Thursday, November 15, 2012

Grateful

This month, the Inspiration Emporium design team is challenging you to express your gratitude by making something special for your Thanksgiving table. I decided to combine the IE theme with this week's Compendium of Curiosities challenge - Reflections Stamping - and came up with this sparkly autumn silverware holder.

I also took the opportunity to try one of the new products from Ranger - Sticky Embossing Powder. I love the idea of being able to use glitter with my stamps, and this is the perfect adhesive for that! Here's a quick little tutorial:

Begin by die cutting a piece of kraft paper using the Tim Holtz Alterations In the Bag die. I used a grocery sack for my paper - it's the perfect weight, and free!

I used Vintage Photo Distress ink for my Reflections technique. Apparently, my ink pad was full of goobers and they transferred to the folder and onto my bag. I kind of liked the splotches, so I left it. I hate wasting a perfectly embossed piece of paper! :)

When you emboss the bag, some of the score lines will be a bit lost, but it's easy to figure out where the creases should be. After embossing, ink over the design to highlight it.

Stamp oak leaf onto center of bag using embossing ink. Cover with Ranger Sticky embossing powder and tap off excess. Melt powder using your heat tool. Make sure your glitter is close by and ready to use!

Immediately cover melted powder with glitter. I used my finger to press the glitter down a bit, just to make sure it was embedded.

When it's cooled, tap off excess. To make sure it's well-adhered, briefly heat it with the heat tool once more. That will ensure that the glitter stays put. Assemble bag and fill as desired.

How pretty is that glittered leaf?! I think that Sticky Embossing Powder will have a permanent place on my desk for sure - I can't wait to try it with more stamps.

The products I used can be purchased from Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order. Oh, and IE has the new Distress Stains in stock! Yay!

InLinkz.com
By the way, Tim has a fantastic video on how to use the Reflections stamps here. He also talks a bit about the Sticky Embossing Powder in this video. Have fun!

16 comments:

  1. What a fabulous project using such fun techniques.

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  2. Beautiful addition to your Thanksgiving table! Love it

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  3. This is really a great project. And so many opportunities, it will make the
    table settings so much nicer!
    Henny

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  4. Very very beautiful Shelly.
    Greetings Janny

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  5. You are so talented! I ran across your blog today and I am so glad that I did. I will be following you every day for inspiration!!

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  6. Shelly,
    I find that if I go back over the glittered surface with my Heat Tool for about 20 seconds that it embeds the glitter into the sticky embossing powder. I also have a lot less glitter fall off as opposed to using white glue.
    Love the project...simple and doable for a big Thanksgiving dinner.
    thanks,
    paula

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  7. So pretty, Shelly. This would be so practical for a buffet dinner, too.

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  8. Love this Shelly! (I just bought this bag die too:) So many things you can do with it and so much fun:) Thankful for you and your sharing ways. Have a great holiday!

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  9. Girl, you have the Midas touch-- everything you create is pure gold! This is wonderful, and SO totally inspiring. Think it's time I made a Thanksgiving table decoration...

    Thanks for CC2C-ing!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  10. What a fantastic little bag... totally gorgeous idea to use it in the table decorations!
    Alison x

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  11. Oh my goodness. I love this. What a clever use of the bag die.

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  12. Stunning. Rarely when I see a post that I immediately want the product, die, embossing folder. But this is a MUST HAVE for me.

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  13. Don't You love the new sticky embossing powder? This is the first product of it's type that worked.

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  14. Classy! Could be used for many events :)

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  15. I LOVE this! And I am so bummed that none of the LSS's in my area have the die, the embossing folder or the sticky powder. Totally bummed! Can you do something similar for Christmas? Maybe I can get the stuff by then.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!