Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tutorial. Show all posts

April 27, 2021

Partial Embossing Tutorial

Hello Friends I am on the Whimsy blog today with a tutorial on partial embossing. If you are interested and want to know how I created this card please visit my post on the Whimsy blog here
There I will be showing you a partial embossing technique using our NEW Slimline Embossing Folder Thatched with a self-made embossing frame using the Slimeline Marquee Die


Whimsy stamps products used:






Hugs,










April 7, 2020

Mixed Media meets Clean & Simple - Whimsy Tuesday Tutorial


Hello Crafty Friends. I am on the Whimsy blog today with a tutorial - Clean & Simple meets Mixed Media. I love to incorporate a bit of mixed media into my cards and I want to show you how to take a more clean and simple approach to mixed media but still get that mixed media style look.

Here is what we will be creating. So make sure you visit the Whimsy blog where I'll have a detailed tutorial with step by step instructions and lots of photos! 




I'll see you at the Whimsy blog, stay healthy! 










January 16, 2017

Whimsy Butterflies Stencil "How - to"


Hello All and Happy Monday! Did you see the awesome newly released Butterflies Stencil in the Whimsy store? I love how versatile it is and want to share some ideas with you on how to use it in different ways.

The stencil is 4 x 6 inches in size and 0.188mm in thickness. It is made using a smooth plastic and both sides have a slightly shiny surface which makes clean up real easy. To enjoy your stencil for a long time I recommend storing it flat and clean it up right after each use.
*NEW Butterflies Stencil
Sponging with inks, paints and stains are one of the most common techniques to use stencils. While you can achieve beautiful effects with these techniques, I love to add dimension to my cards and projects.
Here I am using a 3D paste with a nice pearlescent pink shimmer (Nuvo Embellishment Mousse). I've placed the stencil over my cardstock and secured it with some Washi tape to keep it from shifting. (I always work on a Teflon sheet covered work space - makes cleaning up ink and pastes a breeze as well as tape/glue removal.) Applying the paste with a spatula is best but a popsicle stick will work too if you don't have a spatula.

Carefully lift the stencil from the cardstock not to smudge your image. Let the 3D paste dry. Clean up your stencil with warm water and soap immediately.
Another way to achieve a dimensional effect is using modeling paste. Apply it the same way as you would the 3D paste.

Leave it like it is and let dry for a more simpler look - or after it's dried you could re-attach the stencil and sponge the butterflies with ink.


For some more bling add glitter to the still wet modeling paste and let dry. Clean up your stencil with warm water right after you're done. Don't let the modeling paste dry on the stencil. This might ruin your stencil.
Using your stencil with the heat embossing technique gives a nice dimensional effect as well:
Prepare your paper for heat embossing and then place your stencil over the paper. Secure it with Washi or masking tape so it wont shift.
Thoroughly apply embossing ink - I used Versmark. Carefully remove the stencil and applu embossing powder immediately. Heat set from underneath.


Depending on your choice of embossing powder you can achieve different effects - metallic, pearlized, opaque, distressed etc.
Use the stencil together with the Copic airbrush system:
I used Washi tape again to hold the stencil in place and to cover the areas (in my case butterflies) I did not want to add color to.


 It works quite well, what do you think? I used two different shades of  teal to get some more effect.


The smooth and shiny surface of the stencil is easy to clean. Just use rubbing alcohol to clean your stencil from the Copic over spray. This will not damage your stencil!


An absolute fun technique is "Stamping through your Stencil":
First use the sponging technique to apply color the the butterflies. I used distress inks in yellow and a darker orange color. Let dry.


Now choose a stamp with a pattern that will fit your stencil. I chose a flower stamp set called "Friendly Flowers".  Yes, it is a clear set from Whimsy and will be released in February *sneak peek* ;-) Text or script stamps work well too. I stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.


Remove the stencil and voila! You have a very nice contrasting effect. I used Memento and Distress inks, both dye inks, which will clean up nicely from your stencil. Pigment ink might leave some stains on your stencil and StazOn for sure does.
I stamped more grass at the bottom to match the butterflies and added little antennas to the butterflies with a very fine Copic Multiliner Pen.


Here's the finished card. The sentiment is from the newly released "Flight of the Butterflies" clear stamp set.
Thanks for visiting and I hope you liked my stencil tips. Don't forget to share all your Whimsy creations over in our facebook group. We love to see what you create!


