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!

Krystal's Weekly Favorites Blog Hop #6... Plus a card!!

Hi Stamping Friends

Since it's Sunday today, I have my favorite blog hops of the week.  I also have a challenge card for you.  I usually don't posts cards on Sunday, since I've made plenty through the week, but my challenges are starting to catch up with me!  I've been missing the deadlines to post the cards I've made, so I had to make myself a little reminder card, of when all my favorite challenges need to be posted.  And if I don't post this card today, I'll miss the deadline for the ColourQ Challenge!  So for this double challenge card, the colors come from the ColourQ color challenge blog and the sketch layout comes from the Utah Divas International.  I've never participated in a UDI challenge.  I'm not part of theer Yahoo Group, but I was poking around the web for a sketch that would work for the idea I had for these colors, and their sketch was perfect!

These are such "boy" colors to me, that I knew I was going to use my Extreme Skateboard stamp.  And this sketch had a great masculine feel to it... no scallops!  Here's my card"

The two happy birthday sentiments was a total blunder.  I thought I was inking my stamp with Night of Navy and it ended up being Bordering Blue.  It's so light you can hardly read it.  So I inked up the sentiment again in the correct color and stamped it above the mistake.  It works.  The card base is Bordering Blue layered with Dusty Durango and a piece of retired DSP called Autumn Vine.  Most SU! demos warn you against making anything with retired products, since you can no longer buy them.  But my thought is, if I show you something you wish you had bought, maybe it will persuade you to buy what you want now, before it's too late!!  :)

Now on to my favorites from this week:

These amazing tiles from Kimberly Van Diepen at her blog STAMPIN BY THE SEA

This adorable Top Note Indian from Kristen Brown at KRISTEN'S STAMPIN KORNER

And finally this fun reindeer triangle box from Monika Davis from STAMPING AT MONIKA'S

Hope your Sunday is peaceful and relaxing.
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!