Waxed Paper...Who Knew It Could Be So Much Fun?

It's funny how some things lodge in your brain, percolate for a while, and then are ready to be used.  Somewhere in the many topics that I read through, someone mentioned a waxed paper resist technique.  I remember that it combined embossing folders, stamping, ironing (yes, with a real iron) and sponging colours onto the cardstock.  Today was a miserable, grey, rainy day.  What better time, I thought, to try out something new just for fun?

I decided to use the Whisper White cardstock since it is so nice and glossy and takes a stamped image beautifully.  On that I used Basic Black ink to stamp the grass from the "Inspired By Nature" stamp set as well as a butterfly from the Hostess set "Precious Butterflies".  I let that dry while I went to work on a piece of waxed paper cut slightly larger than an embossing folder.  I finally decided to use the Elegant Bouquet folder twice, that is I embossed the waxed paper once and then turned the paper so that I could emboss the other, empty, half since the folder actually just embosses half the paper along a diagonal.

Then I carefully placed the waxed paper on top of the stamped Whisper White cardstock, placed a scot towel on top of that, and ironed it until I was pretty sure the wax had been transferred to the cardstock.  I remembered my safety rule and unplugged the iron and then proceeded to use a sponge to colour the stamped cardstock.  This part will remind most people of the emboss-resist technique.

My choice was to make the image seem to be silhouetted against a sunrise.  I sponged So Saffron over about 3/4 of the cardstock, leaving the top 1/4 free of colour.  Then I proceeded to blend in some Calypso Coral and, at the bottom 1/4, added in some Primrose Petals to deepen the colour.  With another sponge I used the Marina Mist lightly across the untouched top 1/4.  I love the way everything blended together so nicely.

Then, with a dry, clean sponge, I went carefully over the entire image to get rid of any residual ink...that really brought out the details of the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder.

I used Basic Gray cardstock for my card's base colour and then added a layer of Basic Black to frame the stamped cardstock.  I love the way the Basic Black makes the silhouette "pop".

This was so much fun to do.  I can think of a dozen other cards I want to make this way.  You should try it, too.

A Great Place to Start...

Sometimes you find a card or something else created in paper and just want to make it.  Then, as you begin making it, you realize that it's a great place to start...but you have some ideas of your own.

I came across a wonderful graduation card on Debbie Henderson's blog: Debbie's Designs.  It has some stamping but is primarily what would be called a "punch-art" card, using some of Stampin' Up's terrific punches.  I absolutely love the Owl Builder Punch!  It is one of the most versatile punches in the Stampin' Up catalogue.  I've made owls (of course) in many, many forms.  I've also made penguins, tulips, bats...the list goes on.  Like I said, it's an extremely versatile punch.

This card is absolutely perfect for any graduate.  With a few changes it can be made for someone graduating kindergarten, elementary school, high school and even college.  The one I've made would be great for either a high school- or a college- graduate.

It's hard to believe that this card begins with a 7.5" x 7.5" square of black cardstock.  Then you simply score along each side at 1 7/8" and cut out the squares formed at each corner.

Use the corner punch on each of the eight corners.  Then you cut out a 3.5" x 3.5" square of Whisper White cardstock.  I sponged Marina Mist clouds over the white and then used the Basic Gray to stamp the globe and compass from the Open Sea stamp set as well as the key from the Established Elegance stamp set.  I used the {G} from the Occasions Alphabet set and, after stamping it with the Basic Black, used the 1" round punch on the {G} and the 3/4" round punch on the "the sky is the limit".  You could also use Congratulations or Celebrate, but with the sponged sky, I felt that this stamp was appropriate.

The owl was lots of fun to make.  I used Basic Gray cardstock for the body (Owl Builder Punch) and for the wings (three scallops from the 1 3/4" round scallop punch).  Then I gave him a vest (also from the Owl Builder Punch) from the Basic Grey Designer Specialty Paper.  The feet and beak were punched from So Saffron cardstock (feet and heart from Owl Builder Punch) and the eyes were punched from Whisper White and Basic Black (also Owl Builder Punch).  The grad cap was freehanded from Basic Black cardstock and you can just make out the tiny dark brad in the centre.

I just love the way the owl seems to be flying high!

On the reverse side of the black cardstock, in the centre of the square, I used tombo glue to adhere a black 3/4" circle over a piece of baker's twine and then attached a banner stamped with Congratulations from the new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and cut out with the Bitty Banners Framelits.

Doesn't that just finish it off perfectly?  And it looks so tidy and square because you can fold the "flaps" that you made originally by scoring the sides and cutting off the corner squares.  They fold alternately as if you were closing a box and leave you with a perfect 4" square card.

Can't you just see the possibilities?

Join the May Blog Hop!

This is my first time ever in participating in a Blog Hop.  Wouldn't you know that I'd get too sick to get onto my computer for a few days and miss posting my link in time.  Hopefully everything will link the way it should now that I'm able to get around a bit.  Hate the flu!!!

If you've come to my Blog, you'll just have left Rosa Ivelisse Vazquez's blog.

The project that I'm showing is the "Card Size Mini Album".  First shown in the "Paper Celebration 2012 Edition" of ink4u...this is my take on it.

I've kept the colours very muted, using neutrals, so that the sepia pictures which I've put into the little album would be showcased.

Looking at it from the front you would think it was simply a card...and it fits into a medium sized envelope easily.  Then you open it and it becomes a mini-album.

From the back it looks so long and large, but it really does fold down into a small card-size.

My final picture shows it from a higher angle.

If you've enjoyed seeing this project on my Blog, then I invite you to continue the blog hop by going to Alison Plummer's blog next.

If you would like to know more about INK4U then check out Madeline's blog for all the details.

Madeline Morcelo Ink4u the Studio [founder CEO]

  1. Vimar Serrano--VS Paper Creations  [designer]

  2.  Katherine Elliot--News from the CRAFT-a-TORIUM [designer]

  3.  Diane Ouellette--My Stampin' Blog by Diane Ouellette [designer]

  4.  Rosa Ivelisse Vazquez--Scrappin Pleasure [designer]

  5.  Heidi Weaver (me)--Stampin' Along With Heidi [member]

  6.  Alison Plummer--Crafty Alison in Lyon [member]

  7.  Marisol Gutierrez--A Touch of Sol [former designer]

  8.  Jayne Stenstrom--Jayne Stamps [member]

  9.  Lisa Eisner--Crafting With Princess Lisa [member]

10.  Yvonne Walker--Yvonne's Creative Corner [member]