Cuttlebug Crayon Rub & Direct to Paper Crayoning

Got crayons? All that fun foam in the Cuttlebug has me thinking of other things to do with embossing folders. I'm not sure if this is a new technique or not, but it was new to me so maybe it'll be new to you. :0) It couldn't be easier and you can use any embossing machines or tools or store-bought embossed cardstock.

Cuttlebug Crayon Rub:

Supplies:

• Cuttlebug/other embossing machine
  
• Cardstock
• Crayons
  

Directions:

1. Dry Emboss cardstock with cuttlebug/other embossing folder:




2. Keep embossed cardstock in folder but open the folder exposing the side you'd like to colour. (This supports the embossing so it doesn't cave in when you rub with the crayon in the next step, but you can rub the crayon without this step, if you want easier clean up)




3. Remove crayon wrapper:




4. Rub with the whole side of crayon (using medium pressure for light crayon coverage or very firm pressure for fuller crayon coverage):

5. You can heat-gun it to alter the gloss (gets rid of some shine.) Here's what it looks like in black:

Much tidier than inking it. :0) You can use as is...or it's fun to mix colours...and I'm thinking of crayon resist variation for a kind of faux metal look:

I'll have a cuttlebug crayon resist tutorial for you next post :0)

Clean up:

You may remember from your colouring days as a kid those little bitty flakes of crayon. They're messy, but they clean off of your folders with a stiff brush (like a dish brush) and a little dish soap helps too.

Direct to paper crayoning:

The sentiment tab is done by writing directly on white paper with a white crayon & then adding turquoise reinker with a sponge. It's punched with a 1 3/8 circle punch, layered with a Nestabilities scallop (petite scallop large set.) Then I added a white scallop (SU!'s scallop punch.) (The slot was punched into the circle 1st then I stuck each layer on and used the first slot as a guide for the next.)

The orange cardstock I used as the orange mat & for the sentiment tab & Nestabilities scallop is actually just pumpkin pie with two different orange crayons rubbed on it (using the side of the crayon again.) I was thrilled at the texture it adds & can you just imagine the colour possibilities with all those crayons you can combine? :0)

Adhering things to cardstock with crayon: I used the heat gun on it to get rid of some of the crayon gloss and it makes the adhesive stick better (though you'll want to use good strong adhesive since the crayon makes it necessary.) Edited to add: to get crayon colour and texture on flat cardstock--without the water repellent and not so sticky nature--you could iron it inside paper towels.

Other Card details:

The bird image is punched with a Marvy giga scallop punch. The birds (from Simple Somethings) are coloured with watercolour pencil crayons. The tempting turquoise scallop is cut with Nestabilities. Brads are from Queen & Co. Dollar store ribbon & gem. The faux stitching is done with a Sakura white glaze pen. This uses the Perfect Paisley cuttlebug folder.

Hope this is inspiring to someone, I had a blast with it & I'm so excited about all of those colour possibilities is the crayon box! :0)



P.S. Card supplies at a glance here

101 unique ways to use your Cuttlebug (or Big Shot or other machines) here

Turn Embossing Folders into stamps! with a Cuttlebug (or other machines)

Nope, Provocraft didn't come out with stamps. This background...

...started out as (you guessed it!) fun foam in a Cuttlebug folder. First it became this...

...a rather hazy looking stamped image, but then it turned into this more defined pattern:



The stamping is murky-ish, but it gives you great guidelines to doodle patterns on with pens. (I used a Sakura glaze pen in white, a silver pen and a Sakura glitter pen to add interest and definition.)


This one is my fave:

It was even easier than that first gray one--made in three simple steps:

1. Stamping with the new fun foam stamp I made on soft sky c.s. (This uses the Fantasy Floral folder. How-to make the stamp below)
2. Tracing the stamped outlines with a Sakura Quickie glue pen
3. Adding Dazzling Diamonds glitter while the glue lines were wet.

(It was inspired by Maria's stunning creation, which I've linked to before, but can't get out of my mind 'cause it's SO Gorgeous!)

