Embossing With The Paper Funday

 

     Welcome to my contribution to this month's The Paper Funday Challenge, this month our twist is Embossing - Hot or Dry, or both if you wish.

     I chose to dry emboss with a Tim Holtz embossing folder - Elegant. I have inherited a large craft stash for my mum so it seemed right to use some of it on this project, Clarity papers caught my eye but I can't tell you which set it comes from, sorry.

     There were a few areas of damage on the piece I chose, so I cut it down to a 4inch square and ran it through the embossing folder. I have a Bigshot so for my machine I used the base plate, the folder and one clear plate, the 3D folders are much thicker than the ordinary ones so you'll need to adjust your sandwich according to your machine.

     Once embossed I used a little silver Pebeo gilding wax on a hard foam pad to add highlight to the raised areas. I left it for a few minutes then gave it a gentle buff with a soft cloth to get a nice shine.

     I wanted to have a coloured mat layer under my patterned paper but nothing in my stash was the right shade, so I made my own. I cut a square of white card and used an alcohol marker to colour the edges, no need to do the whole card as only the edge will be seen.

     After sticking the embossed topper to the mat layer I then cut another mat layer in silver paper and mounted that underneath on foam tape.

     Once stuck onto the white card blank I went in search of a suitable greeting. My card stash needs lots more birthday cards so after a little rummage I found some greeting toppers, the birthday one wasn't quite right so I used a Best Wishes instead. Mounted on foam tape and tucked in the top corner finished this card off and with the colour scheme it could be for a man or a woman.

     If you haven't been to The Paper Funday then please pop over and take a look at all the lovely inspiration you'll find there, then come and join us with your project.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

The Paper Players - PP638 Tic-Tac-Toe  (last row down)

Can You Handle The Pressure - Anything Goes Embossing     (Top Winner)

Pammie's Inky Pinkies - #2317 Anything Goes     (Honourable mention)

Love To Craft - #74 Anything Goes

Scrabble Fairy

     Apologies for the late arrival of my project for Altered Eclectics, lots of things have been happening here, some good and some not so good, but that's life. Thank goodness for crafting, sometimes it's the only thing to do!

      This project is for a local charity shop, a way of showing how all the odd bits and bobs can be used to make a mixed media item.
     It all started with some scrabble tiles and a few buttons, then a good rummage through all my odds and ends.
     The frame is plastic, also found in a charity shop, it had a back but no glass. I cut a piece of mount board to fit in place of a canvas to work on.

      With the board in the frame I drew around the inside edge, so I knew not to put any embellishments beyond that line.
     With my trusty hot glue gun I began to add buttons, broken bits of jewelry and shapes made with hot glue in a silicone mould. Once these items are painted they take on a whole new look whilst adding lots of great texture to the project.

     I drew around the fairy so I knew where she would be going, that way I could avoid putting anything that would be underneath her. Using some stencils and a tube of filler I added some more texture to the board.
     Once all the filler was dry I painted a layer of gesso over the whole board, then a couple of layers of acrylic pink paint. A spritz with a pink mica spray added some subtle sparkle.

     With all the paint dry it was time to add colour to the texture with some gilding wax.
     Before I started glueing bits on I had taken a photo of where I planned to put all the bits, so with to hand I started to add the finishing touches. A hot glue gun in hand I stuck the letters, flower, fairy and her wings to the board, along with a glitter covered flower in the top corner. It wasn't exactly as the starter picture but close, slight adjustments along the way which added interest.
     All that remained was to pop it in the frame, it was at this point that I was SO glad I had left that small border around the board, but the fairy could have been a little lower so she stood on the frame instead of floating a bit above it.
     The board bowed slightly, probably due to the paint, so I used hot glue on the back to seal it to the frame in the corners and along the edges. All that was left was to pop the back on and move the hanging points for a horizontal picture.
     Most of the items have come from charity shops, with the exception of the hot glue gun, waxes, spray and mount board, and they were already in my stash. To make something pink and girly was a little out of my comfort zone but I'm not too unhappy with the result.
     There is still a fortnight left to enter your project with Altered Eclectics, anything but a card or an ATC, we look forward to seeing you work.

