This time last week I was preparing for my first craft show of the season. I love talking to everyone who visits my table and get feedback on my designs. It’s funny how many people are drawn to projects that include images of animals and thankfully I had lots to show them. I do need to stock up though, so during my personal “24 cards in 24 hours” challenge animals did feature on many of the cards. Number 6 of the 24 was this one with a custom-coloured embossed penguin.

EMBOSSED PENGUIN

This project really was all about that sitting penguin from the Penguin Place Stamp Set. I started very simply, using Tuxedo Black ink to stamp him in the bottom right corner of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I added the forward-facing beak and pair of flippers with Smoky Slate ink. After cutting a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card I stamped the penguin on that too.

For the front of the card I wanted to step it up a little by heat embossing on Basic White Card. I made sure the stamps were completely clean then stamped the penguin onto Basic White Card with VersaMark ink. Next I sprinkled the sticky ink with black embossing powder from the Basics Embossing Powder pack. I tapped off the excess and removed a few stray specks, then melted the rest using my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).

I wanted to keep to my original penguin colour scheme but Stampin’ Up! don’t have Smoky Slate embossing powder. However this really wasn’t a problem as creating custom-coloured embossing just requires a little extra step.

So, starting with the flippers I tapped the stamp onto the VersaMark ink pad, then I immediately tapped it onto the Smokly Slate ink pad. With that done I stamped the flippers on the emboosed penguin body. This time I sprinkled the VersaMark ink with clear embossing powder from the Basic Embossing Powder pack. Then I tapped off the excess and removed the stray specks.

Before going any further I repeated the process with the forward-facing beak image. Then once I was happy there was no stray specks I melted the powder on the beak and flippers. Now my heat-embossed penguin was the same as the others, just a little fancier. All I had left to do was punch him out using the coordinating Penguin Builder Punch.

SNOWFLAKE BACKGROUND

Now I was ready to work on the rest of the project and I started with Night Of Navy Card. Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored the card, then folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I added the stamped Basic White layer to the inside of the card base. I also cut a 2-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Basic White Card and glued that to the front.

For the background I first cut a 2″ x 5-1/2″ piece from the Sun Prints 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP). This darker blue wash effect would make the perfect sky. Then going back to the Penguin Place Stamp Set I found the small snowflakes image. Using VersaMark ink I stamped the image onto the DSP until I’d filled the piece. Then I sprinkled the VersaMark with white embossing powder from the Basics Embossing Powder pack. As always I tapped off the excess powder and removed some stray specks before melting the rest with the Heat Tool set on 2 (high). With that done I glued the DSP onto the white layer on the card front.

Now I needed a sentiment and I chose the simple “season’s greetings. After stamping it onto some Basic White Card with VersaMark ink I embossed it in black. Then I used a die from the Seasonal Labels Dies to cut it out with the words over to the right of the shape.

Next, using Stampin’ Dimensionals, I added penguin to the left side of the sentiment piece. Finally using more Stampin’ Dimensionals I added the sentiment to the card and my project was complete.

I had a lot of fun making this project and especially the custom-coloured embossing. I really must use this simple technique more often. Have you ever tried it?

PRODUCT LIST

RETIRING SOON – Just a quick heads up to say that the both Penguin Place Stamp Set and Penguin Builder Punch will be retiring soon. So, (providing they haven’t sold out in the meantime) from December 1st you’ll be able to get the punch at 60% off. The stamp set will not be reduced in price.