Club Scrap: Dahlia Blog Hop

Time again for another blog hop, this month is the Dahlia kit.  An amazing kit of flowers, soft, muted tones and gorgeous watercolor.  What to do with it?  Well as you go along the blog hop you will see me amazing creations. If this is your next stop, you should have arrived from  Debbie or if you are lost, you can start at the Beginning.

I have 3 cards for today.  The first one is just a beautiful card.  The next 2 are using a technique that I tried with my Minc.  So check out the whole post, LOL!!!

Card 1:

This is a window card.  The image is actually on the inside of the card and the opening in the fromt is covered by acetate.

So lets take a closer look.

The challenge with this card was in the planning.  I used a die, plastic sheet with graph paper marking to determine where on my card to place the window.  I marked the inside of the die onto the cardstock.

Using post it tape, I masked off the area.  Then using spun sugar distress ink, inked the opening.

After inking, misted it with water and allowed it to dry.  This is important, I did not, so well I have several of these lovely inked boxes.

Placed back in misty, lined up my "planning sheet, stamped the image over the inked box.  I then colored this with copics.  Stamped the sentiment.  Inside done.

Next, taking the pink cardstock in the kit, cut it down to size, and using my planning sheet, attached the die to the cardstock.

Using an exacto knife cut out the center of the die.

Added score tape, and placed a piece of acetate over the opening.  Next I cut out the die from white cardstock and gently inked the edges and covered the outside of the window.

Attached a white ribbon to the front, all that is left is to adhere the image sheet to the inside.  Finished.

Card 2 and 3

These cards are very similar but vary in some respects.

First step for both was to stamp the image onto Watercolor paper and heat emboss in white or clear.  I used Clear, but white works just as well.

Emboss and heat.  I did use the same stamps for both.  I added a butterfly to the softer one.  In hindsight I could have used another stamp from the kit, but I love this stamp.  So what can I say.

Once embossed, how I chose to color them is all that makes them different.

So Card 2 was colored using Primary Elements.  Like any pigment powder the challenge is in controlling them.  I almost used color burst but I wanted it soft and delicate.  I can't get that with Color Burst, so turned to my Primary Elements by ColourArte.

Using a dry paint brush and a very soft hand, laid the pigment into the areas.  Choosing colors that best reflected the image.  So green in the leaves, pinks and purple in the flowers, yellow-orange over the butterfly and blue in the background.

Gently mist with water, allow to sit for a bit and then I gently blotted up any excess water and dried with a heat tool.  Then I gently added a gold powder over the entire card, misted and dried.

In this photo I am gently picking up the excess water.  You can see how the color is concentrated in areas.  

This is after all the pigment is dry and before the next step.  Not bad, but not crisp images either.

Ok, let's switch to Card 3.

Same process, stamp and heat emboss.  This one was colored using a distress ink pads.  This is my all time favorite way to make a background fast.  Place the ink onto my glass mat or craft mat, mist with water until beads up and place paper into the ink .  I used Aged Mahogany and Crushed Olive.  Lately this has been my favorite combination!

Once inked, dry with heat tool or allow to air dry.

Next for both, I placed into a piece of cardstock and ran it though my minc.  This melted and removed the embossing powder and leaves the crisp white paper underneath.

 For the distressed one, I had my Minc on a setting of 4.  All the embossing powder was removed in one pass.  For the Primary Element, I was worried about the Gold, so ran it through on a setting of 2.  Amazing that too melted and removed most of the embossing powder, but did not damage or remove the mica from the Primary elements.  I still have a glimmer!!!

After this was completed I enhanced some of the areas by blending in more ink.  Distress with this technique often will seep under the embossing, you can see that here on the upper right flower, but I like it.  All that was left was to mount it onto cardstock, add a piece of twine.  The Sentiment was embossed in Gold on Velum and careful tacked down to give the impression of floating.

The Primary elements, I did nothing to the image once it was removed from the MINC.  Just mounted it, added a sentiment, also embossed in gold on Velum and added a white ribbon.  Elegant!

This one is my favorite, as I love soft and impressionistic.  Makes me think of Monet.  And who would know I used a stamp, embossing powder and a Minc.  This technique will work with a laminator and avoids having to use an iron and is much faster.   For more techniques visit my blog posting where I used waxed paper to create a unique background.

Well that is all from me.  Your next stop is :   Jennifer

Happy Crafting, 

Josette

Links:

http://clubscrap.com

Dahlia Kit for April

ColourArte Primary Elements

Distress Ink:  Crushed Olive, Aged Mahogany

Hero Arts:  Clear Embossing Powder

Strathmore 140# Cold Press Water Color Paper, 400 series.

Club Scrap: Team Challenge for April

Here we are, another month nearly gone.  This months kit is a lovely floral collection: Dahlia.
You should have arrived from:  Lillian and if you got lost along the way, you can always start at the beginning by Club Scrap.

This month the challenge was to make flowers and or butterflies.  I struggled with this.  I have made flowers for cards, but my flowers are always too big and my interesting butterflies are often too big to.  So rather than a card, I thought I would make a shadow box and show you some tricks.

This was very difficult to photograph and I think you will get a better appreciation by seeing the individual parts.

Lets start with the background.  This is a fun technique.  In the kit was a white paper with resist.
I started with the large flower on the right.  Using a very dry sponge that had been loaded with Aged Mahogany and rubbed off, I colored the flower.  Then I used Crushed Olive, also with a very dry sponge and blocked out the green areas.