How to make a stamp with Cuttlebug folders:

Supplies:

• Cardstock
• Fun foam (cut so it will fit your embossing folder)
• Cuttlebug or other machine
• Embossing folder
• Craft/pigment ink (though another ink may work, I've not tried it)
• Brayer (gives even coverage)
• Large block [(to apply even pressure) an acrylic block, a wooden background stamp block, cuttlebug A B or C plate would work]
• Heat gun (to set ink)

Optional supplies:

• Pens (gel, glaze, glitter, metallic...to embellish or outline. Markers work, but can get gummed up with craft ink)
• Glitter
• Embossing powder (to emboss if desired)

Directions:

1. Run fun foam through your cuttlebug folder. (You may want to experiment with different brands of fun foam as some hold the embossing better than others.) I like to have everything out so that I can work quickly

2. Lay the embossed fun foam on a scrap piece of paper to protect your work area.

3. Brayer the fun foam with craft/pigment ink

4. Lay cardstock on top of fun foam

5. Add the block & apply even pressure

6. Lift the block. You may find the fun foam sticks (mine did) just peel it away :0)

7. Set the ink with a heat gun

8. Add details with pens/emboss/glue pen & glitter---if you like. (You may want to work carefully to avoid smudging, but heat gunning should take the sticky-smeariness out of your ink)

This soft sky piece above was embossed with clear embossing powder, but some of the lines were vague so I just did a lot of free-hand doodling wit a Sakura white glaze pen.


As you can see with this piece, the stamping can look kind of mucky...




...but it improves a lot when embellished. I doodled on this with a silver marker:




I got my silver marker at the dollar store (acid free even!) I love the silver Sharpie (but it's not acid free.) Here's a picture that sort of captures the detail of the silver marker (sort of):



It looks much nicer in real life, honest! :0)

Something kind of neat: this ribbon used to be white organza. You can just colour on it with a silver marker or swipe it with silver ink. :0)

Other card Details:

Stamped in Whisper White Craft ink on Basic Gray cardstock, doodled on with White Sakura Glaze pen, Silver creative memories pen, Sakura clear glitter pen. Black card edged with silver sharpie. Grey mat (center cut out to save weight) faux-stitched with silver pen. White cardstock in paisley embossing folder. Here's a trick for getting what looks like a large 5 1/2" piece of cuttlebugged paper:

Just use two pieces behind a band of paper. You don't need to worry about the measurement for height (just width) since it will be hidden behind the center band. (Simple, I know, but it might be a good idea for someone, so I hadda share it) :0)

The tab is made with the round tab punch & Simple sayings II.
I markered in the dots...inside it says "...birthday." Notice the silver edging on the black cardstock? I love doin' that. It is quick and cheap & adds a little somethin' somethin' ;0)

Thanks so much for reading!
Hope you're not fed up with fun-foam! :0)




P.S. Blog candy here! Not too long now and I'll draw for it. :0)

Fun Foam Smooching! (and I got Nestabilities!) :0)

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it! ;0) That fun foam background stamp that I made in my last post works even better for the kissing technique than rubber stamps. Craft (pigment ink) seems to be the secret. The ink stays moist enough to make a great impression.

This is fun foam kissed & then detailed with a white Sakura glaze pen


To Smooch with Fun Foam:

1. Make fun foam background stamp (tutorial here & more info on fun foam stamping here)

2. Brayer fun foam stamp with ink (again, Craft/pigment ink works the best--giving crisp lines)

3. Stamp onto fun foam stamp with rubber/acrylic stamp(s) (I like a background stamp, but any size that fits will work, and you'll want to work quickly so ink stays wet) :0)

4.Use the kissed rubber stamp to stamp your paper

5. Set the craft ink with a heat gun, so it isn't smudgy

6. Embellish your stamping as desired with glaze/gel/glitter pens

Other Card Details:

--> The scallop square is made with Spellbinders Nestabilities (Classic Scallop Squares.) I got a great deal on them thanks to my friend Kim. Check out this stunning card she made for me with the circle nesties. Me lovey! And this one with little squares is hot too.

