Stamp A Faire 2017--Yana's Challenge: 6th Anniversary, Iron

Yana inspired us to create a metallic embossed die cut for her 6th anniversary challenge.  I had really liked the look of the aged spice embossing enamel on this card, and thought it would create an interesting effect if I added multiple layers to a die cut word, so I gave it a go.  This stuff is really thick to begin with, thicker than standard embossing powder, so it took a long time to melt with my heat tool.  I ended up adding three layers of the embossing enamel and it definitely looks like a metal word embellishment!

Feel free to click on the picture for a closer look.  I added my die cut word to a Shape Up pumpkin die cut and stamped the remainder of my sentiment onto the Leaf Print patterned paper die cut pumpkin segments.  Simple, but elegant card.

Stamp A Faire 2017--Betsy's Challenge: 6th Anniversary, Iron

I loved watching Betsy's video for the 6th anniversary challenge, iron.  What a cool technique!  Who would have known how relatively easy it is to get a metal look with paper, texture paste, ink and some metallic pigment powder?

For my project, I pulled out a new to me set, You're a Masterpiece from the Make It Market kit, which I managed to snag when it was offered a second time during PTI's February anniversary festivities.  I love the frame in that set and thought I could use it to make my own version of a "metal" frame.

My biggest challenge was finding a suitable alternative to the texture paste and an empty bottle with a small enough nozzle to dispense the watered down paste.  I really didn't want to go hunt for it at the craft store this weekend.  Once again, my boyfriend Rob came to the rescue!  His hobby includes tools and tinkering with cars.  His craft room is the garage, and like me, he usually has multiple versions of various supplies!  When I showed him Betsy's video, he thought maybe I could use some watered down paint spackle in an empty Elmer's glue bottle and he was kind enough to go prepare some for me and empty out a partially use glue bottle he had on his work bench.  It worked!  He's a genius.  :-)

My first attempt was thwarted as I forgot to cut out the center square from the frame before I applied the paste, ink blending and perfect pearls, and when I went to run the square die through my machine, I discovered the paste hadn't fully dried (even though I'd blasted it for a long time with my heat tool) and it pulled off onto my die cutting plate.  Argh!  Do over.  So here is my second attempt, and I made sure to die cut the middle out of the frame before I even started to apply the paste, ink or perfect pearls pigment!

A sentiment and leaf from Autumn Pumpkins and a die cut cart and pumpkins from the Market Street Make It Market kit layered on some Leaf Prints patterned paper finished off my card.

Stamp A Faire 2017--Natasha's Challenge: 5th Anniversary, Wood

Natasha inspired us to create a project using an inked impression plate for her 5th anniversary challenge.  In keeping with the wood theme, I also used the Woodgrain impression plate for my card.  I pulled out another well loved older set in my collection for this project, Meadow Greens.  I often use the set for sympathy cards and use a green palette for the leaves, but went in a different direction for a change.

I found some interesting embossing enamel called Aged Spice from Stampendous in my embossing powder stash and thought it would give the ferns a really unique look.  I used a frame from the Pretty Peonies stamp and die set to surround my sentiment from Meadow Greens.  A couple of terracotta enamel dots finished off the frame.

Stamp A Faire 2017--Lizzie's Challenge: 5th Anniversary, Wood

Lizzie had us create a project using a woodgrain inlay technique for the 5th anniversary wood challenge.  I had fall on my mind when I pulled out my wood paper sheets from my stash and thought this technique might pair nicely with Dawn's Enclosed: Leaf die set.

I had already prepared the leaf background paper while playing around with a new 8 x 8 background stamp from Stampendous and my Nuvo Embellishment mousse pots a few weeks ago and was saving it for the perfect project.  What's nice is that I was able to get two card panels and a few scraps large enough to create two tags from that one background stamp!  Score!  I decided to use the two leaves I die cut for Lizzie's technique and create a pair of cards, changing the sentiment for each one.

Stamp A Faire 2017--Anna's Challenge: 4th Anniversary, Linen

Anna challenged us to create a die cut frame backed with stamped linen for her 4th anniversary project.  For this year's event, I tried to pull out older stamp and die sets in my collection, along with my hoard of patterned papers and give them some attention.  As I went through my sets looking for an interesting frame, I found the Simply Jane set.  This is an "oldie but goodie" set!

I stamped the silhouette cameo from Simply Jane on a scrap of linen fabric in Dark Chocolate ink and embellished it with a die cut flower from the same collection.  I added a "string of pearls" around the lady's neck using Bisque Liquid Pearls.  I then inserted the stamped linen scrap between two of the ornate frame die cuts and added this focal panel to several layers of patterned paper and a Spring Moss die cut oval.

Stamp A Faire 2017--Amy's Challenge: 4th Anniversary, Linen

I'm back to share more of my Stamp A Faire projects with you today!  I'm up to the 4th anniversary, which is linen.  This was my favorite project of the two I made using linen.  Amy challenged us to stamp some fabric to wrap a special gift.  I had so much fun stamping the beautiful maple leaf from Leaf Prints on the fabric.  I picked up a bar of wonderful smelling soap from Tuesday Morning recently called Golden Sugar Maple (have you discovered Tuesday Morning yet? OH, that's a dangerous place...and they sell craft supplies, among all sorts of fantastic goods!), which inspired the theme for my linen wrap.

I added a stamped paper die cut Leaf Print embellishment to top off my wrap and secured the two ends of the fabric with Terracotta Tile grosgrain ribbon.

Stamp A Faire 2017--Nichole's Challenge: 3rd Anniversary, Leather

For the second project for the 3rd anniversary, Nichole challenged us to come up with faux embossed leather.  I thought the In the Woods cover plate would be a good die to use for this, but my first attempt was not successful.  I tried again, and nearly abandoned the project, but it wasn't until I added ink over the top of the tissue paper did my design finally come to life.  I'm so glad I persisted and I think the end result is really unique!  My August release order came at the end of last week, so I pulled out the Beautiful Berries: Autumn set to add a few berry sprays and the sentiment to finish off the card.