Hello everyone! I hope you are well. I am plodding along with my right hand somewhat incapacitated but learning how to adapt. Some tasks that were taking me a ridiculous amount of time to get done are getting easier and less time consuming. It is amazing how we learn to compensate and readjust our expectations for ourselves ... and so it is with my card making! Today's cards explore simple techniques to extend the use of our embossing folders. I am featuring the recently released Simon Says Stamp's Lumen, Floral Field and Fall Foliage.
Simon's embossing folders are very thick and the resulting images are deeply embossed and three dimensional .... gorgeous! I used both a Sizzix Big Shot and a Gemini with these folders.
TIPS ...
The sandwich for these machines are as follows:
Big Shot: three pieces of heavy weight card stock on the platform (no cutting plates),
embossing folder
Gemini: the bottom cutting plate, embossing folder, metal shim
I also identify the top of embossing folder (images are recessed) with a strip of washi tape for easy reference,
I cut Neenah 80 lb card stock to 4 1/4" by 5 1/2". The top of the embossing folder with the leaves recessed was inked with Simon Says Stamp's Surf Blue by applying the ink pad directly on the folder followed by embossing. I inked the background a second time because the blue was very light.
TIP ...
When embossing twice, carefully align the embossed leaves with the recessed ones on the folder and look straight down at the folder. If the leaves are out of alignment, you can see it!
The embossed panel was trimmed to 4" by 5 1/4" and stacked on white sheet foam before being attached to an A2 sized card base covered with a full panel of Simon Says Stamp's Surf Blue card stock. The sentiment, Sending Smiles, also from Simon was die cut from Blue Surf inked card stock and stacked on foam.
Neenah 80lb card stock was embossed with the embossing folder inked with Simon Says Stamp's Cotton Candy and trimmed down to 3 1/2" by 4 3/4" and stacked on foam. I used Baroque Art Gilder's Paste, Antique Gold, to highlight the details of the flowers by applying it directly to my finger and lightly rubbing it on the high areas of the panel. Gilding paste can be purchased at an art store. This panel was mounted on a slight larger panel of matte gold card stock leaving an 1/8" border. Another A2 sized panel of white card stock was embossed for the background and attached to the card base before adhering the main panel.
TIP ...
I found I had to use a crafting cleaner to remove all the ink from the embossing folder. It may be because I am cleaning with my non-dominant hand but, just in case, you may want to err on the safe side!!! I used Ultra Clean.
The sentiment, Simon's Love You, is a two piece die set. The shadow was die cut in vellum and the script from gold matte card stock. Although the vellum is not really noticeable, it does ensure the script is aligned and, of course, easier to attach to the card.
My token Christmas card of the bunch! I just had to make another one! Neenah Desert Storm (kraft card stock) was embossed and trimmed down to 3 3/4" by 5". The high areas of the design were highlighted by lightly rubbing the ink pad of Hero Art's Unicorn White over the entire panel. When dry, it was stacked on sheet foam and adhered to a stitched rectangular panel before being attached to an A2 card base. The centres of the criss crosses were embellished with Nuvo Dream Drops, Cloud 9. Simon's Chunky Joy was die cut from foam, white card stock and Kraft to produce the white outlined, stacked sentiment. Two laurel branches from Simon's Christmas Foliage were die cut from white card stock and stacked on foam. The berries were embellished with Cloud 9 Dream Drops.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR VISIT!
I have another embossing folder post with a video tutorial coming up featuring Simon Says Stamp's Peony Bundle with heat embossing ...
stay tuned!