this post is BUGGED!

just for the record...

I HATE BUGS!

I REALLY HATE THEM 

A LOT...

if you have ever thought you may have been in an earthquake, but there was no evidence in the news, it might have been me screaming when I saw a spider...

sad...but true...

embarrassing...oh yes...for sure...

but it is what it is...

but not as bad as when I saw a MOUSE!

that's a story for another day!

however...when bugs are fake & under MY control...

they can be quite fun...

you've heard me say so many times that I like versatile products...

things that can be used more than one way...

today, I'm sharing 2 ways to use tim's new sizzix bee...

plan A  is a VERY dimensional embellishment...

plan B is much flatter...

this die comes with a coordinating embossing folder, which adds great detail & doubles the fun...

the minute I spotted this die, I immediately thought about using it with clearly for art, knowing that I could make it sturdy, very dimensional & super fun...

the example below was a 10 minute create...

seriously...start the timer...

I covered a piece of clearly for art (clear) with vintage dictionary text, making sure it fit the size of the die...

then I die cut it & placed it in the embossing folder & embossed it...

next, to add color, I used dandelion archival & a bit of orange blossom to color the body...

and lightly added some tree branch archival to just the raised areas...shhh...I used my finger...it made it easy to hit just the raised embossed areas...

to add interest to the wings, I lightly added watering can archival...

I also used watering can on the legs, but added a bit more color, to make them stand out from the wings...

I lightly heated the bee, just enough so that I could shape it...

being careful NOT to heat it too much & flatten the embossing...

remember...clearly for art always returns to flat, when heated...

the finishing touch was the star stamp that I punched out (5/8th inch circle punch)  & embossed with clear super fine detail embossing powder & added the remnant rub number...

the star is included on the license plate art set...

like I said...10 minutes MAX...but it was a very fun 10 minutes... 

I'm still deciding how I want to display this critter...

I think he would be really cute on the front of a get well card...

or...I might add a thin dowel to the back & use him as a plant stake!

now on to plan B...

a completely different way to use the same bee...

I wanted to use the bee on an art journal page & had an idea...

this is a manila page...it's 6 x 8 ½ inches...

it fits this art parts art journal, which also stores my small stamp sets...

I used my archival reinker/alcohol technique to add a simple background...

this technique is addicting...

you were warned!

I chose a drop of tree branch archival & a drop of gold metallic mixative...

the key to using manila as a page base, as opposed to specialty stamping paper,  is to use plenty of rubbing alcohol...

the alcohol soaks into the manila...

it does NOT soak thru the specialty stamping paper, so it takes less alcohol...

using rubbing alcohol will NOT warp the manila card stock like plain old water would...

alcohol is pure magic & it's super CHEAP!

here's my result...

I didn't want to die cut the bee & glue it on the page...

I wondered if I could emboss it onto the journal page...

but since my page is 6 inches across, the bee couldn't be centered...

because the folders are 5 inches across...

since I worked in surgery for many years, I have no fear of  knives...

I cut the embossing folder at the crease...

now it's 2 pieces, but I can use clear packing tape to put it right back together...

no harm was done!

the next photo shows the BACK of the page...notice, the holes are on the right now?

I positioned the back of the embossing folder & taped it in place with painters tape...

the next photo shows the FRONT of the page, with the top part of the folder positioned over the back folder piece...

page holes are on the left again...

next I embossed this page, with my embossing machine...

I wanted a quick way to ink the bee, but NOT ink the background...

so...I used the die to make a stencil...

now I have a perfectly sized stencil, made from a card stock scrap...

next, with the stencil in place, I could easily use the mini blending tool to ink the bee, because the background is protected...

I used dandelion, tree branch & watering can to add color...

with the stencil removed, the bee looks like this & the background has no messy ink where it doesn't belong...

super simple & FAST...

next, to add some shimmer to the wings, I replaced the stencil...

this allowed me to tap the blending tool onto the watermark resist pad & add embossing ink to just the wings...

(any of the embossing inks would work just fine...)

I sprinkled the wings with frosted crystal embossing powder & heated it to emboss just the wings...

with the stencil removed again, you can see the subtle sparkle on the wings...I hope...

with my focal point done, it was just a matter of playing...

adding stamps, stenciling & some doodles...

some smudged stabilo pencil lines...

some black glaze pen dots to the body...

and a subtle shadow around the bee using my FAV iced spruce marker...

this is my finished page...

one thing to note...

after I applied the 3 remnant rub arrows, I used the end of the sanding grip to scuff them...

they looked too perfect & I wanted them to look worn & bug eaten!

here's a better look at the embossed bee...

this next photo does show the cool effect of the frosted crystal on the wings a little better...and you can see the embossed detail better too...

I like this unexpected idea for an art journal...

embossed pages!

this is also the reason why I like to create my own journals...

with individual pages, you have more flexibility to try things like this...

plus you can make your pages from any material...

and also make them any size you'd like...

there's another benefit...

if the page turns out butt UGLY...

it goes in the trash with no evidence remaining...

it's very freeing for me...

tim also has a butterfly & a dragonfly...they too come with the die & embossing folder, so they could be done the same way...

if you're not into bugs...I think the butterfly would be awesome embossed onto an art journal page...

can't wait to try that...

I hope I inspired YOU to grab a die...try it a few ways, have fun & 

make ART!

wendy