Double Tutorial: Embossing Acetate & Making a 3D Fabulous Flower with Only 1 Layer

Clear elements are super hot right now, and my budget is super not right now. I do, however, have a lot of acetate (the inexpensive kind that is not the type for printers) so I was trying to figure out how to use it. The best way I could think to keep the ink on it was to emboss it, but I wasn't sure if it'd stick or if it'd melt. Turns out, if you sand it & you're very careful with the heat it's just fine. It might warp a tad, but if you're punching it into scallops (or shapes) that makes no never mind. Here's a little tutorial on how to emboss the acetate:

Step 1. Sand the acetate to create a tooth for the ink to adhere to. I used a nail file.

Step 2. Ink your background stamp with versamark & stamp acetate, (press down well)

Step 3. Cover with silver e.p. & heat very gently.
Step 4. Cut to make a scalloped line (with your slit punch as you would with any cardstock.)

Step 5. Adhere acetate with double-sided tape & a thin bead of
Crystal Effects (guarantees hold.)

Here's how to make a 3D fabulous flower with Only 1 Layer (really saves on cardstock, and on stamping & cutting time):

Step 1. Stamp the flower using the moist kissing technique. (Tutorial here.) For this flower I've stamped Fabulous Flowers kissed with Floral background in Silver Encore ink on "Drive in the Country" paper (ste-722 Stella Ruby line by Basic Grey.)

Step 2. Outline the flower with marker & (if desired) colour in each petal with marker for bolder definition.

Step 3. Cover each petal in Crystal Effects (makes the colour pop & gives gloss)

Step 4. Bead the center (if desired) & allow to dry

Step 5. Carefully cut around the tips of each petal (being careful to ensure cuts do not go all the way around so your petals stay attached to one another) Lift gently with blade (or fingers) to shape.

Here's a back-view of the flower, to give you an idea of where you may want to make your cuts.

As this pic shows, the flower looks best against similarly hued backgrounds (makes it look kind of like it has more layers under it.)

here's what it looks like on vellum:

A pointer for making new colours of cardstock.
I wanted a rich burgundy for a mat. Since I didn't have that, I just used a real red Stamp'n'Write marker to change the hue of Chocolate Chip cardstock. I think I'll call this "new" colour Cherry Chocolate, LOL. ;0)

To make this card, I did this stuff:

1....Made flower (as per above.)
2....Embossed silver stem & added little sepal bit (ruffly bit at top of stem.) It's embossed with quickie glue pen.
3....Trimmed Basic Grey paper to size ["Drive in the Country paper (ste-722 Stella Ruby line.]
4....Cut chocolate chip mat and coloured it with Real Red marker & added a very thin River Rock mat.
5....Added details to mat with a Sakura glitter pen.
6....Adhered BG paper to mat & added silver brads.
7....Created & adhered scalloped acetate with double-sided tape & Crystal Effects to ensure hold (see tutorial above.)
8....Made a scallop of matching BG paper & stuck it on.
9....Attached the flower & stuck everything onto a River Rock card (5"x6")
10....Added subtle dotted detail with a Sakura glitter pen--Just click on the pic below to see this detail:


Thanks so much for looking. Happy Stampin'

:0)Mel