how to do multicoloured embossing.

Embossing is one of those magical techniques. The first time you see that powder melt before your eyes and turn into dimension, that’s the first time you fall in love - it truly is magical. Embossing is a great technique when done right, and the key to perfect embossing is perfect stamping and knowing your products. We share some key facts and valuable information regarding embossing…
Thermal embossing
Thermal embossing is a wonderful medium to add dimension and texture onto anything from paper, cardstock, embellishments and chipboard to wood, metal and plastic. Thermal embossing refers to embossing done with ink, embossing powder and a heat gun.
 Embossing Ink
A clear ink that acts as a binding agent for embossing powder is needed when you want to do embossing. The Ink is available in different forms and types like embossing pens and pads. The clear ink pad that I like to use is the Versamark ink pad. I use this ink pad because of its versatility - I can use the same ink pad with other products making it cost effective. In my opinion this is the best ink pad around. It can be refilled and if looked after will last for years.
 Embossing powder
Embossing powder is available in a multitude of colours and granulations. Different granulations include Detail embossing powder, Embossing Tinsels, Distress Embossing Powders, Tapestry Powders, Regular Embossing Powder and Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel. Embossing powder is a fast melting powder that delivers rich colours and solid surface bonding. The powder is sprinkled onto a wet, inked surface and then heated with a direct heat source (heat gun) creating a slightly raised design.
Embossing Gun/Heat Gun
A heat gun is a heat tool that directs hot air to a precise area. The forced heat melts embossing powder creating a slightly raised surface on a design. The heat gun is not a hair dryer – a hair dryer blows air where the heat gun delivers more heat. Although industrial type heat guns can be used it is not recommended. These heat guns reach higher degrees and will burn and scorch your paper even before your know it. This type of heat gun is not recommended for the untrained hand or eye of a crafter. They are dangerous. TIP – always unplug your heat gun when it is not in use or when you leave the house/your craft room – a heat gun that falls to the floor accidentally can turn on by itself and can cause fire and huge damages to property.
i used a combination of Kaisercraft papers including the new 75 cents range that i really love

Tips for heat embossing
• Always make sure your paper is free from dust and oily marks because embossing powder will stick to those areas.
• Dust your area to be embossed with an “Anti-Static Pad” before stamping and applying embossing powder. This prevents the powder from sticking to unwanted areas.
• Did you know that you can create your own custom coloured embossing powders by mixing different colours together?
• Clear embossing ink can be used together with coloured powders OR coloured ink pads can be used with clear embossing powder.
• When embossing onto acetate make sure it is free from finger marks and dust. Do not hold your heat gun too close to the acetate as it will buckle and burn.
 • Prevent over heating embossing powder by holding your heat gun about 10cm from the image to be embossed. Overheated embossing dries out and pulls right into your paper – leaving nothing but a matt coloured area. The raised surface disappears.
• Guard against under embossing images. The embossing powder will rub off your project and will make embossing useless. The secret to embossing with most embossing powders – when it turns shiny you know it is heated/melted correctly.
• Scorching your paper with a heat gun happens quickly so keep the heat gun moving.
• Move the heat gun over the image systematically until all the powder is melted. Once the powder starts melting it causes a chain reaction and runs ahead to the next spot.
• Prevent contamination of your embossing powders. Use one powder at a time and shake off any access powder into the designated bowl.
• Always protect your surface when embossing as the heat can cause damage to craft mats and table surfaces.
i embossed the stamped image in copper and again in black on a separate piece of cardstock - the second image was cut out and coloured using Artiste markers and then raised using 3D dots
the celebr8te chipboard piece was embossed using 3 different embossing powders - i love this effect
Prima and Petaloo flowers are perfect for adding some soft feminine touches to tags
Multi-coloured embossing
I love the effect of combining different colours of embossing powders together. To create some colourful tags I used embossing in different colours on chipboard elements and plain white cardstock. Step 1 Ink your chipboard element using Versamark ink pad. Press the ink pad onto the chipboard, do not drag it across the surface as this will cause the sponge surface to detach. Step 2 Add one colour of embossing powder onto selected areas of the chipboard element. Shake off the excess powder carefully. Step 3 Add a second and third colour of embossing powder onto the remainder areas. Cover the entire piece with the last colour of embossing powder – this will cover any blank spots on the chipboard. Heat the embossing powder to reveal the multi-coloured embossing onto the chipboard.
all products are distributed by The Wholesaler in South Africa and available from your local scrapbooking store.

