When creating a simple card, I really try hard to focus on the details. After all, it's the details that really make a simple card shine. One detail that's easy to add to any type of project is... Heat Embossing. Today I'll introduce to you clear heat embossing on colored cardstock, but with an added touch that's sure to give your projects that little extra special something.
Let me get started...
I typically heat emboss using the basic colors... clear, white and/or black. But this effect looks amazing in pretty much any color. I especially love the look of clear embossing powder on color cardstock, the glossy polished result really enhances the color of the paper.
Look closely at the large flower in the photo above. Notice any thing different? A bit of scripty text maybe? Well, I've taken the embossing technique a step farther and combined it with another stamping technique that I love... Kissing. It's a little hard to see in the photo (you can click on it for a better look), but in person it really adds so much to this simple cards. Let me show you what I'm talking about...
Here's How: I began by inking my flower image using Versamark Ink (a must when embossing!). Please pay no attention to my yellow stained stamp, it's just the natural effect some inks have on these clear stamps. Here's A Tip: The kissing technique is best suited for solid images.
Next, I inked up my second stamp... my pattern of choice from Background Basics: Postmarks. Here's A Tip: A smaller scaled pattern does the trick perfectly. Others you may consider... an Envelope Pattern (my personal fave for this technique!), Bitty Background Blocks or BB: Text Style just to name a few. Just A Note: In the example photo above I've used Smokey Shadow ink (was going for a better visual aid here) but in the actual project I used Canyon Clay ink.
I then pressed the Versamark inked flower stamp onto the inked background stamp. This is the actually Kissing step, it transfers the color ink from the background stamp onto the flower image.
Stamped the kissed flower onto a coordinating die cut (from Melon Berry cardstock), coated it with clear embossing powder and then heat embossed. Once cooled, it was ready to be placed.
After figuring out the arrangement of my flowers and leaves I heat embossed each one, keeping with the clear embossed theme.
Here's A Tip: To add yet another neat effect to this card... I trimmed the bottom edge of the card front before attaching all the pieces permanently into place. Then carefully aligned the base of the flowers along the bottom edge to line up with the back flap of the card. This allowed me to form a good solid and straight edge for the card to stand upon.
Here's the final result. It's a bit unexpected and I love it! What do ya think?!
So go ahead! Pull out your stamp stash, clear embossing powder and color cardstock and see what you come up with. Have fun!
Maile
Happy Birthday:
- Stamps: Rosie Posie, Beautiful Butterflies (sentiment) and Background Basics: Postmarks
- Ink: Versamark, Canyon Clay & Smokey Shadow
- Cardstock: Rustic White, Melon Berry, Sweet Blush & Spring Moss
- Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun & Rosie Posie Die Collection
