Things I Love...

Hi Sin City Fans!

Today I am sharing my instructions for making this journal page that I created for the Blog Hop in May!
 I didn't take pics while making this page as I was playing around and seeing how things turned out so I have used the same process to make some altered index cards and atc's with step by step pics!



Supplies:

• Sin City Stamp Set: Rosette Hearts
• Sin City Stamp Set: Art Journaling 2
• Journal or Index Cards or ATC's
• Gesso
• Embossing Ink & Powder
• Distress ink Refill Bottles: Festive Berries and Scattered Straw used for these creations
• Water Spritz Bottle
• Black Archival Ink
• Collage images - Designs by Etsy Store "Ceremony" used for these creations
• Embellishments of choice: sticky mesh, muslin cloth, charms
• General supplies: heat gun, scissors, glue, mounting tape, sewing machine, scrap paper

Instructions:

As always gather your goodies together - you can always add bits & pieces as you are going. LOL I always add as I am going along!

First step is to add a layer of Gesso to your "base" card - whether that be a page in your journal, an index card, atc etc. this is optional - you don't have to add the Gesso but it is good if you are working in your journal and you don't want ink to seep through to the back of the page. Set aside to dry.

Next step is to stamp your background with one of the large designs from either of the stamp sets. For the journal page and index cards use the large lacey design from the Rosette Heart Set and because the ATC's are much smaller you may like to use one of the smaller backgrounds from the Art Journaling Set. Using your embossing ink pad stamp your chosen design onto the background and sprinkle with embossing powder. Use your heat gun to emboss. It's easy to make multiple creations at once with this process - a great way to have backgrounds prepared in advance when you need to make a quickie creation!

When you have finished all of your embossing and made sure you have all the powder safely in the container with the lid on you can add some ink to the backgrounds. Distress ink refill bottles work well for this as you can drip them onto the top of the background, spritz with water and let it run down in droplets and move it around on the page. You can use ink sprays or anything similar for this - personal choice - whatever you have on hand! Allow to dry.



While your backgrounds are drying you can fussy cut your collage images ready to add to the background. You can also stamp, emboss and fussy cut some of the smaller designs from the Rosette Heart Set to use as embellishments on your creation.

Next step is to arrange your elements on the background. To make it easier to sew some of the elements on use a tiny amount of glue to adhere where you want them so they stay in place when sewing. Make sure you allow the glue to dry before sewing or you will have a sticky needle that will not sew properly!!! Guess who has made that mistake before LOL??? I used the sewing machine to secure the hearts, the stamped and embossed heart/key and to add some fancy stitching.



You may like to use mounting tape for the main image to give some height (the gal collage image was not sewn on). You can also add sticky mesh and scraps of muslin cloth under the elements for extra texture along with any little charms you may have that match the theme. To finish choose some of the quotes/wording stamps from the sets and stamp in the bottom corner with black archival ink to finish off.

And here are the finished creations!!!



Hope you feel inspired to have a go at making something yourself! You don't have to use collage images you can use character stamps from Sin City - LOTS to choose from at the store!!! And remember to share your creations at our Facebook Fans Group - we love to see what everyone does with their stamps - it's great to get ideas for using our Sin City Stamps!!

Happy Stamping!

Sharon