Less is More #339 - Pierce Your Project

Happy August folks!

Another great challenge over at Less is More this week - 'Pierce Your Project'. You can do this in a variety of ways such as paper piercing, brads, eyelets, sewing and a whole host of other things. I opted to use pierced 'faux stitched' dies to frame a fun frog:

I used:

- 4.25" x 5.5" white card blank, tent style

- then used the largest die in the Lil' Inkers 'Stitched Rectangles' set to add a frame of 'pierced stitches' to the front of the card. I actually did this before trimming the card down to size but using low tack tape it could just as easily be done to a card already cut to size

- then die cut a smaller panel using a die from the same set and the same shade of white card

- stamped the frog and the sentiment onto the panel using the Misti and a Misti magnetic Creative Corner to make stamping in the corner easier. In truth, I could have stamped with the card panel over to the top right of the Misti and skipped the use of the additional Misti Creative Corner - but am a creature of habit and I always stamp in the bottom left corner of the Misti :)

- for the stamping I used a piece of clear acetate with grid lines on to position the frog and the sentiment - just to make sure the sentiment was straight. I find this an invaluable help and the NBUS stamp set I used is by Joy Clair, called 'Hoppy Birthday', such a fun set as well!

- used a Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad and then coloured the image using Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils - blending using Sansodor blending fluid

- backed the image panel with white fun foam and glued it onto the card front

- final touch, added Glossy Accents to the eyes

A couple of little tips about using Sansodor blending fluid:

I popped a small piece of foam (from a make-up sponge - or a small piece of white felt would work either) into a little plastic jar and sprinkled a few drops of Sansodor on to moisten the sponge - absolutely ages ago. It rarely needs more drops adding and also ensures that you don't flood your work with blending fluid as you only need the tiniest amount on your blending stump.

I have a variety of different sized blending stumps but, again ages ago, I was given a great tip by Irene who was a UK bloggy friend. She sent me some really dinky pointed 'blending tips' that I believe are supposed to be used in a holder and changed when necessary. I know I have a spare packet of them with the brand name on, somewhere in here, but can't find it right now. Such a shame as I much prefer them for small areas and they seem to be almost made of a plastic like material which doesn't go at all 'blunt' like traditional cotton or paper stumps or tortillions. Yet they are slightly absorbent - if anyone knows what I'm talking about I'd love to know who makes them please! Sadly, Irene has given up blogging and I don't have her email address to ask her, sigh.

Edit: HOORAY, first Chris S and then Cara got in touch and the 'nibs' are from the Ranger 'Cut 'n Dry' range - try Amazon HERE if you're in the UK. IMHO you get more control using the wee little things without a holder! Thank you so much ladies! :)