Stamped background by Aija

I used a flower stamp from the new WOJ spring stampkit to create a stamped background. First I stamped with white ink. Then I coloured the images with some markers. When coloured the images the white edges came up very nicely. Sprayed some glimmer mist to the edges to get border.

I added some white spots to get finished outlook. Addedalso some ink to the edges to get some depth.

And here is the finished card. (in little different light). Lovely girl image is also from the current spring kit. At the WOJ online store you can find also great metal charms. Pins I used are from WOJ.

Hopefully I got you inspired to try this technigue some day :)

Cracked glass - made with UTEE

Hello! This is my very first post on this blog - and boy am I excited! I was thinking a lot about what to share with you and finally decided to go with the cracked glass effect made with UTEE. UTEE is short for "Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel". It is a extra thick embossing powder that creates a very glossy surface on your image. So, let´s get started!



I stamped the image on the paper I usually use, so no special paper needed. But make sure your paper isn´t too thin or it may look a bit like vellum after using the UTEE on it.



I then colored the image in with Copics (I used more color than shown on the photo) and cut it out using an oval Nestabilities. I also added some blue Distress Ink to create a nice background.



As the next step I covered the whole image with VersaMark Watermark ink. You can use any stamp pad you use for heat embossing as long as it´s clear.



Then I added some UTEE on the whole image and melted it with my heat embossing gun. Hold the image down with a pair of scissors or tweezers. Also take care after melting and let it cool down a bit without touching the front. Since the UTEE is thicker than "normal" embossing powder it needs more time to cool and get hard. Touching it too early will leave finger prints.



After adding the first layer of UTEE the surface won´t be even and looking a bit speckled. This is a beautiful effect but not what we need for the cracked glass. So repeat the last steps: cover the image with watermark ink and UTEE and melt it. Repeat this at least two more times. Don´t worry - the UTEE lasts forever and you don´t really need much of it to cover an image.



Now there are three layers of UTEE on my image and I have an even, shiny surface. Let it cool down again and then put it in your freezer for about 10 minutes. This will make it easier to break the layers.
Don´t worry if your images curls up when you get it out of the freezer. It will flaten with breaking.
Now carefully bend the image backwards until the UTEE breaks. Make sure you break it in different directions to make them breaks look more natural. You can add as many or few breaks as you want.



So there is a nice antique effect on the image and it would look beautiful as it is. But I wanted it to look even more vintage and so I added some Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the cracks. Just rub your stamp pad over the image and then clean it with a paper towel or baby wipe. The ink will stay in the cracks but get totally removed from the top of the UTEE.



As a finishing touch and to create some kind of frame I used some copper embossing powder on the edges. If you do this be carefully while melting - your UTEE may get liquid again and move around on the image. (That happened to me here - if you have a close look to the left side of the image you can see a little hole in the UTEE layer but I decided to leave it like this to show what I mean.)



All you need to do now is finish your card. This is what my card front looks like:



The bird house, the lilac blossoms and the saying are all from the "Birdie Love" stamp kit. I cut out the lilacs and added some UTEE to them as well but didn´t put ink on top. So you can see the difference. But I added some Stickles to make them shine... ;o)

I hope you liked this tutorial and give this technique a try!
Have a wonderful and crafty day! xoxo Kathrin aka Kruemel

Special card by Murielle

Hello to you all!
Today, I propose to make a card I did for a friend.
It is a card or I write a recipe inside.

 Firstly, you need an A4 sheet that you cut with dimensions of 29.5 cm in width and 16 cm in height.
You make a fold to 7.5 cm from the edge and another at 14.5 cm and then to 7.5 cm.
As the photo below

You cut a second paper with the following dimensions:Width 30 cm x 9 cm height add another piece of 5cm from 9 cm to the join of the belt.
Make the folds 7.5cm, 15cm, 7.5cm and stick the piece of 5cm.As the photo below

Cut your scrap of paper to embellish the interior and exterior of the card.
A noted decrease of 1cm width and height dimensions of the card.
As the photo below

 
















Stick the different pieces.
As the photo below

Glue the colored paper on the belt.
As the photo below

Add two nestabilities to the center of the card.
Perforate the edges of the belt and paste the image "Willow with champaign".
Close the map and then drag the belt.
The work is finished.

Shading by Inge Groot

Hi! Today it's my turn to show you a "how do you do that...?" I do get the question of shading around the stamped images a lot so I thought well let's make a little tutorial for you, hope you like it:-D

First I put my card together with the image and paper of my choice, I haven't glued anything in this stage.

Then I look for matching pencils and the trick for fast shading.... chalk!!! I think lots of you girls do have a box of chalk somewhere in your draws;-)

I color the stamped image with Prisma's, and put on the chalk with some brushes

A little red for a blush on her cheeks

And yellow around the image, put more where you want the shadow. Start light you can always add some more later.

Ready, glue everything on the base of the card and don't forget to add a lot of Stickles;-)))

I've used for this card one of the stamps from the February Stamp Kit-Birdie Love  with matching sentiment.

Have a fab weekend!

Inge xOx

Coupon Folder by Jeanette

Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by today. I am Jeanette from Happy Thoughts & Inkspots and today I want to share this fun tutorial for a coupon folder with you. Of course, it was inspired by the gorgeous City Girl stamp: Willow Shopping. I created the circle matting using a combination of Spellbinders and Nellie dies. For coloring detail of the image, please refer to -->this<--  post.

To start you will need to assemble the following items:  (I have marked in brackets the products I used for my project

• Cardstock (SU Kraft & Chocolate Chip)
• Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket)
• Ribbon (SU Chocolate Chip)
• Strong Adhesive tape or glue (Scor-pal)
• Colored image (Willow Shopping both regular and mini-size)
• Grommets (SU jumbo grommets)
• Grommet tool (crop-o-dile)
• Paper trimmer, scissors, ruler
• Assorted punches (EK success flourish, Martha Stewart butterfly, SU label)

 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you might try it out. If you are wondering about the very sweet mini stamp, I will tell you a little more about it. Mini stamps are not available for purchase. They are a thank-you gift that Katharina gives to her customers when they place orders of 50 Euros or more!

Enjoy your day!