I’ve been trying to show you all that embossing makes your handmade cards that much more special! Now I’m going to show you two cards – one with embossing, that embosses … with a special twist!

My first card is beautiful (in my humble opinion) but still rather plain.  The little birds on the branch are so darn cute!!  Do you have the bird bundle from Stampin’ Up! yet?!  The image is stamped on one of the new nested label dies.  I colored them in with blends.  The “stand out” bird is my favorite.  Not only did I color it with a different color blend, but I HAD to add some Wink of Stella!

The next card is also stamped on a piece of Whisper White piece of c/s, cut out with a Nested Label die.  I embossed the Pool Party c/s layer though.  Prior to running it through the Big Shot, I inked up the embossing folder with Crumb Cake ink.  I used the brayer, but you could also ink it up directly by touching the ink from the pad directly to the folder.  Then, insert your cardstock and run it through the Big Shot.  With this folder, I actually couldn’t decide which side of the folder I preferred, so I inked up BOTH sides and ran it through — at that point, I decided which side I preferred.  I then added a little more variety but cutting out with the next-larger label die, popping it up and adhering my stamped Whisper White layer.  Don’t you just love how the grooves of the folder picked up the ink, giving it almost a weathered look?! The little yellow bird on the branch in this image is also colored with Wink of Stella.

Don’t you just love how the grooves of the folder picked up the ink, giving it almost a weathered look?! The little yellow bird on the branch in this image is also colored with Wink of Stella.

Card 1 “Recipe”:

Dimensions:
Layer 1: Whisper White thick c/s, 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″
Layer 2: Pool Party c/s, 4″ x 5 1/4″ 
Layer 3: Whisper White c/s scrap, 4 1/2″ x 2 1/2″, cut out with 4 1/4″ x 2 3/8″ nested label die (stamp first) 
Layer 4: Blushing Bride c/s, 3/4″ x 2 1/2″, punched out with Classic Label Punch.

Directions:
Cut and score card as per above measurements.
Stamp “4 birds on a branch” image from Best Birds stamp set in Memento ink. Color in with blends: So Saffron light blend for single bird, Calypso Coral light and dark blends for trio of birds, Soft Suede light blend for wooden branch, Call Me Clover light blend for leaves, and Flirty Flamingo light blend for flowers on branches.  Cut out with the Nested Label die and the Big Shot after you’ve stamped and colored.
Stamp the “Thanks for being you” sentiment with Memento ink on the Blushing Bride c/s scrap and punch out with the Classic Label punch. Attach to the other layers.
Use Wink of Stella glitter pen to accent your beautiful yellow bird!

Card 2 “Recipe”:

Dimensions:
Layer 1: Whisper White thick c/s, 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″
Layer 2: Pool Party c/s, 4″ x 5 1/4″, embossed with the Pinewood Planks embossing folder (see directions or refer to above card description prior to the recipe)
Layer 3: Whisper White c/s scrap, 4 1/2″ x 2 1/2″, cut out with 4 1/4″ x 2 3/8″ nested label die (stamp first) 
Layer 4: Blushing Bride c/s, 3/4″ x 2 1/2″, punched out with Classic Label Punch.

Directions:
Cut and score card as per above measurements.
*Ink up the Pinewood Planks embossing folder with Crumb Cake ink using either a brayer or direct ink pad to folder method. Run this layer through the Big Shot. (Use the new 3D embossing plate with the Big Shot to make your embossing even easier.)
With the Big Shot and the 4 7/8″ x 2 5/8″ Nested Label die, cut out a label shape from the already embossed Pool Party c/s piece – pop up this cut-out die shape and pop up with dimentionals in the cut-out die shape opening.
Stamp “4 birds on a branch” image from Best Birds stamp set in Memento ink. Color in with blends: So Saffron light blend for single bird, Calypso Coral light and dark blends for trio of birds, Soft Suede light blend for wooden branch, Call Me Clover light blend for leaves, and Flirty Flamingo light blend for flowers on branches.  Cut out with the Nested Label die and the Big Shot after you’ve stamped and colored.
Stamp the “Thanks for being you” sentiment with Memento ink on the Blushing Bride c/s scrap and punch out with the Classic Label punch. Attach the label over the popped up colored birds as per the photo.   Use Wink of Stella glitter pen to accent your beautiful yellow bird!

Now it’s up to you to give this technique a try: are there other embossing folders that you can do this with?!  I’d love to hear your ideas!

Come back tomorrow for something new!!  

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