embossing powders on multiple surfaces...

happy weekend my friends!

here's a fun little shelf sitter I made a few weeks ago for the Collin's event in Florida...

I wanted to show that many different surfaces work great with embossing powders...

if it can take the heat, 

it CAN be embossed!

below you'll see that I've used them

 on tim's Sizzix pumpkin...

it's die cut cut from my clearly for art...

that allowed me to heat the pieces & then shape the pieces & make them more dimensional...

you'll see fern green embossing powder used on the letterpress...

and

on the metal hinge clip...

the small tattered floral flowers were cut from clearly for art blackout & embossed with 

orange blossom embossing powder...

the orange blossom embossing powder was also used to change up the metal foliage flowers...

that spider stamp inspired the remnant rub sentiment...

BRAVE is a state of mind...

I am NOT brave around real spiders...

I really HATE THEM...

did you notice the remnant rubs on 

the linen ribbon 

that I added to the blossom bucket witches hat?

it's a fun way to customize ribbon...

not sure why the background paper looks so light on the next photo...

hmmm...

just ignore it please...

here's a closer look at the faux graniteware technique on the pumpkin & you can see the mini text added to the letterpress...

I LOVE the flourish stamp so much...

that's it for today...

I hope you can take some time to relax this weekend and...

make art!

wendy

ps...for those of you hunting looking for 

Glue N Seal...

here's the little jar with the brush & 

the larger size jar that I use to refill the smaller...

using them together is the best value...

distress spray stain & string...

back on November 26, 2012, I wrote this post about how to decant distress stains & use them as sprays...

so, to say I was overjoyed when the new sprays were released, is an understatement...

I'm NOT a patient person...

 I waited almost 2 years...

so I need to say...

it's about time!

ok...moving on...

the stains in dabber form are fun...

but as sprays they are...

THE BEST...

THE FASTEST &

they allow us to do "things" 

that you can't do with the stains

 in the dabber bottles...

there are 999 reasons why I LOVE the spray stains, but today I'll focus on just one...

 the spray stains are the key ingredient 

to this home decor piece...

get comfy...

I have lots of photos for you...

I started with this string thread, 

but I'm sure whatever brand you find is just fine...

these come in lots of sizes, so your pumpkin can be any size...

I chose to use wild honey, spiced marmalade sprays...

and used both to spray the thread...

I used crushed olive & peeled paint to make the stem...

below the sprays, you'll see I crumpled up a piece of kraft card stock, misted it with water, then sprayed it & allowed it to dry...

it dried & is really very strong...

it looks lame now...

but in the end it works...

true confession...

I'm addicted to letterpress...

I could use them on EVERY single project...

I had planned to do a halloween word like EEK or BOO...

but by using FALL, I can keep this out until Thanksgiving...

letterpress are so fun to use with my embossing powders...

just swipe the block on an archival pad, sprinkle with embossing powder & heat to melt the powder...

I alternated fern green & orange blossom...

it's super fast...

the powders only stick to the raised areas that got inked...

now they look like this...

 I  stamped over them...

because every detail matters...

I used watering can archival ink with the tiny text stamp...

a quick dry & the ink is permanent...

watering can is not as stark as jet black...

see?

it's a tiny detail...

but so cool...

did I mention that I LOVE letterpress?

to distress this metal plant stake,

 I added potting soil archival ink & dried that...

Ranger's new adhesive strips are THE BOMB...

I added a piece to the plant stake & it holds the letterpress firmly in place...

next, I grabbed heavier string to make the indentations in the pumpkin...

not sure what to call them...

I cut a large piece, dropped it in a lid, 

sprayed it with 

walnut stain distress spray stain, 

stirred it with a hemostat to completely cover it & let it dry...

ps...remember stains will stain your fingers...

then tied it tightly like this,

 to create the indentations...

don't worry...

those ugly ends all get covered up...

I also sprayed a tiny bit of walnut spray stain on the top of the pumpkin to add some shading...

next I die cut lots of leaves using tim's Sizzix alterations dies...

and these...

how many? 

that depends on the size of your pumpkin...

but leftovers are good for days you need to get something done in a hurry...

so cut lots...

