Good Thursday morning! I’ve got to tell you that so many exciting things have happened this week and I’m just bursting at the seams to tell . . . only I can’t just yet!
I finally got to work in the studio late yesterday afternoon. My card today is for the Crafty Secrets Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. I love this weekly challenge . . . it has become my favorite actually! This week’s challenge is to emboss. Since I can’t dry emboss, I decided to work with UTEE. The only thing is, I experimented a bit and came out without something totally different than what I had planned on or even expected.
I stamped the Santa image in cocoa on watercolor paper and lightly color washed the image with Ranger Distress Reinkers. Once the painting was dry, I sponged Old Paper Distress Ink over the entire image to age the paper, and die cut/embossed with Spellbinders Classic Circles. After the image was die cut, I began applying layer after layer of UTEE. I probably had 4 layers built up when I decided to go one more. I stamped on some embossing ink, applied Gold Perfect Pearls and then sprinkled on another layer of UTEE. While still heating the UTEE, I continued to sprinkle on more. I worked the Gold Perfect Pearls out to the ends and it looked like the edges were gold polished. However, this is where I took the turn. Once the UTEE had cooled, I decided to crack it. Well . . . . Santa’s face cracked right off! Instead of melting the UTEE again (which would have been the obvious solution) I decided to peel the UTEE off the image. What I had left was an image that feels like it’s coated in wax. It is so cool!!!! You can still see some of the UTEE and Perfect Pearls on the image, but in the process of peeling it all away . . . the paper crumpled and creased! It looks even older now!
At this point I had all this gold UTEE and nothing to do with it. Remembering some small bottles I bought back in the summer, I grabbed one and filled it with the UTEE making the UTEE an embellishment. HAH how cool was that!
- Stamps: Vintage Christmas from Crafty Secrets
- Paper: Arches Watercolor; Red and Green; Memory Box Spiceberry
- Ink: Ranger Archival Coco, Distress Embossing, Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Broken China, Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose, Fired Brick, Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans and Vintage Photo
- Accessories: Spellbinders S4-125 Scalloped Circles – Large, S4-114 Classic Circles – Large, and S7-014 Grand 12” Classic Lace Border; Ranger UTEE and Matte Accents; Tsukineko Sponge Daubers; May Arts Ribbon; DMC Embroidery Floss; Sewing Machine; Foam Tape
That’s all I have for right now. I hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by!
Sherry, I love the vintage Santa image, but really like what you did with the UTEE and all; again, you’ve managed to inspire another one of your followers! Have a happy happy day!
AWESOME turn of events! I love how your Santa turned out; the sketch and the papers are wonderful, too. I’m PMing you my address so I can be added to your Christmas list. I don’t need much; just a card would be sufficient. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing.
Sherry, only YOU could turn such a messy project into something so wonderful! I can just imagine the words you used when the UTEE cracked-lol! I think I would have chucked it and cried, but clearly perseverance pays off. What a lovely card and an inspiration to make “mistakes” into opportunities for embellishment!
Oh Sherry this is awesome as always love those happy accidents LOl
love the vintage feel you always have
Hugs
Norine
Ok….Lesson learned~ instead of the trash bin….bottle it! HOLY MOLY!! I don’t think my brain would have continued to function after the cracking!!
Love the vintage look to this (never figured myself for a vintage girl!)
Saving your UTEE and using it as an embellishment goes even beyond MY rule of NEVER THROW AWAY YOUR SCRAPS!!!!
You are too funny – and clever too – because this is beautiful – and the little bottle caught my eye FIRST!
Gorgeous project, Sherry — I LOVE it!!! Totally awesome!!!
Sherry,
Love your card and love the store behind the UTEE even more, you made me laugh only you would have thought to put it in the bottle like that. Thanks for sharing your story love it!!!! Terre
Sherry, you are so clever! This card is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing the story, so we know you are human, too.
I love vintage cards! I really think this vintage Christmas Card is “Off the charts” Gorgeous!!!!!!
Pattyjo :+)
Love this Sherry! I can tell you were having fun!
Oh, Sherry! You are the most AWESOME BADNESS EVER! How creative! That’s the cool thing about “art” you just make your mistakes part of the “art” My junior high art teacher told me that and I have used it since that day! Thanks for all the inspiration.
Hugs, Ang 🙂
You crack me up, Sherry…..love how you used the UTEE!!!!!! I love your beautiful card, too!!!!!
it turned out terrific, so love the papers and border too!
Sherry, I just love your sense of humor, only surpassed by your creativity!!! You totally crack me up, girl!
Gorgeous Sherry!!
This card is simple BEAUTIFUL! Then again I think all your work is!
Sherry,
I love this card. Wonderful colors and technique. love the way you used the utee in the little bottle! Great!
Fantastic card. I Love everything about it. I love when you stamp DIRTY! LOL
Have a wonderful week
Hugs and smiles
Beate
Beautiful creativeness! Love everything about the vintage card. Thanks for the inspiration and the smiles.