Double-Embossing - A Tutorial

Hello, Crafty Folks!

I have been super busy this summer!   I was invited to be a Guest Blogger for ClearSnap®.  I am a long-time fan of the company and their inks were the first I ever used back when I began creating stationery.

Double-embossing is a technique I used to create a tutorial for the ClearSnap Blog.   I am sure there is another name for it, but I wanted to do something different and decided it would be fun to mix wet (heat) embossing with dry (embossing folders) embossing to create visual interest.

The process is simple.  If you are new to crafting, embossing is easy to learn.  For seasoned crafters, it is something you already know.  This tutorial  is to help you think differently about ways to use embossing techniques to enhance your creations.  

I find it more economical to create my own "faux" metallics with embossing.    ClearSnap® Copper Embossing Powder is my favorite.

This is a fun way to create visual interest and maintain a CAS design!  For this fun quilted design, I used ClearSnap® Silver Embossing Powder and We Are Memory Keepers' Next Level "Quilted" Embossing Folder.

To create a different visual on this card, I simply changed the direction of my embossing folder.   I created a fun detail on my word bubble by wet embossing the edges. 

I hope you will give this technique a try!  I would love to see your results!

Hugz,

Chana

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #9 - The Quaker Oat Box Challenge - Repurpose A Cardboard Food Container

Hello, Crafters!

Daylight Saving Time (United States) 2016 begins at 2:00 AM on

Sunday, March 13

Repurposing is a great way to help save our environment.
  This challenge to both beginner and seasoned crafters, is:
Create a project using a Quaker Oats Canister or any cardboard food container.
This Challenge runs for two weeks

March 7th - March 20th

 

I realize not everyone will have a quaker canister, so, feel free to use any cardboard food container.   I am going to use a Quaker Oats Canister for my project and will post it here when it is done.  At this point, I think I am going to create a holder for my tea light candles.

Here is a list of supplies you will probably need to complete your project:

Gesso 

Chalk, Milk, or Acrylic Paint

Mod Podge® or some other Decoupage Glue

Decoupage Paper or Designer Papers

Wax or some other Sealant (you can use Mod Podge, if you prefer)

One key to repurposing is to have a clear idea of the new purpose of your canister.

Another important element is identifying a theme and building your design around it.  For instance, I think my tea light holder will live in my dining room, so I am looking at colors, papers, embellishments, etc., that will work well with the decor in that room.    

If you are creating a gift, take into account the personality of the recipient and, of course, the occasion.  And, finally, you must make sure that your creation will be durable, so construction is very important.  I always reinforce the bottom of my canisters by adding a piece of heavy duty chipboard or  corrugated cardboard. 
BE CREATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

HERE ARE LINKS TO A COUPLE OF FOOD CONTAINERS PROJECTS
HOPE IT PROVIDES SOME INSPIRATION.
CARDBOARD CANDY CANISTERS
REPURPOSED QUAKER OATS BOX 

Lighting the Shabbos Candles was my first Mitzvot observance.  

When a Jewish woman lights her candles and welcomes Shabbos into her home, she ignites the spiritual light that will guide her family, not only through Shabbos, but also through the ensuing week.

I created this project to hold the tea light candles that I use to welcome the Shabbos Angel.

The silhouette represents the Jewish woman who safeguards the spiritual integrity of her family.

The clock represents Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

The matchbox fulfills the Mitzvos to use beautiful things to honor HaShem and the beauty of the Shabbos Commandment given to the Jewish people.

The Step Tutorial will post to my blog on Saturday.
This project was completed in my capacity as a blogger for DecoArt®.  All paint and decoupage products used were provided free of charge by DecoArt®

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #8 - Color Challenge - Rusty Chairs

Hello, Crafty Folks!

This week we are tackling the old COLOR Challenge!

Draw your inspiration from this photo.  You can mix and blend the colors as you please.  

Your project can be a card, tag, altered object, scrapbook layout, or mixed media.  The purpose of this challenge is to increase your understanding of Color Theory in design.

Try to limit your neutral colors to 1 or 2

 

Turquoise  Red  Orange  Brown

MIXED MEDIA CHALLENGE TOP THREE

We only had two entries last week, but both were fabulous! 
Thanks, ladies for playing along.  I hope you will join in this week as well!
Don't forget to grab your badges!

HEATHER of MY ART JAM

DEONNA B of FOR THE LOVE OF CARDMAKING

THE MEANING OF COLOR

(excerpted from)

Understanding Color & The Meaning of Color

By Joel Lumon Black

Color meanings vary from culture to culture, and will influence the impact your design has on your targeted audience. Here is a list of a few meanings on how colors are interpreted by brands:

Color Wheel

Hue is the primary value of a color and how the color red, green, blue, purple, etc. is perceived through the eye.