I would like to enter this project in the following challenges:

An Inky Mess - Anything Mixed Media   (M)

Rhedd's Creative Spirit - Anything Mixed Media   (M)

Eclectic Ellapu - Anything Goes   (M)

Papier Mache Heads Up

     Welcome to this months project for Altered Eclectics. This one took a couple of months to make, it's an idea that's been buzzing around in my head ever since I saw a polystyrene head in the charity shop.

      I decided that I might want to make another bust sometime, so I covered the head with cling film before starting to cover with papier mache.
     I used approximately 250ml of an inexpensive children's PVA glue and a complete copy of my local weekly newspaper.
   

     The paper cast is about seven layers thick, nice and firm. I tore my paper into pieces, this seems to make the finished cast a little smoother.
     I had to cut from top to bottom to remove the polystyrene form. While the head was undergoing surgery I glued some stones inside to weight the bottom, this will stop it falling over when the headphones are on it.

     Once 'stoned' it was another operation to heal the cut, a little masking tape to hold it shut followed by two layers of papier mache.
     When completely dry it was painted with white gesso. Then came the fun part, adding all the cut outs.
     The left side is covered with cogs, numbers and letters and the right is covered with flowers, music and patterns.
     After the gesso I painted with a mix of Distress paints in Evergreen Bough, Peeled paint, Salty Ocean and Broken China.

      After all the paint had dried, which seemed likes ages, I could begin to 'grunge' it.
     I have used Cosmic Shimmer gilding wax Autumn Bronze to make the head look like an old bronze bust.

     As the wax doesn't completely cover the paint it looks aged and with a good polish with an old duster it shines beautifully.    
     Some finishing touches were some tiny gems on the flowers and along the paisley shapes. The left eye is a glass dome stuck over a desert island photograph and stuck on with silicone glue.
     It has been given the teenage boy seal of approval so now sits on the window sill sporting a pair of headphones, it was intended to stop them being left on the sofa and sat on, so a creative and useful result.
     Please pop over to Altered Eclectics to see what the DT have come up with, we would love it if you came and joined us with your creations, anything mixed media but no cards or ATC's.

I would like to enter my creation in the following challenges:

SanDee and Amelie's Steampunk  - Anything Steampunk

We Love To Create - Anything Mixed Media

Classic DT Challenge - Anything DT

More Mixed Media - Anything Goes (optional Purple)

That's Crafty - Masculine

Country View - Circles 

Gilded Flower

     My project for Altered Eclectics this month is a painted picture frame. We are a monthly challenge for anything altered as long as it's NOT a card or an ATC.

     I found this white frame in a local bargain shop and thought it might be nice to paint the flowers.
     This gave me two little problems. One, the glass doesn't come out, it's the first frame I've bought with the glass glued in, so I had to cover it with paper. Two, now I've made the frame 'busy' I have to find a simple photograph to go in it.
     I started by painting the flowers with a pale blue chalk finish and added a small amount of a darker blue while still wet so I could blend them together.

     Once the flowers were dry I painted the centre of each one with an opaque pearl paint.
     The leaves are all painted with a darkish green chalk paint. I had to touch up a few areas as I went round, once the paint dried I could see the odd patch I had missed.    
     The Purple effect is added by using gilding wax on the edge of each petal and rubbing it in with a cotton bud, my fingers are too big to do it by hand.
     Left to dry off for a while I then used a baby's toothbrush to buff up the wax and make it shine. I think I have got that Hydrangea look to my flowers which is what I had in mind, now to find that simple photograph, maybe an old portrait of my grandmother.
     If you enjoy altering anything then please bring it over to Altered Eclectics and show us, we love to see you projects and we have a few DT projects to help get you started.

I would like to enter my frame in the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

Sisters Of Craft - Anything Goes

Autumn At The House Of Cards

      Autumn has arrived at the House Of Cards. This month we would like you to use our photo for inspiration, add texture and/or use the colour palette.

