selective embossing...PART 2...

but this time...

here's the TWIST...

it's...

WITH COLOR!

again, only the main image is embossed, 

but as you can see, 

the color from the tag does not show thru the flower, 

like it did yesterday...

start with a #5 kraft tag...

I'm really liking these smaller sized tags...

stamp this flower with jet black archival & dry...

I used the distress markers shown to color & shade the flower & leaves...

use the Perfect Medium Pen to go over the flower/leaves, 

then sprinkle with clear embossing powder & heat to emboss...

now comes the background colors...

faded jeans, rusty hinge & peeled paint applied with the blending tool...

mist water onto the craft sheet, 

then use the polka dot background & 

stamp into the water ONCE & stamp over the tag...

allow the water to sit for about 10 seconds, then dry...

this creates a flippin adorable

SIMPLE background...

which appears to be BEHIND the flower...

another reason why I LOVE distress!

it's pure MAGIC!

next, I stamped my not-scary spider & 

wish with jet black archival & dried them...

then used my striped border stencil with black soot distress ink on the blending tool to add a tiny border at the top & bottom of the tag...

my Blossom Bucket crow is a perfect fit...

here's the finished tag again...

I used the tarnished brass distress stain to add 

a beautiful metallic edge to the tag...

 to review...

same technique from yesterday...

but yesterday, the flower had NO color...

here's the same daisy stamp below...

but this time using today's technique...

WITH color...

coloring in the image with the distress markers 

totally changes the look of the daisy...

change the background stamp & the sentiment...

and you get this...

oh...I stamped the daisy 2 times, cut out one & layered it on the sample above...

again...

simple, but so much fun...

last reminder for the 

40% off code on ALL my products

 over at Simon Says...

the sale ends Thursday @11:59pm EST...

enter this code at checkout...

4wendy...

the cute crow is sold out...

but Heidi has LOTS of other

 FUN Blossom Bucket pieces...

speaking of fun...

I'm off to

Great Lakes Mega Meet...

it's in Novi, Michigan...

I hope you'll come & see us...

tell me you're a blog friend & I'll have a little gift for you!

Ted (Mr Stampers Anonymous) drives this giant rig there...

and it's 

not an inch to spare 

LOADED 

with everything you need to...

make art!

wendy

selective embossing...

I had some major brain activity in the studio this weekend & I thought I'd share a really fun technique...

normally, when you heat emboss, 

you stamp the image, 

sprinkle on the embossing powder & heat to emboss...

the black in the photo below is what you would 

normally expect see embossed...

so what if I didn't want my outline embossed, 

but rather I wanted to emboss some other areas?

like this daisy...

here comes the title...

selective embossing...

here's the secret ingredient...

Ranger's PERFECT MEDIUM PENS...

I stamped my flower with jet black archival & dried it...

then I used the Perfect Medium Pen to go over the flower petals & leaves...

I didn't cover the flower center, 

to create some contrast...

so my tag now looks like this...

***keep in mind to stay in the lines***

I didn't & you'll see it in the finished tag...

the clear embossing powder will stick wherever 

the Perfect Medium was added...

just like it is meant to do...

note to self...don't be so impatient & hurry...

stay IN the lines...

now sprinkle the clear embossing powder over the flower & heat to emboss...

it now looks like this...

next, I added my background colors right over the whole tag, including the flower...

the embossed areas will resist the distress inks...

the manila tag color remains...

I used the blending tool to apply 

mustard seed, broken china & rusty hinge...

you can used a moist paper towel or baby wipe to wipe the inks off the embossed areas...

now it looks like this...

 distress inks always react with water...

you've seen tim flick water on to the surface

 to create bleached out water spot areas...

here's how you can add a pattern to the background...

mist water onto your craft sheet...

press a background stamp into the water...

***stamp into the water ONLY ONCE***

more than that picks up too much water & the pattern will be lost...

after stamping, allow the water to sit for about 10 seconds, then dry...

I LOVE IT!

I used this background...

it's a worn lined pattern from 

my very first stamp release back in 2008!

YIKES...5 years ago already!

time does fly when you LOVE what you do!

EDIT...OOPS...

wrong stamp link...

the skinny lines are THIS STAMP...sorry!

I used the old paper distress marker to trace around the flower to add a shadow...

and colored in the flower center with the tea dye marker...

***in this close up...you can see where the embossing is outside the lines***

duh...

note to self...

art does not have to be perfect!

I stamped TRUST & the mini bee with jet black archival...

and also the border at the top, using this background stamp...

I used the peeled paint, rusty hinge & broken china markers to add color to the bee & the border...

I inked this unmounted script background stamp 

with french ultramarine archival & randomly stamped the background...

to remove the archival from the embossed flower, 

I just wiped it off with a paper towel before it dried...

ps...archivals are AWESOME!

