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April 15, 2018

Playing Peek-A-Boo! 5 Ways To Incorporate Windows On Your Card Projects

Hi everyone!  Welcome back!  I hope you're having a fabulous April!

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In this month's edition of the Ellen Hutson In Touch Newsletter, we're talking windows.  I'll be sharing a few window card ideas in today's video tutorial and give you a few tips for creating window cards of your own.

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These projects feature the newest Leading Ladies from the Essentials By Ellen line, Hot Mess Lady and Everyday Hero Lady.  They are so much fun.  I'll also be using the Be Strong stamp set, which coordinates perfectly with these new ladies.  I've done all of my coloring with Copic Markers.

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Window cards are a fun change-up to a basic card project.  They're not difficult to create by any means and they are an easy way to step up a card design.

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Windows come in lots of shapes and sizes.  You can use almost any die to create a window on your card project.  Think outside the box and experiment with the dies you may already own.  Today, I'm using the Silver Linings Die Set to create a rectangle window, I'm using the Brushstroke Love die to create a word window and finally a basic heart shaped die to create a fun heart shaped window.

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In addition to different shapes and sizes, there are a lot of ways to use windows on your cards.  Here are a few of my favorite.

  1. Frame it up.  A framing window is used when your focal point is actually on the inside of your card.  The window creates a frame around the focal image and allows the recipient to have a peek of the focal image. Once the card is opened, the entire image is revealed.  In the card featuring my lovely super hero, I've used a rectangle to frame up my lady.  Once the card is opened, the Everyday Hero Lady, in all her caped glory, is revealed.  This window is rather large and gives a big sneak peek, but it would also be fun to create this with a smaller window, and allow the cape to be a big surprise when opened. Newsletter April 2018 Window Cards-54
  2. Suspend it.  I love to use frames on my card as a means to suspend elements.  In the heart window card, I've used the window as an opportunity to suspend my die cut greeting, making it appear as if it's floating.  I added acetate to the back of the window so I could adhere the greeting in the center. If your suspended element is big enough, you can skip the acetate and allow it to stretch over the entire window and attach it on either side.  This is a fun way to add something unexpected to your card project.  You'll also notice that I've suspended some vellum clouds in the first window card.  I love this effect. Newsletter April 2018 Window Cards-29
  3. Pattern play. In the final card project, I've used a word die to create a window.  This peek-a-boo window allows the recipient to see the patterned paper showing through the window.  At first glance, you may think it's just a little bit of patterned paper backing.  When the card it opened, a whole new element (a die cut heart) is revealed.  Allowing the pattern to peek-a-boo through the window adds color and pattern to the front of the card, as well as the inside of the card. Newsletter April 2018 Window Cards-70
  4. Shake shake shake, shake your card.  I didn't create a shaker card today, but it is definitely another fun spin on a window card.
  5. Go all the way.  Try adding a window that goes through all the panels of the card, card front and card base....all the way through the back portion of the card base.  This is always such a fun way to add another variation to your window cards.  It's like a see through card!

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As your experimenting with window cards, try something you've never tried before.  Try an unexpected shape or use a sentiment die to create your window.  Add patterned paper, dry embossing or some stamping on the inside of the card and allow it to peek through the window.  Look beyond your normal and find some fun new ways to incorporate windows in to your next card project.

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Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you've enjoyed this look at window cards and that you've been inspired in some new way!  What's your favorite way to use windows?  Let me know in the comments below!  Maybe we can inspire each other!

Until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day!

XOXO

Copic Colors Used R 20, 22, 00, 11, 32   E 00, 21   YR 24, 27, 29   Y 19, 35   YG 01, 03   T 1   BG 11, 32, 13

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Posted at 12:00 AM in Copic Markers, Dies - Cutting and Embossing, Embossing, Essentials by Ellen, Tips and Techniques, Video | | Comments (2)

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January 15, 2018

Supplies and Techniques for adding Snow & Ice Effects

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(Click on the pics to enbiggan)

Hey, y'all!  Julie here, sharing a few products and techniques from the Frozen Product Bundle for adding snow and ice effects to your winter projects!  I adore snow but we really don't get much, if any at all, on Whidbey Island, so I have to make my own winter wonderland on paper, LOL!  

All three of these cards feature the Arctic Pals Stamp and Die set, along with the Strands Die.

Below the photos (scroll way down), I have a video that walks you through how to achieve each of these effects--all are easy and fun!