      This card has a background of Kraft card embossed with an autumn leaf design, it was then coloured with several different gilding waxes and buffed to a subtle shine.
     The large pumpkin is a Sixxiz die, the small ones are a Cuttlebug die that has an embossing folder with it.
     The pumpkins are coloured with a mix of Distress inks and alcohol markers after being cut from orange pearl and green card.
     The largest pumpkin is stuck flat onto the backing but the others are mounted on foam pads to give dimension.
     The mat is a layer of chocolate pearl card which is then stuck on to an olive green card blank.  I have not added a greeting as yet, this will be done when I have decided what to use it for.

   


     Come and join us at the House Of Cards, we have lots of inspiration for you that will be showcased each week, we would love to see your take on our photo.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Moments - Autumn Colours

The Sisterhood Of Crafters - Pumpkin Patch

Dec The Hedge With MDF

     Christmas has arrived at Creative Expressions this month and I got a Christmas Mega Grab Bag of MDF shapes to play with.

     I drilled a small hole in the top of each shape before beginning decoration, I use a small hand drill for this type of job.
     I started with the angel, her wings are covered with CS flake and glitter glue then with CS gold flakes from the Inca Gold pack. Her body was painted white and then rubbed over with Pearl Moon gilding wax.
     While I still had the glue out I covered the dove and used silver gilding flakes .

     The flower is also made with the flake glue and green glitter on the large one, with red glitter on the small one, then stuck together.
     The snowman was glued and covered with white flock, with the exception of his hat, that has been coloured with an alcohol marker, as are his eyes, nose and mouth.
     The tree has been coloured with CS gilding wax in Decadent Bamboo, it is green but the shine has a gold luster to it. The little decorations are CS Glitter glue Red Apple Twinkles.
     The ginger bread man only has his features coloured using a white gel pen.    
There is a small length of gold or silver thread on each shape so they can be hung on a tree. My Christmas Tree is in the loft so I used my hedge to take these photos, it looked rather nice so I may just have to decorate it again in December!
      There are approximately three of each shape in the bag so you could decorate a reasonable sized tree with these, I haven't used the holly, sleigh and candy cane either. If you drill the holes for them the children would love using these little shapes, it would keep them busy for hours!

Materials used 
CE Christmas Mega Grab Bag MDF Shapes
CE Cosmic Shimmer Flake and Glitter Glue
CE CS Gilding Flakes - Inca Gold
CE CS Gilding Wax - Decadent Bamboo / Pearl Moon
CE CS Cosmic Twinkles - Red Apple

I would like to enter these decorations in the following challenges:

Sparkles Christmas - NO Designer Papers

Anything But A Card - Celebration (Christmas)

HOC Goes Metallic

   
     This month at House Of Cards we would like to see you use something that looks metallic. This gives you a whole host of mediums to play with, from embossing powder to waxes or paints, the choice is yours. we have lots of inspiration for you too, just pop over to the DT blogs to help you get started.

     This card began life as a piece of chocolate coloured pearl card, I have used a Spellbinder embossing folder called Creative Cogs to begin with.
     I have coloured the card with a collection of gilding waxes in different colours dabbed at random all over the card, after about ten minutes I buffed the card with a tissue to get a great shine to the wax.
     At this point I decided that at 7x5 it was a little larger that I wanted it too be, rather that cutting it in half I decided to fold it in half and have the back patterned too.
     After adding the rusty cog and screw top brad the inside front needed to be covered so I have added a thin cream card insert, which also makes it possible to write in easily. With the addition of a 'Just for you' ticket the card was complete. The finished card measures 5 x 3.5, which is a nice size for a notelet.
     Each week through the month we will have some more inspiration for you, along with some great tutorials, so please pop back to House Of Cards and have a look when you can.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Creative Knockouts - Dry Embossing 

4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes

There Be Dragons!

