The Flower Challenge #32 Embossing (Dry or Heat)

Not only have they chosen my favourite type of stamping (heat embossing) but also it's one of my favourite stamp companies. I love using Altenew and this year I got to meet Tasnim at the Melbourne stamping workshop. I also got to meet Therese and many others that I had only ever talked to on line. It was a real buzz to meet all these wonderful people.

Tasnim I have followed since before she started Altenew as I love her style. I have many stamps ( and sadly I have some that haven't seen ink yet and I am working on fixing that.

The challenge this month is

and it is Sponsored by:

Over on The Flower Challenge there is also a stamp set that has been donated by Altenew 

all you need to do is enter a card with dry and/or heat embossing (please note it does not have to be an Altenew stamp used to enter but it you have any it would be great to see)

I went through my massive collection and the cards I made today (two of the six  I coloured) I have used a large Rose background stamp that I hadn't realised I had not used. Love it, LOVE IT embossed on watercolour paper, vellum and alcohol ink card stock. Todays are the watercolour versions.

All roses for me though others have used as a Succulent Stamp which is also suggested.

I have done both heat and dry for my first card.

I heat embossing in silver on multimedia paper. This was probably the easiest and quickest card as I used my Zigs the dark blue and purple then just scribbled loosely in each petal with the blue and bits of purple. Then I loaded my paint brush up with lots of water and just dropped it in each petal on top of the Zig watercolour and pushed with the tip of my brush to make the paints move until I was happy with them. If you look closely up the top of the flower I started out moving the colours with my Nuvo Glitter brush but it just wasn't working for me, I didnt like the look and realised I needed to save that for Vellum. I managed to fix the petals slightly when they had dried and was happy enough to leave as they were.

I cut the image using a die cut that gives this old paper edge look, sorry I don't keep them labelled.

I cut another layer in black fun foam to lift the layer a bit. I have taken this close up to show the embossed background paper that is a wonderful green colour just perfect with the blue's and purple's of the rose.

Finished it off with this pretty little gems that came for free (like a bag of approx 300) with my new Pick Up tool I purchased on Amazon. Love when you get those little extra's. Also added a 'Celebrate' die cut layer up three times, last layer silver mirror card.

Now this next one was inspired by one of Jennifer McGuire's videos and I love it. I did two in this style but I was babysitting my grandson at his house and forgot my heat-gun. So I borrow a hair dryer,

my goodness what a laugh, I had paint shooting everywhere and had to quickly turn it off. So one didn't turn out so crash hot and this one is better but I had to go with natural drying so its not as good as it could have been.

I white heat embossed on multimedia cardstock then added rings of colour with my Zigs. Nothing perfect in the colouring just rough circles each colour running into the next. Then spray with lots of water, its amazing to watch the colours soften and mix. I had to work fast to get rid of those total mixes which ended up looking like mud colour. Some of my colours mixed a bit much with the next one but next time I will go with the Heat-gun.

I only had plain water but it still looks beautiful. I trimmed the piece down and was going to use the Fine Frame finest layer to outline the image but I had misjudged my cutting and to save the day (after an hour and a half of different ideas) I decided to use a couple of the thicker fine frames and just lay them at angles on the card front.

I love how the improvisation worked. I can see some areas on the frame I will need to get ride of smudges which I didnt notice till I took the photos but I love how it ended up. Its another Birthday card as I have requests for many many Birthday Cards. I just added a small die cut 'Happy Birthday' layered up three times, the last layer in bronze glitter card.

So I'm very happy with how they turned out and I hope they give you a little inspiration. I painted 4 watercolour cards in less than an hour, I love the Big Background flowers as they are perfect for messy and relaxing paining and when my granddaughter got home from school she wanted one. I said pick one out and I will make it for you, she did a lot of thinking then came and said 'Nanny can I just have them all cause its too hard to pick one?' Love my admiration squad.

Now as a special surprise I have a stamp set here for a lucky person who leaves a comment on my blog. I am afraid I am limiting the person to Australia/Tasmania or New Zealand as postage is ok for these areas. I'm sorry to everyone else but it would cost me more to send the set than the cost of this stamp set.

But dont forget we also have a stamp set over on The Flower Challenge Blog and that has been donated by Altenew and they will post to anyone worldwide. Not for leaving a comment over there, it will be for the winner of this months Challenge.

For my blog, its for comments left. 

Dainty Bouquet Stamp Set

I have added some of the pictures that come with the stamp set showing examples of what you can achieve and I think they are simply stunning.

I won this stamp set amongst a number of amazing items at the Altenew Card Workshop in Melbourne (I could not believe the items in the bag and cant wait to try them all.).

I didn't realise I already had this stamp set (I told you I have too many I have not inked up yet!!). If I had I would have given to someone there so I am doing the next best thing. 

Now off you go to check out The Flower Challenge Blog and see what the Design Team have been up to. I have already seen the cards and I can tell you lots of amazing inspiration there.

On a personal front

  A picture or two of my youngest son and his son (my youngest grandchild till August anyway:)

For those who follow the family Aaron is also Elysha's twin and she who is 4'10" tall loves him to pieces and calls him 'my little twin brother' 6' 2" (because he was born after her so she is the Boss!!)

 

On a picnic with mummy and daddy and sitting on the couch. Just started sitting up unsupported but still with  someone to catch for those topples. Six months old now and can you see the little toothy peg , nice sharp little bugger. Looks like he has just been for a haircut but its actually growing like that. In the photo he looks so grown up but really he is so little (very tall but smallish in the weight area). Always ready with a smile  and very ticklish but still needs work on the sleep front.

 Next week I start 2 days a week looking after Koby and I was looking at him checking out Jake (Elysha's dog) the other day with a gleam in his eyes. He is really watching Jakes every move and I have a feeling Jake will be going on the missing list 2 days a week lol.

Well its been nice to catch up. See you all again soon I hope.