Hey Crafty People!
Recently, there have been two heatwaves here in the UK and with no air conditioning and a house designed to keep the heat in, I just couldn’t face foiling! (It’s no secret how much I LOVE foiling, so this was a big thing for me! ? )
But with an amazing release from Spellbinders which included a heap of new foil plates, I needed to find some way of scratching that itch…so in came this fun Letterpress technique. I’ve got two examples to share today that have a heavy mixed media feel…(then another couple of ways to use the same basic technique but for a totally different result!)
For these two cards, I paired my letterpress backgrounds with August’s Small & Large dies of the month.
Cool Toned Greeting
- Apply Distress Oxide in Uncharted Mariner onto the Dazzling Diamonds hot foil plate and carefully place an a2 piece of thick, mixed media paper on top of it. Carefully place this between an embossing sandwich and run through your die cutting machine. (The sandwich you will need to use depends on your machine, so please check your manufacturer’s advice. I used an embossing mat within my sandwich, which is what you would use when you want to emboss with a die.)
PRO TIP! Use a piece of washi tape to attach the plate to the top of your cardstock, this will help you to avoid shifting the plate or paper as you lift it.) - Using a Brayer, add Wilted Violet D.O. across the whole panel; this will deposit ink only over the high points of the debossed design. Doing this will make that pattern pop even more!
- OPTIONAL: To deepen the colour even more in some places, brayer more of the blue ink selectively over the panel. Set aside to dry.
- Die cut various pieces from the August Small Die of the Month out of white and silver mirror cardstock. Stack these up to make the sentiment and various layered floral elements.
- Adhere the sentiment & decorative elements onto your smaller panel, using a mixture of liquid & foam adhesive. Then add this to the larger panel with more foam adhesive.
- OPTIONAL: For extra detail, use a decorative Glimmer plate and coordinating foil to add a foiled border on this smaller panel. I used the Hexagon plate and die from the Geo Floral Glimmer set for this panel. I like to foil extra of these basics shapes/details and set them aside to use on projects like this. ?)
- Embellish with matching jewels.
Warm Toned Fruity Harvest
- Repeat the same technique, but use the Hypnotic Glimmer plate with Squeezed Lemonade. (This second time I realised that it’s much better to use the Brayer to apply ink to your plate, as opposed to smoothing your ink pad against the plate.)
- After running through your die cutting machine, apply Carved Pumpkin using the Brayer. For an ombre look, apply more ink to the bottom of the panel and work up to the top without reapplying to get a lighter layer. If you feel that you need more colour, apply more ink, again starting at the bottom.
- Cut the various pieces needed for the Strawberries, leaves, stems and basket from August Large Die of The Month out of coloured cardstock. (Use markers to make some of the leaf sections darker.)
- Layer these pieces and add to the card panel using a mixture of liquid & foam adhesive.
- Layer a sentiment from the Small Die of the Month and add to the basket.
- OPTIONAL: Use a clear shimmer brush marker to add some extra sparkle to the strawberries.
- Embellish with a mix of sequins & gems.
Quickform Process Videos
Please be aware:
As part of my Design Team and Guest Design work I do often receive free products to use, but I only ever recommend products that I genuinely love.
Also, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these opportunities, but you don’t always NEED the newest products or the ‘full set’.
So please don’t feel that you need everything.
I like to show a variety of brands and products; this way; this way there will be something for everybody to enjoy.
— SUPPLIES —
 Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Shop at: SP | SP UK |
 Hypnotic Glimmer Shop at: SP | SP UK |
 Small Die of the Month Shop at: SP | SP UK |
 Large Die of the Month Shop at: SP | SP UK |
 Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Shop at: SBC | SBP | CS UK | CS US |
 Squeezed Lemonade Oxide Shop at: SBC | SBP | CS UK | CS US |
 Carved Pumpkin Shop at: SBC | SBP | CS UK | CS US |
 Uncharted Mariner Shop at: SBC | SBP | CS UK | CS US |
 Distress Brayer Shop at: SBC |
 Silver Foil Shop at: SP | SBCom | SP UK |
 AB Prism Gems Shop at: SP | SBCom |
 Silver Mirror Cardstock Shop at: SP | SBCom |
 Platinum 6 Shop at: SP | SBCom | SP UK |
 Geo Floral Glimmer Shop at: MPS | SBCom |
 Best Ever Craft Tape Shop at: MPS | SP | SBCom |
 Glimmer & Cut Clubs Shop at: SP |
 Quick Trimmer Shop at: MPS | SP | SBCom | SP UK |
 Tool ‘n’ One Shop at: MPS | SP | SBCom | SP UK |
 Glimmer Hot Foil System Shop at: SP | SBCom | SP UK |
— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —
Affiliate links are used MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP | Trinity |
 MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP |
 Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Neenah 80lb Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | Craftstash UK |
 Neenah 110lb Shop at: Alt |
 Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK |
 Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Trinity |
 Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity |
 Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity |
 Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
 We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
 Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity |
 Mini Trimmer Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 9.5 inch Shears Shop at: Craftstash UK | Craftstash US |
 Bone Folder Shop at: Alt |
 Self Healing Mat Shop at: Alt | SBC |
*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.