Monthly Technique Challenge ~ Kissing

Hello crafty friends. It's time for a new Monthly Technique Challenge! This month's theme is... 

Kissing Technique

However, this type of kissing doesn't require anyone to pucker up! We're talking about kissing your stamps & inks together to create awesome effects! 

Stamp 2 Stamp Kissing
You'll need a solid image stamp {check out our silhouettes} along with a small or background image and two colors of ink.

Ink up your solid image using the lighter ink color, then ink your other image in the darker color and "kiss" it to the inked solid image. 

This is what the ink looks like on the stamp.

And the final result of this "kissing" technique:

Stamp 2 Stamp kissed image stamped on white paper

Pretty cool huh? Here's another way to do a Kissing Technique:

Kiss Off
Use one color of ink and "kiss" off that color using a small or background image.

If you are using a small image that you repeat (like shown here) you will need to clean the ink off the stamp before kissing it again to remove the ink from the solid stamp.

Here is the inked and "kissed-off" stamp.

Kiss-Off image stamped on white paper

Kissed Ink
You can also "kiss" a solid image with two different colors of ink. I LOVE to do this with a solid flower image! 

Inked in Dandelion Yellow Shades Dye Ink

Ink your solid stamp with one color {the lighter of the 2 colors you chose}.

"Kiss" the darker colored ink around the outside edges.

Kissed Ink image stamped on white paper

Our Shades Dye Ink Spots are PERFECT for ink kissing!

Experiment with different stamps and colors - you'll create an awesome effect! There's also a Splitcoast tutorial for this technique {and one with a twist} here.

Here is some fabulous Kissing Technique inspiration created by our talented DT Sweeties:

Annette Andersson

*Calypso Bastian*

Carolyn LaBille

Denise Paxton

Donna K

Erika Winterlia


Irena Kowalczyk

Irit Shalom

Lisa Lahiff

Monica Edwards


Roxie Glaza

* Shelly Schmidt *

We'd love to see your Kissing Technique project {cards, scrapbook pages, ATCs, mixed media and altered art are welcome}, so come and join the fun! You could win a $20 shopping spree for goodies at SweetStamps.com's online store by playing along in our challenge! Click here for our complete Challenge Rules.

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This is our Monthly Technique Challenge, so it will run through February 14th. Check out all the monthly challenges here. Happy Stamping! 

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge #152 Winter Blues

How's the weather where you are? It's been cold & snowy in Michigan, with negative temperatures - BRRRR! If you are stuck inside, you are probably going to relate to this week's challenge...

WINTER BLUES

The DT Sweeties have created some great designs for this challenge! Take a look:

Annette Andersson

*Calypso Bastian*

Carolyn LaBille

Denise Paxton

Donna K

Erika Winterlia

Irena Kowalczyk

Irit Shalom

*Kendra Sand*

Lisa Lahiff

Monica Edwards

Roxie Glaza

*Shelly Schmidt*

*Tamara Morton*

We'd love to see your Winter Blues creation (cards, scrapbook pages, mixed media, ATCs, etc.), so come and join the fun! You could win a $20 shopping spree for goodies at SweetStamps.com's online store by playing along in our challenge! Click here for our complete Challenge Rules.

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We'll be announcing our Easel Card Monthly Technique Challenge winner and a NEW Monthly Technique Challenge on January 15th, come join us and check out what our DT Sweeties made! View ALL the monthly challenges here.

***Don't forget to check back later this week for more inspiration from our monthly Guest Designers!***

Next week our theme is ANYTHING GOES. Happy Stamping! Have a super sweet week!

 

An InLinkz Link-up

He who has the key....

Hiya everyone, Tracy here sharing another of my projects. 

Now as Valentines day is creeping up I decided to spread a little bit of love and make a Vintage style Pendant using one of the awesome Acrylic Craft Charms

I am really happy how this turned out. Here is how I made it...

1. I made my own backing paper (It reads he who holds the key to my heart) and crumpled it up and then distressed it and rubber some gold wax around the edges, this was then glued onto the Bezel. 

2. I then took one of the hearts from Keys to my Heart Piccolo set and gave it two layers of Ruby Red Slippers Enamel Powder...The below picture shows just how beautiful this Enamel powder is. 

