NEW embossing powder recipe...

ok...

it's a fact...

I don't cook anymore...

BUT,

I love to discover new recipes 

using embossing powders...

vintage, rusty, verdigris colored metal tools 

that we spotted in an antique store,

 inspired me to see if I could figure out a recipe that would look like rust...

I wanted to combine products that I had, 

to make something new...

 to make the custom rust...

(which later magically transforms into 

verdigris powder)

hold on to your blending tools!

grab some measuring spoons

and

 you'll need...

orange blossom embossing powder

&

watering can embossing powder...

frosted crystal embossing powder...

and 

super fine detail gold embossing powder...

here's the recipe for 

the custom mix I made up...

⅛ teaspoon or less of the gold powder

TRUST ME ON THIS...

I used WAY too much in the first batch...

a little goes a long way on the gold...

add 

¼ teaspoon of orange blossom embossing powder

add

¾ teaspoon watering can embossing powder

add

2 tablespoons of frosted crystal embossing powder...

shake...stir...

MIX WELL...

that's it!

fear not...

at this point it's not cute...

the magic happens when it's melted...

Ranger has fillable jars 

that work well to store 

custom embossing powder mixes...

they are also great for organizing embellishments...

I like that the clear lids allow me to see what I have in them & 

I label them on the bottom...

just use a circle punch to write your recipe...

at about $1.00 each,  

they're a good price & super convenient!

I originally wanted an orangish rusty color...

so I swiped the orange blossom pad over the manila scrap, sprinkled on the custom mix and used the embossing gun to melt the powder...

this is the result...

very textured, & rusty...

exactly what I wanted...

and this shows that archival inks ARE

embossable...

this is interesting...

because there is a large portion of 

frosted crystal in the mix, 

that allows the surface color to show thru...

this is amazing, because it gives us multiple different color options, 

with only one embossing powder mix...

it's M A G I C!

you'll see...

this next sample has watering can archival ink added to the manila scrap,

it's sprinkled with the same custom embossing powder mix...

and this is the result...

the watering can archival ink

darkens the embossing powder...

I applied the watering can quite heavily, by swiping the pad directly on the manila...

a lighter application would result

 in a lighter grey color...

I'll try that next time & use a blending tool

 to add the ink color...

that's another option!

that was fun, so I kept going...

next, I swiped the tree branch archival pad on the manila scrap & used the same embossing powder mix again...

this creates another great color!

oh yes, there's more...

I'm on a roll...

this time cornflower blue archival ink 

was swiped onto the manila scrap...

same powder & look at this...

L O V E  it!

and this next one is so flipping' cool...

it results in even more of a verdigris color...

it's still the exact same custom powder mix,

 but added over

 the gorgeous garden patina archival ink...

seriously...can you believe how pretty it is?

PERFECT for garden themed art...

ideas are brewing...

changing up metal pieces...

and...

and...

and...

 I made these 5 samples using the same custom embossing powder mix...

just by changing the base ink color, one custom mix gives you all these really cool options...

here's a comparison to show 

the huge color differences that are possible...

each is gorgeous & each can be used 

so many ways...

below are the archival ink base colors again,

all used with the same 

custom embossing powder mix...

#1 is garden patina

#2 is cornflower blue

#3 is tree branch

#4 is watering can

#5 is the original orange blossom...

that started this scientific experiment...

be watching Facebook & Instagram...

I'll post a little video there to show these samples a little better & how they reflect the light...

for some reason I couldn't load it here...

here's a tip...

any of these can be further tinted 

(after they're melted) 

by adding any archival ink color over the top...

so, if I wanted to darken the edges on these, I'd use potting soil archival ink with a blending tool to add shading...

potting soil works with everything...

as I'm typing

I'm thinking...

I'm dying to get back to the studio to try this powder mix over red geranium archival ink...

I'm betting that will be a good color combo too...

and think about potting soil as the base color, to create a nice brownish rust...

one last reminder...

go easy on the superfine detail gold embossing powder...

a little is all you need...

seriously...

it overtakes the colors if you use too much...

you get major bling that doesn't look rusty...

remember...

you can always add more gold, 

but you can't remove it from the mix...

lecture done...

think about using this mix 

to customize die cuts...

or

you can make embossed scraps 

like I did today, 

then use punches...

or cut borders from them...

the powder can be added over ink that's applied thru stencils, for card accents, 

art journal pages or mixed media art...

I'll be using them over my mat mini flower pots, 

pitchers & vases...

buttons  & hearts to customize them to coordinate with whatever I'm working on...

and for sure on flowers!

do you have ideas brewing?

how will you use this custom mix?

 when you...

make art!

wendy

ps...

I just got an email with a code to use

 at Simon Says...

use the code

RANGER20

for a 20% discount off Ranger products...

it's good thru Sunday...

and one more thing...

be quick & pop over to 

the Ranger site on Instagram...

for a last chance to win a great prize for you

 & a friend you tag...

the winner gets chosen today!

GOOD LUCK!