Kim Hughes Rocks!!! & (Homemade Tearing Edge for Mulberry Paper)

The wildly talented Kim Hughes is also wildly generous! She's always giving things away. I was lucky enough to win this incredible stamp Silhouettes 2 set--just for having a link to her blog Paper hugs in my blog-roll! I knew I wanted to do something that I don't normally do with it...and since it is a solid image--but also has such lovely curves to its lines--it makes the perfect stamp for Batik. Thank you Kim!!! I'm overjoyed with the amazing quality of your stamps (and happily mystified by how that static cling stuff sticks so very well.) It's pure magic!

Silhouette Blooms 1 by Kim Hughes

Some things I especially like about this set: A) Its images group so nicely--making it perfect for notecard sets or cards like this with three of something. B) These three sentiments could be all you ever need. C) It's perfect for emboss resist, kissing, batik...

To make this card I did this schtuff:

1...Trimmed the mulberry paper with that ruler thingy
2...Stamped the Silhouette Blooms (easy placement cause you can see them through the acrylic block-me likey!) I stamped with a tinted versa mark pad, but alternatively you could just water colour your mulberry paper with a reinker wash & heat gun dry, then use plain versamark
3...Embossed the flowers with clear embossing powder & heated it well
4...Went over the mulberry paper with black ink on a sponge, wiped off excess ink
5...Put the resulting image in between paper towels & ironed out the e.p.
6...mounted the mulberry paper onto Pretty in pink cardstock; added the Doodlebug black cherry brads
7...Cut the mats out of: Berry Bliss designer series paper, Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate. Added SU rub-on (sab)
8. Added the raspberry velvet Ric Rac (May Arts) on a strip of Purple Pomegranate cardstock (matches better I.R.L.) I like match-y-poo how about you?

Cheap-o Homemade Tearing Edge Ruler:

I use a lot of tinfoil for sharpening punches, as a palette for goopy things. While I was grabbing a piece, I thought 'Hey, what could I use that sharp strip for?' So here it is, a cheap-o homemade tearing edge ruler. I love my real Tearing Edge, by stamping up for regulare cardstock, but tearing mulberry paper requires sharp teeth! To make one just do three simple things:

1) Find a ruler (the ones with cork have a nice weight, but any ruler will do)
2) Trim the blade off of your old tinfoil package (leave cardboard attached & please watch your precious fingies: that sucker is sharp!)
3) Use double sided tape to adhere it (No worries, it can be removed at any time.)
4) Tear away!

One thing I like about this ruler is that you can tear off a little piece of the mulberry paper along the edge for very little waste: 1/2 inch width or even 1/4 inch if you use a paper piercer to pull the paper away instead of your finger. You can experiment with angles to get different amounts of fiber on your edge.

Thanks for reading. You guys are THE best!
:0)
Mel

P.S. You can also use this ruler thingy on regular cardstock...
P.P.S. Here's a Batik tutorial