A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

February 19, 2024

February 19: E is for Embossing Folders

Hello Stamplings!

I hope this finds you happy as a lark, on a lark, or larking about! Useful word, that! And I hope that some of your larking happened in your craft nest! 

It did in mine. I'm happy to say my I.D.E.A.S. schedule has given me a much-needed shot in the arm! It's early weeks, but so far, so good. This past week I played with embossing folders, some NBUS, some not.

Onefer
This NBUS 3-D embossing folder is a Kath Breen Sizzix folder called, "Linear Leaves." It was a bit cloudy when I took this photo, but I think you can see that I used a coupla glossy leaves from my stash, which were made from a long-ago smooching session. I added a mat and die-cut sediment using some of my stash of fancy-pants glimmer paper. She says, chuffed! 

Then I set it across the room and felt less chuffed as the composition seemed off-balance. I couldn't find a bling I liked, so Hammy suggested the falling leaf. He's a clever lad, but having made the entire card, I was a bit apprehensive about cutting the leaf! Phew! I'm linking to The Paper Players.

Twofer
This NBUS 3-D embossing folder is also Sizzix. It is a Georgie Evans folder called, "Fallen Leaves." I thought it made a lovely background for my "Feather Tree Frame" die from poppystamps. I added a hot foil sediment which was a gift from a friend, with the birthday bit attached on the inside. I'm linking to Simply Clean and Simple.

Threefer
This embossing folder is a Cuttlebug folder called, "Candy Cane Stripe." Before embossing, I covered a panel with a wide rainbow-colored Washi tape that I've had for ages. I laid the tape side-by-side and trimmed the excess, then ran the panel through my Gemini using the e/f. You can just see the seam of the tape at the top and bottom. This is a great way to use up any wide Washi tape. Even regular-width Washi laid diagonally (or any which way) looks great embossed. 

You prolly know what I'm going to say next. I chose the colored flower die-cut ("Bouquet of Thanks" by SSS) and sediment from my stash to complete the card. Then, bless him, Hammy walked across the flowers with freshly painted white toenails and I added the metallic heart in order to join the beautiful gallery over at The Flower Challenge. I'm also linking to Can You Handle the Pressure, which is A/G and has the option of reds or pinks.

Fourfer
I took the Go-Back Machine to make this one, using a Darice e/f. I was inspired by a 2017 post by Pat at Ramblin Stamper. She brayered background ink and then stamped trees directly onto an e/f before running it through her machine. I like to switch things up a bit when I can, so I used a vintage car (from the Tim Holtz "Journey" stamp set) instead of trees. And, yes, the sediment die-cut was from my stash.👍 I'm linking to Christmas Kickstart Challenge and Christmas Craft Creations.

It's not my best work and it still needs a little sumpin-sumpin (maybe a headlight beam?), but I wanted to share anyways, because usually when I try to do something extra with an e/f and ink, it ends up in the round file. This time, for a first try, I was pleased and might even do it again. 

Well, wait now, come to think of it, I did do it again. The second time I stamped a coupla stags on the folder, but somehow I inked them so their bodies were dark on top of the trees, rather than behind the trees.😏 Clearly, I need to do it a few more times to get the hang of which side is up and which side is down. You know, like life.

I.D.E.A.S.

I hope you enjoyed this week's makes! Remember to let me know if you follow along, so I can come visit you and pin your creation to my I.D.E.A.S. Board.

FYI, your creation doesn't have to be posted on a Monday ~ any time during the week is fine ~ and it doesn't have to contain NBUS, snippets, or items from your stash. (But when it does, you feel like you put the capital P on roductive!)

I'll see you next Monday where the assignment is an EzPz "A = Anything Goes!" Always a favorite for card-makers and helpers!🐹

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS*! 

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse 
and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! 
*Life is too short!


50 comments:

Karen said...

What a productive creative session you had! My favorite is the first one, and Hammy's idea of the falling leaf was perfect--one I never would have considered! Your white-on-white card also speaks to me. Thanks for giving me a focus for today's #100DayProject. I know for a fact I have some embossing folders in my NBUS box!

Chris said...

A lovely selection of embossed cards Darnell, all beautifully crafted- what creative use of your fabulous embossing folders.
xx

Jeanne said...