bling on reality at The Wholesaler.

so it's back to reality for us after a week of sun and bliss in the most gorgeous part of our country, the Eastern Cape. From JBay we drove about an hour to a place called Eerste rivier (first river). we had no reception, no internet - but we had peace, the blue blue ocean and we had an amazing time of creativity! it was heaven!
 but we are back and ready to go....so with that here is the new article on using some bling from
The Wholesaler. they have an amazing range of goodies to add some bling to your crafting projects and you really are spoilt for choice. hope you have a wonderful week! enjoy!
*****
There’s nothing like a little bling on a crafting project. It’s not just only the adults that love glitter and shiny goodies but give a little girl a bit of glitter and she will smile for an entire day. So given the chance to work with lots of bling on some projects indeed brought a big smile to my face.


Good Stuff ATC Card
For a quick ATC [Artist Trading Card] I used the Cuttlebug Butterfly die and cut it out of packaging cardstock that is thick and sturdy with a white colouring. I adhered the butterfly to a base printed image using Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive for a string bond. The butterfly die-cut is covered with a layer of Anita’s 3D glaze and then immediately sprinkled with gold glitter. I leave the glaze to dry for a couple of minutes and then shake off the excess glitter before decorating the ATC.

TIP
I adhere the die-cut to my project first and let it dry and settle, before I add the glaze and the glitter layer. If you add the glaze and glitter while the die-cut is loose it will curl and buckle and the glaze will run off of the die-cut. Remember that it is worth while taking your time when working with the glaze to avoid accidentally getting some glaze on the rest of your project

Quick adhesive alternatives for glitter and microbeads
There are various ways of adhering glitter and microbeads to a project, the following is what I use
·         Purple Turtle Double Sided Tape
·         Anita’s 3D glaze
·         Super Sticky Double Sided Tape
·         Glue Dots
I love the convenience of the American Crafts Glitter Tapes - quick and easy to use and the colours are amazing
Cherish Butterfly Card
I used a combination of AC Glitter Tapes to create a custom accent for a card. I used strips of different colours of tapes and adhered them flush against each other to a piece of plain cardstock. I then used the Cuttlebug and Butterfly die to cut out a butterfly from the multi-coloured glitter paper. To tone down the brightness of the glitter and create dimension I used the same die-cut butterfly in vellum and adhered it using glitter brads to the base butterfly. I attached the glitter butterfly to a stamped base coloured using some Crystalina glitter glue on selected areas. Finally I added some microbeads using Anita’s 3D glaze for more colour, texture and dimension.

Products used
AC Glitter Tape - Begonia 3/8 inch [AC 96006]
AC Glitter Tape - Powder 3/8 inch [AC 96020]
AC Glitter Tape - Gold 3/8 inch [AC 96039]
AC Glitter Tape - Spinach 3/8 inch [AC 96057]
AC Glitter Tape - Chestnut 3/8 inch [AC 96037]
AC Glitter Tape - Taffy 3/8 inch [AC 96004]
Medium Glitter Brads – Tropicals [AC 85347]
Medium Glitter Brads – Brights [AC 85348]
Cuttlebug Combo Butterflies [PC 37-1651]
Wow! Glitter Extra Fine – Gold [AC 27310]
POP! Microbeads – Gold [AC 27350]
Couture Creations Glitzin Glamour – Crystalina [ADCO 721971]
Sn@p! Life Paper Pad 6x6 [SS 2801]
Timeless Vintage Clear Stamp – Cherish [KCCS831]
Anita's 3D Clear Gloss Finish (59 ml) [D25401]
This to That Super Sticky Double Sided Tape - 1/4 inch x 5 yd [AC 61753]
Glue Dots Pop Up [GD12296-75]
Purple Turtle Double Sided Tape - 24mm [PT 90125]

heart challenge at scrap africa.

