enamel accents technique...

sometimes an idea works &

 you can share a fun NEW technique...

this one DID work...

here's another way to use enamel accents...

I posted a 1 minute video yesterday,

 explaining this technique 

using my new enamel accents...

you can see it here on Instagram...

and here on Facebook...

for some reason Blogger won't publish it here...

probably tech error on my part...

anyway...

here's the tag I made using the technique...

it's the same tag you see in the video...

I started with  a #8 heavystock tag...

it's a very nice surface to work on...

it's swiped with potting soil and

watering can enamel accents...

they're thin & when applied this way, 

they dry in about 2 minutes & add

 both texture & shine...
they also act as a resist for inks...

I used my "never enough hearts" stencil & traced the heart on the back of the tag, then cut it out...

tracing on the back is best, 
that way no tracing lines show, if your cutting isn't perfect...

here's the heart...

I inked the white edges with potting soil...

to create the background for the heart,  

I used a #8 heavy stock tag...

it's cut down to 5 ½ inches tall...

I inked the tag with orange blossom & 

cornflower blue archival, 

then added potting soil to the edges...

I stenciled the square grate on the left side of the tag with cornflower blue...

then stenciled some polka dots with potting soil over the square grate stencil...

moving on to the right side, 

I knew the ink was not completely dry & that embossing powder would stick where there was wetness...

perfect...

I wanted melted embossing powder

in the background as extra texture, 

but with no foiling...

I was careful to only added bits of foil on the stamped lines,

so I wouldn't end up with a big blob of foil...

I inked the old wood floor background with cornflower & sprinkled on the  

cornflower blue embossing powder & melted it...

I reheated it & pressed the 

turquoise foil sheet

over the warm embossing powder...

it will release easily when it has transferred...

it takes just a few seconds...

here's a video that explains 

how EASY this is......

***I am addicted to foiling 

the embossing powder***

be warned!

if you try it...

I'm NOT responsible

for YOUR addiction...

haha!

I added 3 pieces of tim's new design tape

all 3 are from the new aristocrat set...

I used watering can to stamp the flourishes that you see below...

look closely & you'll see the screen background stamped in several places, 

using the 3rd generation tiger lily...

(I stamped off 2 times)

I wanted it barely visible...

here's the tag base...

next are the components...

the little "make art" is from 

the "just say it" background stamp...

stamped with jet black onto a scrap, then inked with potting soil & orange blossom...

the new mat mini flower was stamped with cornflower blue, using the plaid background, embossed with cornflower blue embossing powder, then foiled with the same turquoise foil sheet...

the center is a hex head fastener, inserted thru a fluted fastener collar, then thru a mini gear...

I held the pieces together with a hemostat, 

heated them as one, 

then dipped them into the cornflower blue embossing powder...

the hot metal holds the embossing powder in place...

once cooled, I used the sanding grip to sand part of the hex head back to the original color...

those leaves are tim's gold 

metallic kraftcore cardstock 

glued to clear, clearly for art...

they're die cut, 

then inked with fern green...

I sprinkled on the 

frosted crystal embossing powder 

to give it a bumpy look...

crummy photo...

but trust me...it's pretty cool!

***since archival inks are translucent, you can easily change the color of these metallic card stocks & tint them to any color of metallic***

then I stamped over them with 

the "les roses" background with watering can...

I cut off the last 2 leaves, because

I thought it was a bit too long...

but then...

I dug them out of the trash...

this is normal for me...

and turned them the opposite way when I added them to the heart...

why?

NO CLUE...

but I liked it!

here's the tag all assembled...

I used Ranger's black foam adhesive tape 

under the heart to add dimension...

it's great stuff for it's adhesive properties & the perfect dimension!

I added an extra strip of the same 

aristocrat design tape 

to the bottom, edged the tag with the tarnished brass paint dabber & used 

my CUTE

forget-me-not enamel accents...

to add some dots...

it's got a vintage feel & when the light hits it, 

the bling is really cool!

I hope you'll

give this enamel accents technique a try & 

you'll see how fun it is...

have a GREAT weekend...

I hope YOU can

take some time to...

make art!

wendy

Merry Christmas tag...

my friends at

 The Crafty Scrapper,

 in Waxahachie, Tx. 

invited me to participate in their

 12 tags of Christmas blog posts...

make sure to visit & 

enter their GIVEAWAY!

if you're lucky & live close by, 

Carolyn has everything you need 

at the shop, to create this tag...

and MORE...

L O T S more 

REALLY good stuff in her store...

(and she ships too...)

if you're not nearby, 

my links take you to an on-line source...

here's my tag...

it's metallic & quite hard to get a good 

straight on photo...

you see no shine on this photo...

but...

 tilt it a bit & now you can see the 

gorgeous foiled embossing powder...

here's the steps...

the tag is a new heavystock #8 tag, 

cut to 5 ½ inches tall...

I LOVE this new heavystock...

A   L O T !

the material allows the distress markers  

to blend perfectly!

what a dramatic difference it makes!

 I LOVE trimming my tags to 5 ½ inches...

try it! 

it totally changes the proportions...

I rarely use a full length tag...

make sure to save the cut offs for 

perfectly sized borders for your tags...

 and 

they make great sentiment strips...

I inked the script background with 

watering can archival & then 

added watering can embossing powder...

after melting the powder, I "warmed" it up again with the Ranger heat tool & quickly pressed a gold Ranger foil sheet onto the warmed embossing powder...

