Perfectly Embossed

Sometimes a messy desk can be a great source of inspiration (that's what I tell myself anyway!). Awhile back, I was experimenting with stamps and had combined the skull from Tim Holtz' Mini Halloween 3 set with the frame from his Artful Silhouettes collection. I tossed it aside thinking it looked good, but wouldn't work just then. Lying next to it was a reject frame that I'd made using my faux tarnished silver technique (too much UTEE, not enough silver!). I was like...hmmm...that frame looks like it was meant to fit over that image. Coolness!

Even better, the whole works fit perfectly inside the oval Embossing Diffuser from Sizzix. I really can't stop singing the praises of these diffusers. I used the oval recently in this Halloween card and thought maybe I should do a little tutorial with it. This time, I added a little twist! I wanted to play along with Linda's wonderful Compendium of Curiosities challenge which is Ink Palette: Perfect Pearls. I thought it might be fun to experiment a bit with inking up the folder, giving the background a glossy look that would really make the Perfect Pearls pop. Hope you enjoy it!

1. Ink Halloween Texture Fade with Distress embossing ink ('front' side).
2. Place black cardstock inside folder and close. Position Embossing Diffuser over folder and tape in place. Emboss. The ink that you applied to the folder will be applied to the flat part of the cardstock, leaving the raised portion un-inked.
3. Cover inked paper with clear embossing powder and tap off excess. To tidy up stray powder, place Diffuser over powder and brush off anything that is inside the frame.

4. There, all nice and tidy!
5. Heat powder with heat tool until it melts and becomes transparent.
6. Ink frame and skull from Stampers Anonymous with Distress embossing ink and stamp in oval.

7. Cover with clear embossing powder and heat until melted.
8. Using the palette created using the instructions from Tim Holtz' Compendium of Curiosities 2, color embossed panel. Add faux tarnished metal frame.
9. To embellish card, cut two spiders from thin metal using the Sizzix Mini Spider die. Paint black and cover with Rock Candy dry glitter that has been dyed black using Adirondack Pitch Black Alcohol ink as Tim shows in this month's tag from his 12 Tags of 2012.

The fun thing about cutting this spider from metal is that it can be bent and shaped. I am totally in love with this little guy! This shot also shows how cool the Perfect Pearls looks with the embossed background. I don't know why it's taken me this long to fall in love with Perfect Pearls, but I am now officially hooked!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and are inspired to pick up the Embossing Diffusers and try them yourself - they really do give you a whole new way to use your Texture Fades. If you'd like to purchase them, or any of the other supplies I used, everything can be found at Inspiration Emporium via the links below. Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!

Sizzix Halloween Backgrounds and Borders Sizzix Embossing Diffuser Sizzix Mini Spider and 31 Ranger Ink Palette Perfect Pearls - Pearl Perfect Pearls - Gold Perfect Pearls Mist - Mandarin Ranger Dabber - Pitch Black Rock Candy Dry Glitter Pitch Black Alcohol Ink Stampers Anonymous Mini Halloween 3 Stampers Anonymous Artful Silhouettes Water Brush - Detailer Tip Sizzix Baroque Die Sizzix Mini Baroque Die Ranger Clear Embossing Powder Distress Embossing Ink Compendium of Curiosities II Ranger Silver Embossing Powder Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel Vagabond Scotch Tape Glider

InLinkz.com

Thanks so much for stopping by and thanks to Simon Says Stamp for sponsoring this week's CC2C challenge!