Ink it! Stamp it! Design Team Blog Hop | Theme: Technique

Welcome to the Ink it! Stamp it! Design Team Blog Hop. This month we will be sharing projects inspired by our Technique theme. The full line up below will guide you through all the projects.

I've always wanted to try the embossing with dies technique and a few months ago I purchased the Big Shot Embossing Mats so I could try it out. Well I have finally cracked open my embossing mats and given it a go (sadly these embossing mats are retiring with the end of the 2018-19 Annual Catalogue on 3rd June 2019, so if like me you've been meaning to try this technique, get a set before they are gone).

I added in a second technique for my card today, using sponge daubers to add multiple colours on a stamp.

Here is what I came up with....

Most of the products I have used on my card will sadly be retiring on 3rd June 2019 (or earlier if stocks run out). The retiring products I have used are the All The Good Times stamp set, Big Shot Embossing Mats and the Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon. The Rectangle Stitched dies are hanging around (YAY!!!!)

I started by inking up the bonsai stamp from the All The Good Times stamp set using sponge daubers and my Old Olive, Soft Suede & Cajun Craze inks and stamping it on to some Whisper White cardstock.

I then embossed the stitched rectangle around my image. See below for the Big Shot sandwiches I used.
Tip: as you need to place the die with the cutting edge up, it is hard to line up the image correctly as the stamped image is face down, so I just taped the die in place using some washi tape.

Once I'd embossed the cardstock, I trimmed it to the size I wanted and wrapped some Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon around the bottom before adhering it to my Soft Suede card base.

I have the older style Big Shot Multipurpose Platform with the hinged tabs, and I believe the sandwich instructions that come with the Embossing Mats are for the newer style Big Shot Platform with separate thin die adapters.

Now you want to make sure you get the sandwich correct as if there is too much pressure your die will end up cutting through your cardstock AND the thin blue embossing mat. (I have learned this through other people sharing their mistake... however I did brace myself as I rolled it through my Big Shot)

So, if like me you have the older style platform, here are the sandwiches I tried.....

I first tried the platform without any of the tabs (see the above photo), then I had my clear plate, die with the cutting side facing up, cardstock (with image facing down), thin blue embossing mat, then the white impressions pad.

This did emboss my cardstock, however it was a little light and I wanted a deeper, more obvious embossed stitched rectangle so I ran it through again with the same sandwich, except I added tab 1 - which is the wafer thin one (See the below photo).

This gave me a deeper impression and my blue embossing mat is still in one piece (YAY!)

As the calibration of each Big Shot may be different, I would recommend starting out the same way I did to see if you need tab 1 or a thin shim to give you the embossed impression you are after. After all it is much easier to run it through your Big Shot again than having to purchase/source a replacement thin blue embossing mat after you've had a die cut through it.

Thanks so much for your support and for visiting me today :)

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Thank you so much for joining us today. We hope you'll join us again next month to see our projects using products from the new 2019-20 Annual Catalogue.

Don't forget to continue the hop all the way around to see what the amazing Ink it! Stamp it! Design Team have come up with.

You are currently visiting me - Kirsten Aitchison, so checkout the list below to see who is next in the hop.

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Just scroll to the bottom of my post, leave your comment and you will put a smile on my dial :)

You too can make this ....... 

Here is a list of the supplies and tools used:

If you need any of these supplies, I would love to be able to assist you and would really appreciate your business. Just click on a product link below to head on over to my Australian online store.

Australian customers: Join my free Customer Rewards program by making a purchase through my online store. Click here for more details.

**If you do make a purchase, be sure to use the current Hostess Code on your order to receive a free gift from me. Click here for the current code.**

All The Good Things (Clear 146558)*

All The Good Things (Wood 146555)*

Rectangle Stitched Framelits (148551)

Big Shot Embossing Mats (146327)*

Old Olive 1/8" Sheer Ribbon (144171)*

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Whisper White

Ink: Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Soft Suede

Adhesives: Multipurpose Liquid Glue, Tear & Tape, Snail/Fast Fuse

Tools: Paper Trimmer, Big Shot*, Clear Blocks, Scissors/Paper Snips, Sponge Daubers

* = Products retiring 3rd June 2019 (Available while stocks last)

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