***remember***

foil sheets get applied

pretty color side UP...

the foil will stick to the warm powder & it releases when the embossing powder cools...

it's a super quick process...

5 seconds max...

you can reheat & reapply foil wherever you want...

I like it randomly applied & not entirely covering all the embossing powder...

I like the grey watering can, 

with hints of the gold foil 

for a two tone grey/gold effect...

one little tip...

choose a fine lined 

background stamp image to foil...

solid/heavy images look overpowering for backgrounds...

just my opinion...

I've used these fine lined images 

on my CHA samples, with this technique

& they worked really well...

polka dot background...

this looks extra cool with 

multiple foil colors!

old wood floor... subtle & awesome!

spatter... it's super cool too...

I LIKE these foil sheets...

there are several color pack choices...

they are easy to use...

there's no static foil bits

 flying all over the place & 

the foil stays securely stuck

 on the embossing powder...

and another tip...

have your foil out & ready to go...

the embossing powder cools quickly...

but you can always reheat it & add more...

I inked over the tag 

with sky blue & potting soil archival inks...

those little bleached areas in the background are created with the lots of dots stencil...

just moisten the blending tool with rubbing alcohol & wipe thru the stencil to lighten 

the ink color...

I like the round guy for stenciling...

I use it for both adding &

 removing/lightening color...

I stamped Merry Christmas at the bottom with jet black & stenciled a polka dot border 

on the top of the tag...

the tag is edged with the tarnished brass paint dabber...

I hot glued a piece of tim's holiday trimming above the sentiment...

(might be discontinued?)

then added a small amount of multi-medium &  sprinkled on the rock candy glitter...

the chain is stamped, using jet black...

I die cut the stitched oval from heavystock, inked it very lightly with sky blue & just a little potting soil

 & added the stamped dots with watering can...

it's edged with the tarnished brass paint dabber & layered over another oval of the same size, 

to add a little dimension...

the mat mini pine tree is also foiled...

I inked the plaid background with fern green & embossed it with fern green powder...

I rewarmed the embossing powder & placed the turquoise foil over the warmed embossing powder...

(pretty foil side UP)

the tree then got inked with fern green...

it's popped up with 

my FAV black foam adhesive 

onto the stitched oval...

I added a black mat mini heart to the base...

the mat mini star has a thin layer of multi-medium & then it was dipped into the rock candy glitter jar to add a bit of bling...

after it was dry, I wanted it to appear a bit more yellow, so after shaking the buttercup mica spray, I "painted" the star with a drop of the mica spray, using the detailer waterbrush...

a little pen stitching is my finishing touch around the tag...

and another tilted shot to show the shine & the rock candy glitter...

so there you have a fun easy technique...

and another way to use 

some supplies you probably already have...

embossing powder + foil sheets =

foiled embossing powder!

I've had some questions about when

 new product "peeks" will start...

CHA is about 2 weeks later this year

(YIPPEE, so much better for us!)

so I'll be peeking new stuff 

after the first of the year...

we have some 

REALLY  

 F U N 

stuff coming...

wait 'til you see the new mat minis...

I'm over the moon excited about them...

they are simply

A D O R A B L E!

I promise!

new stamps...SO FUN...

new stencils...YES please!

new stamp-it stencil its...for sure!

and my MOST FAV stamp-it stencil-it EVER!

it's killer cool!

let's celebrate

THE CRAFTY SCRAPPER

(and the fact that I blogged)

 with a GIVEAWAY...

just leave a comment & 

I'll have Rick choose a random winner...

what will you win?

I'll send this tag and...

trust me...

I'll send a nice surprise package!

later today, I'll pop a quick video over

on my instagram page, 

where you'll get a better look at how cool the foiled embossing powder looks...

 there will be an 

Instagram GIVEAWAY too...

if you'd like to follow me there...

and have a chance to win

 a SECOND prize package...

I seem to be using Instagram much more...

it's quick & easy to post there...

I like it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and

thanks for the invite

Crafty Scrapper!

it was fun to...

make art!

wendy

May "make art" challenge...

Kim (aka Mrs. eclecticPaperie)

gave us a simple challenge for May...

April showers bring...

you got it!

just use flowers!

here's mine...

my flowers and hearts are die cut from 

my black magic mat board...

here's something I discovered...

 the Ranger foil sheets 

will stick to HOT embossing powders...

just melt your embossing powder & 

have the foil sheets nearby...

quickly press the foil sheet onto 

the HOT embossing powder...

let it cool...

it takes just a few seconds & then

RIP the foil sheet off

 to reveal random spots of foil...

and a NEW technique is born...

foiled embossing powder!

you can see the random foil bits below,

on both flowers and the large heart...

here's the full tag...

our sponsor for the May challenge is 

Ranger...

one random entry will win

 all 3 of my NEW archival inks & the 3 embossing powders!

I hope you'll join the challenge & share YOUR art...

foiled embossing powder...

a fun new technique and

another way to...

make art!

wendy

ps...

the sentiment 

says it all!

wait...don't go...

come see us in Novi, Michigan 

at Great Lakes Mega Meet...

our Stampers Anonymous booth will be LOADED with cool stuff!

lots of fun demos are planned &

if you're a blog friend, 

tell me & I'll have 

a little something just for YOU!