Hope is the Key...For Andy skinners DT using Bubbalux Craft Board

Here's my latest DT post for Andy Skinner check out his blog here! I really enjoyed having a play with this Bubbalux stuff - it takes paint really well and even die cuts using Sizzix Bigz dies, (take the plastic sheet off of it first, and best to use a sturdy machine). Plus it bends when heated so that could be useful!

I cut a piece of the Bubbalux so it would just fit through my Big Shot machine over the Sizzix Bigz Arch Die - you MUST peel off the film before doing this as it makes it tough for the die cutting machine to cut through if you done. After cutting the arch I then ran it through again with the Bigz Hope word die.

I used Media Fluid Acrylics to paint the board. First the Cobalt Teal Hue, followed by the other blues, then a layer of Media Line Crackle Glaze.

Once the glaze was dry I painted on Patina Antiquing Cream.

Once dry I wiped a lot of it back and layered up more paints. I randomly swiped over a clear Versamark ink pad, then added Stampendous Aged Silver embossing enamel powder. While I was heat embossing the Bubbalux warped a bit like shrink plastic but without shrinking(that could be useful!)I flattened it out with an acrylic stamping block but it did change shape slightly which I really liked!

I stamped the text onto the arch using white paint, stamped the winged key onto the panel too. But the key didn't show up too much so I stamped it again onto card, cut it out, coloured with the paints and glued it on. Then I chose some embellies to decorate the arch - teensy metal cogs and clock hand, an old zip, a button which I added string to then I painted it with the cobalt teal hue. I then added the cog and zip to the centre of the winged key and another at the base.

Before gluing then on, I used the same Versamark ink pad and Stampendous enamels on the cogs.

Layered the cogs behind and on top of the arch, lastly I added highlights with a white Posca Paint Pen. 

Last of all I added a piece of black card behind

to make the words pop.

That's it! Thanks for looking. Suz xxx

Here are the products I used.....

Plus Andy's stamps, the text stamp on Illusionary Artist Tech trauma set and Steampunk by Stampendous  :

Parasol Card for the Craft Stamper Blog

I cheated this month for my Craft Stamper Make it Take it challenge DT piece! I used a card I'd made for my Dad. Here's a quick explanation of why and how I made it...

My Dad will be on his first holiday to Thailand at the end of this month. So I wanted to make a card with an Asian feel to it. I used some old Sheen Douglas papers for the 2 background layers, going around the edges of both with a gold pen.
I cut two circles of watercolour card, another from the same paperback.

The paper circle I folded in half in several directions to give the parasol feel, then washed over with DecoArt paints to look more rustic and hide the bold pattern.
On one of the watercolour card circles I based coated with DecoArt Titan Buff then painted cherry blossoms (inspired by my You Can Folk It painting kit), the other. The third disc had a wash of colour to tone down the white. Once completely dry I used my anti static pad before Stamping with Illusionary Artist dragonfly and butterfly stamps (by France Papillon) and heat embossing with copper powder. Then painted wings with DecoArt Media Interference paints before also folding in half along several points.
On all three I then swept a versamark ink pad along the folds and outsides of the circles added gold powder and heat embossed.
Final Stamping was the birthday sentiment by Inkylicious. I write Dad in gold ink and used the sane pen to edge both that and the Happy birthday. Then stuck it all down with Cosmic Shimmer glue.
Hoping he'll like it!
Thanks for looking.
Suz
X