Smooth Embossing Folder Inking by Angie Cimbalo

Hello and welcome, it's Angie here today with a very easy yet beautiful card you can create using products from the newest 2025 Happy Birthday Release!  Today I am using the:

EF1024 Breezy Bouquet 3D embossing folder and die set and the coordinating

CL5277 Breezy Bouquet Clear Stamp and die set

The look you get with this technique reminds me of several Japanese vases my mom had from the 1950's when we came back from my father's being stationed in Okinawa, Japan.  She kept these beautiful vases on her dresser in her bedroom.  I believe they were called Wedgewood Blue Jasperware, you can Google that and see pictures of them.

Here's a close up look:

The technique I used to ink the debossed of the embossing folder is to use a medium soft brayer (I use the black Tim Holtz one) and your glass mat.  I've tried often to ink embossing folders in many different ways, but this is the only way I have found that make a soft smooth layer of color on your background.  Make sure you are putting the ink on the debossed side.

To make it smooth, take your ink pad (I used Distress Oxide Saltwater Taffy) and put lots of ink on your glass mat, directly with pad on the glass  mat.  Next take your brayer and bray over the ink over and over until your glass mat has a very smooth even color of ink BEFORE you take the brayer directly to the debossed side of the folder.  You will need to do this about 5 or 6 times - believe me, it takes several coats.  You will actually see the smooth ink forming on the folder with about the 3rd or 4th pass, but just keep going because you won't get a dark enough panel if you stop there.

Once inked lay the cardstock on the dry side of the inside of the embossing folder and close it.  Run it through your die cutting/embossing machine (I used my Platinum 6 machine) and take it out carefully to let it dry.  The floral pattern will be press upward and look stunning.  Be sure to clean your embossing folder while you wait for the ink to dry and also wipe up any excess ink on your glass mat.  I often use a clean piece of cardstock to pick up some of the left over ink, I'll spray it with water to get more of it up on the cardstock.  Now you have any extra pinkish panel you can use for a different card.  

The sentiment is from the Breezy Bouquet clear stamp set, heat embossed in white on black cardstock.

Here's one last look at my card:

Now let's take a look at another card I made earlier this month with a technique you can use to achieve almost the same results but with even more texture.  I posted this card on my blog on the release day Jan 3rd.  In case you missed it, here's another look:

For this card I used the brayer technique with Distress Oxide Salvaged Patina ink the same way that I did the pink one above.  

Next I took a piece of vellum and used the coordinating floral die from the stamp set to cut the flower out.  Once cut, place it inside the 3D embossing folder taking care to line it up exactly, then run it through your machine to emboss the vellum.  Once embossed, place it on top of the white embossed section of your orginal inked panel.  I used liquid glue under the sentiment to attach the vellum to the raised white embossed part of the blue panel.  To secure it in a few other places, I added just very tiny dots of a dot runner to various places under the vellum so you can't see the adhesive.

Lastly I added a few Fairy Jewels to the card front and the largest flower's center.

Here's one last look:

I hope you like my card for today, I have lots of fun making them!  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the entire new release!  For more links and info, you can go to my blog here.

 

Supplies

 

CL5277 Breezy Bouquet clear stamp set

EF1024 Breezy Bouquet 3D Embossing Folder and Die

JWL005 Christmas Fairy Jewels

Lavishing Red Merry Christmas Swirl by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  I have a quick and easy monochromatic Christmas card to share that is perfect for mass producing and/or when time is limited.

Cherry Red paper was spritz with water a couple of times on each sides before embossing with the Pinecones and Berries 3D embossing folder (EF).   Ink blended Lumberjack Plaid and Black Soot distress inks around the perimeter for a spotlight effect.  Used a black Polychromos pencil to add a bit of shading beneath the berries. 

The sentiment was die cut from Cranberry and white glitter papers.  Splattered the background with diluted white gouache paint for a snowy texture.  Adhered the panel onto a white card base then popped up the sentiment with foam adhesive to finish.

The color was inspired by our Lavishing Red challenge this month.  The challenge is open till December 30, 2024 so there is plenty of time to enter.  Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful day.