3. I also used one of the keys from Keys to my heart Piccolo Set and used Copper Kettle Enamel Powder...I only gave this one rough layer as I wanted it to have an old look to it

4. I then took Instant UV resin and put a fine layer down and placed the heart and key into it, I then left it on my window sil for a few mins to set, i then gave it another coat and again left on window sil to set....I love this product ! A definite must have, I wanted a old look to this whole thing so was very "rough" with how i applied the resin, I also wanted to create a look like you get with Amber and you have items floating and bubbles etc...I was very wary about doing it but I think it has work just how i pictured it would. 

This picture shows just how fab the shine is on the resin. I simply then added some vintage ribbon to finish it off. 

 Now between me and you I have seen there is some new items over on the website so make sure you check them out.
Also don't forget we have some brilliant inspiration from the rest of the team post regularly so make sure you keep checking back. 

Happy Crafting :) 

Altered Bottle Caps | Love Hang Ups

Happy Monday!

i love saying that...

I have a wall of love in my home and am always in need of a few more magnets. Even if you don't have kids and a plethora of 'Good Job!' papers to hang, you may still want to make these.

They're cute and useful.

Did I mention really cute?

G&P Shopping List:
Enamel & Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid

Enamel Powders:
Temple Stone
Poodle Skirt

Clear Thick Enamel Powder

Tweezers

your favorite Piccolo Accents 

Other:
Heat Tool
Craft Mat
metal bottle caps (rinsed and dried)
scraps of paper, stickers, sequins, etc. (I cut words from some packaging.)

Notes: Take your time. Let the Diva of Perfection go...because sometimes the powder moves in it's own direction!

The metal cap will get HOT! Be sure to use tweezers and let the cap cool as necessary before you handle it!

1.  Sprinkle a light layer of Stone Temple Enamel Powder into the bottle cap.

black, gray, white, gold

2.  Hold the bottle cap with the tweezers. Heating from underneath and about 5-6 inches away, slowly heat the bottle cap. Once the enamel starts to melt you can heat it from the top, starting 5-6 inches away until the powder no longer blows around.

3.  While still warm, add another layer of Stone Temple. Repeat Step 2.

4.  Repeat Steps 3 and 2 until you have the bottom of the cap covered.

 This is 3 layers.

5.  This time add a layer of the Clear Thick Enamel Powder. Repeat Step 2. Take your time. (It appears the Clear Thick Enamel Powder is heavier than the Stone Temple. It didn't mix as much as it moved the other powder. I LOVE this effect!) 

6.  Using the tweezers, hold the tiny heart. Using a paintbrush dab on the embossing fluid. Sprinkle the Poodle Skirt Enamel Powder on the heart and melt from underneath. Let cool before removing tweezers.

Look at the depth & detail of the Piccolo Enamel Powders (+ Clear Thick Enamel Powder)! Gorgeous!

7.  Repeat Step 5. While still warm begin to add your embellishments. Layering the Clear Thick Enamel Powder as you like.

Two layers.

Here you can see where the melted enamel moved across my sequin.

 Three layers. Done!

8.  Add your favorite kind of magnet to the back! Of course, you could also use this in another project, punch a hole to use it for a charm...I'm sure you'll think of something!

Last notes: I love that I didn't have to wait for stuff to dry, but you could use the Glastique or Instant UV Resin instead.  You can continue to layer more stuff into the cap whenever you want to. Added a tiny rhinestone to the 'empty' area in the top right of the cap.

Stop by the G&P store and check out the NEW ITEMS...I'm already working on a wishlist...

Well, that's it for today! See you here tomorrow with a fab project from Tracy!

Inky hugs,

Angi

Froggy's Foliage Accents

One of this month's new releases is the Piccolo Froggy's Foliage Accents.  I love frogs, they were some of my best friends when I was a kid.  So I just had to make a pendant with this cute little guy.  I began with an Acrylic Teardrop and it's matching frame.  There are blue plastic protective sheets on both sides of the acrylic that need to be removed.  Just work at it with your fingernail and you can peel them off.  I embossed the frame with Gilded Rose Gold enamel powder and glued it down to the teardrop.  Using a mix of Kiwi and Luscious Lime Smooch Inks I colored the Foliage Accents and then glued them down on to the teardrop.

Next came a layer of Instant UV Resin, 3 minutes under a UV lamp or sunlight and it hardens to a beautiful glass like finish.  For my Froggy, I used Mossy Glen enamel powder, adding a bit of green cardstock behind his mouth and white behind his eyes.  I coated my frog with Glastique Gloss Finishing Glaze for a lovely shine.  The last step was to color the back of the acrylic with Light Blue 3D stamp paint.  Love the sparkle from this paint.   Be sure to stop by tomorrow for more inspiration from the team.