Sunday, October 14, 2012

Perfectly Embossed


Sometimes a messy desk can be a great source of inspiration (that's what I tell myself anyway!). Awhile back, I was experimenting with stamps and had combined the skull from Tim Holtz' Mini Halloween 3 set with the frame from his Artful Silhouettes collection. I tossed it aside thinking it looked good, but wouldn't work just then. Lying next to it was a reject frame that I'd made using my faux tarnished silver technique (too much UTEE, not enough silver!). I was like...hmmm...that frame looks like it was meant to fit over that image. Coolness!

Even better, the whole works fit perfectly inside the oval Embossing Diffuser from Sizzix. I really can't stop singing the praises of these diffusers. I used the oval recently in this Halloween card and thought maybe I should do a little tutorial with it. This time, I added a little twist! I wanted to play along with Linda's wonderful Compendium of Curiosities challenge which is Ink Palette: Perfect Pearls. I thought it might be fun to experiment a bit with inking up the folder, giving the background a glossy look that would really make the Perfect Pearls pop. Hope you enjoy it!

1. Ink Halloween Texture Fade with Distress embossing ink ('front' side).
2. Place black cardstock inside folder and close. Position Embossing Diffuser over folder and tape in place. Emboss. The ink that you applied to the folder will be applied to the flat part of the cardstock, leaving the raised portion un-inked.
3. Cover inked paper with clear embossing powder and tap off excess. To tidy up stray powder, place Diffuser over powder and brush off anything that is inside the frame.

4. There, all nice and tidy!
5. Heat powder with heat tool until it melts and becomes transparent.
6. Ink frame and skull from Stampers Anonymous with Distress embossing ink and stamp in oval.

7. Cover with clear embossing powder and heat until melted.
8. Using the palette created using the instructions from Tim Holtz' Compendium of Curiosities 2, color embossed panel. Add faux tarnished metal frame.
9. To embellish card, cut two spiders from thin metal using the Sizzix Mini Spider die. Paint black and cover with Rock Candy dry glitter that has been dyed black using Adirondack Pitch Black Alcohol ink as Tim shows in this month's tag from his 12 Tags of 2012.

The fun thing about cutting this spider from metal is that it can be bent and shaped. I am totally in love with this little guy! This shot also shows how cool the Perfect Pearls looks with the embossed background. I don't know why it's taken me this long to fall in love with Perfect Pearls, but I am now officially hooked!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and are inspired to pick up the Embossing Diffusers and try them yourself - they really do give you a whole new way to use your Texture Fades. If you'd like to purchase them, or any of the other supplies I used, everything can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!



Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks to Simon Says Stamp for sponsoring this week's CC2C challenge!

20 comments:

  1. You're right-it is perfect.I just got my diffusers so hopefully I can give this a try sometime soon.

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  2. WOW... that looks great! I've got those diffusers, have not used them yet, just thought they'd be cool to play around with ( gotta make some time for play ) so I can try this. Those spiders...eek ... look so real !

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  3. Cool make! Love the embossed embossing and on black! Perfect Pearls are the best and are addictive! They really made this pop! The sheen is fantastic as well! Love how precise you are with this tech...I'm so messy. Fabulous work!

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  4. Superb project Shelly. These diffusers just take embossing to a whole new level (REALLY enjoying mine!!) Love how you coloured the raised areas too. Hugs, Buttons x

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  5. WHOA! Simply whoa ... words fail me .. what a perfect piece of Halloween art! Awesome ... thanks for sharing the tutorial.
    Suzanne

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  6. Wow..wow..wow.. this is just gorgeous!!!
    Love your work ♥
    Hugs,Anne

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  7. Totally Awesome and Creepy. LOL Great Frame and spiders.

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  8. So spooky good! It all came together perfectly. Love it.

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  9. A fabulous Hallowe'en creation Shelly, I don't like spiders as a rule but I love the one on this, he looks so realistic - fabulous idea to use metal and the glitter really makes him pop. Love the whole project and the tutorial is great. Anne x

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  10. Coolness!! I'm going to have to read through it again and get it all clear in my mind how this worked. It looks great! Thanks for the tutorial.

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  11. The spiders look so 3D! Creepy good!

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  12. That skull caught my eye really quick! Great embossing and I love those diffusers as well! Very cool here!

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  13. Hi :o)
    Love your work! Thanks for a great torturial - this card looks awsome :o)
    Have a wonderful day :o)

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  14. What a spooky card Shelly and also very very beautiful

    Greetings Janny

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  15. Wow, I love it Shelly! It's a masterpiece and the spider is awesome!!!

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  16. Hello shelly,

    Lots of grungy textures in this card. What stands out for me is the orange letters on the black glossy background and the glittery, bendable spider!!

    Greetings from belgium
    Inge

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  17. Terrific tutorial and a great card! I have just got the embossing diffusers so will now have some fun! Thankyou.

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  18. Wow to the 3rd degree! I LOVE this!! Perfectly captures Halloween - super spooky!

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  19. Totally fabulous! The frames, and embossed background are just sensational!
    Alison x

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  20. Beautiful work. Cantona bliver that missad you slog. love you creations

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Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!