Relaxing break

I am having a lovely break at the beach with my family - thank you for reading my blog! Have a safe and relaxing Holiday and a Merry Christmas! See you in the new year!

Little gifts

I recently needed a thank you gift and the Big Shot made it easy to jazz up some simple chocolates! I decorated the box with the Razzle Dazzle stamp set and Elegant Thank You for the tag, which I made with the large scallop punch from the Summer Mini. Quick, simple, co-ordinated.

Handmade gift idea

I'm sorry it has been so long between posts! At least I can show you what I've been doing in my absence. We had our team Christmas party on Monday night which was lovely! We have a tradition where we all make a present as a Secret Santa, and I forgot to take a photo of the secret Santa gift I made! It is adapted slightly from a Becky Roberts idea.
here is a similar one I made as a prototype:

Summer is here!

My kids are all on school holidays now, hooray!  No more uniforms, lunchboxes and schedules.  It also means less free time for me to create and update my blog - but that is probably a good thing, right?  I'm feeling a bit tapped out creatively speaking, and my mojo is at the beach, without me!

Still, I know I'll be drawn to my stamp desk (when I can find it!) to work on some new projects now that the new Summer Mini is here!

Click here to see the new Summer Mini online - I am trying to mail out hard copies but life is getting in the way.  I'll do my best!  Send me an email if you would like one in your hot little hand!

Speaking of the new Mini - the Launch was fantastic!  I'll post some pictures of the gorgeous projects we made as soon as I dig them out of my camera, promise!

There is also another promotion running this month - December Frenzy!  You can get up to 50% off some great Stampin' Up! products from the 1st to the 29th December.  Don't delay - there could be some great gift ideas in that promotion.  Just sayin'.

Heat Embossing Tutorial - now with pictures!

Heat Embossing Tutorial

Stamps:  Four The Holidays, Delightful Decorations, Season of Joy
Ink:  Versamark, Night of Navy, Real Red
Paper:  Confetti Cream, Confetti White, Real Red, Night of Navy, Ballet Blue (retired)
Other:  Movers and Shapers Die, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Nothing says "Christmas" like some lovely gold or silver embossing, am I right?  In case you are new to stamping, or have been wondering how to do it, here is an illustrated tutorial for your edification and enjoyment!


You will need:
Embossing Buddy (103083 $9.50)
Powder Pal or scrap cardstock  (Powder Pal 102197 $37.95)
Versamark (102283 $13.95)
Embossing powder (Silver 109131 $8.95)
Heat Tool (106586 $49.95) 
Small Paint Brush
Stamps and Paper, naturally!

Step one:
Swipe your cardstock with the Embossing Buddy - this will minimise, if not eliminate stray embossing powder going where you don't want it to.  Your fingers leave small traces of oil etc on the cardstock, which attracts the embossing powder.  So believe me, it DOES make a difference.

The Embossing Buddy IS your friend!

Step two:
Ink up your stamp in Versamark and stamp your image.  Versamark is a clear "sticky" ink which can be used alone to create a gorgeous watermark effect, or for heat embossing as we are about to see, due to its slow drying nature.  Normal Classic dye ink is totally unsuitable here as it will dry almost instantly.

See the watermark impression?

Step three:  
Sprinkle embossing powder of your choice over the Versamark.   Now you see why you need the scrap cardstock or Powder Pal - you tap the excess powder back into the container (this can be messy).  Use the paintbrush for any stray bits of powder that are stuck in the wrong spot.

I tend to keep all my most used embossing poders and glitters into these handy Glad containers, as they are easier on the clean up than the little pots they come in.

Make sure you have no stray specks of powder before you melt it!

Step four:

Melt the powder with a heat gun.  Yes, you CAN use a toaster; but I don't recommend it as people have burned down their kitchens that way!  Do NOT try to use a hairdrier instead - it isn't hot enough and will just blow the powder off.  I've also heard of people trying to use an industrial heat gun - it is too hot and will scorch the paper.  Use a craft heat gun, people, please.  This is not the type of thing you want to mess with.


Keep the heat gun on the powder until you see it change - looks magical!  Don't overheat it, or the image will look flat instead of raised.  You can also scorch the paper if you hold it too close or for too long.  This is something you need to practice, as your heat gun might be slightly hotter than mine, for example.

Again, Glad to the rescure!  I find a tray helps me  not burn my fingers and reflects the heat, speeding up the process.

Step five:
Once you have melted the powder - admire your work.  Impressive, no?


Stampin' Up!  sells all of the products listed above.  Just in case you wondered.  And you can purchase them from me, just drop me an email.


Now go out there and heat emboss with confidence!