One of the things I love most about making holiday cards all year long at Jingle Belles is the opportunity for play & creative exploration … because if it doesn't work, it's no big deal … I just try again. A co-worker reminded me this week that often we can't achieve (or recognize) success until we've experienced failure … so true.
For this card, I decided to try some inky play. At first it seemed like failure, but I kept playing and eventually turned it into success. I started by stamping this Hero Arts Florintine Pattern background in Versamark ink on some red holly designer paper and clear embossing. Next I sprayed with copper glimmer mist, thinking that the un-inked flourishes would have a metallic contrast against the red background … wrong. The red paper just soaked up the mist, but no contrast.
After leaving it for a few days, I decided to play around with some inks. I tried several with no success (wiping off with a baby wipe between inking) and finally found a winner with Chipped Sapphire Distress ink. Here's the finished background (before I covered it up with my other design elements) … the cool inky contrast I was hoping to achieve.
Next I wondered … can you pressure emboss glitter paper? Turns out the answer is a resounding *Yes*. I used a new Stampin' uP embossing folder on a scrap of Gold Glitter paper … such great texture.
I finished with some gold glitter jingle bells, a Crafty Secrets cardstock sentiment … and an EAD Designs Rub-on sentiment (I also discovered that with patience and strong pressure, they will adhere to an ink embossed background … another creative win).
The layout is from a new-to-me sketch blog … 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown.
We hope you're having fun embossing with us. Remember, you have until Wednesday, May 16th at 5:00 pm EST to link-up your creations … use keyword JB10-12 if you upload to galleries (including our Flickr Gallery).
Love those different gold colours and that embossed glitter paper looks gorgeous. Great texture! I’ve been doing some experimenting myself yesterday. Didn’t quite turn out the way I had envisioned it, but my DH liked the end result LOL. Will try again this weekend. So glad we now have two weeks to play.
This is FABULOUS! LOVE how you’ve used the background stamp on the patterned paper! Thanks for joining us at 52CCT! 🙂
Great card! LOVE the ink effects. 🙂 I’ll have to try again to dry emb my glitter paper. When I did it, it cracked.
Love it.
I think playing and failing and learning and discovering new things that work (or don’t work) is the best part of this hobby! I’m glad you stuck with the effort here – it’s fabulous!