--> The basic grey square mat & the main Pretty in Pink card both have faux stitching done with Tim Holtz's design ruler (more details here.)

--> The pink 3D flowers are pink fun foam cut with Provocraft's Flowers dies. The white flower centers are punched with the 3 for You punch kit. I added glitter with a Sakura clear glitter pen & black brads.


--> The sentiment square is made with the Alphabets stamp in Pretty in Pink ink & punched with a 1 1/4" square punch. The white paper is distressed with a black marker (that marker edge technique is described at the bottom of this post.) topped with a black embossed "hi" which was punched with this 5/8" circle punch (hard to punch but I love the size.) I edged the "hi" circle with a Pretty in Pink marker and with glitter pen.

It's all matted with a Basic Gray coloured small classic scallop nestie which I embellished with a white Sakura glaze pen, punched circles of black cardstock in the corners.

Thanks for stopping by
and I hope your crafting is fun-filled! :0)



P.S. 101 things you can do with the cuttlebug here

DIY background stamp with Fun-Foam in the Cuttlebug (or other machine/using store-bought diecut shapes)

This doesn't look like much does it? (It's just a bunch of carpet tape & fun foam stuck on the back of a background stamp) but it's secretly a brand new background stamp! It was a blast using it to make these:

Both cards are stamped with the DIY fun-foam background stamp in White craft ink. The black card was embossed with clear embossing powder, heated, cooled & run through the Textile embossing folder. I like how crisp the Craft (pigment) ink is with the fun foam background. Versamark would be great too.

To make your own background with any die-cut shapes:

1. Die-cut your shapes (that step is mighty obvious, hey?) but you could just buy some of those premade fun foam shapes...
   
2. Stick double-sided tape on any block (wooden or acrylic...) [In hindsight, I'd stick the carpet tape and fun foam dye-cuts to a sheet to a sheet of acetate & then stick that to a background stamp, since I had to peel off the one that's pictured above, so I keep my block nice & clean and that wasted the shapes.) With the acetate method, you can store them really easily.]
   
3. Adhere fun foam shapes in a pattern that you like
4. Stamp with 'em (I find Craft (pigment) ink gives the crispest image

For more on fun foam as stamps please see this previous post

I was thrilled to discover that you can also use dye-cuts to make embossed accessories. The fun foam holds the embossing and I think it looks more sophisticated than plain old un-embossed fun foam:

You can just run fun foam die-cuts through the folder the way you would paper.

To make fun foam embellishments like this flower:

• Cut shape with white fun foam (This flower is cut with Provocraft Flowers die)
  
• Run flower through Textile Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Adhere paper behind it (This is Loves Me retired SU paper)
• Stick on a gem/brad etc...
  

You may find you need to pick little bits off of the foam; if you look closely you'll see little black thready bits. Masking tape rolled on your fingers works well. :0)

To make this flower:

• Die cut a flower in white fun foam (different fun foam brands seem to have different results)
  
• Add center flower. [I used a flower from a tag set I bought, but you could use 3 for You punch kit (it's a little larger) or another flower punch]
• Cover the black flower in Crystal Effects/other lacquer for gloss
  
• Add a gem
  

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Craftiness,



P.S. The next post will involve some smooching & doodling! Kissing with fun-foam works even better than it does with stamps (Don't you just want to embrace your fun-foam lovingly?...lol) ;0)

P.P.S. For stamps used for the "delight" sentiment please see previous post

P.P.P. S. The cuttlebug list is growing. It's at 73 things! you can do with a Bug

Fun Foam shapes for Big Kids: make stamps with your Cuttlebug!

You know that gorgeous Queen & Co felt trim? This gorgeous felt trim? I've seen people cut the flowers from it and use them separately ( I looked for a particular post to show you for an hour and gave up...) SOooo... I love the look, but I don't have any of that gorgeous felt trim. So I made a fun foam version.

I do still want to get some of the felty goodness, but I think fun foam is great for this, because it is a little more shapable and sturdier than felt. And you can do something else nifty with fun foam... since the shapes can stay lifted up like this...


