Making Washi Tape is 'Squ'easy!!!

Hello there, Just popping in to share my DT card from yesterdays blog post at Make the Day Special.

My card uses Lawn Fawns 'Make Lemonade' set and the utterly fabulous 'Tiny Spots' Background stamp from Hero Arts ... are you thinking bubbles in the lemonade too??? Oh it was love at first sight with that background stamp!!
I'm  following sketch#15 at CAS(e) this Sketch this week.... sorry for the punny sentiment too *groan* :0)

I'm loving the CAS sketches Jackie and her team produce each week and their inspiration cards are fabulous too :0) I went literal with the banner shape this week under the focal image and decided to make my own Washi Tape with tissue paper, double sided tape and Lawn Fawns Chevron Backdrops..... here's the photo tutorial from my DT blog post in case you haven't seen or tried this technique before :0)
Should just add that this little baby is not my idea... loads of tutorials out there and this is how I do it!!

By using double-sided tape you can make your washi tape as long or as wide as you want.

I simply stick the length I require on the shiny side of the tissue paper...

the matt side is easier to stamp on and looks more authentic!!

Idea: With lots of colours of tissue paper available you don't have to stick with white either!!

Turn the tissue over to stamp your pattern...I find it easier to leave 

it untrimmed still at this point. I have used Lawn Fawns Chevron Backdrops and 

Basic Grey Ink from SU, it's a bit of trial and error when it comes to inks but most 

do dry on the tissue... heating with a heatgun is not advised!!

Tip: Pale inks will appear very light when you have taken the backing off the adhesive 

and also take into consideration the strength of the background colour your attaching the washi too.

When you've finished your stamping and the ink is dry turn the tissue back over to trim.
I  use a ruler and sharp craft knife but if you have a steady hand you can use scissors
against the side of the DS tape.... it's easier to tear or trim the ends at this stage with the
backing on, ready for your project  :0)

My skinny roll of tape looks a bit pathetic but it was short for photography purposes!!
Make as much or as little as you want, it will keep for other cards :0)

Right thats all for now, best get back to the men folk. 

Looking forward to half term this week... no rushing around in the morning like a mad thing!!

Just to let you know that Make the Day Special website will be up and running 

again as soon as possible, the online store is in the process of changing ownership 

and will be back with your favourite overseas stamp companies very soon :0)

Thanks for stopping by :0)

Jenny x

Sunshine Card and a Tutorial

I was about to say good morning but its already afternoon...time flies when your in your craft room!!!

I have a card to share for three challenges...yep I was quite impressed too, I love to combine them where I can :0)
I also have a tutorial for embossing nestabilitie frames onto card because a few of you have asked how I did it on this card but because I have a dire voice on video and not enough hands to video and demonstrate at the same time its a photo tutorial I'm afraid!

Back to my card though and I've used the colours from Dynamic Duos and included stitching for the challenge at Annabelle Stamps and circles for the challenge at Passion for Papertrey....STRIKE!!

I seem to have a bit of an obsession at the moment with the sun,clouds and sky in general but the colours at Dynamic Duos just seemed to fit this idea. 

I used a Cuttlebug die to make the sun and then hand stitched the rays around it. Not too easy to see but the blue card has been debossed with the PTI linen IP, then I die cut the bottom with a cloud border die, an idea I cased from JJ here... don't you just love JJ's card?

The top cloud is the positive version of the cloud die and I just popped it up on foam tape and stamped a PTI sentiment.

Here are the challenge graphics

Now for the tutorial and there are a few photos... I honestly thought I was one of the last to the party on this technique but I'm pleased to be able to share the sandwich stack I use in my Bigshot.

First of all I urge you to not force anything through your machines because this technique does pass easily through the Bigshot and I don't want to be responsible for broken machines. A number of factors have to be taken into account including how thick your card shims are and how worn your cutting plates are ...as you'll see mine are quite rough *shame*

This is the basic sandwich :

• Multipurpose platform with both tabs closed
• tan embossing mat (mine is about 1.5mm thick)
• your card with nestie taped to it with repositionable tape (I've used 300gsm card and washi tape because it doesn't mark and is easily removed) cutting side down.
• 2 x card shims (I use the grey card from the back of A4 refill pads so its thicker than cereal box card but not quite chipboard)
• 1 x Acrylic plate

.....so all stacked ready to go and this combo goes easily through the Bigshot, in fact it feels like it has done nothing!!..... I will add at this point your tan mat and cardboard shims should be bigger than your piece of card so as not to emboss extra lines onto your finished piece...this is most important if you are embossing straight onto the card front... I found that out the hard way!!

Voila!! the washi tape peels easily to reveal a subtle but visable frame. 

Now if you want more of an impression just add an extra shim which is exactly what I did only I hadn't got a piece the right size to hand so I thought I'd show you why the card needs to be bigger than the finished piece

Same sandwich... I know you didn't need to see the same photo twice... but this time I added my third strip of card under the other two card shims before running it through which is what the photo is showing, not only does it emboss a deeper, crisp frame but the strip of card de-bosses a panel across the card too... kind of cool actually :0)

Hope this helps and you have fun playing around with card to find the right combo for you :0)

If I've missed anything or not made something clear please just send me an email and I'll see if I can help you  out.... sorry if you have a Cuttlebug but I think the principle is the same on both machines, the tan mat under the card is the crucial piece of this sandwich.

Well I think that's enough from me, go forth and emboss your nesties with confidence :0)

See you tomorrow for CASual Fridays.

Jenny x

Dies : wonky circles-Cuttlebug, Cloud Border-Taylored Expressions, Linen Impression Plate-Papertrey Ink.

Sentiment stamp : 'Scattered Showers'  PTI.