Friday 28 October 2016

Less is More Challenge 299 - 'Acetate or Vellum'

It's a lovely theme this week over at Less is More - use acetate or vellum. I flipped a coin, vellum won - and this is the card I made:
I used:

- 4" x 6" white card blank, tent style

- snippet of white card, embossed using a Sizzix folder called 'Corner, flower vine' then trimmed to just an eighth of an inch smaller all round than the card blank 

- added the sentiment using Memento 'London Fog' ink and a sentiment from the Hero Arts 'Truly Appreciated' stamp set

- I wanted the embossed layer to stand out from the card blank so followed a tip I found last week which is to not use double sided foam pads or tape as the card will likely become distorted in the post. Instead I cut a piece of white fun foam just marginally smaller than the embossed panel and glued it in place

- then glued the panel onto the card front. Using the foam certainly makes for a lovely even, raised panel and it's a trick to be used more here in the future

- stamped three flowers onto plain white vellum. First swiped the vellum with a Woodware anti-static bag. Stamped three flowers using a clematis stamp from the SU 'Secret Garden' set using VersaMark ink and then embossed with white embossing powder 

- coloured the flowers on the reverse side of the vellum using Pro markers and quickly dried the flowers using the heat gun (the alcohol ink doesn't soak in so will come off on your fingers if it isn't totally dry - ask me how I know!) The beauty of colouring on the back of the vellum is that the embossed white lines disguise any minor 'blips'/slips of the markers :) 

- next I fussy cut around the flowers and gently shaped them using a bone folder underneath each petal

- glued them in place on the card front using a teeny drop of 'Glossy Accents' - and thankfully the white embossed stamens in the centre of the flowers were enough to cover any glue from showing through

Some tips about vellum. Do keep a little strip of vellum and try out your markers on the reverse before launching into colouring whatever you've stamped. It's really dramatic how muted the colours become once you flip the vellum over to the right side.

When colouring the vellum on the reverse it helps to work with a dark piece of paper or card underneath so that the white outlines stand out - and keep a piece of white card or paper at hand as a background to check how the colours are working out.

Also, my first attempt at attaching the flowers to the card from almost ended in disaster - Collall glue reacts quite violently with Pro markers on vellum and not only doesn't want to stick but will also lift the colour right off the vellum. Luckily I spotted it right away and switched to 'Glossy Accents' instead.

Finally, on my card above, I'd trimmed parts of a couple of the flowers too close to the white embossed line. Only noticed this as I was finishing off writing this post and I haven't changed the photo - but, those white lines are now back in place along the edges where I'd trimmed too close. Courtesy of my Signo white pen - which did need a little scribble on a snippet of ordinary paper to get the ink flowing. My guess is that it's because vellum is such a silky surface.







31 comments:

  1. Beautiful effect. I use 'Scotch' Vellum tape for attaching my vellum. It really does what it says on the packet. Disappears a treat. Weird to work with though. Heck I have hiccups now. I read a tip that if you hold your ear lobs with both hands that your throat can't hiccup at the same time. Just tried it and by eck it works too. Oft to bed now as I have a cold nose an it dun work for that. Hugs Mrs A.

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  2. So pretty Di, and great tips too

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  3. This is sensational, Di! Your beautiful vellum blooms look like honest-to-goodness orchid flowers!! This is a winner to me! Thank you, once again, for the excellent tips and tricks!! Love and hugs, Darnell

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  4. A lovely card I like the flowers I do like using vellum and thanks for the tip about the foam I will definitely be trying it xx

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  5. A beautiful card Di - your vellum flowers are stunning.
    Kath x

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  6. It's a beautiful card Di, such a feel of sophistication.

    B x

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  7. Such an elegant card Di. Really very pretty indeed, and so crisp. Great idea with the foam.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  8. Very elegant and thanks for the tips especially the one about glue gel and alcohol ink - saves me finding out the hard way!

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  9. This is lovely, Di, so elegant and the most gorgeous design! The flowers embossed on vellum are really stunning, and the dry embossed background adds fantastic texture. What a fab card! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Less is More :)

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  10. Beautiful card, thanks for the tip about glue - I've just finished a DT make and Cosmic shimmer sticks it too - although I hadn't used promarkers.

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  11. Di, this is so beautiful!! And I missed the card and explanation below. Thank you so much for showing how to do this technique!
    Lia xx

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  12. A stunning card Di, I love your beautiful vellum flowers, they look lovely against the embossed corner.

    Sue xx

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  13. This is lovely and your embossed background really does stand out ....what a great tip too! love the flowers and the colour choice as always its another of your brilliant creations x

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  14. These vellum flowers are beautiful Di and I adore that colour, also the pretty embossing frames the flowers perfectly, and a lovely large sentiment to finish. Thanks for the hints and tips when using vellum. x

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  15. It's always a delight to see you play along at Less is More Di and this is one elegant stunner! Fantastic vellum blooms set against the subtle embossing and a whole yummy expanse of white space. A brilliant take on the challenge and thanks for joining us this week. Sarah x

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  16. Love the card. It's very elegant. Thanks for sharing the tips about coloring on the opposite side of vellum! What a wonderful idea :)

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  17. Wow! So striking!!! Love these elegant vellum flowers and the embossed background, very elegant card!

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  18. Hi Di. Your card is beautiful!! Love the white dry embossing on the corner and the pretty coloured flowers. The gray sentiment is perfectly matched with the lightness of the vellum. And thanks for all the great tips! xx

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  19. Your card is very pretty Di. I love the vellum flowers. Thanks for the tip about Collal on vellum. Barbxx

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  20. That is one beautiful card Di. Good tip about the funky foam too. How's the shingles? Improving I hope!

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  21. Beautiful card Di...I too have had trouble with embossing chipping off vellum!

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  22. Lovely card Di, the flowers are so pretty made with vellum. Thanks for the tip about the funky foam, must remember that.
    Jean x

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  23. Vellum is always so elegant and with these purple flowers it is downright regal!

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  24. What a beautiful elegant card! Thanks for sharing at Less is More!

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  25. Gorgeous use of vellum, Di. Love those flowers over the embossed frame and the grey ink for the sentiment was a great choice to keep it soft.
    Thanks for sharing with us.
    Anita x
    Less is More

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  26. Fabulous card, Di. I love the embossed corner and the purple flowers are perfect against the white background - just beautiful. Thanks for the tip about the foam. 😊 xx

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  27. A really elegant card Di, the flowers look perfect on the embossed corner.
    Janice x

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  28. Ooh this card has such a delicate and soft feel to it - gorgeous! Love the embossing and your wonderful vellum flowers. Thank you for all the tips too! xxx

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