More Inspiration for Challenge #8

 Hi, it's Jo here to give you a little more inspiration for our current challenge.

We've had some great cards in the gallery and Gail and I love seeing what you've created for this theme. We've also got another fabulous make in the gallery from Empress Riet (#11) which you really should take a look at!

My card is very simple, but was fun to make. 

This sweet embossing folder is from Darice and is called frame. It's a real oldie so is unlikely to be available, which I think is a pity as it's lovely. The fussy cutting took ages, bit I like the end result. The stamps are from Birthday Wit! by Stampin' Up! I've just checked and it doesn't look like this is available either - shows I'm shopping my stash!

You still have until the end of this month to join the fun, so why not get squashing right now!

Challenge #8 - Inspiration

Hello Squashettes!!  Gail here today with a little more inspiration for our current challenge, leave some space and bling it up!

I love keeping things simple, so this theme is perfect for me, and I have masses of bling, so it's wonderful to be using a bit more than usual.  Here's my card with Nellie Snellen Ball Flower embossing folder.  

 

I used an offwhite wood effect panel, smeared the flat side of my folder with Tumbled Glass distress ink and embossed.  No water added and I got this lovely swirl effect with the ink.  Gorgeous!!!  I think it goes well with the subtle woodgrain texture.  I blinged up my flowers with rhinestones and stamped the Norwegian Happy Birthday sentiment.   A blue card base and done!!   

I hope you get some time to grab your folders and bling and join the fun.  Jo did a fabulous technique time post so check that out for ideas and inspiration.   

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Challenge #8 - Let's Make some Space and Bring on the Bling!

 Welcome, welcome, welcome to the 8th challenge here at 

Let's Squash It! 

Let's Squash It! is The Embossing Folder Challenge.  We are gonna help you explore the world of the not so humble embossing folder and encourage you to dig 'em out, knock the dust off and find old, new and fun ways to make your projects pop.

 

We have an awesome team to keep you entertained and awesome challenge themes to stretch your creativity and get you using all those long forgotten and neglected embossing folders.  

For those of you who are just tuning in you can check the previous posts for the story behind the genesis of the challenge and the technique posts for awesome tips and techniques to help you make the most of your supplies and folders.

Challenges start on the 10th of the month and run to the last day at 23.59 GMT.  We will be picking top picks and a winner, who will have a chance to be our guest designer for a future challenge.  There is a little prize on offer for a randomly selected winner and these will all be announced on the 5th of next month.   

So, Challenge #8

And this month's theme is

Use any Embossing Folder that leaves some space AND Bling

Use an embossing folder that leaves some un-embossed space and also add some bling eg sequins, rhinestones, glitter etc..  Check Jo's awesome technique time post for ideas on leaving un-embossed space.  Please make sure you include both parts of the challenge on your card and also check da roolz to ensure your entry will be eligible for the random prize draw!

We are very pleased to have our Let's Squash It!! Empress joining us as our guest designer this month.  Please welcome Riet from I need to Stamp!

"Hello everyone, My name is Riet and some of you know me as Riet Harikini. I love to stamp and make cards. But I can also take a trip into the art journals and mixed media. I really enjoy being able to participate here as a guest designer. I find it very difficult to use embossing folders and I hardly ever use them. Until Gail and Jo started this challenge blog. Great idea from these two ladies. Now I use them more often. Enough talking now, let's get to work, and show us your beautiful ideas."

Here's what Riet made:

 

Riet's Card uses
Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder 05 Rectangle Frame

The folder Riet used.  

 

And here's some inspiration from the team......

 

Gail's Card uses 

Crafts Too Embossing Folder - Christmas Tree Frame

  

Jo's Card uses

Crafts Too Embossing Folder - Trellis

 

Please do check da roolz to make sure you will be in the running for da prizes.  

This months randomly selected winner will be able to choose a prize from the

Let's Squash It! Prize Vault

 

Now it your turn!

Grab your embossing folders and dies or scissors and join the fun.

