Scenic Coast tutorial with tips for using embossed two-tone card and sanding

 

Happy Friday everyone.  This month for our Totally Techniques blog hop we are sharing ideas and tips for using our fabulous two tone cardstock.  If you haven't come across it yet it is exactly what it says on the wrapper two tone. This means a sheet is coloured on both sides one with a lighter shade of the same colour and the other a little darker.  The centre of this card is white so it's also perfect for adding texture by tearing edges which you can also colour if you wish with blending brushes or markers.   It's weight is between the usual Stampin' Up! ® card stock and our designer series papers which again makes it perfect for layers to keep the weight of your designs down to save a little on postage.  

For my card I've used the new In Color Barely Blush and it really is the lightest of pinks so very soft and beautiful.  If you team it with Crumb Cake it softens the latter and raises the soft pink.  

Now our main plan this month is to dry emboss the cardstock and then because as I've already mentioned use some gentle sand paper to rub off some of the colour on your embossed piece to add subtle changes and depth to your project.  

I've also chosen to use the fabulous Sunset Coast stamp and die bundle and show it in a somewhat different light to what you may have already seen with the gorgeous Scenic Coast specialty papers.  They are stunning and I love them, but I know not everyone is looking for bold and striking, and yet these stamps and dies can work in other ways and I hope you agree. 

My video shows how I created this card and has lots of tips for a couple of other techniques too.  You'll note that since the recording I've added a bird which I die cut with double sided adhesive on the back of the cardstock and the die is part of this set.  You can leave it off if you feel the need for a sentiment in that spot. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the video and the rest of the hop with different ideas for this fun and easy technique. 

Happy days and crafting

Zoe x

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Mixed two tone cardstock includes Barely Blush

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Faux Metallic Embossing Technique - how to do it and lots of ideas for using it

 

Hello crafty friends

This month for the Totally Techniques blog hop we are sharing tips and ideas for the Faux Metallic Embossing Technique.  

I've used a fabulous bundle called Springtime Scenes and celebrated Ladybirds which have been out in their hundreds recently in our sash windows and in the garden, but that's good because they eat the bugs you don't want usually.  

Here's my tutorial

I hope you find the tips useful and like the somewhat different way I have used this technique.   

I'm sure you'll find lots of inspiration from my Totally Techniques friends and I hope you'll try this fun technique.  You can find another ladybird card with the Springtime Scenes bundle coming over the weekend or on my facebook page at www.facebook.com/zoetant. 

Thanks for dropping by.

Keep crafting

Zoe x

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Springtime Scenes stamp and die bundle

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Friendly Foliage stamp set

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Try this sketch challenge with the Gears and Textures Bundle

Hi I joined a sketch challenge group on Instragram and this our the sketch we decided to create with our stash for April.  

I used the Gears and Textures bundle and went for a more girly colour scheme than I've used before with this bundle.  The papers are part of an amazing pack called Mixed Up Patterns offering subtle designs in various colours.  I followed the sketch using the green, yellow and pink colours and I'm really happy with how this turned out.  I used the stamp set for some background imaging and then cut different gears/cogs for overlay.   To add my usual bling I used gold embellishments from the Kintsugi Suite.  I've found these so useful for subtle bling.  

You can see what the others did by visiting my instagram account and they are all tagged in my post with the sketch showing.  

I'll pop this in the post at some point to say hi to someone and brighten their day.  

Have a great weekend crafty friends.

Hugs Zoe x

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Flower Accents gold

 

Ink pads

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Make the most of your craft stash

Here's a simple idea to make use of every piece of your lovely craft papers.  With any left over offcuts, cut strips of different widths and patterns that coordinate.  Also cut a matt layer of any card as it wont show once used to sit on your base card with or without a border.  Before sticking this matt layer onto your card start in the middle and stick the strips of patterned paper onto it.  Butt each strip up to the one before and don't worry about the inevitable overlaps at the edges.  Once you have covered the matt layer trim off the excess.  Some of these pieces can be used on another matt layer for the next card.  

You can then consider using an embossing folder to add more detail to this striped piece.  Once you have done this either stick it onto your card base or use dimensionals to raise it a little for more depth.

The finishing touch is to add an image and sentiment.  This can be anything or you could just add a bold sentiment.   I die cut a plant pot and saucer and added some foliage and flowers using other offcuts from the same pack of patterned papers. You can also use something like irridescent pearls to the flower centres and if you run out half way through use a white gel pen to add similar flat dots.

Don't you just love the little Ladybird! 

Here is another version  of this technique which is great for using up papers. 

 Do have a go and share you pictures on social media.

Have a great day 

Zoe x

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How to use layering stencils for simple stamping

 

Welcome to the March Totally Techniques blog hop.  We are sharing ideas for using layering stencils which could be homemade using die cuts or using bundles like this Layers of Beauty version that I have created.  There are 5 stencils.  Start with #1 and work your way through all 5. 

After stamping your image gently attach it to a piece of copier paper or grid paper with some low tack tape.  Position stencil #1 over the image in the correct place lining it up with the image outlines.  You can then mark the position of the stencil starting at the top left with the notch in the stencil.  I've added pen marks for the corners of the stencil. 

 

Use blending brushes or sponge daubers to add colour to the revealed sections of the image. 

Once completed carefully remove stencil #1 and work through each stencil lining it up with the notch and corner marks.  Use the colours that suit your design. 

Once completed you can die cut the image or you can use the whole sheet on which it is stamped, however make sure you remove any tape carefully at a 45degree angle to reduce the risk of tearing the card. 

As you can see I die cut my image and added some extra die cuts using other dies from the set.  Again I added colour using a blending brush and added these extra leaves to my main image.  I use a little glue on the front of each stem to then adhere them to the back of the image.  

I also added a sneak peek sentiment from a new stamp set coming in May in the new Summer catalogue.  It's called A Family Celebration and has mainly the script font and a number of the words in capitals.  A great size and fresh looking.  I stamped in black ink and cut each word to add to my background of Wood Grain Wonder DSP.  

I added Wink of Stella to some of the petals for some shimmer along with a ladybird and clear epoxy dots to the Daisy flower centres.  I love a little #simplestamping and colouring in for an easy, effective and relaxing craft session.  

Enjoy the hop and gather the tips to create your own versions.

Thanks for popping by.

Happy stamping Zoe x

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