I drew 3 little hearts & filled them in 

with the sepia Sakura Glaze pen...

used the clear glaze pen over the bee wings...

then added the pointing finger...

it's one of tim's new remnant rubs...

they are so flippin COOL!

a little bow at the top & done...

***things to note***

normally when I work on a project, 

the background is the first thing I do...

I start at the bottom & work to the front...

BUT...

when using this technique, the main image gets stamped before the background is done...

that keeps the embossed area,

 the manila color of the tag...

and...

if you do this same technique on a kraft tag...

you get this...

a vintage amber looking jar...

I think my glass jar looks cool...

with the wildflower INSIDE the jar...

I left the glare on the photo so that you could see that the jar stamp really does look like glass...

the embossing makes it super simple to cut out the image & make it even more dimensional, when layered onto the project...

I find open area stamps to be the best for this technique...

like the jar...

this ink bottle...

this medicine bottle...

(how cute for a get well card!)

or this one...

and stamps like this flower

or this is another good one...

 like the infomercial says...

but WAIT...

there's MORE!

but...that will be my next post...

it's a really fun one...

selective embossing again, but...

with a different effect...

stay tuned!

***REMEMBER***

all my products are ON SALE at Simon Says...

thru this Thursday...

at checkout...

enter the code...

4wendy

and you'll get 40% off...

stamps, 

art parts,

CFA (clearly for art)

clicker cutts, 

stencils,

books and

embossing pastes...

not to tease you...

BUT...

I had a M A J O R discovery with the embossing pastes this weekend...

here's just a little hint...

I found a way to make dimensional embellishments...

they are especially A W E S O M E with the metallic pastes...

clicking on the highlighted links, 

will magically transport you right to the items I used...

I hope you enjoyed this technique & 

that you'll give it a try...

it's so much fun to try something new when you...

make art!

wendy

great gifts & a GIGANTIC SALE!

just in time for Mother's Day, 

graduations or any gift giving occasion...

kits for art are back in stock &

ON SALE...

with the discount code

each kit is less than $6.00...

we've had lots of requests for kits...

so we introduced 2 new "kits for art" at CHA in January...

 kits include complete instructions, step out photos, and the art parts & Blossom Bucket metal corners needed to complete the container...

this little cutie is called "create a container"...

the only thing you'll need to add is a flower center...

I like this kit because you can customize it to fit in with any decor...

choose any colors & any background stamps & it will be perfect!

the container can hang via the hole in the base, or it will sit on a shelf...

art parts work well with distress inks, distress stains, distress paints or you can cover the pieces with patterned paper...

for this sample I used distress stains...

jet black archival for my stamping...

and added an extra clearly for art flower...

I added the flower/leaves at the top, so this will sit on a shelf...

this next sample was done with the new distress paints...

I wanted this one to hang,

 so this time the flower/leaves are at the bottom 

& they can hang off the edge of the container...

the lines are this background stamp...

I just turned it 90 degrees to make the lines vertical...

here's another sample done with distress stains, 

the worn plaid background stamp & 

the lines again...

my Blossom Bucket butterfly & plaid postal flower...

if mom loves to quilt or sew...

here's another variation...

I saved the flower/leaves for another project & instead, I added the  Blossom Bucket sewing machine, spool, scissors & ruler...

this container will hold a small pair of scissors...

art parts are also awesome when embossed...

this time I stamped the stripes and 

the houndstooth with jet black archival, 

then clear embossed...

LOVE the bee...

the container was designed to hold a gift card or an assemblage...

you can see the opening below...

the opening is easily created by glueing 

the 3 art parts U shaped pieces together...

(they're in the kit...)

use any paper adhesive...

I like multi medium or glossy accents...

the second new kit is

 the "vintage hand mirror"...

this too contains instructions, step out photos, tim's mirrored material, that we die cut to make the perfect mirror...

you just need to add the flower center of your choice...

the instructions include how to use my black embossing paste to age the mirror & create a cool texture...

you'll also learn how to use alcohol ink to make an authentic looking old mirror...

this looks cute sitting on a dresser or vanity...

or you can also hang it...

don't forget to stamp the back too...

the embossing pastes are ON SALE TOO...

both kits work well with the daisy art  stamps...

the container uses the flower/leaves at the bottom & the mirror uses the daisy at the top left...

YES! 

it's ON SALE TOO!

if you've been thinking of starting an art journal...

this art parts kit  is ON SALE too...

I used it to make this journal...

these art parts words are on the cover &

they are great for cards too...

so here's the SALE scoop...

ALL my products are on SALE for...

sit down...

get ready...

40% off!

THANK YOU HEIDI!!!

yes...

even STENCILS!

this is a good time to stock up on 

Blossom Bucket 

art parts

like this dimensional sign board...

which makes a great chalkboard...

it's another great gift idea...

you'll find the instructions on the Ranger site...

here's the link...

stamps

(under $15.00)

stencils

(sale price is under $3.00)

Clearly for Art

clicker cutts...

books

and 

all 4 colors of embossing pastes

here's the MAGIC code to enter at checkout...

