Kitchen paper towels and embossing folders

Today I am back with techniques using textured impressions folders and something so basic as kitchen paper towel.

From Sizzix I used:

658300 Big Shot Starter Kit

657491 Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folders 4PK - Springtime Background & Borders Set

I started by laying plenty of old newspapers to protect my working area. Then I place a single sheet of kitchen paper towel. It is important that it is plain white otherwise the patterns will show through. Then spray the chosen sprays around.

Once you are happy with all the colours, apply clear embossing powder while the ink of the sprays is still wet. The reason why I used paper towels rather than toilet paper is because they are very different. One (toilet paper) is designed to disintegrate with water and there fore coloured sprays will damages the paper itself, and the other (paper towel) is designed to not disintegrate even with loads of water, perfect for this technique.

Use a heat gun to melt the powder. This step is to give the paper towel some rigidity in order for the next step. You can see that the paper now does not bend like it would without the embossing powder.

I trimmed a rectangle and embossed it. You can see on the right photo how it retains the patterned embossed. 

To highlight the embossed pattern, I used Black StazOn all over. Dabbing gently in circular motions. I die cut the hearts with the rest of the towel using the starter kit framelit and bigz die.

To add the message, I used one of my stamp messages and layered on black card. The white card I also spritz with exactly the same sprays, yet the effect is more muted due to the card/paper towel different consistencies.

And this is the finished card.

I hope you like this technique and have fun with it!

Frameworks dies as masks for gold flakes

One of my long time always in my craft room product are any type of gold flakes or faux gold leaf. they add a different kind of metallic effect that not card mirri or shiny would ever do. 

One of my favourite products form the latest releases from Mr. Tim Holtz are the Frameworks dies, dies that are perfect for a lot of different technique. And if you know me, you will know that I love techniques. Frameworks dies make wonderful masks, gap cards and templates. Here is one of those techniques.

I die cut first the Frameworks-Chevron die using white textured card. As usual, I put the textured card facing the foam that will make the textured side the front. Then I took a piece of Stix2 double sided sticky sheet and attached it to a plain card to give it some extra stability, though is not necessary. 

I lifted the remain protective sheet and place over it the Chevron (texture side up). I protected the adhesive placing the protective sheet over it.

I placed on to the biz die from the Big Shot Starter kit but any Bigz die with a bold shape will work. Once die cut, I removed the protective sheet and use the left overs from the Chevron die to fill the one area that looked a bit bare. this in itself is another way to do this technique as you will see bellow.

Then I placed the heart with the sticky side up on a plastic container that holds my gold flakes. Using a scrunchy tool (usually sold on its own as a gold flake tool) I made sure that all sticky areas were covered and that any excess was pulled away and back in the container. On the right photo you can see the effect.

As I mentioned, this technique can be used as well with just the off bits like in the card bellow.

And finally a close up of the golden flakes effect bellow.

I think it is a very elegant way to add some metallics to your work, specially if you mix it up with matte and soft colours. I love it and I hope you try this technique soon!

Make your own background!

Hello!

Embossing has been a very popular technique in my scrapbook classes over the last few years. People like that you can emboss paper and turn any piece of paper into a new one, adding texture and a 3D effect to your crafty projects.

Today, I would like to show you a 8x8 layout I made, mixing patterned paper with white cardstock that I previously embossed and inked!

But first of all, here's what you'll need for this layout : 

• a Big Shot (655268)
• Sewing and measuring Tape Embossing Folder set (657671)
• Papers (Studio Calico)
• Stamps (Studio Calico, Technique Tuesday)
• Badge (October Afternoon)
• Wood veneers (Studio Calico)
• Alphas (American Crafts)
• Inks (Versafine)
• Mists (Studio Calico)
• Cut'n'Dry foam (Ranger)

First of all, you need to cut a piece of white cardstock size 4x4". Then, insert it once inside the embossing folder and run it through your Big Shot.

As the width of the embossing folder is 4", you just have to run it through your Big Shot once.

Once your white cardstock is embossed, grab your favorite Studio Calico mists and add colors to the top embossed designs, using a cut'n'dry foam.

While you let this dry, start glueing your picture on the upper right side.

You can start stamping your background (here I used a ROAD TRIP stamp by Technique Tuesday) and create embellishments with title stamp (like the I love this life stamp by Technique Tuesday).

Once your embossed paper is dry, glue it at the top of the paper, near your photo.

Use your sewing machine and sew all around the edges.

Add your title, wood veneer embellishments, badge and label and you're good!

I am loving this size more and more so you might see more of these layouts in the near future! :D

Have a great day!

Céline

Tone-on-tone scrapbooking : make your projects look unique!

Hello!

I've been loving working with tone-on-tone for a long time now : when you cut some designs with your Big Shot into a cardstock and glue that die-cut onto the same kind of paper, you get that tone-on-tone look...somekind of simple but yet so pretty look.

For this layout, I used several cardstocks and work with both stars and circles Framelits dies to create this fun look!

