Seeing Spots And Drawing Lines

As I continue with my sneak peeks from the August to December 2020 Mini Catalogue I thought is was time to add a little texture. Over the past year or so I think I’ve really begun to appreciate how embossing folders can enhance a project. From the simple lines of the appropriately named Subtle 3D Embossing Folder to the detail of the Seabed 3D Embossing Folder, each one is a work of art. For today’s project I chose one of the two 3-3/8″ x 6-1/4″ folders in the new Wrapped In Texture pack. I’m already in love…

Large gift tag featuring a camellia with added sketched lines created using the So Much Love Stamp Set and Wrapped In Texture Embossing Folder from Stampin' Up! #papercraftwithme

DOTTED BACKGROUND

Sometimes it’s hard to see an embossing folder pattern in a photo, even when they are obvious in real life. So when I inked up the inside of the dotted folder with Whisper White Craft Stampin’ Ink it was just to make photographing easier. I cut a 2″ x 4-1/4″ piece of Basic Black Card and punched the top with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch. Then I placed it inside the inked folder and ran it through my machine.

Oh my goodness, when I opened up the folder I knew the ink would have transferred to the card. What I didn’t realise was quite how stunning it would look. The sets of four dots really stood out against the rest of the background that was covered in the white ink. Now instead of a random collection of dots I could even see they were set out in diagonal lines. Amazing!

Craft Stampin’ Ink does take a little time to dry, so I set it aside while I got on with the rest of my tag.

Because I’d used black card, and it was now embossed, I would need to add a back to the tag. So before I forgot, I cut and punched another tag from Whisper White Card to use later.

LINES AND DOTS

For my focal point I chose the smaller of the two camellia images in the So Much Love Stamp Set. First, using Tuxedo Black ink, I stamped the image onto some Thick Whisper White Card. Then I chose the Basic Gray Stampin’ Write Marker from the Neutrals collection. Using the writing tip of the marker I then began to add lines to parts of the petals on the main flower. This was followed by tiny dots on the leaves. Next I drew lines in a criss-cross pattern on the buds. Finally I coloured in the little circles on the stamens to make them stand out more.

Once I’d finished adding the lines and dots I cut out the image using Paper Snips.

That just left the sentiment.

Going back to the So Much Love Stamp Set I chose “here for you”. But I only wanted “for you”. So I carefully tapped just that part of the stamp onto a VersaMark ink pad. Then I stamped onto a scrap of Basic Black Card. Next I sprinkled the sticky ink with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder and tapped off the excess. Once I’d removed a few stray specks I melted the rest with my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).

DIAGONAL LINES

In no time at all I was ready to start putting my tag together.

First I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to fix the embossed tag to the Whisper White one. Then I threaded some Silver Metallic-Edge Ribbon through the slot and fixed it in place with a Mini Glue Dot.

Next came my camellia. For this I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach the flower across the bottom of the tag.

Now I could see where I wanted the sentiment to go. When I went to trim it I noticed the angled edge at one end which was there when I picked up the scrap card. I really liked this and it echoed the diagonal lines of the groups of four spots on the background. So using my Paper Trimmer I added a matching diagonal cut at the other end. I didn’t trim off much but it gave me an idea.

Using liquid glue I fixed the trimmed piece behind the left end of the sentiment. Then I put more liquid glue on the back of that and slid the sentiment into place. It was lifted up just a little from the tag base but still fitted under the flower. And with that my tag was done.

I simply love these new embossing folders and can’t wait to use the second one in the set. At 3-3/8″ they are narrower than most regular folders but they are sized to fit the new Mini Cut & Emboss Machine that will be available soon (hopefully by the end of the year). Despite their small size I have a feeling I’ll be using them quite a lot.