We are looking forward to seeing your cards.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Technique Time with Jo - May 2021

 

Hey, Squashettes, it's Jo with you today to talk about SPACE!

No, not the final frontier stuff but how to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your embossing folders and create some 'white space' in your design. Obviously, when I talk about 'white space' I just mean a break or gap in the pattern of the embossing - the space doesn't have to be white. 

There are so many great EFs out there and many come with a 'gap' in the pattern for a sentiment or image. Just looking through my collection I spotted I'd got these.

If you haven't got folders like this here are a few simple ideas to help you achieve the look.

D is for Die Cuts

A die cut window can give great impact to your card. I decided to use a square die to complement the pattern.

Thankfully, I'm now in the habit of die cutting first to avoid squishing the embossing!

I think the window looks good cut into the embossed lattice pattern.

 

The resulting gap can be used to frame an image or create a window for a splash of colour and a sweet sentiment.

 

P is for Partial

Space can also be created with partial embossing. You can achieve this effect in exactly the same way as partial die cutting - just don't run all of the folder through your machine.

I may not have chosen the best folder to demonstrate this effect, but a score line makes a nice, tidy border to the embossed portion of the card.

B is for Borders

And what about those cute little border folders we all have?

Just look how much glorious space there is for your design and/or sentiment! Love it!
 

D is for Diffusers 

Finally, we need to talk about diffuser plates - yes, seriously, we do! 

White space can be created using a diffuser plate. I tried to make my own diffuser, but failed to come up with a design that went through my Cuttlebug. So I called for some help from the lady with the rabbits and Gail kindly supplied the following pictures to help finish this post.

Gail has a set of three diffusers. You can buy this set from from Sizzix UK or Sizzix USA etc. The set is designed by Tim Holtz and there's a handy video on the Sizzix sites to show you how to use them.

When using the diffusers insert them into your die cutting machine as if they were a plate. Please DON'T add them as an additional plate or your embossing machine may not survive the ensuing battle! 

Where the diffuser has a gap you will get a gap in the pattern of the embossing.

How cool is that???

Substituting the circle gives you a 'spotlight' impression in the area covered by the diffuser plate. 

Doesn't the selective embossing look great and give a terrific focal point. And just look at all that white space just calling to be decorated or stamped with a sentiment.

                  ....................................................................                        

Thanks for sticking with me during this long post. There are many brilliant techniques for creating space, gaps and spotlights and it was tricky to cram everything into one Technique Time session!

I hope this has got your mojo warmed up and ready to go... We'll be back in a couple of days with the next challenge. Can you guess what it might be?

Winners and Top Picks for Challenge #7

  

Hello Squashettes!  It's Jo with you today to announce the results of Challenge #7.

This challenge got off to a slowish start, but I think it was just you guys needing a little thinking time to come up with a gorgeous card combining not one, but three EFs and an image of a person.

Before I move on, I must thank the lovely Sally for joining us as our guest. 

It's been great having you inspire us with your gorgeous cards, Sally, thanks so much for being our Empress! 

So, let's talk favourite cards... sooooooooooo tricky.

Our two runners up, impressing us with their fabulous squashing are:

 Robyn

(Love that embossed dress and sentiment)

and

Joanne

(She blew us away not once, but twice!)

 We hope you'll wear your badge with pride!

Our top pick and winner of our Empress of Squash award,
(with a chance to guest design for a future challenge) goes to:

Marlena

(Big congrats, Marlena, we loved how you incorporated your 3 folders into your design)

Here's your badge and well done on being our Empress of Squash.

We also have our random draw prize to award!  

Congratulations to #13

Donna W.

Well done, Donna! Please email me at dottypudding@aol.com with your address details, and also let me know which folder you want from the prize vault.

Thanks again to Sally for joining Gail and me for this fun challenge, and a very big thank you to our entrants and to the 130 lovely peeps that now are signed-up as Followers. Our next challenge is due to start on 10th May, and there will be a Technique Time teaser on Saturday 8th. Hope to see you there!