Stampin’ Up! 

It can also be applied in many different ways depending on the look you’re going through in your design - from free hand smears for a plaster effect to using a stencil/mask as a design guide. I have chosen the stencil option for today. 

My first purchase was a white paste as it allows you to just scoop out a small amount onto a silicone mat and DIY in a coordinating colour using a reinker or a paint medium. You can also add glitter and mix that in for extra bling. Admittedly it was hard for me to get a silver effect I liked so I splurged on that one. Not to the frugal crafter - use it or loose it. Once opened it can start to dry out which is why I opt to just get white and tint as I go rather than my normal slight OCD need to buy the whole rainbow of colours in a collection. 

It’s very easy to play with. You basically apply it as the last step in your design by placing the stencil in the desired place and using a palette knife scoop out a small amount and apply thin layer over stencil gently pushing into the stencil openings. Once you have the coverage you like scrap any access back into the pot or a little pot of you DIY your own colour and then gently lift the stencil free. You want to let it dry before you finish your card design. While it’s drying good time to wash your stencil with soap and warm water to remove all residual paste.

Playing with mixed media elements is so much fun and produces some interesting texture and pops of colour and shine to a design.

Glimmer is hard to catch on a still so here’s a little video to try to give a better visual of the texture and shine it adds.

What’s your favourite mixed media medium to play with? 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Case-ing Tuesday #531

Here with another bonus edition on the blog.

Playing along with the Case-ing Tuesday challenge over on Facebook. Casing the adorable Gingerbread card. I decided to flip the sketch to landscape instead of portrait. 

I’m playing along with the Elegant Pine stamp set. I started out just choosing the paper from this suite during preorder but the more examples I saw I added the stamp set to my cart when they had the 15% off sale last week. I’ve used the Everyday Arches and a sentiment from the Greetings for You ephemera. I just love the warm tones of the paper! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stampin’ 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Freshly Made Sketch

Welcome to a bonus edition - adding an additional post today as I had the house to myself this weekend so had a guilt free weekend in the craftroom to get on some additional card challenge inspiration to play along with! 

Playing along today with the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches #FMS705 

I’ve been asked to showcase the Peaceful Garden Suite at an upcoming October crop I  attending and so have been working away at prepping cards and scrapbook layouts that show off how versatile the suite is on its own and with combined other products. I’ve paired the gorgeous DSP with the Sunflower 3D embossing folder and a sentiment from the Greetings for All ephemera pack to create a lovely Sending Hugs card. 

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Making Memories & More on Monday

Welcome to another edition of Making Memories & More on Monday. Today’s layout was inspire different by play along with Scrap A Sketch Autumn Challenge #5 over on Facebook.

have chosen to add the following elements from the choose 5 list: 2+ photos, 4 patterns of paper, Glitter using Wink of Stella, fussy cutting, leaves, banners, circles and metallics in my foil leaves.

I just cannot get enough of the Sunflower 3D embossing folder - just so many stunning ways to use it. Planning on adding some professional family photos from my in-laws 50th anniversary celebration to this layout. 

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Elegant Pines Snowflakes for Slimline Sunday

Welcome to another edition of Slimline Sunday where my design focus is around creating 91/4” x 4” cards. Slimline style is perfect for those who want more space to play in their design as well as for cards where you want more room to write personal messages.

My layout was inspires by a card sketch over at Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmakers challenge #BYSHC61

My colour palette was inspired by CAS colours & sketches challenge #569.  I had intended to try to keep my design CAS but got carried away so am just using the colours! 😂 

Playing with the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder, Elegant Pine Snowflakes DSP, Gold foil paper, Greetings for You ephemera pack, Secret Sea hand coloured rhinestones, gold bakers twine, a brayer and some fussy cutting of the DSP.

Final product ended up being a great holiday vibe with the warm tones of the Pecan pie plaid background and the dark Secret Sea with hints of Mossy Green. I fussy cut out a snowflake and popped up on a gold foil and whisper white circle and added the twine and rhinestones for some more pops of texture and bling. Finished off from an ephemera sentiment. 

This DSP is SO pretty and great not only for holiday projects but winter birthdays and scrapbook layouts - the photos don’t pick up the tiny details in the designs. I love the Evergreen Pine snowflakes just so unique.