4wendy

remember...

SALE...

it's the GOOD 4 letter word!

have a wonderful weekend...

I intend to...

make art!

wendy

metallic embossing paste + lots of distress =

a very fun art journal page...

while you're reading...

keep in mind...

this can also be used as a card too...

I cut 2 pieces of Ranger's Specialty Stamping Paper to

 4 1/2 x 6 1/2...

these fit my art parts pages...

that I use as covers for another art journal...

I misted one of the pages with water, 

then added some scattered straw distress stain & 

some broken china stain...

then pressed the 2 pages together to make 2 backgrounds...

make sure to dry...

here's the 2 backgrounds...

the one on the left already has my white embossing paste applied thru the 3 fresh flowers stencil...

that's a story for another day...

the page on the right is today's tutorial...

I wanted to mix the new distress paints with the distress stains, markers & inks...

you'll see that they work together like magic...

lay the layered flower stencil in place, 

then use Cut N Dry foam to pounce broken china distress paint thru the stencil...

***you can start with either of the flowers stencils***

I chose the stencil with the open center to use first...

remove the stencil & dry...

here's the result...

now place the other portion of the layered flower stencil over the painted stenciled flower...

you'll see they are a perfect fit...

this stencil will cover up the painted areas & protect them...

spread the metallic gold paste over the stencil to fill it in...

I use a palette knife...

remove the stencil & allow the paste to dry...

***clean the stencil & your palette knife***

***you'll see that the gold metallic paste looks like "butterscotch" right from the jar...

but let it dry & it magically turns into a beautiful metallic gold***...

here's the dry paste...

use the honeycomb background with pale ochre archival to stamp over several areas of the background & dry...

I made sure to leave some areas unstamped...

here's a better shot ...

see how cool the raised metallic paste 

looks paired with the opaque distress paint? 

to create a stem, 

I used a stem from the 3 fresh flowers stencil...

***these stencils mix & match very well***

peeled paint distress paint 

was pounced over the stencil with Cut N Dry foam...

***see the stencil tape? it protects the close open areas where I don't want to add any paint***...

***post-its work just fine too...***

remove the stencil...

dry the paint...

stamp "begin" with jet black archival...

it's from the art journal basics set...

***archivals are AWESOME!***

next I added some bricks to the background

 with the brick stencil & broken china distress ink 

on the blending tool...

on a side note...

Rick asked where I saw blue bricks...

I had to tell him that...

THERE ARE NO RULES

 when you...

MAKE ART!

to add the tiny dots...

I dispensed some brushed corduroy stain onto the craft sheet...

picked that up with the detailer water brush & tapped it on my finger over the page...

I LOVE the tiny dots...

I added some light shading to the page edges 

with rusty hinge on the blending tool...

I used black soot on the blending tool to add the numbers in 3 areas with the classic words stencil...

see that cute flower center?

replace the stencil...

use the one that has the open center...

block off the areas outside the circle with stencil tape or post-its...

then ink this unmounted mini collage stamp with jet black archival & press the stamp over the flower center...

***it's easier to use the stamp UN-mounted***

totally flippin...cool &

 the mini collage stamp set is on SALE!

make sure to dry the archival!

tim's new  remnant rub pointing finger was a perfect fit...

I also added some doodle lines around the edge to create a frame effect...

and stamped my new small bee with jet black archival...

to color the bee body,

 I used the rusty hinge marker & 

the scattered straw marker on the wings...

hmmm...

this idea just popped...

maybe I'll add Glossy Accents to the wings?

and here's a side shot to show the texture created by the paste...

the flower & background, 

done the same way would be a GREAT card...

just add whatever sentiment the occasion needs...

the embossing pastes adds great texture, 

but no weight, 

so the pastes work very well for cards you want to mail...

now it's time for me to start getting demo supplies packed...

and find something to wear...

this weekend is the

ADVENTURES IN STAMPING

 convention in Akron, Ohio...

if you're in the area...I hope you'll come & see us!

we'll be stocked with all the coolest supplies & we always have LOTS of samples to inspire...

let me know that you're a blog friend & 

I'll have a little gift for you!

and just a little request...

if you live in Ohio...

TURN THE HEAT on PLEASE!

wearing a winter coat in April sucks...

get out your stamps, stencils, inks, paints, markers & stains so YOU can...

make art!

wendy

ps...oops...

almost forgot...

for those friends who are not on Facebook & asked that I post here...

this is version 2 of the card I shared in the previous post...

the heart is this large heart stencil...

instead of a stamped flower like on the original card,

 I used the wildflowers stencil...

a polka dot border...

& changed the sentiment to WISH...

same basic design...

but I did use BROWN!

see the tiny harlequin leaves?

same mini collage stamp as above...

my plan is to see you here next week 

with some gift ideas

 for Mother's Day & grads!