CASE'ING A JUNKIE

Hi there blog friends!  

I was so inspired by a technique I recently saw on Technique Junkie's blog, developed and introduced by the incredible TJ designer Beth Norman.  She called it "Polished Stone Embossing" and once I saw her tutorial, I knew I just had to try it.  

The first two cards I'm showing were done on Ranger Gloss Paper and the third, was done on Yupo paper.  I hadn't used my alcohol inks in quite some time, so I was anxious to get them out and see what I could make using Beth's tutorial.  

I love how this Kitty Profile "emerged" from the color of the background.  Truly, this photo doesn't do it justice.  It's much more brilliant, but I'm sure you can see the colorful impact of it anyway.  For this card I used Beth's tutorial as she posted it.  

Then, I thought I would experiment with her technique and with several embossing powders on this image "Beach Conch".  In real life, some of these shells look iridescent to me, so I wanted to try and recreate the image I had in my mind.  I decided to do a triple heat embossing (and I have no idea where that idea came from).  

A stamp positioner (I used a MISTI) is a great tool to use with this variation of Beth's technique.  It's heat embossing three different embossing powders, one layerd upon the other, after each has been heat embossed.  The process is the same with each layer.  Stamp with VersaMark, sprinkle with the first embossing powder and heat set with a heat gun.  Repeat with the second embossing powder and then the third, stamping right over each of the previous. I fussy cut the shell and mounted it on a scalloped layer of mint green card stock, positioning it beneath the sentiment "By The Sea"

For my final attempt using Beth's technique, I used Yupo paper and "Peonies".  I've never used this paper before, and I was excited to try it here.  The learning curve with this paper is the heat embossing...the paper is plastic and plastic melts under heat....beware.  That said, if you're careful and don't hold the heat directly on the yupo for long it embosses nicely.  If you notice, there are two areas on the layer that are missing color...I think these are areas where the embossing powder didn't get hit by the heat and weren't embossed. (I was trying to be careful)  However, I really liked the effect it gave and I might try and do that on purpose in future projects.  

I hope you're inspired to try Beth's technique and can grab yourself some crafting time this week....it's a fun place to be. 

Stop by tomorrow when we have our blog hop and show off the Technique Junkies February 2017 stamps being released.  You'll be able to pick them up, for a limited time, at 15% off.  See you then!