 

 

Supplies

 

94803 Merry Christmas Swirl

EF1043 Pinecones and Berries 3D Embossing Folder

sh44015 Cherry Red Paper Pack

sh44014 Cranberry Paper Pack

GP1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

Snowy Wistful Sparrow by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  With so many bird dies in the 2024 Winter Days collection, I have another “tweet” snowy scene bird Christmas card to share today.

 

All pieces were die cut from white and colored with distress inks (DI) using different techniques.  Ink blending was done for the sparrow; ink smooshing watercolor paper before die cutting out for the foliage (the Wreath Sprigs were split from the tips with scissors as described in this post); direct-to-paper for the window.  

 

DI used:

bird - Antique Linen, Lost Shadow, Black Soot, Spiced Marmalade (beak)

Wreath Sprigs - Rustic Wilderness 

Eucalyptus - Iced Spruce 

window - Gathered Twigs

The Snowy Lantern snow piles were shaded with B000, BV000 and C1 Copic Sketc markers.  Stripes of Stormy Sky DI was watercolored across a piece of Bristol paper for a window reflection effect.  To give it even more authenticity, added acetate behind the window opening.  Assembled the focal image arrangement then splattered it with diluted white gouache paint and colored the sprigs with a white Posca pen for a snowy look.  Once dry, mounted it onto a white woodgrain panel and adhered the gold foil greetings white tab to finish.  

And that does it for my card   Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful day.

 

Supplies

 

94798 Wistful Sparrow

94814 Wreath Sprigs

94807 Eucalyptus Bouquet

94800 Frosted Lantern

ST018 Holiday Wishes Foil Greetings White Tabs

SH44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

816 Small Madison Window

Merry Christmas Tag by Donna Sledzik

Happy Thursday everyone!  Today I have a cute gift tag featuring products from the 2024 Winter and Yuletide release.

I began by die cutting the second largest Fringed Scallop die 3 times from white cardstock.  Then I placed the next size down scallop die onto one of the die cuts and ran it through my die cutting machine.  This made a frame to go over the other die cut.

I used Navy dye ink and covered the plain scallop die cut.  Next, I placed the snowflake stencil on top of the paper and misted it lightly with plain water.  Using a paper towel, I blotted over the stencil before removing it from the cardstock.  This removes some of the ink from the cardstock and gives a soft look to the background.  

From the 3rd scallop die cut, I hand cut a hill line and glued this to the bottom of the snowflake background.  The die cut frame was glued on top of it.

I die cut the goose from white cardstock and used Distress Inks to color in the pieces.  Once the goose was colored I glued all the pieces together.  I used a white gel pen to add some dots to the scarf.

Next, I die cut the trees from green cardstock and glued them in place on the tag.

The goose was adhered to the tag using foam tape.

Next I spattered the tag with white ink.

The sentiment was white heat embossed on red cardstock, die cut using the coordinating die, and adhered to the tag with foam tape. 

I added some white texture paste under the goose and the trees to give it some texture.  I sprinkled glitter on the paste while it was still wet.

To finish the tag, I added a ribbon and some twine to the top of the tag.

That's it for today!  Have a great day!

 

Supplies

 

94842 Fringed Scalloped Frame Set

88627 Falling Snowflakes Stencil

94796 Slender Pine Trees

94827 Young Goose

CL5287D Be Merry clear stamp set

SP1011 Leafy 6x6 pack

Embossed Stocking by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  Christmas is in full swing, so I have another Christmas card to share today featuring products from this year’s 2024 Yuletide collection.

Started by dry embossing a Bristol panel with the Winter Knit 3D embossing folder (EF).  Next, a DIY stencil was die cut from masking paper using Stitchable Stocking die.  Adhered the stencil to the embossed panel then ink blended Lumberjack Plaid and Black Soot distress inks (DI) through the stencil.  To bring out the pattern, sanded the raised areas with a sanding block.

Die cut the cuff and toe patch from white glitter paper next.  To cover their stitching holes (since I’m not doing any stitching), traced them onto white paper, fussy cut out and stacked behind their glitter pieces.  The presents were die cut from red Blush and gold Rainbow Reflection Mirror papers.  Joy was also die cut from the same gold mirror paper.  Die cut the pine branches from Bristol paper and left them as is.  Assembled the card onto a white card base to finish.

That does it for my card.  Thank you for joining me.  Have a wonderful day.