    Over at Altered Eclectics we welcome anything mixed media or altered art, so when I saw how to make a dragon egg I just had to have a go.

     Like most crafters I had a polystyrene egg in my stash already, so all I had to find were the drawing pins and as luck would have it my local supermarket was selling them off at half price.
     My egg is about 3 inches long and took two packs of pins to cover. I began at the top with one pin in the centre and then worked my way down in bands around the egg, making sure that the pins overlapped as I went. It is best to place the pin right the first time as the polystyrene doesn't take kindly to having too many holes, when I reached the bottom of the egg I had to use silicone glue on the last row as they were a bit loose.

     The goblet began life as a rather nice wooden egg cup. This was covered with a coat of black gesso and left to dry. I added a mix of acrylic paints in dark brown and pale green, making sure the green got into the creases.
     The little metal decorations are jewellery findings kindly supplied by Aldridge Crafts, as were the gems. These were bent slightly to follow the curve of the cup and then stuck on with Glossy Accents.
     Once the glue was set I used Cosmic Shimmer gilding waxes in Autumn Bronze, Teal and Golden Light and dabbed them all over the cup. After about ten minutes I buffed the wax with a cloth, taking extra care around the findings. The final addition was to glue some gems around the cup in between the metal decorations and that was my goblet finished.
     If you don't want to make a dragon egg it looks just as good as a fir cone, it's not suitable for small children so make sure it's out of reach when you display it. If you are going to hang it up I suggest wrapping a strong thread all the way around the egg to make your hanging loop as it gets rather heavy with all that metal on it, add the thread before the pins and they will hide it.
     Please come over to Altered Eclectics and take a look at the DT creations, they are all very different, we would love you to join us with your work and tell how you did it, you have a month to make anything you like as long as it's not a card, layout or an ATC.

I would like to enter my Dragon egg in the following challenges:

Inky Chicks - Use A Metal Embellishment

Try It On Tuesday - Hot and Wild (Dragons breathe fire and are definitely wild!)
Crafty Cardmakers and More - Anything But A Card

Up In The Air

     We have a new challenge over at The Male Room this week, our theme is 'Up In The Air' but No Birds Allowed!

      Sometime ago I bought a set of stamps  from Chocolate Baroque called Steampunk Travel. I rather liked the play on words for some of the designs, like this one, it's called a 'Skylight'!
     To keep it masculine I decided to raid my stash and dig out the metal sheets I have from Walnut Hollow. I stamped on to a copper sheet using Stazon, then I used some of the metal work tools to trace around the design outlines and work from e back to stretch the metal and give the design dimension.
     The stippling around the design is done using a small ball tool to make tiny dents.

      Once all the metal work was done it was time to add some age. This was done by dabbing Distress Paints on to the metal and allowing them to dry. Once dry the metal was buffed with a tissue to remove some of the paint and bring a shine to the raised areas, leaving colour in the recesses.

      The background started life as a piece of Kraft card, it was embossed with a cogs folder before adding gilding waxes.
     I have used three colours of wax to build up the worn look, Teal, Chic Pumpkin and Autumn Bronze. These are dabbed on at random and allowed to dry off before being buffed up to a nice shine with a tissue.
     I haven't added much in the centre of the card as this will be covered by the main image panel.
     I like to make mildly grungy items, especially for men and I love the gilding waxes because of their gorgeous colour and the sheen.

     The copper sheet has been stuck down with red line tape on to a black mat layer. This layer has been stuck with red line tape again on to the background. Red line tape is ultra sticky so it's great for metal and other slippery surfaces.
     The word 'Skylight' is stamped on to black card and embossed with copper before being die cut using a small label die.
     Both the design layer and the label are attached with tiny copper brads before the background was mounted on to a black mat.
     I tried this on a Kraft card but it looked too dark so it has been mounted on a cream card blank. I apologise for the photographs but it's tricky taking a good picture of something shiny.
     I do hope you come and join us at The Male Room, we have lots of inspiration from the DT to get you started, you have the next two weeks to join us with your creation.

