Freestyle Fridays - Faux Patina

For this week's project I used this tutorial from last week's Weekly Inkling on www.splitcoaststampers.com.  I used the exact same colors as described and the Finial Press Embossing Folder and the Thanks for Caring stamp set.

My first attempt came out with way too much Gold Embossing as I was too heavy with the Versamark.  Upon reading the tutorial again I realized that the instructor had indicated to apply it "lightly".  So I tried it again and was much happier with the result above.  On the inside I added a piece of Natural White and a bit of embossed flowers. 

The main color of the card is Early Espresso.  The sentiment was added with mounting tape to give the whole card some dimension. This technique is now a favorite. 

********REGINA'S MISSION********

Regina this week you are to try your hand at the tutorial provided.  The colors and shape of the project are to be of your choosing.

Make sure your come back next week to see what the amazing Regina creates for us.  It's sure to be A-MA-ZING!!

See Ya Next Week!

Freestyle Fridays

Regina is delighting us this week with her version on what to do with wax paper.  If the sneak peek below is any indication of what this woman can do with a smidge of a description, the full version has to be amazing, and it is.   For a how-to and a full version of her card head on over to her blog. 

What I love most about Regina's "how-to" is that she shares her trials and errors and shares on what to do when it just doesn't go quite the way you want it.  And that in itself is the best way to learn and inspire.  Take time to leave her a comment! She would sure appreciate it.

See Ya Next Week! 

Freestyle Fridays - Wax Paper

I have to start by saying that I am really pleased with how quickly and effortless this card came to be.  I've seen quite a few cards made with the wax paper technique lately and decided to re-visit it.  It's quite simple really.  Cut some wax paper to fit inside an embossing folder, and once ran through your Big Shot or other embossing machine, place the wax paper between two sheets of white cardstock and iron with hot iron with no water using firm pressure.  Let it cool and then apply ink using the direct to paper technique, wipe with a paper towel and Voila! you can create something like this.

Here's what the other piece looks like, to be used at a later date.

On the inside I inked up the same image as the front on Very Vanilla by first stamping it off twice to give a watermark look and ready to have a note written over top.

Products used to create this card were:

Cardstock: Concord Crush, Whisper White and Very Vanilla

Ink: Concord Crush and Peach Parfait

Stamp Sets: Fabulous Florets and Elementary Elegance

Embossing Folder: Vintage Wallpaper

********REGINA'S MISSION********

Regina your mission this week is to create using Wax Paper in a manner you so choose.  And, yes, if you decide to make a card it can be square :)

See Ya Next Week!

Freestyle Fridays - Regina's favorite die cuts

Regina's mission this week was to create using some of her favorite die cuts.  I can tell you that she was eager to get at it as she sent me the sneak below lickity split.

The project was also to be made on a landscape image.  Be sure to go to Regina's blog for a tip on how she accomplished that awesome flower coloring and a full view of her card.  And, she also offers a tip on what to do when you stray from a described project.  From her helpful advise you're sure to want to leave her comment.

See Ya Next Week!

Freestyle Fridays -

I received several new dies in the last week and I wanted to take them for a spin.  I started with a piece of Bashful Blue (a rarely used color in my repertoire).  A piece of Everyday Enchantment DSP was put through the Big Shot using the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, unfortunately not very well seen here. 

To that, a Small Window die in Bashful Blue was attached with mounting tape.  The flowers were made with a Fancy Blossom Die.  To make them curl up a bit I used a stylus with a small tip and applied a light circular motion to the center and the petals magically curl up.  To the center a small rhinestone from Jewels Basic Rhinestone was applied.  I find it easier to apply these with the tip of an Xacto knife.  Works like a charm.  I strategically cut the Nestled Bird to ensure that the little stars would be in the middle of the DSP.  The hello is from a ProvoCraft die cut in Riding Hood Red. 

********REGINA'S MISSION********

Regina this week your mission, and as always if you choose to accept, is to create using several of your favorite dies.  The catch is to make your layout landscape like above.  I can't wait to see what you come with up!

See Ya Next Week!

Freestyle Fridays - Regina has completed another mission

Look at this awesome sneak peek that Regina has created for us this week!

You can get the full details by going to Regina's blog post here.   She used one her favorite techniques and the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper as missioned last week.  She's added a few extras so you're in for a special treat.  Take a minute to leave a comment won't you please. 

My apologies for posting so late. I'm in the midst of returning from one business trip and getting ready for another. 

See You Next Week!

Freestyle Fridays

Friday has come around again and it seems to have done so at a super fast pace. Is it due to the time change or the rapid speed the snow is melting?  Maybe it's just age! Regardless, I'll be welcoming Spring with open arms.  I'm tired of wearing a winter coat and boots. 

In honor of the beginning of a new season next week I came up with this card.

When I first started out I had nothing!  Not an ounce of creativity was coming to me.  Even leafing through an inspiration book that I've made with favorite layouts and cards didn't help.  So I went to an old stand by, the Stampin' Up catalog.  I wanted to use a product that had been neglected and came upon the Fun Flowers Bigz XL Die.  All it took was the tiny little photo on page 214.  Then I grabbed some Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper from this year's Sale-A-Bration and set to work.  The base is Always Artichoke.  An inside layer of Very Vanilla with the edges sponged a little with Always Artichoke would make a nice finishing touch.

I ran the paper through the Big Shot with the Houndstooth Folder.  This is actually the DE-bossed side.  For the flower I layed all the pieces together with some mounting tape to give some dimension.  I did curl the edges with my bone folder before doing that.  The  bottom piece was also ran through the Big Shot with the Sizzix Loops and Rick Rack decorative strip.  I think this die will soon become a favorite.

The flower is such a major focal point I didn't feel the need to add a sentiment or even a stamped image.  Sometimes it's not necessary.  Hope you agree.

********REGINA'S MISSION********

Regina since Sale-A-Bration is coming to an end at the end of the month now would be a perfect time for you to create a project using the Everyday Enchantment Designer Paper since we probably won't ever have it available again.  And, you should use it alot, not just a little. And as always, have fun doing so.  No need to use the vacuum this time :)

See Ya Next Week!