Friday, September 21, 2012

Raise the Bar/Sketchbook Saturday


 Another week has rolled around (far too quickly since it's been a vacation week for me), and this week's Raise the Bar Challenge is to use damask and/or swirls on a card.  I ventured across Afton Mountain on Wednesday to a great stamp/scrapbooking store in Charlottesville's downtown pedestrian mall.  While there, an employee showed me how to turn your embossing folders into stamps by using a piece of 1/2" fun foam!  You first heat the foam with a heat gun then quickly put it in the EF and run it through a die machine (I have a Big Shot).  Your foam should now have the embossed pattern on it.  I swiped 3 different colors of distress ink pads over the foam pad, misted it slightly with water and then "stamped" it on paper.  No two tries are ever the same, but I liked the unique BG it created!  I used Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Sketch for the layout and couldn't resist these primitive pumpkins...again...just LOVE them! 

Thought I'd share a view of our beautiful Shenandoah Valley as I headed east the other day...


....and this was the outdoor patio in the downtown pedestrian mall where I grabbed a bite of lunch at The Nook and had a super yummy portabello mushroom sandwich with basil pesto!


So, this is getting a bit lengthy...hope I haven't lost you. :-)  Remember to check out the other bartenders' creations:
Thanh (sitting out this week)
Julie (sitting out this week)

STAMPS: Primitive Pumpkins (MFT), Super Dad (Verve)-flag outline.
PAPER: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, White.
INK: Crushed Olive, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade distress inks by Tim Holtz; Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive and Soft Suede by SU.
ACCESSORIES: Swirls EF by CB, Postage stamp border and Open scallop border Die-Namics by MFT, Chocolate pearls, Jute twine, Stripes EF by SU, Ribbon banner die by Verve.

6 comments:

Tammy Hershberger said...

What a neat technique for that background! And I'm SO jealous that you picked up those MFT pumpkins! I want them SO bad, but the budget is just too slim. :(

Broni said...

Gee whiz, Wanda! What a neat technique! I'll have to try that one! Your card is awesome!!
I LOVE the Shenandoah Valley and really need to get back up that way one day. When I come will you take me to that scrapbook store (and that restaurant)??

Vickie Z said...

Love it!! Interesting technique and sounds like you had a fabulous day!!! Love the pics!!!

Mary Marsh said...

This technique trned out one pretty card Wanda-sounds like your day was a good one as well-pretty scenery and a great lunch-not to mention going shoppping for crafts-my kind of day

Dorothy C. said...

Great technique for a background. I also like your use of all the different dies. I always enjoy looking at blogger's pictures. I live in So. Cal. and have visited VA and you have every right to be proud of your state - it's beautiful.

Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) said...

Fabulously creative use of an embossing folder! Super cute card, these pumpkins rock :)