Embossing Powder Technique Tutorial

This is an Embossing Powder Technique tutorial.  It's my preferred method for making embellishments for my scrapbook pages, cards, and many other paper crafts. 

Here are the products you will need:

There are specialty Embossing Stamp Pads that will work, also VersaMark Stamp pad or any Pigment Ink Pad, like the one in blue from Color Box.  You can find all these stamp pads and embossing powders at Joann's Fabrics and Crafts or any other craft store.

You will also need embossing powders like the ones in the picture below, they come in a variety of colors, and a craft heat tool:

The first step is to stamp your image using your stamp pad, which ever one you decide to use.
I used VersaMark and since it's clear, you can't really see it on the paper:

Next, pour embossing powder on top of your stamped image, I used silver powder:

Shake it off back in the bottle, a little goes a long way:

Once you tap off the excess, it will look like this:

Next, heat set it using your heat tool.  This will melt the wax particles in your Embossing Powder:

And finally, it will look like this:

You can use embossing powder to coat images and make them glossy.  Just cover the whole image with a clear embossing pad, like VersaMark, next pour clear embossing powder on top and heat set: see the difference:
Before:

After:

You can also coat with a heavier Embossing Enamel called UTEE to give it a very thick coat.  This is what I use on my miniature book pendants to protect them from the elements: using the same technique as the Embossing Powders

this is the before UTEE

and the after, bear with me, I tried to find a picture that would show the thickness and the shine, it may not be the prettiest but it shows the technique better:

Thanks for coming by.  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, come back soon.

Living La Vida Loca by Omar Goesh

Living La Vida Loca By Omar Goesh and Shudan O. Betta

When I was a teenager, I was your regular bad girl, wanna have fun, let's party kinda gal.  I know you will never believe this, if you have been reading this blog for a while, but I was the black sheep of the family!.  A title given to me by my very strict mother, whom I love dearly, bless her heart.  It was not easy raising someone as complicated as me.  I used to tell her I wanted to live a crazy life! "la vida loca", we both laugh about it now.  I was the one dancing on top of tables at night clubs as a young adult, the one wearing the hot pink mini skirt, staying out late at night with friends......A mother's nightmare!

As an adult, I am more of a Disneyland version of my teenage years when it comes to having fun.  I still live La Vida Loca but Disney style.  In fact, if you see the movie "Diary of a Whimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules" now in theaters, I'm more like the mom in the movie. 

We all change with time, I heard a psychologist say once that every ten years we become a different person.  We go through personality changes and our likes and dislikes change as well.  We also tend to appreciate people more as we get older.  Our tolerance increases with age too as our patience and kindness towards others. 
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Have you noticed changes in you as you grow older? do you feel maturity comes with age or experiences or both? have you or someone you know had a drastic change in personality? let me know in the comments below, I'd love to know.

For today's post I thought I'd alter a book and give it a proper title.  Here's what it will look like finished:

  Here's what you'll need: ruler, craft knife or scissors, white glue, paper trimmer if one is available

Decorative scrapbook paper, ribbon

scissors, glue gun, felt

 also an old book and some cardboard paper, recycle your cereal box

 First, remove the pages from your book with a craft knife:

next, cut your scrapbook paper to cover the front and back of the book.  Place it underneath the cover and trim off the corner so that you can get a clean corner fold:

it will look like this:

fold over and do this to the back side too:

next, find a piece of felt and cut it to the length of your book: for this step you will need to put the pages back in for good measure:

hot glue the felt and hot glue some ribbon or lace to the felt, the back of both the front cover and back cover will look like this:

Next, by measuring the pages that were in the book, measure and cut your cardboard. 

You will need two side strips and one longer front piece:

 you will need to wrap these in scrapbook paper:

Next, cut a piece of cardboard, this will be the base, and hot glue the strips above to it, like so:
set aside

now it's time to cover the inside of the book.  Trim another piece of paper to cover the inside cover and the spine.  Adhere it with white glue:

to look like this:

take the other piece you made and adhere it to the inside back cover with white glue:

it will look like this

cover the inside of your box with some more scrapbook paper:

and that's it, ready to add some greeting cards or trinkets:

here's the inside once again:

and add a title:

To my international readers, in case English is not your primary language (and I really want you to get the joke) it says, Title: Living La Vida Loca, "Living A Crazy Life" by Oh My Gosh and Should Have Known Better!

I found a website that carries dozens of funny titles, here's the link:

click on the word link above or copy and paste the link below on your browser

http://www.allowe.com/Humor/book/Funny%20Book%20Titles.htm


I will be giving this book away on my next Guerrilla Art Adventure, stay tuned!

Go and have a Crazy Weekend everyone, Disney style.

 

Tablescape Thursday

It's time again for my favorite linky party, Tablescape Thursday, by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.  Although I'm currently on vacation, I just couldn't miss this linky.  There hasn't been a Thursday I haven't visited links at Susan's party, since I found her a year ago.  You'll see BEAUTIFUL tables, formal and casual, with lovely tableware.  Today is especially wonderful since mostly everyone will be showing off their Easter tables.

For my Easter table, I decided to use a set my husband purchased for me at an estate sale.  Although sometimes he gives me a hard time because I have over a dozen sets of dishes and, yes, I keep buying more! he's such a sweetheart to purchase this set for me.  The design is a white picket fence with spring flowers, perfect for Easter.

    

here's a closer look:

I love these cute little birds, salt and pepper shakers, I found at Marshall's

Happy Easter everyone, if you don't celebrate Easter, Happy Spring to all.  Don't forget to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.