I used my "clearly for art" (CFA) blackout so that this piece would be very strong & durable...

since I put some time into this project, I can easily pack it up & bring it out next fall & not worry that any of the pieces got crushed...

next, I enameled the leaves with my embossing powders...

I love the CFA blackout for this technique...

I like to wipe away the powders from the edges before heating them...

it creates shading very easily & a vintage effect...

to make them even more vintage, I swiped them with potting soil archival ink, using the mini blending tool...

here's a closer look...

the top green one was inked with potting soil...

these embossing powders can give you 2 different finishes...

the leaf on the left has one layer of embossing powder, so you'll see an orange peel textured surface...

the one on the right has a second layer of powder added, which creates a very smooth glass like finish...

more leaves...

some with texture...

the orange has the smooth finish...

I stamped over these CFA blackout leaves with my new "lots of leaves" background stamp, using jet black archival...

and I used jet black again to add text to these leaves...

this shows the 2 finishes better...

textured or smooth...

your choice!

I die cut these mini bottles from CFA blackout & enameled them & added remnant rubs...

I ended up not using the poison bottle for this piece, but it's ready to use on a card or tag later...

remnant rubs stick very well over embossing powders...

remember...

every detail matters...

again, I wiped away the powders from the edges &  

cut the corks in half to glue behind the bottles...

then heated the bottles & rounded them to make them more authentic...

see the great texture?

this is why I chose to have my embossing powders ground as a super fine detail powder...

see the one on the left?

I used my fingernail to put scratches in the bottle...

that has huge potential for a worn vintage look...

I wanted a base for the pumpkin to sit on...

this is an art parts piece...

it's the leftover inside part of 

the art parts square frame...

I added tree branch archival ink, sprinkled on the tree branch embossing powder, then heated it...

next, I used the checkmate stencil with jet black archival, then added jet black to the base edges with the blending tool...

ok...this next part is a little tricky because these alpha parts guys are plastic...

I swiped this piece onto the orange blossom pad, sprinkled it with orange blossom embossing powder, wiped some off some powder to expose the black & heated it to emboss...

this works if you are VERY CAREFUL &

KEEP the HEAT TOOL MOVING...

it's a little warped, but for this project I decided to embrace the imperfection...

(thanks Tim!)

I also added a piece of card stock behind it to make the letters more visible...

here's the enameled alpha parts framed...

I created a stickpin by wrapping some orange embroidery floss around 

the blossom bucket witches hat...

and used hot glue to add the memo pin to the back...

I enameled a small foliage flower, the leaves & the long fastener & hot glued them to the hat...

oops & I used jet black to add polka dots to the leaves...

now it's just a matter of creating a pleasing arrangement...

I used hot glue to hold everything...

and again...

the finished fall home decor piece...

oops again...

I twisted some wire & used hot glue to keep those pieces in place...

I LOVE the NEW large leaf in the back that is stamped with the screen stamp from my very first release back in 2008...

an oldie, but a goodie...

this was so much fun...

this is reason 1 of 999 why I'm thrilled that we now have distress spray stains...

I hope this tutorial gives you some inspiration to 

make (fall) art!

wendy

ps...I almost forgot...

the winners from the last post are...

from my Facebook page...

Keely Reeves Boley

and from the blog...

Bernice Piotrowski

please send me your addresses & Rick will get them postal...

embossing powders on multiple surfaces...

I had several questions about using the faux graniteware technique on a "plain old tag"...

YES...it sure does work & I really love it on a black tag, because it shades itself...

tree branch archival ink was added to the black tag with a blending tool...

I intentionally didn't ink the edges...

I sprinkled over the wet ink 

with tree branch embossing powder &

 heated the tag to emboss...

when cool, I went over the powder with

 potting soil archival ink to tone it down...

then comes the spatter stamp with 

snow cap white pigment ink...

a quick dry...

then you'll see I used watering can archival to stamp some tiny text...

it's not finished yet...

but I wanted to make sure you know tags are AWESOME if you want to start with one before you jump into the home decor/dimensional game...

manila tags work great too...

here's another make-over...

this is a small metal decor piece I found at Hobby Lobby...

metal + nice shape = awesome to heat emboss...