Saturation of a color is the overall intensity or brightness of the color, any color that appears dull is referred to as desaturated.

Value is the lightness or darkness of overall colors schemes.

Blue: Security, Trust Worthy, Stability, Loyalty, Wisdom, Confidence, Trust, Friendliness, Preservation, Courage, Science.

Green: Wealth, Money, Calming, Trees, Ambition, Endurance, Healing, Calm, Generosity, Natural, Completion, and Protection.

Red: Energy, Power, Vigor, Leadership, Courage, Passion, Activity, Joy.

Yellow: Optimism, Childish, Freshness, Law, Education, Arrogance.

Pink: Romantic, Feminine, Love, Beauty.

Orange: Cheerful, Passion, Pleasure, Enthusiasm, Fascination, Creativity, Fun.

Black: Powerful, Mysterious, Elegance, Sophistication, Functionality. 

OTHER TIPS FOR UNDERSTANDING COLOR THEORY

• Research Trends
• Read design magazines
• watch television commercial, see what colors are popular
• watch fashion trends
• Watch Tutorials
• YouTube Videos
• Design Gallery Videos and Tutorials (SCS, StampTV, etc.)
• Experiment
• Use the colors from your paper stash,.mix them up in unusual ways
• Keep a color journal with your favorite palettes

Project Specifications

Materials Used

Amber Bottle (Kevita® Sparkling Porbiotic Drink)

Designer Papers:

  Prima® Almanac Collection 6"x6" Paper Stack

  Simple Stories® Snap™ Basics 6"x6" Paper Pad

Dies:

  Sizzix® Alterations™ Alphanumeric (3/4" Tall)

  Memory Box® Open Studio™ Stitched Heart Layers

Select Your Bottle

   I Used Goo Gone and two cycles in my dishwasher to clean the bottle

I collect these bottles, so I have a supply on hand,  

You can skip the dishwasher, just make sure that no glue or other debris remains.   

 I cut my design papers down to 5".  Two sheets were required to cover the bottle.  I placed a 1/4" piece of Scor-Tape along one edge and joined the two sheets together.  I then wrapped the paper around the bottle and measured for a 1/4" inch over lap.  

Once I had the correct length, I added Scor-Tape around the edges.   

Cut your acetate circle a bit larger than your circle.  My acetate circle and my hole are the same size.  so, to hold the cover in place, I applied Scor-Tape.  I had to apply it so a litte is inside the circle.

 I played with my embellishment and other challenge colors.  I determined the position for my label and cut a hole in the paper.

 I applied a layer of Gesso to the bottle.  I made it smaller than the size of my paper.  After it dried, I applied Mod Podge to the back of my label and to the Gesso.  Gentle pressure was applied to seal.

Apply Designer Paper and Bottle Top Treatment.

I apologize for the bad photography!  I will try to get better pictures and post them later!

Thanks for stopping by!

Chana

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #1 - Genises - My First Creation

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Welcome to "A Place To Start" a learning community for new crafters!

Experience crafters are welcome to participate, however, a lot of the information presented will be old hat to the long timers.

 Christmas is over,  you have played with all the new crafting toys and now you are ready to get out there in the cyber crafting world and strut your stuff.   Great...but there is a lot to learn  Along the way, I will invite some of my crafty friends to share tips and projects.

We are a "For Fun Only Challenge" which means we will not award prizes.    

We will acknowledge Top 3  and up to three Honorable Mention 

There are literally "hundreds of challenge blogs" offering prizes and most of them choose their winners by random generator.  We have a listing of challenges HERE!  If you are new to crafting, I encourage you to enter some of these challenges. 

 Here is a link to Paper Playful 

A blog dedicated to listing Active Challenges and their Requirements.

How it will work:  Each week, a challenge will be posted.  Each challenge will focus on a particular crafting technique/skill.  

All Challenges will remain open until December 31, 2016, but only projects entered during the challenge week will be eligible for Name Honors.

But this week we are starting with a fun challenge!

SHOW YOUR FIRST CREATION
(Cards, Tags, Bags, Scrap Pages, etc.)
This can be your first ever creation or 
for the experienced crafters, your first creation of 2016

Here is Mine!

It is difficult to see in the photo, but this is a recessed window shadow box card.  I created it using a SplitCoast Stampers tutorial.   This was not my very first card ever, I started card making back in 1996.   This was my first venture into the online craft community in 2010.
I was shocked when this card was chosen to be "Featured" on The Outlawz

Click here to add your link!

An InLinkz Link-up