Wednesday, June 27, 2012

June

Is Almost Over!!!

Have You Added a Comment or Submitted a Sample ?


When you participate actively in the Gazette, everyone benefits. As a thank you, ggd will send you a surprise stamp.
But, we can't do that if we don't have your address.

Please send us your mailing information in order to receive your gift. 

Check the link in the side bar or at the bottom of this post to send us your information.

We Are Finishing June's Dry Embossing Exploration

but will continue to add information to the "Tutorial" whenever you send in samples. No time limit. We'd love to gather many samples (and your directions) to make the compilation more helpful to folks who "happen" upon it while browsing.
NOTE: We've added PDF's to the listing so you can download and print any of the directions. 
----------------------

Everything Old Is New Again!

Impressing (embossing???) designs into velvet is an old, old technique resurrected and perfected by Mary O'Neil of Hot Potatoes. ggd first saw the technique demonstrated on the Carol Duval show and then heard about it from customers all over the country. Virtually every stamping group/class had a version.


And no wonder! It's spectacular, easy and great fun.
Though ggd gave up ironing with the advent of permanent press (or permanent wrinkle, as some like to call it) the iron still has it's place as a crafts tool!



For this technique, all that is necessary is a bold stamp, (in this case ggd's"three leaves") a piece of velvet*and your trusty iron.
*Use cut velvet, not crushed or stretch. If using your saved scraps make a test first. You don't need the most expensive but you do need velvet, not velveteen.
Lay your stamp face up. Cover it with your piece of velvet and spritz the back until it is quite damp. 
Using the heat setting for your fabric (usually high--no steam) set your iron on top....it will sizzle! Lift it straight up....don't slide it or you will "smoosh" your design.
 
You can attach the velvet to a card but there are many other ways to use it. Makes spectacular gift wrapping, great  jewelry pouches, or, when giving a gift of your hand crafted cards, consider a stationary folder or box with a coordinated velvet cover.


Here is another sample, using one of ggd's tile designs. These are but two examples. With your stamps and your ideas, the possibilities are endless.


Share your work with all of us. Send scans. We'll add them to the blog and the "Tutorial." Thanks.

ggd
Charlotte 

-------------------------------------------

The "Share Your Work" Corner!!! 




Michelle Morlan sends this scan of her version of the "Embossed Velvet" technique. She didn't have velvet handy so substituted a piece of cashmere from her "stash."

See her comments below for more detailed information about the making of the card.
Thanks Michelle for being
so enthusiastic about trying the velvet embossing and adventurous enough to make the spur of the moment adaptation. It worked!  ggd LOVES the "Make Do With What You've Got!" approach.
 ------------------------

In, just under the wire!!! (June 30)

Jennifer Willis writes:Well, I finally found the oomph to make something - this is an aluminum foil covered cereal box that I ran through an embossing folder. I used some of the vintaj paints to color it then added a stamped dragonfly. I made two of them and glued together so the back would be finished also. Then I coated it all in diamond glaze. I hope you like it!
-------------
ggd: Turned out great!
If any of you are not familiar with Diamond Glaze, (ggd uses Judikins) it does marvelous things to "finish" work, particularly paper. Gives it a wonderful high gloss which you can see in Jennifer's dragon fly charm.

Thanks for joining in....and making it more fun, Jennifer.