Hugs & Luv,



December 1, 2013

ThermoMorph - Moldable Plastic


Hi Everyone and Happy Sunday! Today I have something different for you, no card to share today. I was asked a few weeks back by David from ThermoMorph to do a review. The product sounded pretty interesting so I agreed. ThermoMorph, what is that you ask? Well ThermoMorph are moldable plastic pellets made out of polymorph granules. 
FrontThermoMorph
Here is what it says on the company website about it:

Thermomorph is an amazing new moldable plastic compound that can be used in numerous different ways. Hack things, fix things, make things and sculpt things, with Thermomorph it’s all possible.
It’s super easy to use, boil a kettle of water and pour some into a bowl, sprinkle the required amount into the water and wait until it turns clear. Once clear Thermomorph becomes pliable for around two minutes, mold into the desired shape using your hands or tools and then wait to cool to room temperature at which point it sets rock hard again.

The price for it is MSRP $19.95 and it comes in a huge 500g jar.  This will last you quite a while as you don't throw out anything you can reuse even the tiniest bit!

Ok and here is what I did with it and what I have have to say about it:

I wanted to try and make some embellishments using a silicone mold, cut out some shapes using tiny cookie/fondant cutters and fixing the broken handle on my favorite small wire whisk.

This is what the ThermoMorph granules look like.


Here they are in the hot water. Directions say to boil water and let it cool down to approx. 60C. You can see that they turn clear very quickly about 1-2 minutes. Looking a bit like frog spawn now ;-)


This is the big soft blob after I removed with tongs from the hot water. It's very easy to shape as long it is hot. I immediately started shaping it around my wire whisk to form a new handle. 

This is what it looked like after I was done forming it and...

....this when it was completely hardened. I tried to shape it a bit using my Dremel tool and have to say it is not as hard as I have imagined it to be. Well I have to say I am a trained dental lab technician and compared to the polymers/plastics I was used to work with it is quite different and not as hard...obviously. So I just sanded it a bit with a very fine sanding paper. Conclusion: My favorite wire whisk has a new perfect handle and I'm more than happy with it! Yeah! :-)


Next I used it to form some flowers and leaves using a silicone mold. This silicone mold is usually used to shape fondant or gum paste. There are special flower molds for for crafting which are little more detailed but this is all I had on hand.


The first picture is how it looked like when I took it out of the mold. It was still a bit soft and not as opaque yet. In this stage it is best to cut off any excess using crafting scissors. The second photo shows it when I already trimmed the excess off and completely set. I was impressed that really all the details showed. You can see that better later once it's colored.




Now I would like to try if I can cut it out using tiny cookie cutters/fondant cutters. I flattened the big lump with a rolling pin. Then I tried to cut them out. It did not work as good as I wished. I had to wait until it was a little harder and still it was not easy to cut it out with these tiny shapes. Might be easier with bigger ones but I have no use for those large embellies on my cards and projects.


The good thing is you can use the ThermoMorph plastic over and over again. Just throw it back into the bowl with hot water and wait until it's all clear and soft again. So there will be almost no waste at all! Like that, very good!!


This time I tried to add some glitter. It worked great! Just make sure the ThermoMorph is really soft for an even distribution. The softer the plastic when you start mixing in the glitter the better. You can see it on my flower. It already started to harden when I mixed it in. Compared to the leave where the glitter is more evenly spread. 



Trimming off the excess is easily done with crafting scissors. If the plastic is a bit too thick to be cut in the hardened state just drop it back in the hot water for a few seconds. Just don't wait too long to not ruin your shape. Watch it and as soon as the excess parts begin to clear take it out carefully and trim.


My last experiment for today will be coloring my flower and leave. There are lots of ways and coloring mediums that can be used. I decided to try my alcohol markers. Well coloring it directly with the pens worked yes, but the result was not very satisfying. So I wondered if it would maybe be a better way using my Copic Airbrush System to color.


I started laying down the first layer of color and liked it much better. The color goes on more evenly and doesn't look clotted like before. 


I continued laying down different shades of color and was really impressed by the end result. It turned out fabulous! What do you think?

So these were my experiments with the ThermoMorph. There are endless possibilities to use this fun product. It really is very easy to use for everyone. From fixing things til making your own embellishments. Next time I was thinking of trying to make some beads or buttons. So stay tuned and thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs,



March 29, 2011

Paper Flower Tutorial

Today I have a Paper Flower Tutorial to share for making paper flowers like the one you see on the photo above. I hope you'll like it! For the tutorial please click HERE! Let me know if you like my tutorial and if you maybe give it a try. And if you do so, let me know too. I can would love to visit your blog and see your handmade paper flowers!

Have a wonderful Tuesday all and thanks a lot for your visit!
ooooh and before I forget.....a little reminder....tomorrow is the last Wendesday of the month and that means it is time for some sweet candy ....come and see me tomorrow for a chance to win a yummy stamp!

Hugs,