It's all about YOU...

All about YOU!

Hello and welcome,
So I've had embossing paste for about a year now and have never used it! Yesterday was the day to experiment! I did several versions using the paste and different stencils! I need practice with smoothing it out and getting it even though. I have a few spots that are thinner than others.

I've had this card in my head for awhile now. I've always loved cards with sun rays on them and thought it would be fun to have a bold YOU with the rays representing different sweet sentiments about YOU! I also saw awhile ago that either Jennifer McGuire or Kristina Werner had sprinkled microfine glitter on embossing paste and had some I wanted to use it on. I learned a few things along the way about embossing paste!

So here's the process I used: I used Wendy Vecchi translucent embossing paste and colored it with distress ink. I mixed it on my mat and used a 12 inch sun rays stencil. I laid the stencil over my 80 lb cardstock (mistake #1... use heavier cardstock!) and taped it down with micro-pore tape (mistake #2 de-sticky the tape first on your arm or clothes... it left sticky residue behind on all the cards I used it on!). I really had to work this embossing paste to get it smooth... it seemed not very smooth when it came out of the jar (maybe too old!) and so I worked it to get a smoother consistency. Then I started spreading it around! I realized that I was trying to be too stingy with the paste and should have made more than I needed to get good, even coverage. There are a few spots on the rays that aren't as full as the rest!  When I took the stencil off I was pleased with how the rays turned out so I quickly washed the spatula and stencil. I then sprinkled microfine glitter over the paste. I let this dry about 1 hour while I did other stencils with more paste (you'll see those in later posts!).

Shimmery sun rays up close

I love my Avery Elle stamps and die set "Simply Said You" and use it often. I picked out six sentiments from the set and stamped them in between the yellow rays using my MISTI stamp tool (I stamped them all at once!). I also die cut the YOU from black foam to be in the lower corner for all those rays/sentiments to come from. I knew I needed a stronger cardstock base for that heavy embossing paste panel and so used 110 lb weight. I cut down the panel and adhered it some white craft foam to pop it up and then adhered it to the card base. I used multi matte medium to adhere the YOU in the lower left corner.

I love how this turned out! It was a lot of work but worth it to me! I don't have anyone in mind to give it too and I may end up selling it on my Etsy shop... whenever I get time to set it up!

You'll be seeing the other embossing paste cards I did as I finish them!
Thanks for sticking with me this long! God bless your day!
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Supplies:
Stamps: Avery Elle Simply Said You
Paper: Neenah solar white 80#, 110#
Ink: Ranger Mustard Seed
Dies: Avery Elle Simply Said You
Accessories/Tools: MISTI, Vagabond, Wendy Vecchi embossing paste, Elizabeth Crafts silk microfine glitter "Cool Diamond", Hot Off The Press stencil, Micropore tape, Ranger multi matte medium
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Challenges:
Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Color Challenge 2
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Challenge: Refreshment (Sunshine is so refreshing after winter!)