Supplies

 

94825 Stitchable Stocking

EF1044 Winter Knit 3D Embossing Folder

94761 Pretty Presents

94817 Pine Branches

94763 Bello Joy

GP1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

SP1012 Blush 6x6 pack

FP1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

Sweet Bird Christmas by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.  I have another “tweet” Christmas card to share today, this time featuring the Sweet Bird die from the 2024 Winter Days collection.  
 
The bird layers were die cut from white cardstock, pine needles from Greenery paper and pinecones from Kraft.  Ink blended them with distress inks (DI) using blending brushes.

bird - Candied Apple, Black Soot 

pine needles - Rustic Wilderness, Black Soot  

pinecones - Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs 

 

 

The background is white woodgrain paper covered with the Snowflake rub ons.  An oval cutout and frame were die cut from Bristol paper using Poppy Stamps Basic Ovals dies.  On the cutout, ink blended gray dye ink at the top, then stamped the sentiment in black using Archival Black ink.   Assembled the card onto a white card base and added snow details with a white Posca pen to finish.

 

That does it for my card.  Thank you for joining me today  Have a wonderful week.

Supplies

 

94815 Sweet Bird

RUB105 Snowflake Rub On

CL5287 Be Merry clear stamp and die set

94802 Pinecone Duo

SH44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

SP1011 Greenery 6x6 pack

2477 Basic Ovals Set

Snowy Birdhouse Bird Bunch by Trina Pham

 

Hello everyone.  I have a snowy scene Christmas card to share today featuring several products from the current 2024 Winter Days release.  

 

A subtle background was created with the stencil monoprint technique using the middle stencil from Narrow Tree Trunks stencil set.  Applied Weathered Wood and Stormy Sky distress inks (DI) direct-to-stencil, spritzed it with water then flipped it over onto watercolor paper.  Blot excess water with a paper towel.

The birds and birdhouse were then die cut from white paper and ink blended with various dye inks using blending brushes.  Did a search for winter birds to help with colors.  Added eyes to them with a black marker.  The red in the birdhouse was die cut from the new Cranberry paper.  These new papers are absolutely beautiful, btw.  And for some sparkle, the snow on the roof was die cut from white glitter paper.

Drew a wire line with a black marker.  Adhered the elements onto the panel to create the scene and splattered with diluted white gouache paint for falling snow.  Mounted the panel onto a white card base and finished with a greeting from Holiday Wishes Foil Greetings White Tabs.

That does it for my card.  Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

Supplies

 

94810 Snowy Birdhouse

94811 Little Bird Bunch

88630 Narrow Tree Trunks Stencil Set

ST018 Holiday Wishes Foil Greetings White Tabs

SH44014 Cranberry Paper Pack

GP1008 Majestic Hues Glitter Pad

O Mushroom Tree by Trina Pham

Hello everyone.   The “O Christmas  Tree” song inspired this CAS (clean and simple) unconventional Christmas card featuring the Mysterious Mushrooms die from the current 2024 Winter Days release.   Why limit mushrooms to fall, right? 😂   They are pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It’s also heading over to the annual fundraiser for the Cure at Jingle Belles where $4 will be donated for every pink Christmas card linked to the gallery.  Check it out, if you would like to help, too.

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Started by die cutting the mushroom pieces from white cardstock and ink blending them with gradient pink or brown dye inks using blending brushes.  Added spots/spores to the mushroom caps with a white Posca pen.

The mushrooms were then arranged and adhered onto a white woodgrain panel in the shape of a Christmas tree.  Every tree needs a topper, so the star from Snowman House Frame was die cut from gold mirror paper.  The Merry Christmas white foil banner finished off the card.

 

I may have taken non-traditional Christmas cards too far 🤔, but it was fun. 😂  Anyway, that does it for today.  Thank you for joining me.  Have a wonderful weekend. 

 

Supplies

 

94818 Mysterious Mushrooms

ST014 Merry Christmas Foil Banners White Tabs

94604 Snowman House Frame

SH44001 White Woodgrain Paper Pack

fp1003 Rainbow Reflections Mirror Pad

Witch Upon a Creepy Cabin by Angie Cimbalo

 

Hello and welcome!  It's Angie here with a super fun Halloween card using products from last year's and this year's fall releases combined.  Here's a clos up look at my card:

I recently taught a card class at a local scrapbooking store and this was one of the cards we made.  Here's how to create this spooky card!

