Friday, January 8, 2016

A Year of Card Techniques January Blog Hop

Welcome to


This is the first in a year long series of monthly blog hops 
focusing on techniques for card makers.
Each month we'll feature a different technique or fold or product.
We've assembled a team of card makers who range from new to advanced 
so you'll get a great variety of cards and ideas.

This month we will be focusing on emboss resist techniques and WOW have we got
some cool cards for you today.  We really love feedback so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in today's hop.  Each comment on the 12 hops throughout the year will be entered into a prize drawing for a $25 gift certificate at the end of the year and for January anyone who hops and comments will be eligible to win an embossing package of 3 Wow brand embossing powders, clear, white and a surprise color and a Versa Mark Embossing Ink pad.  Comments for January's giveaway must be posted by January 30th.  Winner will be posted February 1st. 

Before I get started with my cards, I thought I'd give you a little intro to emboss resist and heat embossing in general.  You'll need the following supplies to create embossed images: 
  1. A good heat gun/tool (you can get one at most craft stores and in the major outlets you can use a coupon on them).
  2. An embossing ink, I prefer Versa Mark or Ranger but there are several brands on the market OR you can use any colored pigment based ink as they take longer to dry thus giving you time to sprinkle on the embossing powder.
  3. Embossing powder(s), now here is where people differ, some think they need every color of the rainbow.  I, on the other hand, think that a good quality clear (I prefer WOW brand), a white (I prefer Ranger Detail or Stampin' Up), a glittery (I prefer Stampin' Up Iridescent Ice), a gold and a silver (Ranger) are all you need.  If you use pigment inks, you can use clear embossing powder on top to create the look of colored embossing powders and there are hundreds of uses for pigment ink, while the colored embossing powders won't get that kind of use. 
  4. A powder tool/bag or a used dryer sheet.  When using embossing powders you need to prep the cardstock prior to stamping so that oils and static are neutralized before you add your ink and embossing powders so that the powder doesn't stick to anything but the ink you've just applied.
  5. A fine detail DRY paint brush. This will help you to brush away any stray embossing powder that happens to stick to areas you don't want it to BEFORE you use your heat tool to melt the powder. Once you've melted it, it isn't moving! 
  6. Something to create your images with: stamps, stencils, the eraser of a pencil, anything you can apply ink with or through. 
Embossing powder lasts a long time and the excess can be funneled back into the jar or container and reused.  Work over a piece of copy paper or a coffee filter to make clean up and returning the extra powder back to the jar easy.  

One last tip, let your heat tool get good and hot, usually letting it heat up at least 20-30 seconds before bringing it to your project.  The faster the powder melts the better.  You don't want to overheat the powder.  This will leave you with a mottled bubbly mess instead of the smooth glossy look you are going for. 


Now on with the projects.

I used Ranger Distress Ink, WOW clear embossing powder and Versa Mark Ink on all the cards.
The first couple of cards I have for you today are just simple emboss resist cards.

For this first card, I used Picked Raspberry, Festive Berries and Mustard Seed Distress inks.
I added a little Heidi Swapp Glimmer Spray too. 


For this second card, I stamped the birds in Versa Fine Onyx Black ink and 
added the WOW clear embossing powder.  I then colored them with Copic markers. 
I then added Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed and Twisted Citron. 



Now for the rest of these cards I played with layering emboss resist, so all of the following cards are embossed twice.  The first time on the plain white cardstock, then colored with the inks, then stamped again and more color added.  You've got to try this! It was so much fun. 

For this card, I stamped the words then embossed with clear powder. I then colored it using several pink shades of Ranger Distress Inks.  I stamped on the circle background stamp and embossed with the clear powder again.  I then added Ranger Walnut Stain Distress Ink to add the depth and shading. 


For this next one, I stamped the script background stamp first then embossed with clear.  I then colored the piece and stamped the flowers.  I then used the smokey gray on top to add depth to the card. 





For this next one, I stamped the flowers first, then colored then stamped the background script stamp then added a smokey gray on top. 



What a difference it makes depending on which order you stamp! 
The two cards above are the same stamps and inks but stamped and embossed in a different order. Two completely different looks, same supplies.


On this last card, I used White Embossing powder for second of the embossings. 
I stamped and embossed the script stamp first then added color then stamped and embossed the circle stamp, using the white embossing powder. 




I don't know about you, but I love how they turned out! 
I know some of my pals are going to love receiving these. 

Don't have Ranger Distress Inks? Don't fret.  You can use any dye ink or try using glimmer mists or spray stains instead of ink over the embossing.  Experiment and have fun.

Tell me which one(s) you like the best, I'd love to know.

Get out your embossing powder and have fun! 

Kim's up next, you won't want to miss what she and Katy have for you.

Happy Crafting
Theresa


Don't forget to comment on all the blogs in the hop each month to be entered into the drawing.

Here's today's line-up in case you get lost along the way
                              Theresa  YOU ARE HERE!


16 comments:

  1. Absolutely lovely, all of them! Thanks for being a great host. This is going to be a fun year!

    Sharon
    A Piece Of Heart Blog
    **Make sure to visit my blog to grab some really great FREE Digi Sentiments.**

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  2. Wow, Theresa! You did amazing work here! I love all the different looks you achieved and I was really stunned at the difference in the two cards you pointed out having the same stamps but a different process. I'm eager to keep working with emboss resist now that you've got me so inspired. Thanks so much for hosting this hop...it's going to be a great year!

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  3. First off...Thanks Theresa for inviting me to this event too. This will be a great year full of experiences and challenges! It is awesome to see what everyone comes up with by using the same technique.
    Regarding your creations...They are great, I am totally in love with the two birds and the word background stamp once...Looking forward for more fun to come

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  4. I love your cards! Thanks for the invite! My favorite is the one with the purple in the background and the flowers are showing more than the script.

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  5. I love all your cards. They turned out beautiful. I have never layered my embossing and need to try it. Thanks for letting me join the hop.

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  6. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I am loving those birds.

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  7. Holy moly, you were busy! I saw these last night, but my phone never lets me comment. So I just looked at your card and then abandoned the home until I could come back on my computer this morning and comment. I absolutely love the two cards with the script background. I find script to be so elegant, and the emboss resist with that particular background is fabulous. That last one is my fave . . . love the double embossing . . . love the color. Beautiful work.

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  8. You have been busy. I like how you are using the same supplies in two different ways. This is fun to see many different ways of embossing. I like Wow clear powder the best and use it more than any other powder. Glad to know I am not alone.

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  9. Cards are beautiful !! And thanks for all the great information , I'm kinda new to embossing :)

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  10. Wow, I've done simple emboss resist, but never layered like you have here. I'll definitely be trying this!

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  11. My favorite? This one, "For this next one, I stamped the script background stamp first then embossed with clear. I then colored the piece and stamped the flowers. I then used the smokey gray on top to add depth to the card." LOVE IT! They're all great, but that one... just hit me. And you're right! What a difference the order makes. I think I would've played more too... had I not messed up and done something that I wasn't supposed to have (DUH!). Thanks for taking me on this journey with you.

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  12. My fave card is your last one with all those wonderful colours :)
    I've layered it and even used pens to alter the colours in the embossing by reheating and setting the ink into them great for when you only have a few colours

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  13. Your cards are awesome! My favorite is the pink and brown circle card.

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  14. Love all of your projects Theresa. Heat embossing and emboss resist are 2 of my most favorite things!

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  15. Love all of your cards, the colors are amazing

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