Next, I inked up the dauber, and working fast, added areas of intense color in both colors.  So, I darkened the flower in areas and added more color to the leaves.  Next I took a baby wipe, and spread the color around quickly over the entire paper.    I did not stay in one place long, nor rub hard.  I let this dry.  Enhanced the color in areas that needed more intesity.

This is true color.  I could not capture the richness of the background inside the farm.  But it is very lovely. Once dry I trimmed it down and glued it directly to the backing board of the frame.

Next onto the flowers.  I love glassine for flowers, they have texture and take up the color well.
So I cut several flowers from glassine, using the tattered floral and leaves from Tim Holtz.
These were arranged and grouped, then held together using a brad, and scrunched.

Then they were sprayed with several different colors of Radiant Rain until they looked like I thought they should.  Hit them with my heat tool to set the wax and dye, sprayed with gold to give more shine and allowed to dry.

Beautiful aren't they!!!

Ok, onto the butterfly.  I started out by cutting several different shapes from chip board.  Then I mixed different embossing powders.  Chucky, glittery, fine, gold, silver, colored, until I had what I thought was a good mix.

Coated each of the chipboards with versa mark that I thinned with glycerine, and heat embossed. I adjusted my embossing mix, to get several different colors.

She how they are not smooth.  The different mixes of powder sizes and careful heat application gives them texture.

Lastly I embellished them with crystals.  Only one made the cut, but the rest will find projects to adorn.  I just never know what will work, so I make several and then choose.

Only thing left was to color the ribbon, which I did with a blend of Crushed Olive and Aged Mahogany.  Then arranged my bouquet.

The trick to getting this arrangement to have dimension is foam dots and fun foam.  The flowers were glued onto a piece of cardstock, then leaves added around then.  The cardstock was trimmed away and fun foam added.

Here you can see the cardstock and fun foam.  Ugly, but when mounted, no one will see.

If you look close, you will see the foam pads between the petals.  Note the pink fingers, a week later, they are still pink!!!  Someone thought it was from removing acrylic nails, Really?  I have bleached my hands, scrubbed, wash my hands at least 20 times plus per day, I am still pink!!  Oh well, makes for good conversation.

A close up of the arrangement.  This is a beautiful piece.  I am distressed that the photos don't do it justice, but at least you can be inspired by the process.

You are All done!!  Thank you for joining us on todays Hop.  Come back later this week for the Blog Hop.  or start At the Beginning at Club Scrap Blog

Until next time,
Happy Crafting,
Josette

Links:  Club Scrap
Supplies:
Kraft Glassine by Ranger
Distress Inks
Radiant Rain by Colourarte
Dahlia Deluxe Kit
Frame was from Michaels.
Assorted embossing powders.

Wax Paper Technique and the Minc

Good Day!!  I have an amazing technique to share with you.  I am sure that many of you got caught up in the Minc-Foiling craze.  I know I did.  While I was talking to my sister last week, she commented on the Minc and seemed like a big investment for so little use.  How much foiling can you really do?  Then in the next breath she asked if I had tried waxed paper embossing.  I said I had but that I hated the rigamarole of getting out the iron, and then having to put it away, not to mention how many things I have ruined using said iron on my craft table.  And then the lightbulb went off!!!

So I went home, ran to my craft room and experimented!!!  Success and I must share it!!
So here goes.

So here is my card, and I bet you are wondering what is the big deal!!!  There is one, but this picture does not do the technique justice.  So lets see what I am so excited about.

Here are the backgrounds I created with this technique,  Too me they look like old leather and are rich and interesting, but perfectly flat and smooth.  So how did I do this?  I used the Minc.  The brown one is finished, the top one was before I removed the excess ink.

I started by embossing waxed paper in an embossing folder.

Then I sandwiched the waxed paper between two, 80# Neenah White Carsick and ran it through the Minc.

 Do not use the same carrier that you will be using to Foil in the future.  Took my large sheet and cut it in half.  One for foiling and the other for Whatever else!!!

Once removed from the Minc, it is very hard to tell which side is up, so be consistent in how you lay it down.

Apply ink.  I tried applying with Dauber and also by direct pad to paper.  It made little difference.  Just be sure and use a dry cloth to remove excess ink between each application.  I used several colors, a light hand and built up slowly.  When I decided I was done, I quit.  On several occasions, I went to far.  Distress Inks all work great, but all dye inks seemed to work the same.  I tried every brand I had including Chalk and they all worked well.   The advantage of using the Minc are : 1)Easy access.  It is out on my desk all plugged in.  2) I don't have to mess with the iron and finding a heat resistant area to use it.  3) Consistent transfer of the wax to my paper.  4) easy to ink as the wax is not bumpy or irregular. 5) No special paper required (glossy, coated, etc.)

Here are some close ups.  The card is an A2 size and was mounted on pink paper from the kit and stamped on Velum using Gold embossing powder.  The velum is held in place at the ends and the middle is free.  The flowers were created using Glassine.  Come back next week and see how I made them!!!  Join us for the Team Blog Hop on April 25 and also for the Club Scrap Blog Hop on April 27.

I hope you will explore other ways to use your Minc besides Foiling.  I will be showing another technique with the Minc during the Club Scrap Blog hop.

Until next time,
Happy Crafting,
Josette

Links:
http://clubscrap.com
Dahlia Kit, Greeting Stamp