Showing posts with label Dry Embossing with a Shim Technique. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dry Embossing with a Shim Technique. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

SALING UNDER THE MOON

My friend and neighbor built a sailboat and painted it red, so my card today was inspired by Jan.  She likes to go out on our lake and sail under the light of the moon!  

This card was made using the Dry Embossing with a Shim Technique that I demonstrated on my Learning with Friends video a few weeks ago.

If you are unfamiliar with this old technique you can watch the video replay to see how it is done.

For this card I used the Soft Waves embossing folder and an approximately 2-1/2" diameter shim.  In the video I show how to make the shim and then combine it with the embossing folder to make a flat space in the middle of your embossed cardstock.

I could have stamped the image on a Basic White Circle die cut and then layered it over the embossed layer, but the advantage of this technique is to minimize the number of layers on your card and thus minimize your postage cost when you mail it.

Rather than add an additional layer, I stamped the images directly on the flat area created by the technique.  Because the stamp for the water was wider than my flat area, I did mask the outside area before stamping.  The mask was made from lightweight copy paper using the same size circle that I used to create the shim.


To make the image pop, I created a "port hole" frame using the largest Encircled in Nature die for the outside of the "port hole" and the same circle die that was used for the shim for the inside of the "port hole".

Since there are no sentiments included in the Under the Moon stamp set, I used a sentiment from the You are Beautiful for the card front.  The sentiment was die cut with a Stylish Shapes die.

To decorate the inside of the card I recreated the same scene as I have on the front.


The inside sentiment comes from the Sketched Butterflies Stamp Set.

Use this link to download a PDF tutorial with all the details and step-by-step directions.

Enjoy!


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Monday, March 17, 2025

AN ARCH OF SUNSHINE

This week I will be using the Everyday Arches Bundle.  The dies alone were enough to entice me to purchase this OnLive Exclusive, but the sentiments that fit in the arches sealed the deal.


Today's card uses a very old technique that I call Dry Embossing with a Shim.  It's not a very enticing name but it was the most descriptive I could come up with.

We used this technique in the "olden" days when I first started stamping.  As I recall, embossing folders came into being before we started having the huge variety of dies that we have today.  We used this technique to create a "flat" spot in the middle of an embossed piece of cardstock.  


Today, we usually just put a die cut on top of the embossed cardstock layer so we have a flat surface for our stamped images or sentiments.  The drawback to using an additional die cut is that you add another layer to your card, and all those extra layers add up to more postage.

If you are not familiar with how to do this technique watch my Learning with Friends video where I show you.  

I hesitated about even making this video because the technique was so old.  However after sharing it I was really surprised by the number of people that told me they had never heard of the technique before.  I guess there is some truth to the saying, "what's old becomes new again".  Kind of like hip hugger and bell bottom pants!


Today's card has an arched flat shape in the center of the Eyelet 3D embossed layer.  To create my "Arch of Sunshine", I used a mask made with one of the Everyday Arches dies to mask the Basic White cardstock layer before I embossed it.  Then I used Blending brushes to create my sky.  

After I completed by sky, I then made a shim using the same arch die and embossed the Basic White cardstock with the Shim Technique.  The sentiment and hot air ballons were added after embossing.

For all the details on how to make this card you can download a FREE tutorial at this link.  It includes Step by Step directions, all the dimensions you need and a list of the products used.  The tutorial also includes all the written directions and some additional hints for the Dry Embossing with Shim Technique.  There is also a link to the video so you will always be able to easily find it.

For the inside of my card, I used the mask again to create another pretty sky and then stamped some more hot air balloons.  There is plenty of room to write your message in the sky!

Listed below are the supplies that I used for the card.  You can click on any image to get additional information or easily make a purchase.


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Friday, February 7, 2025

NESTED TOADSTOOLS

The cards this week have all used a different technique as their basis.  Monday we had the cute Circle-Cut Fun Fold.  Wednesday I used the "new-to-me" Bargello Technique.  Today's card uses a Technique that I first used many, many years ago. 

In fact it had been so long since I had used this technique that I could not remember how it was done!  It was also WAY BEFORE I started creating tutorials for each of my cards, so, I had to do some research and experimenting to relearn it.

This is a great technique for those that like to send cards but like to keep them flat enough so additional postage is not usually required.

This technique that I'm calling Dry Embossing with a Shim creates a flat space in the middle of your embossed layer.  So you get the pretty effect of embossing with your embossing folders, but you don't need to add an additional layer on top of it for your stamped images or sentiment.


For this card I used the Starstruck Sale-A-Bration (SAB) embossing folder and a shim that I made with the Nested Essentials Dies.  If you look closely you will see that the area where I stamped my toadstools, bug, and sentiment is NOT embossed.  But rather it is flat -- ready and waiting to be stamped.

To learn how I did that, watch this Learning with Friends video.


As I mention in the video creating your shim is the most "critical" part of the technique.  And the thickness that you will need can be different depending on which Die Cutting & Embossing Machine you may have.  You may need to do some experimentation for your particular machine.  For my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine I found that a shim that was approximately 1/16" thick seemed to work best.  Also, depending if you are using a standard embossing folder or a 3D embossing folder your sandwich will need to be adjusted.   Grabbing some scrap paper and running tests is my best advice.


For the inside of this card, I stamped a couple more toadstool trios and another little bug.  Choosing color combinations for the bug was also something I needed to experiment with.  My bug has a Crushed Curry body and his back shell is Cajun Craze.  I've never seen a bug this color, but you gotta do what you gotta do to make your bug color-coordinate with the card and look cute.  Live bugs aren't cute!  Stamped bugs can be.  LOL


Listed below are all the products that I used.  Click on any image to learn more or to place an order.


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