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(sentiment borrowed from Totally Random Sayings) 

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TIPS FOR GLIMMER PASTE:

  • Make your own "disposable" stencil using a die--80# card stock is a great weight for this type of stencil and reduces clean up!
  • Zig Two Way Glue makes a great repositionable/removable adhesive--just allow it to dry thoroughly, until it is tacky to the touch.
  • #100/#110 weight card stock tends to perform better with pastes (less buckling from thicker wet type mediums such as pastes)
  • Moonstone Glimmer Paste is a clear color; ink colors beneath will show through, which can make for some wonderful effects!
  • Remove the stencil (carefully) while the paste is still wet so it does not become permanently glued down to your project.
  • Clean up palette knives/tools immediately or paste becomes extremely difficult to remove when dry.
  • Depending upon how thickly applied, paste can take 10-20 min to dry.

 

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TIPS FOR MICRO BEADS:

  • Micro beads can also be applied to double sided sticky tape to make beaded borders.
  • Try covering a stamped image with the wider double-sided sticky tapes and then applying the micro beads for beautifully unique effect!
  • Made of glass, as opposed to plastic, these beads can also be used with Sticky Embossing Powder.

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TIPS FOR PUFF EMBOSSING POWDER:

  • The grind of this embossing powder is a little more coarse; use a well-inked embossing pad.
  • It also has a textured, matte finish that cures to a hard finish; takes a little longer to heat emboss than regular grind powder. Take your time and make sure all areas get properly heated/embossed.
  • Best suited for bolder images, as opposed to finely detailed.

 

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TIPS FOR LIQUID APPLIQUE:

  • May appear off-white, but whitens as it is heated
  • Wet, freshly applied Liquid Appliqué will puff up very fluffy and irregular when heat is applied; if left to dry completely overnight, it will puff up very smoothly when heat is applied.  Experiment to see which result you like best for your project.
  • Whether wet or dried overnight, begin to heat with embossing gun about 6" away and gradually move in closer to the point where the Liquid Appliqué begins to puff up.  Take care not to get so close you scorch it or the paper surface.
  • If (wet) Liquid Appliqué "deflates" after heating, that means the outside surface is cured but it's still wet inside and needs to be heated for more time until it is fully dried.
  • Glitter can be sprinkled into wet Liquid Appliqué for a puffy glittered effect.
  • If the card is going to be mailed, cured Liquid Appliqué can often become flattened or crushed; to avoid this, you can apply clear embossing powder over the top of it while it is still wet and then heat emboss.  The clear embossing powder will act as a hard, protective "shell".

 

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June 15, 2017

Color Watch Black & White - Three Ways To Incorporate Color Trends In To Your Projects

Hey everyone!  Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you are having a fabulous day.

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Color trends come and go.  Staying up on the color trends in  your card making and paper crafting can keep your cards feeling fresh and current.  One of this year's top color trends is black and white.  It's classic.  It's graphic.  It's bold.  And when you combine it with a pop of orange, it's FABULOUS!  This combo isn't just for Halloween folks.

Today, I wanted to share three ways to incorporate color trends in to your projects.  Keep in mind, these aren't the ONLY ways to incorporate them.  There's probably an endless number of ways to incorporate them. But these simple methods are sure to get your wheels turning.

All of today's cards will feature black and white along with some pop of orange.  I hope you'll find inspiration to create your own projects featuring this fun on trend color combo.

Incorporate Color Trends Using Patterned Paper

Just like color trends change, so does the world of paper crafting.  And often times, we see the products evolving to match current trends.  Patterned paper is a fun and easy way to incorporate color trends in to your projects.  You can pick up an on trend 6x6 patterned paper pad and instantly have numerous options with fun patterns to boot.  You can also make your own patterned paper with background stamps.

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For my first card project today, I used patterned paper for my black and white element.  I love the very bold graphic nature of this patterned paper.  A little of it goes a long way.  I also brought in some solid black card stock and white linen card stock to repeat the colors in the project.  I added a pop of orange using some stamped images.  

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Incorporate Color Trends In Your Focal Image

As stampers and paper crafts with endless options for inks, a stamped focal image, incorporating a "hot right now" color is a quick and simple way to add that color trend to your project.  A fresh ink color can open up a whole new world of inspiration.  But lucky for us, most of us already own one or two....maybe 10....black ink pads.

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For my second card, I used Versafine Onyx Black pigment ink to stamp the Mondo Peony stamp set on to some vellum and clear heat embossed over the top.  Now vellum may not be your typical go to for incorporating white, but it's a fun alternative to white card stock.  It changes the feel of a card completely.  It's a versatile product that can easily be altered using standard dye ink pads.  

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I also added a quick watercolor backdrop for my peonies.  This was a great way to add a pop of orange and keep the card feeling  a little softer.

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Incorporate Color Trends Using Embellishments

Embellishments just might be my favorite way to incorporate color and SHINE.  Not all embellishments are shiny...but nevertheless, they are a great way to incorporate color.  Enamel dots, twine, sequins, Nuvo Drops, ribbons, thread, glitter, washi tape, gems....the list goes on and on.  You know you love them.  Some of them (like gems and enamel dots) can even be altered to change the color.  So while you may not have the perfect color on hand, maybe you can create it.