I used the same technique to change it to this...

my embossing powders are super fine detail...

which creates an orange peel effect & even more detail...

you'll see on the photo of the frame how cool this is when another color is added over the cooled powder...

I guess you'll have to come back...

this isn't finished either...

keep your eyes open for good shapes...

the graphics don't matter...

the photo below shows tree branch embossing powder used on a black wooden frame...

it's the small square shadowbox frame from Ikea...

to alter the wood frame, 

swipe the archival pad onto one side of the frame...

very easy, since it'a a flat surface...

work on one side at a time...

again...I left some black showing & I LOVE the effect!

sprinkle on the tree branch embossing powder, heat to melt, then I added potting soil archival ink over the cooled powder...

the potting soil defines the orange peel texture of the embossing powder...

no white spatters this time...

I saved them for inside pieces...

this one is finished!

you'll see I used the embossing powders on multiple surfaces...

the wood frame...

the tiny metal spoon...

art parts...the leaves & art parts flower...

tim's addicting letterpress(which are wood)...

and on the tattered floral...it's die cut 

from clearly for art blackout...

and it's covered with 

cornflower blue embossing powder...

this cute baby is a found relative...

this was so much fun that I didn't want it to end!

so, the moral of the story is...

my Ranger embossing powders 

are awesome on LOTS of surfaces...

I hope you're excited to...

make art!

wendy

ps...I had questions about this too....
the order number for the single background spatter stamp is wvbg017...
you can ask your favorite shopping spot to order it for you

introducing...my brand new...

Ranger embossing powders!

they come in 6 

of my signature archival colors...

here's the official press release...

and THE BEST NEWS...

they are READY & they are shipping 

on MONDAY September 15th!

believe me...

I am OVER THE MOON 

E X C I T E D 

about these powders...

YES...ALL CAPS!

buckle up!

I don't want you to fall off your chair...

I'm so excited, 

that I actually filmed a video 

to show them to you!

ps...

you'll even hear Rick!

please ignore the glare, 

my studio has skylights, 

which I LOVE, 

but they make photos & videos a challenge...

if you click this link, 

you'll be magically transported to 

view it on YOU TUBE...

here are some photos of the projects I showed in the video...

you'll see how to create custom embellishments,

 like this cute cardinal...

and how to use embossing powders

 to alter many surfaces...

I REALLY REALLY 

REALLY LOVE 

the embossing powders 

used on the letterpress...

here's an example...

it starts as this...

 with some embossing powders, CFA & die cuts, 

it gets transformed to this...

look closely & you'll see that remnant rubs work well on embossing powders...

 see the stamped flourishes?

archival inks are GREAT for stamping over embossing powders...

that's the watering can embossing powder on the spoon...

cornflower blue on the flower & metal base...

leaf green on the leaves & red geranium on the mug...

 the next photo shows the embossing powders used on clearly for art blackout, with the new faux graniteware technique...

the video shows the ingredients you'll need to try this technique...

the leaf is tim's new sizzix die...

and I will always love the tattered florals die...

BUT...

be warned...

this is ADDICTING...

this next piece was super fun...

you'll see fern green embossing powder

 used on the art parts instaframe...

I used tree branch powder to create the flower, to alter the custom fastener 

for the flower center & a leaf...

orange blossom embossing powder 

customizes the ornate frame & 

I used it on the leaf on the right...

and the last...

THANKS to everyone at RANGER!

you have made me 

so HAPPY...

embossing powders are awesome 

for cards, 

tags,

art journals, 

altering multiple surfaces & 

for home decor projects!

in the next few weeks

I'll be sharing LOTS more info...

projects, tips, hints & techniques 

using these powders...

NOW...

COMPLIMENTS of Ranger...

I have a set of all 6 embossing powders 

to share with a lucky winner...

if you'd like to play "make art" with them...

just leave a comment below...

 the lucky winner will be chosen on 

Tuesday September 16th...

and will receive the full set 

of all 6 embossing powders...

here's the You Tube link again...

may you always be inspired to...

make art!

wendy

ps...when you're out & about, be on the lookout for inexpensive things YOU can alter...

pss...how do you like the faux graniteware technique? planning to try it?