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Peaceful Vibes for Scrappy Saturday

Welcome to another edition of Scrappy Saturday!

Today’s layout was inspired by Autumn Scrap a Sketch #6 and the coordinating “choose at least 5 word prompts from the list” prompt. I have chosen stamping, splatters, fussy cutting, using 4 patterned papers, glitter, ink, flowers and squares (3 on my second layout)

Shout out to the Color Throwdown #ctd841 challenge for the gorgeous Fall vibes color palette I chose Secret Sea, Cajun Craze and Cloud Cover.

Playing with the Peace on Earth suite, Conflowers and retired French Foliage stamp sets, the Alphabet A La Mode dies and some Streaked Dot embellishments.

All the inspirations came together to create a gorgeous layout to honour some photos of us enjoying Fall fun!

My left hand side layout is my traditional 12x12 layout using the sketch. I have used my blends to colour my Peaceful Garden DSP to add pops of Cajun Craze to the Secret Sea and Cloud Cover palette. The splatters and writing in the French Foliage are one of the reasons I couldn’t past with this set when it retired. I love it for adding pops of colours to peek out behind layouts and ephemera. Love that the Alphabet A La Mode dies are perfect for adding tittles to a small space! The Hello title is mounted on the nesting label dies in the Peaceful Garden dies.

My right side 12x12 Pocket page features DSP with more pops of Cajun Craze hand coloured and leaves room for 4 of the 4x6 photos of scenery from a Fall family hike. 

What’s your favourite fall activity? 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life

Fancy Funky Fold Friday

Welcome to another edition of Funky Fancy Folds. Today I am playing with the Vertical S fold card. I adapted the fold to be A2 size using the tutorial from Beccy’s Place.

My card design was inspired by playing along at the Stampin’ Up! Only challenge #SUOC385 case the designer Cindy. 

I chose this card from her blog - so many excellent choices to CASE.

Over at Sweet Stampin’ are challenging to play with dies so I chose to play with my Smowflake Kisses dies.

Stampin’ Fancy Friday has a Sparkle and Shine challenge this month - no need to ask me twice added lots of gold foil and sparkly embellishments.

Love how it’s come together!

Happy Stampin’
Margaret 
Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life 

Throwback Thursday Summer By the Sea

Welcome to another edition of Throwback Thursday - a chance for me to pull out some old favourites from my stash.

I’m playing along with Try a Sketch on a Tuesday #TSOT679 to use Oodles of Doodles use doodles anywhere on your stamp set which helped me choose to pull out my By the Seaside stamp set. 

Also playing along with their sister challenge Double Trouble to use not only the s doodles but to add layers and a sentiment.

Over at TGIF challenges I was inspired by the clouds in #tgif543 mood board. Well whom kidding also inspired me to crave a donut but I don’t have a donut stamp set 🤣

The As You See It colour and mood board challenge #AYSI357 inspired me to incorporate a sunset using the colours in the prompt.

I love playing with old and new so incorporated my Prairie Grass stamp set into the design.

Love the here for you through any storm vibes of the imagery and cloudy day by the sea vibes in this design so I chose the ‘my shoulder is yours’ sentiment. Think this would also be a great anniversary card too with less of the cloudy storm brewing. 

Happy Stampin’

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Totallyawake4-life 

Fabulous Fall

Happy Wednesday! It’s officially Fall now so it’s officially time to get our pumpkin on! 

Today’s card design was inspired by playing along over at Inspired By challenge #IB354 mood board of pumpkins and the accompanying grid sketch that prompted me to bring out an old Cuttlebug embossing folder from my stash.

The Fall vibes from the mood board over at Just Us Girls #JUG793. Yay more pumpkins!

My colour palette was inspired by the Colour Dare challenge #CDC670. I’ve chosen Crushed Curry, Cloud Cover and Old Olive.

My custom made sentiment was inspired by Just Add Ink challenge #JAI769 to use numbers and words. I used the Grateful from Acorny Thank You partially stamped and the 4 U from a retired alphabet stamp set.

I’m also playing with my Fall Fest retired stamp sets from my Stampin’ Up! Stash and the retired sprig punch. 

My final result is a cute little Grateful 4 U card.

Happy Stampin’ 

Margaret 

Live, Laugh, Love

Be Totallyawake4-life