I was recently asked how it is that I come up with my "unusual" ideas - my answer was "experimentation." Just trying techniques that are old, in new and different ways, results in some very fun findings! Sometimes they work and many times they don't - LOL! Today's project is not new or unsual - it is how it is done that is different and so the end results are unique from previous projects of this variety.
The product I would like to focus on this month is Backgrounders and Scrapblock stamps and show some different things that we can do using them.
I am so thrilled with some of the new designs from Cornish Heritage Farms. Lisa and I love to talk "trends" and some of these new designs are so dead on! She had me jumping up and down with glee with some of these - LOL!
To begin I stamped the Fiery Floral using VersaMark ink on Solar Crest cardstock. I then covered it with UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel.) I opted to use this thicker powder because I wanted to be certain to have good coverage of the design for the next step.
As you can see I heat embossed the powder, melting it into a glistening surface.
Then I pulled out my airbrush system. Typically this background look is achieved by sponging or brayering dye ink over the image, but I was in an "experimental" mood and wanted to see what the end result would be with the airbrush system. I love the soft look that the airbrush gives, and the fact that I already have almost 100 different colors to choose from, and they will coordinate with my colored projects was the icing on the cake! I immediately used a soft paper towel and lightly burnished over the embossed surface removing some of the ink, but leaving most in place.
I then used my Clover craft iron to iron the surface of a clean piece of Solar White cardstock against the embossed, airbrushed surface. I am not going to reveal the image that I achieved when I pulled these two pieces apart, being I am creating a whole other project with this piece. You are either going to have to go and give it a try and see the results for yourself or wait for my next project. Yeah - I know - I'm a BIG tease Ü (It really is cool and so I dare you to give it a try! Send me a note and a link to your project if you do it.)
The card above was created with the original background piece. I repeated the ironing process a number of times using scrap paper to remove the excess embossing powder. When it appeared that my background was no longer shiny I then used my heat embossing tool to heat the surface one last time. This brought the remaining embossing powder to the surface, once again creating a soft sheen. I wish I would have snapped a picture at this point, but was so excited about the next step that I forgot - LOL! I heated my cardstock until there was no longer a sheen visible. Be certain not to hold your heat tool too close to your project or you might brown your paper. I learned this lesson a long time ago and fortunately I haven't forgotten it.
Another way that I used my airbrush system for this project was to alter the color of the wide twill tape. I really wanted an ultrawide ribbon to use with the gorgeous Prima flower I have had in my stash for a very long time, but didn't have the correct color. So I placed the RV34 in my airgrip and first added the pink to the twill, following up along the edges with a little E47.
I have shared the picture above to show you the change in color, as well as to show you how I used my craft iron to create a nice smooth fold in my twill to help it lay flat on my project. Be certain to use a piece of scrap paper between the iron and the twill, being the scrap paper does pick up a hint of the Copic color and my guess is that it might make the surface of your iron sticky if you use the iron directly on the altered twill.
I then stamped Happy Birthday over this background using Rich Cocoa Memento ink. As you can see there still was a little "resist" effect on the lettering, but not a significant amount. Be certain to test your image on a small scrap that you cut off before beginning, to make certain you have most of the embossing powder out of your project. Add a few Chocolate Pearls, some Infuse patterned paper, mount it on Begonia cardstock and your project is complete.
There is another completely different project that I have shared on Simple Dreams, my very neglected and lonely blog, using this same technique. I will do my best to try and get the reverse image project completed and up here shortly so that you can see the very cool surface that was created on the opposite side!
Thank you for stopping by and wishing you a happy Monday!