Here's what you'll need to create the same project :

• a Big Shot (655268)
• Framelits : Stars (657567) and Circles (657551)
• cardstock (Bazzil, Kesiart)
• Overlay (Hambly)
• Stickers (Crate Paper, October Afternoon)
• Chipboards (Sassafras)
• Flower (Sassafras)
• Papers (Sassafras)

First of all, cut 4 rectangles, size 4x6", into 4 different papers : here, 3 different cardstock (blue, yellow and grey) and one patterned paper (mounted on pink cardstock).

The yellow card has tone-on-tone stars stapled on the background, using the Stars Framelits die set.

The grey one has circles the same color as the background, all sanded to get these fun edges. I used the Circle Framelits die set.

I simply misted some blue spray ink on top of the blue cardstock : some more tone-on-tone look, achieved in a different way that glueing cardstock.

As for the pink card, I added patterned paper to add some interest to the page, and the transparent butterfly acts as tone-on-tone as we see through it.

Don't forget to add color-like embellishments on each card!

Would love to see your amazing creations too!

Take care!
Céline

Vintage Travel layout

Hello everyone!

How are you doing today? I'm doing great! Been scrapping a lot lately, either for classes or my own pleasure : you have to give yourself some play time, really!

I'm not ready to say goodbye to Summer, or Fall even, so I decided to create a layout celebrating my first trip to Hawaii with Karine, back in January. What a beautiful place, really! Would love to go back anytime!

Here's what you'll need for this layout...

a Big Shot (655268)

Flower Layer BIGZ die (657690); Sizzlits Decorative Strip - Harlequin (657825)

Studio Calico Mr Huey mists

Jenni Bowlin Studio Wren paper line

Craft Origine (Moment entre Nous) and Aladdine (stars) stamps

Boanita wood embelishments

Prima Chalk inks

American Crafts badge

First of all, cut your blue paper size 8,5x11inches.

Then add two strips of two other patterned papers and glue them on your background.

Then cut the Harlequin strip with your Big Shot, into the patterned paper of your choice. I chose one with several designs on it, so that you can see it when it's glued in your layout.

Mist some Mr Huey inks onto bookpage-like paper and let it dry.

Cut several strips and glue them onto your background.

Add some star stamps here and there.

Then, pick the paper you want to create your Flower embellishments with. Cut it with your Big Shot. Mount those flowers with 3D foam tabs and add them to your layout.

Stamp your Moment Entre Nous (Moment between us) on a left over piece of kraft cardstock.

Add a sticker and there you go!

I like to cut my die-cuts so that I don't use them entirely on a layout : it gives more interest to the page.

Now get those mists out, alter some papers and enjoy those BIGZ flower dies!
Take care!
Céline

Embossing in a mini album!

Hello everyone!

How are you today? I've been busy teaching last weekend and I would like to show you my mini album :)

Here's a mini album I made using a Studio Calico kit, mixing the products with some of my favorite embossing folders from Sizzix!

First of all, you'll need these products to create the mini album : 

• a Big Shot (655268)
• Embossing Folders (Mail Set - 657668; Woodgrain Set - 656644; Rays set - 656650; Roses set - 657670)
• Distress Inks
• White cardstock for embossing
• a Studio Calico kit

Here are the embossing folders I used...

This is the cover of my mini album :  a mix of paper, masking tape, stamps...

For this page, and basically for all of the other embossed backgrounds, I embossed a piece of white cardstock : for this one, I used the Roses set. You simply put your piece of white cardstock inside the embossing folder and run it through your Big Shot.

Once your piece of cardstock is embossed, simply mix your Distress ink with water on a piece of kraft sheet and dip your embossed image in the ink.

Use your heat gun to make it dry faster, and dip into the ink back and forth until you're satisfied with the results.

Simply do the same for all of your other pieces of cardstock you wish to emboss and change the colors of the ink for each piece. 

You can of course mix two differents colors of inks on the same embossed cardstock.

The embossed image will grab the colors differently than if it was a flat piece of paper.

Try this at home : you're going to love it! :)

And feel free to share your creations here in the comment sections! Would LOVE to see what you come up with! :)

Love!

Céline

Make your own textured backgrounds!

Hey there!
How are you doing? I hope everything is doing great for you these days! :)
Today, I would like to inspire you to get MESSIER ! :) Play with paints, crayons, inks and make your own layouts!
Of course, your Big Shot and favorite embossing folders will come in handy and they will be the ones that bring texture to your layouts!

First of all, this is what you need to create this layout :

- white cardstock
- 8 big tags
- a Big Shot (655268)
- embossing folders (Clock and Print block set - 657663)
- gesso
- heat gun
- mists
- water spray
- embellishments

Emboss as many tags as you want for your layout. The more tags you'll emboss, the more textured your layout will be.
Here, I used these embossing folders (657663) :

Once your tags are embossed (using your Big Shot of course!), glue them all on your white cardstock.

Cove the entire background with gesso and dry the paint with a heat gun.

Once the gesso is dry, spray some water all over the background and then mist some spray inks. Pick 2-3 colors, no more.

Once you're happy with your background, let it dry and you'll be able to scrapbook very soon!

You can use a cut'n'dry on your embossed designs to make it pop too!

Hope you like this!
Take care!
Céline