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In the final card today, I used black and white embellishments to add dimension, shine and color to my card. I used a combination of Taylored Expressions Enamel Dots, Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops and some black and white bakers twine.  They are all the perfect finishing touches to my card.

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For my pop of orange, a simple stamped Wonky Backdrop (one of my favorite sets), serves as the grounding place for my grouping.  I muted the orange back with a layer of vellum over the top so that the other elements would really stand out.

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So there you have it!  Three easy ways to add color trends to your card making projects.  And don't just stop at black and white.  There is color inspiration everywhere.

In the video tutorial below, I"ll walk you through the creation of each of these cards.  Be sure to check that out.

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I hope you've found some inspiration for incorporating color trends in to your card making projects.  What's your favorite way to add color?  Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for stopping by!  It's your turn to get to crafting.  So what are you waiting for?  Ready.  Set.  GO!

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April 15, 2017

Magenta Monochrome - Featuring Reverse Confetti - April 2017 Newsletter

Happy April everyone!  Can you believe it?  Spring (and pollen) is in the air and my craving for bright bold spring colors is at an all time high.  So today, I'm taking one of my favorite brights, magenta, and creating a monochromatic card.

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Today's card features some of the latest stamps and dies from Reverse Confetti.  This is another line of stamps and dies that is fairly new to the Ellen Hutson shop.  I've been a fan of Reverse Confetti for quite some time.  I'm thrilled that it is now available in my favorite one stop crafty shop.  You can check out some of Reverse Confetti's other products by clicking HERE.  I think you're going to like what you see.

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So let's talk monochrome for a second.  What does that mean?  Well....to be technical, I looked up the definition....and here's what the almighty internet had to say. 

mon·o·chrome

NOUN 

  1. a photograph or picture developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one color

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So for our purposes, it's a card, using one color.  But notice the varying tones.  Varying the tones within a color is going to keep your card from falling flat.  The Hero Arts ink cubes are perfect for this purpose.  They come in a grouping of ink pads that are varying tones of the same color.  Today, I'll be using the Floral Hues ink cubes for my color palate.  This gives me a good variance of purples to work with.  Yes, there's a pink in there, but I think you'll see as I add it that it really does mix and meld well to create a variance in my pretty purple palate.  (Love me some alliteration.)

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I'm going to show you exactly how this card came together in the video tutorial below.  So be sure you check that out.  I'll give you some tips and tricks and talk you through the entire creation of this card.

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Now you're going to notice that my card isn't ALL magenta.  Adding a little variance, and some neutrals, which for me means white and gold, keeps the card true to my style and keeps the color from being overwhelming.  

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I chose to use inked vellum for my backdrop, which lends a softness and texture to the card which wouldn't be possible with a solid colored card stock.

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I finished the card off with some sparkly Hero Arts ombre sequins.  These were the perfect finishing touch to my monochromatic card and give just the right amount of sparkle.  No card is complete without a little bit of sparkle, right?

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I hope you've enjoyed this project and that I've inspired you to try something new on your next card creation.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day!

Watch The Video

You can watch this video in HD on our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.  Don't forget to subscribe while you're there so you don't miss any of our card making and paper crafting tutorials.

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May 15, 2016

WOW! Embossing Powders

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This month we're sharing an in depth overview of WOW! Embossing Powders. In the above photo, you can see they have quite a wide variety of of embossing products and they each have different features and, in some cases, multiple uses.  They have their own line of Fab Foils, that work in conjunction with their Bonding Powder!

If you enjoy making your own custom mixes of embossing powders, I must also mention how cool their EMPTY Anti-static jars also are! They come labels that have enough space for you to write down the details of your custom mix so you can whip up a new batch whenever you run out!  I actually plan to transfer some other embossing powders I already own into these jars because I love the anti-static feature.

WOW! Embossing Powder also has their own embossing pad with an "Ultra slow-drying" embossing ink.  While Versamark has long been my personal embossing pad of choice, I wanted to do a comparison between the two. 

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On plain white card stock I tested the Versamark Watermark/Embossing Pad on the left, and the WOW! Ultra Slow-drying Pad on the right.  Powders are listed top to bottom:

Each of these powders are a fine grind.  They melted smoothly with a nice shiny finish.  In each instance, the Ultra-Slow-drying Pad performed equal to the Versamark pad.  It is a clear ink and just like the Versamark, and I had to tilt the card stock to see where I had stamped.

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The same powders were then embossed on black card stock; except for the Gold Rich, which is nicely opaque and a bright gold finish, the others were transparent, their hues barely showing against the black card stock.  This is something to be aware of, as the jar labels themselves do not indicate whether or not they are opaque or transparent.  They did, however, melt and smoothly and shiny on the black paper as they did on white. 

