Challenge #11 - More Inspiration

 Hello Squashettes!  Gail here today with some of my favourite things to inspire for the current not paper, not card challenge here at Let's Squash It! 

We want you to use any embossing folder, emboss something that is not paper or card and include that on your card.  I decided to use this beautiful royal blue metal sheet I had and one of my all time favourite folders Sizzix Cirque.

I love embossing metal sheets.  It's gives such a gorgeous crisp and special background.  I decided Cirque gave a suitably spacey looking stage for my little X-cut rocket, which I cut out of a scrap of pale blue metal sheet.  Then I die cut the Stamplorations Happy Birthday, also scraps.  Blue is also a favourite and completes my trio of things I love in a very satisfying manner.

Dig out your folders and not paper/card things and get squashing.  Linky is open until the end of the month so you have another week to join in. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hugz

Challenge #11 - Inspiration...

Hi there, Squashettes, it's Jo here to further inspire you for our current challenge 'Not Paper, Not Card' where we ask you to seek out something different to squash and emboss!

I decided to try embossing vellum and well, what a roller coaster journey that turned out to be!

I tried embossing with a variety of folders and discovered that most of them pierced and cut the vellum. Misting with a little water just created a huge, curled-up mess of vellum, so it was back to the drawing board. I eventually found a folder with a wider pattern and that 'pressed' the vellum into a nice shape and this card was born!

Embossing Folder Kaisercraft - Crochet Doily (Currently Out of Stock)

Gail and I are delighted to be joined this month by our guest, Jane Willis. Jane has been creating-up-a-storm of fabulous cards for this challenge and I thought I'd just share them here in case you hadn't spotted them in our gallery!

I very much hope you're feeling inspired and ready to play along with this fun challenge!

Challenge #11 - Not Paper, Not Card

 Welcome, welcome, welcome to the 11th 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 #11

And this month's theme is

Use any Embossing Folder AND Emboss and Include Something that is NOT Paper or Card

 

We want you to use any embossing folder, emboss something that is not paper or card and include it on your card.  So metal sheets, acetate, vellum etc etc.  Check the technique posts, previous challenges and the lovely inspiration below for ideas if you are feeling challenged.  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 Jane

"Hi, I'm Jane.  I am retired and live in the South East of the UK with my husband. We have four gorgeous grandchildren - sadly no pets but we do have three "grandcats". I've pretty much always been a crafter, since my gran taught me to crochet before I started school, and have worked my way through crochet, knitting, toymaking, dress making, embroidery, cross stitch and machine knitting before settling down as a paper crafter after seeing a demo of heat embossing at a craft show about 25 years ago. My other hobbies are food and reading. I was going to include travel but that's been off the menu for the last couple of years!"

And here is Jane's card using
Santoro Embossing folder - Hearts

and metal sheet

Check Jane's blog for her tips on making this beautiful and fun card

 

 

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

 

Gail's Card uses 

Hunkydory Magazine Embossing Folder - Rope Knots

and plastic packaging

 

Jo's Card uses 

Altenew Embossing Folder - Flowery Field - 3D

and plastic packaging

 

 

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 August 2021 - Embossing different materials

  Hello Squashettes!  Gail here today with another Technique Time.   

 

We hope these posts will help you find some fun new ways to stretch your embossing folders, or maybe just remind you of some techniques you haven't used for a while, so grab a cuppa and take a look. 

 Today I want to look at things we can emboss other than paper and card.  

Here's a few of the ones I have tried

Vellum

Vellum gives a lovely effect with the embossed areas turning opaque.  A die cut circle embossed with Do-crafts 3D Clocks adds a nice subtle detail to this card.  If your vellum is thin, or your folder 3D, go careful with your embossing pressure or you might get some holes.  I solved the problem by sticking a duck over the little boo boo!!!  Remember die cut before embossing!  

 

Acetate and Plastic

All that crafty plastic packaging that just goes in the bin can give some very fun effects when used with embossing folders.  I used Sizzix Ledger folder to add an interesting layer on this ATC.  Hide your glue/tape behind a strategically placed sentiment or embellishment

 

Scratch Paper

 

Raid the kids craft box for scratch paper or make your own!  That colourful card with the black wax coating you scratch off.  Embosses beautifully and then carefully scratch off the raised areas for a wow effect. This is Sizzix Flourish folder.  

 

Metal Sheets

Metal sheets have already made an appearance at Let's Squash It! in our very first challenge so what can I say??  Blubb Blubb!!  Metal sheet + embossing folder = awesome!  This is Sizzix Mermaid folder. 

 

And for a final surprize.......

Something I have been thinking about trying and what a fab result!!!!!!!!

 Leather!!!!!!!

How cool is that!!!!   I know you can tool leather so I thought I'd give it a go with an embossing folder.  I bought some leather scraps off amazon and found a piece that wasn't too thick and ran it through my Big Shot with Darice Tickets embossing folder.  Things to remember.....  The leather is quite a thick layer, unless you get a really thin bit of pig or some such, but it will compress when embossed, but go gentle with your pressure.  Also, the leather stretches and tends to move so only run it through once for a nice crisp impression.  If you want to run it again make sure it hasn't moved at all.  

I used this piece to make this card and I'll put all the details on my blog if you are curious.  

Thanks for dropping by.  We will be back on the 10th with a brand new fun and exciting challenge and another lovely guest designer.  Take care.  Have fun.  See you soon.  Hugz

Winners and Top Picks for Challenge #10

 

Hello Squashettes!  Gail here today to announce the results of Challenge #10

Thanks to everyone for joining us and sharing your gorgeous entries with so many awesome shimmery sparkly cards.

And a big thank you to Tina for joining us as our guest and sharing her lovely card.

But you are here for the winner and top picks aren't you?  So let's get to it......

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

Joanne

 

Beautiful colours on both the gorgeous embossing and da gnome!!

and

Dawn

 

 Gorgeous gold on black and pretty sentiment as well

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:

Alice

We all loved this perfectly summer, fabulously sparkly beach scene.
Awesome card Alice.

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

We also have our random draw prize to award!  

Mr Random says the lucky winner is......

  

#29

 

Robyn O

Congrats Robyn!  Please email me at craftynomad@gmail.com with your address details, and also let me know which folder you want from the prize vault.

Thanks again to Tina for joining Jo and I for this fun challenge, and a very big thank you to everyone who joined the fun. Our next challenge is due to start on 10th August, and don't forget to check out the Technique Time teaser on the 8th. Hope to see you there!  Hugz