I would like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash - For The Boys

Cardz 4 Guyz - Use a Die or A Punch  (Label)

Clear It Out - Your Style & Favourite Stash Item ( Gilding Wax)

Card Mania - Use A Metal Embellishment (Copper Sheet & Brads)

Crafty Cardmakers - For A Man Or Boy

Get Creative - For The Boys / Father's Day

Decadent Love

     This is my last project this month using Phill Martin's Decadent Damask stamps and Decadent Wine colours. I shall be coming back to these though as I have fallen in love with them completely. You can buy these at your local craft shop, they are distributed by Creative Expressions.

     I began with a mount board tag that I had lurking on my desk, it was cream already so I didn't have to paint a base colour. I die cut a shape similar to Phill's motif and stuck it on with Cosmic Shimmer PVA, then I sprayed it with Decadent Wine Spray Mist. Once that was dry I rubbed some gilding wax over it, I don't have the wine (yet!) so I used Vintage Plum. If you don't have texture paste but do have a die cut machine this is a way of achieving the raised look of paste, the wax gives it the gorgeous shine that the paste has.

     The gold swirl is made with the same mask but using one of the other shapes along with Royal Gold Texture Paste.
     The word 'love' is from a set called Winter Greetings, they're mostly Christmas words but I liked the shape of this type face. Both on the word and all around the tag I have used Inca Flakes gilding flakes.
     In the bottom corner I have used made three little dots with the Wine PVA, some flakes stuck to it, I should have used the flakes and then done the dots last but it doesn't look too bad, it's antiqued!

       Using one of the Corners and Icons stamps with Distress Ink Seedless Preserve I stamped a few images in the top corner.
     The glittery motif was done using Phill's Sparkle Texture Paste and a Special Touch mask called ornate frame. I taped off the areas I didn't want so the paste only went through the shape I did want.

     To finish it off I have used some ribbon that I've had for some time, I think it's an iridescent ribbon that Creative Expressions had a few years ago, they do have quite a range of gorgeous ribbons to choose from.

Materials used

Phill Martin stamps - Decadent Damask Corners and Icons

Phill Martin Decadent Wine colour range - Sparkle Texture Paste / PVA Glue / Ink Spray Mist

CE Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Wax - Vintage plum

CE Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Flakes - Inca Flakes

CE Cosmic Shimmer Glues - Dries Clear PVA / Flake and glitter Glue

CE Cosmic Shimmer Texture Paste - Royal Gold

CE Stamp Set - Winter Greetings

Distress Ink - Seedless Preserve

I would like to enter this tag in the following challenges:

Inkspirational - Purple / and love or wedding
Simply Papercraft - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp - Stencil It
Love To Create - Anything Creative / Mixed Media

Indian Elephant

     This little project is for the All Crafts Challenge over at Craft My Life, anything handcrafted is acceptable at this challenge as we love to see what wonderful things are happening out there.

     To start I made an elephant by using some modelling putty and a plastic toy elephant, I could have just used the toy but I know I shall want another one at a later date and this way I get one with a flat back making him easier to stick down.
     I pressed the toy into the putty and then popped it in the fridge to harden, the putty doesn't set permanently, it's reusable. Once the mold was firm I used my trusty Stix2 hot glue gun and filled the mold making sure I had no bubbles and set aside to cool.  The putty is not the best mold to use with a hot glue gun, silicone would be better but for a temporary mold the putty is adequate.