since we celebrated the day of love yesterday, the challenge over at scrap Africa continues with a heart challenge by the lovely Lynette! i made a quick card with a heart accent punched from a docrafts sheet. I matted the heart onto silver glitter paper by AC and added some sewing around the edges. A few buttons, petaloo flowers, beads and ink finishes off the card.
i love the new glitter edges on these Petaloo flowers
glitter buttons, beads sewn on with silver thread and some dimensional glaze dots added for fun
sewing adds so much dimension and texture - love it!
so next week i am heading to the Eastern Cape for a week long scrapping and soul restoration retreat. it's going to be an amazing week of creativity, beautiful ocean views, and building relationships with good friends, creative friends and spending some good quality and reconnecting time with God! Looking forward to seeing the ocean - water has such healing powers and i need some TLC from water now - washing away the old stuff and the dust from my soul! so hang around for a while i will be back - we will have no internet connection as we are very isolated - but there will be lots of creative projects to share once i get back! thanks for stopping by!

with love...from petaloo and the wholesaler.

It’s the month of love, the month of red and white and pink, of eating overpriced chocolates and flaunting ridiculously priced red roses – yip it’s Valentine’s month. Sad that we haven’t cotton onto the idea of celebrating love each and every month, each and every day of our lives, instead we wait for the one month to publicly and privately declare our love to each other. I have learned early in my life that it’s the little things, the seemingly unimportant things that show real love. The things that money can’t buy but that comes straight from the heart and sometimes even the hand. 

For Valentine’s Day I made this little canvas decorated with lots of colour and texture. I started off by adhering some DoCrafts patterned paper to the base using gel medium. I then used a stencil and texture paste to add a pattern directly onto the paper. Then it was time to add some colour using Mr Huey inks. I combined pink, silver, gold and white mist onto the canvas and left the inks to dry naturally. The decorating part was the most fun – I used a combination of different Petaloo flowers to form a dimensional corner on the canvas. As a finishing touch I added some DoCrafts tags and punch outs and chipboard letters. This is a really simple project but loads of fun playing with colour and texture. To create the dimension using my flowers I adhered everything on the canvas using 3D glue dots, this way I could adhere the flowers and then manipulate them until the glue dot settled.
i love the texture and colours variations on these beautiful Petaloo blooms...simply delicious
a docrafts tag peeking out from underneath the layers of flowers
more blooms in reds ...


 So what will you make for your loved one this Valentine’s day? Personally I think a handmade card or a simple love note in a creative wrapping is worth more than anything money can buy.
 Wishing you a year filled with true love and a handwritten love letter to treasure!
Products used

DoCrafts Me to You Double Sided Paper Pack A5 - Valentines (30 Pack) [DMTY160109]
DoCrafts Me to You Glittered Die Cut Sentiments A5 - Valentines (36 Pack) [DMTY157106]
Petaloo Velvet Wild Roses Small - Poppy Red [C1294-125]
Petaloo Velvet Hydrangeas – Geranium [C1296-131]
Petaloo Camelia - Cardinal Red [C1555-324]
Petaloo Trumpet Vine Spray – Red [C1825-322]
Mister Huey's Colour Mist - Pretty Pink [AC 331083]
Mister Huey's Colour Mist - Opaque White [AC 101100]
Mister Huey's Colour Mist – Silver [AC 331079]
Mister Huey's Colour Mist – Gold [AC 331078]
Zots 3D 200 [TW 3786]
 

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