Vellum - Product Focus - Embossing (Dry, Heat, Wet)

Hi everyone.  This month we are adding a new category to Group of Seven ... Product Focus.  Vellum may be used in so many ways in place of card stock or over top to create a softened look.

This month we are focussing on Vellum and Embossing (Dry, Heat, Wet).

Thin or thick vellum can be used for all three ways of embossing.  Thick vellum does have advantage as you are less like to experience cracking, tearing or warping.

We recommend thick vellum for most of the techniques.

Amazon USA - Oplymio Thick Transparent Vellum

Amazon Canada - Oplymio Thick Transparent Vellum

Below are a few suggestions for videos to try.

Vellum + Dry Embossing Video:

Vellum Techniques by Laurel Beard (5:22-7:10) - Dry embossing with ink blended background

• Dry emboss a panel of vellum.
• Use a few colours of ink to blend on the back of your panel.  Make sure to smooth the colours together.  Let dry or use heat tool to speed up drying.
• Turn over to complete your card.

Vellum + Heat Embossing Video:

Fabulous Vellum Backgrounds by Christine Stokes (7:28) - how to heat emboss vellum (tips and tricks) and layering stamping for a 3-D look.  You can use a large background stamp or individual stamps.

• Stamp image on front of vellum and heat emboss with white; let cool.
• Flip vellum over and stamp image on back in coloured ink (may use same image or different images).
• Flip vellum over so white embossing is at the front and mount onto card base.  This produces a card from with a 3-D look.  White stamping is in front, and coloured stamping looks recessed.
• Finish card.

Vellum + Wet Embossing Video:  (Embossing Pastes & Embossing Gels)

No video.  Here is a step-by-step:

• Use a vellum piece that is larger than the panel size you need.
• Adhere vellum to work surface (tape down, use magnets, etc. - any way that is strong enough to prevent vellum from curling, which will happen when applying wet paste or gel).
• Place stencil over secured vellum and add paste or gel using a palette knife or scraper.  Remove any excess paste by gently going over surface with a flat edge.
• Remove stencil.  Place stencil and palette knife in water right away or wash thoroughly.
• Leave vellum to air dry.  
• Remove tape or magnets and secure vellum to card.  
• Continue to finish card.

We hope you'll try using Vellum in whatever way inspires you.

If you do make cards using Vellum, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Vellum Card Samples

Loll

 

Julia

Bonnie

Brenda

 

Susan

 

Christine

 

 * * * * *

Sharing ...

                              Marcia Hill                                      Marcia Hill                                           Bonnie

                               Linda W.                                         Linda W.                                          Linda W.

                               Robyn O.                                     Jenny Martin                                      JoAnn B.

                                   Pat                                                Bonnie                                      Nance Salkeld

                                      Pat                                                    Loll                                               Julie B

Kaleidoscope

Hi everyone.  Today we are showing a technique that I first saw on a friend's blog.  Jenny stamped a large line image and heat embossed in gold (any embossing powder colour will work).  She then watercoloured the image LOOSELY, not staying within the lines, and making sure the background was watercoloured as well.  Once dry, the image was cut up into strips, lined back up in a random order and adhered together.  LOVE the artsy look of the finished card!

Jenny's inspirational card

In Jenny's post, she didn't mention if there was a name for this ... so I consulted our word affitionato, Darnell.  She came up with Kaleidoscope Technique ... isn't that perfect to describe this??!!

Kaleidoscope definition - Webster's Dictionary:

"a changing and enjoyable mixture or pattern"

Please share your cards using this technique in the linky below.

We'd love to see what you make!!

Supplies:

• Water-friendly card
• Large line image or collage of smaller line images
• Versamark or pigment ink
• Embossing Powder
• Heat tool
• Watercolour Paints or Inks
• Watercolour paint brushes
• Optional:  Stencil, inks, blending brushes or sponges
• Optional:  Permanent pen for outlining (metallic, black, white, etc.)

Technique Instructions:

• Stamp line image using Versamark or other ink onto water-friendly card
• Sprinkle with embossing powder; heat set
• Loosely watercolour image using watercolour paints, inks, or other colouring products
• Cut image into 1/2" strips
• Re-align strips in a random order and adhere to card front; trim off excess card (you can create two cards since you don't need to use all the strips you will have)

Alternate:

• Use a Stencil:
• Make sure to colour the background before stenciling - you don't want a lot of white space for this technique.
• Sponge through stencil instead of stamping.
• Sponge around outside of images to blur lines (Stencil Sponging Bleed technique)
• Optional:  Outline images from stenciling using permanent ink pen
• Cut image into 1/2" strips before randoming re-aligning and adhering to card front
• Use Patterned Paper (repeat steps above)
• Try it with dry embossed, coloured images
• Start with a piece of coloured card stock and add stamping, embossing, stenciling, or sponging
• Try this technique, cutting the strips into random widths for a different look

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Kaleidoscope Technique Card Samples

Jenny (My Paper Epiphany)

(Guest Designer)

Loll

 
 

Susan

Christine

 

Julia

Darnell

Bonnie

 

Brenda

 

* * * * *

Sharing ...

                              Michele                                             Donna W.                                            Donna W.

 

                                 Robyn O.                                            Loll                                           Linda W.

                               Linda W.                                         Linda W.                                    Linda W.

                                                                                        Robyn O.

Monochromatic - Design Element

Hi everyone.  This month we are showcasing the Monochromatic Design Element.  Keeping a card design in different shades of one colour makes very striking cards.

When creating Monochromatic cards, the one colour you choose should be the main focus of your design.  White, black, and metallic may be used for small accents.

If you do make cards, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

Different ways to create a Monochromatic design:

• Stamp, sponge, or stencil medium or light coloured card stock using Versamark to give you a tone-on-tone design.  Dark card stock doesn't work for this technique.
• Stamp, sponge, or stencil with different shades of one colour of your choice of medium (inks, watercolourings, pencils, markers, etc.)
• Stamp or stencil with Versamark (or shades of one colour) and heat emboss with clear to create a darker image than your card stock, which also has shine.

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Monochromatic Card Samples

Julia

Susan

Loll

 

Brenda

 

Bonnie

Darnell

Christine

* * * * *

Sharing ...

Nance                                             Denise                                        Bobby

Loll                                               Pat                                            Bonnie

Robyn

We'll be back on the 28th of July

with another technique and sample cards.

See you then!