How To Tuesday #2 and Double Challenges!

Hi Stamping Friends!

Well today you are in for double the fun!  All my challenges seem to stack up and then need to be posted ASAP.  So I have two cards today.  And they both are for two challenges.  Imagine that!  Plus, after the second card, I have a photo "how to" of the Faux Leather Technique.  Wow!  Was this fun to do!  I'm not sure how soon I'll be doing this technique again, but my kids were sure impressed with the results.

The first card is a combination of the sketch challenge from Stamping 411 SSC125 and the inspiration challenge from The Play Date Cafe PDCC04.  Here are the challenge photos:

And here is my card:

The card base is kraft layered with Brocade Blue and Christmas Cocoa DSP that has a beautiful shimmer to it.  The large snowflake is cut out with my Big Shot using the Snowflake #2 die.  The center snowflake is from Season of Joy and is stamped in Brocade Blue and has a Ice Circle Rhinestone brad in its center.  The sentiment is from Four The Holidays out of the Holiday Mini Catalog.

This next card combines the Tuesday Technique Challenge from my favorite Stampin' Up! only online hangout, Stampin' Addicts.  This is the Faux Leather Technique Tech33.  The sketch is from the Utah Divas Interenational blog.  They have some fabulous SU! stampers that contribute to their site.  Here is the card, followed by a photo "how to".

Isn't that faux leather cool?!  Here's a close-up:

This is how I did this technique, per Rhonda, the technique hostess at Stampin' Addicts.  Click on any of the photos to make them larger, if you want to see things more close-up.

Gather all your supplies:

Cardstock

Vanilla Craft Ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Masking Tape

Heat Tool

"Leather Color"  Classic Inks

Sponges

Cover your entire piece of cardstock with pieces of masking tape.  I used a Kraft piece of cardstock as the base, but it doesn't really matter, since you'll be covering it up. 

With the Vanilla Craft Ink, cover your entire cardstock with ink.

It should look like this when you are done.  Next pour Clear Embossing powder onto your cardstock.  Be careful not to pour too much on it, because you will not be able to reuse the leftovers, since it will get mixed with the Vanilla Craft Ink.  I use a small baby spoon to spoon my powder out of the jar.

Rub the Clear Embossing Powder into all the cracks and then heat up.  I did this whole process (ink and EP) twice, because I think I rubbed off too much embossing powder the first time.  It really added some fun texture to the piece.

Now start sponging on your "leather" ink colors.  I started out with my lightest color first, Creamy Caramel.  Then I added some Soft Suede and finally, Chocolate Chip.  I kept at it until I had the look I desired.  I also heat set it, to help dry the ink.  I have quite a few inky fingers after this project!

And this is the finished piece of "leather".  This would be so cool for a western-style card, but I have no western stamps!  Here's the finished card again:

Like I said, my family was quite impressed with the results.  Even my husband thought it looked like leather!  This card may have to hang around the house for awhile.  I'm not sure who deserves a card with this much effort.  Maybe I'll surprise hubby and put it in his sock drawer someday, since I'm always grateful for him.  The medallion image comes from the set True Friend and the sentiment comes from Falling Leaves.

Four The Holidays  #116921  $13.95

Falling Leaves  #115368  $21.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!

How To Tuesday #1 and a New Challenge!

Hi Stamping Friends!
Well I'm going to try out something new here at the blog.  After trying a new technique this week, I decided it might be fun to do a "how to" segment.  Do you remember this card?

I did it for the Tuesday Technique Challenge over at my favorite Stampin' Up! online hangout, Stampin' Addicts.  The technique is called Faux Tile.  I took some pics while I made this card that will hopefully explain what I did. 

First, I gathered all my supplies:

Cardstock

Staz-On Ink

Markers

Crazy For Cupcakes Stamp Set

Versamark

Glassy Glaze Enamel Embossing Powder

Heat Tool

Then I stamped my image with Staz-On black ink and colored in with my Stampin' Up! markers.  You can see I practiced first on my grid sheet.  I always do this before I commit to coloring on my cardstock.  For instance here, I changed browns from Chcocolate Chip to Close to Cocoa. The Chocolate Chip was too dark and my marker is thrashed and doesn't color small images well.

Next, I cut my image into fourths and adhered it to Chocolate Chip cardstock, to look like panes in a window.  I used ny Stampin' Up! square glue stick to adhere the square, because you want to make sure that all corners are stuck down fast.  You don't want any lifting of your corners!

Then I pressed my entire image into the Versamark pad.  Make sure you have completely covered your image with Versamark and then sprinkle with the Glassy Glaze Enamel Embossing Powder.  Then use your heat tool to melt the embossing powder.  I did this step twice, because the first time I did not have enough Versamark on and there were spots where there was no enamel.  On the first trym I removed the excess EP from the Chocolate Chip cardstock.  I forgot to do this the second time and I got enamel on it.  Oh well!  I'll remember for next time!

And here's the final image after the two layers of EP.  Doesn't it look like a shiny window?  This was a very fun technique.  You should try it!  And if you do, post your card in the Technique Challenge Forum over at Stampin' Addicts.

Well, I also promised you a challenge card today.  This card is for a new challenge over at The Play Date Cafe.  I actually got a personal email asking me to play along.  How cool is that!  Here's the inspiration piece for this week:

Super cool inspiration!  My 13yo DS has a red bass guitar and a black accoustic guitar.  So this piece fits in with our family.  Besides, it our "company" colors.  My dad, brothers, and uncles all drive or have driven red, black and silver Peterbilts.  So we love this color combo in our family.  Here's my card:

I really wish that I had the Extreme Guitar stamp, but it's been on and off my list for months and just hasn't made the cut yet.  I had to make do with Just Jawing and Extreme Elements.  I think it works though.  I'm going to give this card to my sons guitar teacher at the end of the semester.  'Cause all the teachers at Fusion School of Music ROCK!  The card base is Basic Black layered with Real Red Textured Cardstock.  The Basic Gray strip is embossed using the Squares Texturz Plate.

Extreme Elements  #115181  $26.95

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Stamping!