I’m always looking for ways to showcase great Stampin’ Up! products that might otherwise be overlooked.  The Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder is one such item.  The photograph in the 2018/2019 Annual Catalogue simply doesn’t do it justice.  This is, hands-down, my favorite embossing folder and I can’t seem to stop playing with it.  Today I bring you a new idea with this folder, double-inked embossing.

Create a background, add a simple sentiment, a die, doily and some Glimmer Paper and you have the makings of a great card.

DOUBLE-INKED EMBOSSING TECHNIQUE

I showed you in a previous post how amazing the Subtle embossing folder can be when inked before embossing.  This is an extension of that idea.

I began with the open embossing folder and wiped the inside with a Smoky Slate ink pad.  Then I carefully placed a piece of Whisper White Card inside and closed it, making sure not to let the card slip.  Next, the embossing folder was placed directly onto the multipurpose platform with all the tabs open and a single cutting pad placed on top.  Finally I ran the folder through the Big Shot twice (forwards then backwards) to emboss the card.

I now had a piece of white card with the embossing accentuated by the smoky slate ink.  Of course this isn’t a new idea, I’ve inked embossing folders before.  What was different on today’s project was that I then decided to sponge the embossed card with ink.  Adding ink to embossed card isn’t new either, but doing both?  I’ve not seen that done often (if at all).

So using a piece of Stampin’ Sponge I covered the embossed piece with Balmy Blue ink.  I didn’t particularly want a solid blue, but created areas of lighter and darker colour.  With the embossing now double-inked I set the piece aside.

LACED DOILIES

At this point I turned to the focal point for the card, and decided to start with a Pearlized Doily.  In contrast to the straight lines of the embossed background, my sentiment would be round, but not plain.

The sentiment I chose was ‘It’s a boy!’ from the Sweet Baby Stamp Set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Balmy Blue Card.  Then using the Big Shot and Magnetic Platform I cut out the sentiment with the large circular die from the Stitched Labels Framelits.

I really like the stitching around the inside of the die-cut piece but it was the large holes around the outside that interested me.  I took a length of Whisper White Solid Baker’s Twine and threaded it through the holes.  The result looked exactly how I’d hoped and I tied off the ends in a simple bow.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

With the main elements done, it was tine to start putting the project together.

I used my Stampin’ Trimmer to cut and score a piece of Thick Whisper White Card for my card base.  I folded the card along the scored line, then sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.  Then I added the embossed and inked background to the front with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

I cut a wide strip of Balmy Blue card next and used liquid glue to fix that across the centre of the background layer.  Then a strip of Sparkle Glimmer Paper was glued on top.

Glimmer Paper can be challenging to glue onto so I switched to Tear & Tape Adhesive for the Pearlized Doily.  I could then finish the front by adding the sentiment piece to the centre with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

FINAL TOUCHES

This project was all about the double-inked embossing so that would be the coordinating element.

Using the same double-inked embossing process as before I embossed the flap of a Whisper White Envelope followed by a 1″ strip of Whisper White Card.  Then the card strip and envelope flap were sponged with Balmy Blue ink.

I used liquid glue to attach the card strip to the top of a layer of Whisper White Card, then fixed that inside the card base.

My baby blue project was complete.

I’m really happy with how this project turned out.  I wanted a baby card, but not a cutesy one and I think I succeeded.  So what do you think of this double-inked embossing technique?  I can see this working on cards for all kinds of occasions.

Have I persuaded you that you need the Subtle Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder?  Here’s some of my previous blog posts using this amazing tool.

Sweet Baby Card

A Little Less Subtle

Kindness and Compassion

Faux Canvas

P.S. Large Letters

BUNDLE BONUS – The Sweet Baby Stamp Set and Stitched Labels Framelits Dies can be purchased separately, or in a bundle with coordinating items (Bouncing Baby Framelits and Stitched All Around Stamp Set respectively).  Why am I telling you this? Because buying coordinating items using a single bundle item number will save you 10% off the costs of buying the same two items separately.  So although I didn’t use both parts of the bundles on today’s project, I’ve included inks to the bundles at the end of the product list in case you want to explore these options.

PRODUCT LIST