You will need: 

2 witch with capes 1 white, 1 black  (cut from "Flying Witch" 94624)

2 white die cut ghosts  (cut from "Haunting Ghosts" 94692)

2 Creepy Cabin die cuts, 1 black and 1 white (cut from "Creepy Cabin" 94634)

1 cover panel cut to 4 x 5.25" for inking

1 smaller panel cut to 3.5 x 4" for inking

Top folding card base (8.5 x 5.5" scored and folded in half at 4.25") 

First, using Distress Oxide Inks:  Dried Marigold, Wilted Violet and a blending tool/brush work the ink onto the panel.  

*Remember to blend really lightly where the two colors will meet for the first inking.  You will go over the meet line lightly many times to help it smooth out.  Remember to dab the center off on scrap paper before you bring it to the cardstock and start off the cardstock and work inward.  Use a light touch until you make sure you don’t have too much ink.  Too much ink makes edges and blotches.  Move in circular motion with less pressure than you think you should.  The area where they meet when finished blending will end up a sort of pink color.

Next, spray the panels with a fine mist of water and set aside - 

Go ahead and ink the smaller panel with same colors for the background of the Creepy Cabin. 

Glue the black cabin on top of the white one slightly offset and then glue the cabin combo to your smaller inked panel with purple background on top and and orange on the bottom.

Next use a circle die to cut the cabin panel out into a circle, you may have to run it through your machine several times to cut because you are cutting through 3 layers, the two cabins and the smaller inked panel.  I used the 2nd largest circle die from the Stitched Circle Layers dies 30036.

Glue the circle to the larger inked background panel with the orange on top and the purple on bottom

Stamp the sentiment and stars on it in black ink from "Magical Halloween" stamp set CL5284.

Add small piece of black cardstock behind ghosts eyes, so eyes appear black.  Or you can just make sure their eyes are over the black part of the circle.  I used extra black for eyes on the back because I wanted one of my ghosts closer to the inked background.

Glue the 2 witches on broomstick together and the 2 capes together, slighly offset, (black on top) then add capes to witch, then add to circle top.

Add the large panel to the card base, it’s slightly smaller so you will have a tiny white edge around the card front.

 

Supplies

 

cl5284 Magical Halloween

94624 Flying Witch

94634 Creepy Cabin

94692 Haunting Ghosts

A Frame House with Narrow Tree Trunks Stencils by Angie Cimbalo

Hello and welcome, it's Angie here today featuring beautiful new products from the latest "Winter Days" release!

 

I used the new "Narrow Tree Trunks" 3 stencil set with these Distress Inks with an ink blending tool on stencil: 

Tea Dye, Rusty Hinge, and then "Soft Brown" ink from my stash. 

 

After removing the stencil I inked background bottom with Iced Spruce Distress Ink and the top with Salty Ocean, very, very lightly on both top and bottom.  

 

Now to add dimension to the trees I added colored pencil and white paint pen details on the stenciled area and the background.  Here's a closer look: 

 

I cut the "A Frame House" die set from white card stock, and cut the "Little Bird Bunch" from red and white card stock.  I colored the A frame edge with the same brown inks, then added Iced Spruce to the house front, direct ink pad to paper method.  I colored all the other piece with inks and colored pencils, but cut the door front from red card stock.  I also added pencil and white gel pen to the red door too.



I assembled the birds and house and added colored pencils and white paint pen to everything.  I used Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide on the wreath pieces before putting them together.  I popped up the birds and house.  Lastly I added snow details with a white paint pen, Cosmic Shimmer Fluffy Stuff (heated with heat gun) and then painted on Cosmic Shimmer Frosty Ultra Sparkle Paste with a small paint brush on the edges of the A frame. 

 

Once everything dried, I added the card to an A2 gray panel and then added that to a white card base.  Lastly I added the White Tab sentiment.

I hope you like my card for today!  The new release is big and there are so many beautiful products

 

 

Supplies

 

94811 Little Bird Bunch

94820 A Frame House

88630 Narrow Tree Trunks Stencil Set

SP1012 Blush 6x6 pack