...I thought I'd better have something to go under it. Then I wondered 'Why not turn them into stamps?' And it works! You can layer stamping and die-cuts in the exact same shape and size!?! All Matchy-poo even. (I think I set off the stampdorkiness meter) ;-D.

I'm sure this has been done before, but it floated my boat so much that I had to share. It's so easy too! Basically, you just die cut it and stick it on a block, but here are some how-to details that might come in handy if you try it.

DIY Fun Foam Stamps:

A) Die-cut fun foam & mount it B) Stamp a background

A) Die-cut fun foam & mount it: You can make your own stamps in any shape you can die cut! Fun foam cuts like butter in a cuttlebug with dies. You can cut it just like you would paper. I double mounted 2 different shapes on this wooden block (1 on each side.)

After making the shape, mounting it on a wooden block is easy. I used Crystal Effects. It holds well, but will peel off easily if you want to reuse the block (you can just scrape the adhesive off the block to reuse it.) You could use a Xyron or temporary adhesive & stick 'em to an acrylic block.

B) Stamp a background: I wanted a pattern on the paper flower, so I added the circles from Boho Backgrounds:

You could use a stampamajig for perfection when placing your background
& adding your shape or just stamp it a few times.

A) Curve stamp B) Stamp & Cut out C) Pierce stitches

A) Curve stamp: Acrylic stamps are great curved. You can arange them any way you like on the acrylic block & use it to cut wavy pieces of cardstock. This stamp is from A-Muse's Fancy Borders set.

B) Stamp & Cut out: The stitches were stamped in Pixie Pink & I cut along the curve. I like to leave extra length on the cardstock so there's some choice when it comes to deciding on the final of the cardstock placement when I'm sticking it on the card.

C) Pierce stitches: These stitches are super handy guide for paper piercing. I used four pieces of fun foam as a mat & two pins to hold it in place. Inexpensive (and handy in case you're shifty like me!) ;0)

A) Trace the curve B) Cut to create a second curve

A) Trace the curve: I used the curved piece of cardstock (cut along the stamp) as a kind of template to trace & make other parts of the card:

• For the bright pink flowered designer paper (retired SU Loves me valentine paper with silver pen & white gel pen details added to it)
• For the stitches along that paper (just trace curves in pencil & free-hand paper pierce)
• For a mask when stamping the silver flowers (trace it onto thin paper so the mask doesn't interfere with the stamping too much) Flowers are also from Boho Backgrounds.

The sentiment...

...was made with three stamps sets. The large "delight" (from Paint Prints) is stamped in black classic ink. I outlined it in a silver pen from Creative Memories. The large 'd' is from Jumbo Outline alphabet. It's stamped it in Pixie Pink & dotted it with a Sakura white glaze pen (my new fave of faves.) The Pixie Pink delight definition is from Define your life.

Do you forget what sentiments each set has? I need to make a book of just sentiments, so I can use them more. I don't add enough sentiments (or enough alphabets) so it was fun to try something new with the three together.

Other ideas for fun-foam stamps:

• Stamp on designer paper
• Stamp shape in stazon and watercolour inside the lines
• Stamp solid shape and emboss
• Use them to create emboss resist
  
• Create a background
• Make them for your kids to play with (if they get wrecked they cost pennies to replace)
  

The quality of the image with fun-foam stamps is softer than with rubber stamps (less defined edges.) With inking it, I found it was important to look at the inked fun-foam stamp to make sure there was full ink coverage. Even pressure and letting sit on the page for a second helps the ink soak into the paper. I liked the coverage I got with Craft (pigment) inks.

The best way to clean them seems to be stamping off the excess and pressing hard into a wet paper towel then a dry one.

Well, I'm off to Cuttlebug fun-foam until my head explodes from crafty happiness. Ynuk ynuk!
Hope you're feelin' craft-happy too! :0)



P.S. Can you guess from the first photo--way up there--what the next post will entail? (I'm such a stampgeek!) ;0)

P.P.S. WAY cool new Stampin Up product line here: Definitely Decorative

P.P.P.S. Don't forget blog candy here