MARKERS WITH SPRITZER

SPRITZED SHAPES

The Tim Holtz spritzer which is designed for use with Distress markers is very poular at the moment.  These examples were done with a "kiddy version" of this tool, which blows air across the tip of the markers, spattering the colour on the page.  I used some unloved generic pens as well, so imagine a much better result with the "real thing."

The samples were made just to explore a couple of techniques and to see if I wanted to buy the more upmarket version of the tool.  The first is just to spritz through a punched hole, which as you can see worked quite well.  The second is a daisy punched from a piece of paper with colours sprayed over some outline stickers which were then peeled off.  This worked OK too, so...maybe my bright orange spritzer will do for now........

SNOWTEX AND GLITTER

DIECUT STENCIL+SNOWTEX+GLITTER

I was cutting out snowflakes with a die from Couture Creations and thought I'd use one of the cut out backgrounds as a stencil for Snowtex.   I was pleasantly surprised with how well it worked as this has quite fine detail, and I was expecting it to smear under the edges.  Snowtex is a very thick white texture paste.  Whilst it was still wet I added loads of fine glitter, which (despite some reservations on my part as to whether or not it would be the case) stayed put once the Snowtex was dry.  The result is a rough dimensional glittery motif, that I rather like.  (It looks better in reality - the photo doesn't do justice to the sparkle).

USING STENCILS IN CUTTLEBUG

MACHINE EMBOSSED STENCILS

One of my on-going resolutions regarding my craft supplies is to "use or lose it."   Now of course I don't want to get rid of anything potentially useful - which is just about everything, so I've been raiding the shelves and re-discovering some almost forgotten "toys."

In the olden days (i.e. a few years ago) machines like the Cuttlebug and Bigshot were rarities and when we wanted to emboss a pattern we used either a lightbox or a window and a brass or plastic stencil combined with a stylus to hand-emboss our paper.

With the advent of embossing folders my collection of brass and plastic stencils has stayed unused and unloved for a very long time.  I've just bought a new rubber embossing mat for my Cuttlebug so I thought it was a good time to try it out with these stencils.  Previously I hadn't been overly impressed with the results but this mat is fabulous and suddenly I'm all enthused about using all my long-neglected stencils again, especially as I don't have to laboriously trace around them all by hand!!  The main thing I have learnt is that the type of embossing mat used DOES make a difference.

The stack I used was A, B, stencil, paper, rubber mat, B.  Do be aware though, that despite a lot of info around that suggest otherwise, there is no magic combination that suits all situations - it really depends on the thickness of your paper/card, the thickness of your rubber mats, whether your plates have a bit of a bend or not etc.  The trick is to do a few trial runs before the main project, and never force a stack that feels too thick through the machine.  The examples shown in the photo were my trial runs and hence they aren't properly centred etc.  I had anticipated having to muck around with bits of cardboard etc. and was pleasantly surprised to find it worked first pop with both kinds of stencil!

SHAPED MASK STAMPING

CIRCLE MASK

This is what I did with the circle shape I cut out last week to make the circle stencil, and its just as easy.  I was tempted to say that I attached the circle to the page with repositionable tape but actually I just held it in place and worked around my fingers..so however you want to tackle it...Put the circle or shape  you want to use as a mask wherever you want it to be on your card front and just stamp over it.  When the circle is removed a blank area remains for decoration or a greeting......too simple!!

CIRCLE STENCIL STAMPING

CIRCLE STENCIL STAMPING

An extra simple technique this week - just die cut a circle from thick paper, place the latter over your card front and stamp over the hole with a background stamp (the one I've used is from Kaiser).  Next week I'll post the example of using the circle as a mask!

MODELLING PASTE FAUX EMBOSSING

I came across a container of modelling paste a few weeks ago and couldn't resist.  I have never used it before and so obviously have a lot to learn...hence this week's post is about the most simple thing you can do with it.  To produce the image on the left, all I did was to hold (not even tape, although I probably should have done so) one of my old brass stencils on top of a piece of light card and spread some modelling paste over the top using an old credit card.  This was the result when the stencil was lifted off.  As you can see its a bit rough and ready but has a lot of potential.  I can't wait to try some other techniques!!