     After removing the cold elephant from the mold I cleaned him up and painted him with Distress Paint Evergreen Bough. Once the paint was dry I rubbed him over with Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Wax Autumn Bronze and buffed him to a shine.
     The frame is a Tando Creative Arabian Styled Layered Arch Frame set, I thought it went well with Chocolate Baroque's Fantasy Castle stamp set and one from their Texture fragments set.
     The frame has five layers to it, I have used all the frames on the backing and kept the five inners for another project. The backing is covered with a layer of white card that has been decorated using Distress Inks and a mixture of water stamping and spritzing along with the CB stamps. The domes on the castle are coloured with Cosmic Shimmer Watercolour Paint which has a great sheen to it because of the mica they contain.
     The frame is painted with an Acrylic gold paint dabber from Ranger, I have made sure it has a mottled effect to add age to it. The little elephant is stuck on at the end, he fits perfectly into the deep frame, the whole thing weighs very little as it's made from greyboard so it hangs quite happily on a stuck on loop put on the back out of sight.
     Please pop over to Craft My Life and join in our All Crafts Challenge with whatever handcrafted item you've made, we would love to see your creativity.

I would like to enter my picture in the following challenges:

Crafty Girlz - Anything Goes or Spring Showers

Sweet Stampin' - Inspired By Book or Film ( The Far Pavillions, beautiful Indian architecture)

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes or Feminine

Creative.....Got It Covered

     My project for Altered Eclectics is another folded book but this time the emphasis is on the altered cover, something I was shown by Lindsay Mason at Stitches, I'm still trying to get it to look as good as hers did!
     I have fallen victim to the book folding bug, I love making small gifts for friends and family that are unique to them and this is a great way of doing it. Don't worry, all the books used are very much pre-loved and come from boot sales and charity shops, this way they get to live on a bit longer.

     This book was a paperback, which is not the best for a book fold, a hardback helps support the weight without collapse. The book is only six inches tall, smaller books are easier to find a home for, they just tuck in a small space on the shelf for a little point of interest.
     I cut greyboard covers for the front, back and spine slightly smaller than the paper cover. Each piece of board has been covered with crumpled book pages stuck down with Ecogreen Matt Medium, the pages are wrapped over the edges too. I have used a wallpaper roller to squash it all down and make sure it is all stuck firmly.

     On the front cover I have stuck a variety of bits and bobs from jewellery findings (kindly supplied by Aldridge Crafts) to hot glue moulded shapes. The large blueish piece is a hot glue blob shaped by pushing a floral stamp into it and the heart on top is made from a Woodware mould, both made on the craft mat and allowed to cool completely before adding to the cover.
    Some of these items are tricky to stick down so I have used Glossy Accents as it's really very strong.

     I have painted the findings with Cosmic Shimmer Gesso, it would have been better to use black but I've only got white (at the moment!).
     It has two coats of Gesso to make sure everything is covered, I didn't paint the blank pages as the black acrylic paint will cover that just fine.
     The spine has three tiny lengths of sting stuck on to make it look a little more like a real book cover.
     The covers have two coats of black acrylic paint, making sure to cover the edges as well as getting into any of the little creases in the crumpled paper and into all the add ons.

     The inside has had the few extra pages removed and black card stuck over the paper cover, I prefer to do this as it makes the word stand out more. The outside also has a black card cover stuck over it.
     I have used a Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole in each cover just below the word, there is an eyelet in each hole and black ribbon run through it and around the back of the book to hold it in position. When there are lots of folded pages the books can become too fat to stand up properly and need to be held together.
     This 'fixing' has been done before the addition of the board covers so that it all gets covered up neatly, it will also give a little more security to the ribbon.
   

     The board covers have been decorated with Cosmic Shimmer Gilding Waxes Golden Light and Decadent Denim dabbed on at random. After a few minutes they have been buffed with a tissue to bring out the shine of the wax. I have added a couple of blue gems to the front cover, again stuck on with Glossy Accents.
     Once the boards were finished I stuck them on to the black card covers with Stix2 Ultra Clear 19mm Redline Tape, this tape is amazingly strong so I have no worries about them popping off in a few days time. With the covers on you can only just see the ribbon on the outside, nice and tidy.
     This has been fun to make and I will keep playing around with this technique on books and boxes.
     Why not come and join us at Altered Eclectics with your creations, anything BUT cards and ATC's, we would love to see what you've made.

I would like to enter my book in the following challenges:

Artful Times - A Bit Of Finnabair

Not Just Cards - Anything Goes
Crafting From The Heart - Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes