Saturday, August 25, 2012

OWH Pizazz Blog Skip

Welcome to the Operation Write Home Blog Skip.  If you arrived here from Sheila's blog, you are in the right place.  If not, you'll want to start at the beginning of this 'little blog hop'.  Please skip back to the Stars & Stamps blog.

Our challenge was to create cards with pizazz.  When I want to add pizazz to a card, I think about adding texture.  On this first attempt, I added some texture with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and a Spellbinders butterfly die.

This card has a bit of texture with the embossing on the background and the butterfly, but there isn't much contrast.  It really lacks pizazz. 

front and back of embossed cardstock
I decided to dress it up a bit.  The cardstock I used for the embossing is made by Core'dinations and has an orange core, so I used sand paper and removed the top layer to show the core.

I also added some green velvet ribbon for a bit more texture.  The gold bling on butterfly body and the gold vinyl outline stickers added a bit more pizazz.  Can you see the difference?

I popped the butterfly wings with dimensional foam tape, but glued the body directly to card.  I learned to use these nice sentiment stickers from this video & this video.
 
This was pretty good, but I wanted the orange pumpkins to show up a bit more.  I decided to make another card and add some ink to the embossed areas of both pumpkins and butterfly.  I like a firm, not too wet ink pad for this that dries well.  I used Brilliance Pearlescent Orange.
I think the ink adds a bit more pizazz to the embossing.
You may prefer to stop with the sanded card.  It's difficult to capture all the changes with a camera.  Since I used a dark cardstock for the base card, this card needed to be lined with a lighter color so it is easier to write a message inside the card.  I cut the lining slightly smaller than the base card, then ran it through the Xyron to add adhesive.  I burnished (rubbed firmly) over adhered layers to make the adhesive more secure.  I scored the center of card base after lining it with my Scor-It board, then folded the card.
Lining card
Scoring lined card
Now, you can press on to see what Shannon has to show you.
 

56 comments:

  1. Very pretty! I like the sanding, I've never tried that before. hmmm, maybe something to try today!

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  2. Thanks Velda for sharing. I love dry embossing and like the effect the sanding gives.

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  3. Thank you for showing the different ways to use the same basic items to add to the effect of the card. We don't always think of the simpler ways to make a card really stand out.

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  4. I really like how you added the ink to the pumpkins to make them pop. TFS

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  5. Love these! Thank you so much for your step by step walk through and photo comparisons. I always forget about sanding down paper to reveal the core and you've shown how much a difference it can make in the final product. Thanks so much for the tips!

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  6. Wow - I consider this blog stop to be a mini tutorial as well! I love the sanding technique - definitely ups the pizzazz factor!

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  7. Cool look you achieved with the Core'dinations paper. I have a bit of that and one of these days should get some out and make use of it. I really like the pumpkin background one.

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  8. I love how you showed each of the steps and the huge difference it made. My daughter has that folder, I'm definitely casing this . Love, love, love the sanding on it!

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  9. Well worth the wait Velda! The technique of added dimensional adhesive to the wings of the butterfly yet gluing the body directly to the card is an awesome idea! I will remember that for sure! Thanks Velda!

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  10. The inked embossed card is way awesome! Thanks for all the tips!
    Hummer Hugs,
    Misty
    http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/
    http://deliteful-alpha-sets.blogspot.com/
    hummingbird204 at comcast dot net

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  11. Dry embossing is a favorite of mine, but you've added that extra pizazz, by using brilliance ink - looks great. Thanks.

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  12. Thanks for the great photos and the video tutorial links! I love learning new things!

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  13. I agree with all the above. I've never purchased paper with a different core but I really like the effect you showed. Someone once gave me a sandpaper do-hickey but I never knew what to do with it. Thanks for the tutorial! It's a never ending process learning new things... :)

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  14. This is my go-to way to add interest to a card. I like how you added ink to the embossed image--I will have to try that.














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  15. Inking the embossed folder makes quite a big difference. It's particularly helpful to see the before and after side by side. Great tips for adding "pizzaz" Velda!

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  16. I love the final product of your pumpkin card. All those little touches really make a difference and seeing the card in stages really helps to understand how a card can POP! with a little more care. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Hi Velda,

    Embossing with core paper is one of my favorite things to do. I love how you accentuated the core effect even more by applying ink. TFS!

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  18. I really saw a different looks with the sanding and then inking. I have sanded and not always liked the results but now I know to ink it.
    Thanks for the tip.

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  19. I like the look of dry embossing but I don't have the tools to do it. I just found some paper that is already embossed, I am excited to use it and try some sanding and adding ink to it. Thanks for the tips!

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  20. Wow, the difference was amazing! I am definitely going to try some sanding and inking on some dry embossed paper I purchased.

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  21. Thanks! I haven't played with the white-core cardstock with this technique yet - gill have to do it soon!

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  22. I love embossing too and like the sanded effect.
    Adding some orange ink gives the pumpkins even more dimension.
    Nice Job!

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  23. Love sandable paper...the embossing really changes the card. Love your butterfly

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  24. Loved the pearlescent ink pad on the embossing! I always forget that those stamp pads add something to a card- thanks for the reminder! Beautiful work!

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  25. Loved the pearlescent ink pad on the embossing! I always forget that those stamp pads add something to a card- thanks for the reminder! Beautiful work!

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  26. great step outs on the differences you can make in a card - you have a very steady hand to use those little sentiment stickers
    thanks for being a part of the skip

    barb housner

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  27. Thanks for sharing these great ideas, and for showing the steps taken for great results.

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  28. Thanks for the step by step and before and after pictures. It's very helpful.

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  29. Thanks for the tutorial. I liked the first one but it really was improved when you sanded it!

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  30. I liked the sanded card esp. with the step by step pictures. TFS

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  31. Wow, great dressing up of your card. Thanks for the tutorial and for the great ideas.

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  32. Wow great cards Velda! I love the idea of the pealesent ink over the sanded core of the card. I will have to try that.

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  33. Wow, you certainly added pizzazz! I appreciate showing the step - up and then again. I like the sanded card, but the one with the added ink is a richer looking card. The addition is subtle, but worth it.

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  34. Velda, you did a wonderful job of showing folks how to do this technique. I do like working with the paper that you sand. It adds so much to a card. Your card turned out great.

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  35. Your use of the Brilliance ink is something I have not tried. I bet in real life the sheen is just lovely. I want to try that. Thanks for your contribution to the skip

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  36. Great tips on adding more contrast to an embossed piece. I have lots of embossing folders... will try out some of these ideas!
    DeniseB

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  37. Velda - great job on both your cards and explaining the technique. I like how you added the orage to your second card to pop the pumpkins. Thanks

    Sharon

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  38. Sanding the first card made a big difference. Like the instructions you gave for the card liners. Thanks

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  39. I have sanded, but haven't really done the inking over the embossing, so I will maybe give that a try---thanks for the idea!

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  40. I love to sand to add a little something...Thanks for sharing the technique of popping the butterfly wings...what a duh moment for me!

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  41. I love how you showed to get the best out of the coordinations cardstock. Great ideas for adding just that something extra to a card.

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  42. I'm in awe of your talent! The pumpkins completely changed with your techniques.

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  43. I love sanding the embossed design. Adding the ink to the pumpkins really made them stand out. Lovely!

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  44. Really like hope you showed a comparison between the diff. techniques. Sanding the cardstock makes the card design pop.

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  45. So beautiful! I love the combination of the embossing pattern that you picked and that butterfly! Lovely... Thanks for sharing! I love it!

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  46. Great combination of background pattern and the butterfly. I tend to like more subtle cards, but love the effect you got sanding the pumpkins! Thank you for sharing the steps you went through to achieve the final result.

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  47. Thanks for showing the steps you used to make your cards. I love the butterfly and how you glued the body but popped the wings. Gorgeous cards!

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  48. Love the sanded embossing! The color core cardstocks are great!

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  49. Love dry embossing (wet to for that matter!) and Cor'dinations cardstock is perfect for that, the sanding really makes the embossing pop right off the card. Have had a great time reading your blog, I'll be back!
    R/

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  50. I love the before and after card differences and the step by step instructions that you showed. That card you did with the sand paper was so impressive!

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  51. Thanks for sharing everything about embossing, sanding and inking and the difference it makes on your card. Great tutorial! I also want to thank you for showing how you line your card and then score. I have just been lining one side when I use dark cardstock because of the fold. I think I'll have to give this a try.

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  52. Hi Velda- Really great ideas, illustrated so nicely by each of your cards. Thanks so much!

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  53. Great cards, Velda! Love that pumpkin embossing folder and what a great idea to sand it then ink it - I'm going to try that!

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  54. Thanks for taking us step by step through your different pizzazzes(is that a real word?)I like the sanded card but adding extra color with the ink pad kicks it up a notch. Adding detail to the butterfly makes it a real attention getter.

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  55. Wow, so many good tips on embossing, sanding and inking. Thanks. I really like how the brilliance ink adds to the pizzaz factor. I've got to try this technique.

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  56. Nice. I like the different methods you showed. My fav is the second one. TFS!

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