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In the above photo, the top two examples are glittery embossing powders:

Under the Sea, left; Royal Crush, right.

Both had a nice ratio of embossing powder mixed with glitter to emboss easily and with good coverage; Under the Sea seems to have a brighter sparkle probably due to some clear iridescent glitter in the mix whereas the Royal Crush seems a darker sparkle.  After examining it closer, I believe that is because it is a transparent purple embossing powder with a deep turquoise blue glitter in the mix. The glitter grind in both seems to be Ultra-fine, yielding a finish that is not overly "chunky".

The bottom two examples feature:

White Puff, left; Glow In The Dark, right.

White Puff has a slightly coarser grind, and when melted created a fun, uneven raised effect that looks just like its name:  Puffy.  I thought the finish would feel soft/cushy to the touch, but it actually feels firm, albeit textured.  I think this powder would be awesome for embossing white furry critters and clouds, etc.

Glow in the Dark is a finer grind that, after embossing, appears with a pale, almost fluorescent yellow color on both white and black card stocks, and more of a matte, as opposed to shiny, finish.

I tested how well it glowed in the dark by "charging" it up in a well lit area, and then ducking into a darkened room (OK, the bathroom, LOL!) that had no light at all. I was tickled to see how well it glowed in the dark and could see all the details of the butterfly quite nicely! This will be great on Halloween cards, or on cards that feature fairies or insects, etc. You could even selectively emboss by using the WOW! Embossing Pen to apply the powder just to very specific areas of your image! Such a fun, interactive touch on a card any time of year! I wish I could have gotten a photo of it, but take my word for it: It glows. :) 

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Next I tried the Bonding Powder, which is designed to fuse heat-activated transfer foils to paper surfaces.  Emboss like you normally would, apply a piece of foil, colored side up, sandwich in a piece of typing paper and send it through a laminating machine or the Minc. You can also use a household iron, altho the aforementioned machines are a lot easier to use.

I tried it twice on my Minc; the initial trial on the right was done with a heat setting of 3.  It seemed to cause the image to muddy so I tried a second time (left) by dropping the heat on the Minc to Level 1.  I think this preserved the butterfly's details more with the foil so in the future, I will pre-heat the laminator to the lower temperature when using the Bonding Powder.

The Bonding Powder will not yield a perfectly "flat" smooth foiled effect, as can be achieved with laser printing, but if you are trying to foil a stamped image or don't have a laser printer, this method produced a fair finish. 

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The above is an example of what you can achieve with the Melt-It Powder!

I wanted to try creating my own clear epoxy type embellishments, so I heated the Melt-It powder in one of the small Melt-It Containers by pouring several spoonfuls into it and heating with my embossing gun from underneath.  It's important to heat from underneath so that you don't blow the powder around and make a mess, before it actually becomes molten. You can also form a pouring spout prior to heating by pinching an area of the tin.

SAFETY:  Hold the tin container with a pair of pliers while heating; it will get extremely hot and you do not want to burn yourself.  The embossing powder will also be molten and hot; take care not to spill it onto yourself during this process.

If I had an old electric skillet, I would set the container inside it and melt the powder that way because it does take some time to fully melt the powder.

After the Melt-it Powder was hot and molten, I poured small puddles of it onto a non-stick craft sheet and allowed it to cool.  I also added some Bluetiful powder to color it and make a "sea glass" look, which I absolutely loved. Since I had made quite a bit of this, I also tried pouring it into a button mould and allowed that to cool.

When the puddles were cool I could pop them right off the non-stick craft sheet and buttons popped right out of the mold, altho I need to practice how high to fill them; I overfilled them the first try.  You can actually toss the "rejects" back into the tin and re-melt them down and try again, if you like.  I did. :) 

With a little practice, I think I'll get better at making the puddles more round for use as faux epoxy dots.

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Last, but not least, I wanted to try deep impression embossing with the Rich Gold Ultra High powder; this powder is not intended for use as normal embossing powder.  It is a coarse grind, melts quite thickly and can be layered several times.  While still molten, a stamp image that has been prepped with Versamark or the Ultra Slow-drying Ink can be impressed into it and allowed to cool.  The Slow-drying Ink acts as a release agent so you can easily remove the stamp when the powder has cooled and the image is debossed into the embossing powder.

I swiped the Ultra Slow-drying Pad against the paper surface, and then sprinkled the Ultra-high powder over the top, heated, allowed to cool, and repeated the process.  Then, while the embossing powder was still molten, I set the stamp down into it.  You can also experiment by melting the powder in a tin and pouring a puddle of it onto a non-stick craft sheet and then setting the stamp into it; it can resemble sealing wax. 

LINK: Watch in HD on our YouTube Channel HERE.

I hope this has given you some insights into WOW! Embossing Powder products and how they can be used to create great effects on your cards and paper craft projects!

Thanks for joining me today!

1Julie

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