Thanks for sharing these delightful cards, Darnell. Looks like your IDEAS was just the ticket to jumpstart your productivity! Well done! Thanks for sharing.

Em Louise Fairley said...

These are all gorgeous, Darnell! xoxo

Donna said...

Fabulous collection of cards Darnell!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Wow Darnell - you outdid yourself with the embossing folders! Such great inspiration and reminders on techniques (like the washi) that I can certainly use! Especially love the leafy embossing behind the leafy die cut & the floral spray atop rainbow washi looks amazing! Also need to try the stamping behind the trees - cool effect!

!neke said...

Great cards !!!!!
We have so many embossingfolders , so use them and you did !!!!
groeten Ineke

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Stunning cards Darnell, all of them so different, but on a similar theme, I call that inspirational. Love them all. x

Darlene said...

WOW you are on a roll my friend and these cards are all just AMAZING and beautiful! Love your I.D.E.A.S. board (great idea) and fun! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Simply Clean & Simple AND our Can You Handle the Pressure challenges! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

Darlene
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Co-Owner … Can You Handle the Pressure, Double D, Four Seasons, Peace On Earth, Stencil Fun, Simply Clean & Simple, Two Old Bats, Triple B, Word Power

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

What an awesome set of cards! I love them!

Aquarius said...

Wonderful selection of E/F cards, demonstrating different ways they can be used

Dotty Jo said...

What a great selection of cards, Darnell! I love them all. Your Christmas Kickstart card is very clever - great job. Yes, Gail is very clever and a great card artist. Her work never fails to rock my socks. Big hugs to you and thanks for joining the CKC fun, Jo x

TK said...

You are straight out acing your own challenge! Congrats on so many techniques and cards, they're all wonderful.

HilaryJane said...

I can see you are really getting into this. Will the number of cards go up every week? Only teasing. Love them all such great inspiration for all those embossing folders xx

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
oh these are delightful and such very wonderful designs too.
Love them all especially the Christmas one.
Thank you for using embossing folders it helps to remind me to use mine as now I have them in a place that is easily accessible after my craft room make over.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours.
Jenny L.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

It seems that your IDEAS schedule works so well for you! fabulous array of embossed cards! I have never seen that big rainbow washi tape and surely it looks great with the embossing! Such colourful and cheerful card! Love the elegance of the first and second card too! I remember I have seen the technique you used for the last one, so impressive! I have to try this, thanks for remembering me!
That fun joke about puzzles at the end of the post cracked me up!! :D
Hugs

I Card Everyone said...

A very sweet person once named me the Queen of Embossing Folders - surely not because I was so great at using them, more like I had more than any of the commoners? HA!!

D, I adore your fabulous, embossed panels and every bloomin' bit of sugar you've added on top or behind each.
=]

Leslie Miller said...

Fun times four! Again I was looking forward to this day and it has been a wonderful visit. I think your falling leaf is the perfect extra something for your first card. Love the colors and that pretty embossing folder. It's a treat to see your second card as I have both the tree die and the embossing folder. I've only used the tree die once, and I made a panel with the embossing folder but have never yet put it on a card, sheesh. Beautiful use of the rainbow washi tape! Gee, I have that folder, too. Love those gorgeous flowers. Finally, your tree scene is a wonderfully creative idea. To finish, I laughed out loud at the puzzle joke. Then I wondered if it means for a 2-4 year old, or if it's expected to take 2-4 years to finish. That would be a difficult puzzle. Funnier the first way, though.

Bobby said...

I'm proud of you for sticking to your plan and using your NBUS and leftovers to complete 4 cards, Darnell. They all look great and what a wonderful way to use wide washi. Thanks for sharing that one with us at The Flower Challenge.

Pat said...

Four terrific cards Darnell, and such soft and pretty green tones for for your shimmery leaves..love the falling leaf which look perfect, and the background Linear Leaves is gorgeous, and then more leafy loveliness in white on white which I just adore, and the hot foil sentiment which the rest inside the card looks great. The next is a real pop of colour with the strips of washi and the wonderful bright pink flowers over the top, with a sweet red heart and white on pink sentiment to finish it, and lastly the car seen through the trees, a super technique and it has worked really well Darnell, and a lovely large die cut sentiment as the finishing touch. I have added a card today using an embossing folder, so perfect for Week 3. x

Liz said...

WOW, a Fourfer using embossing folders, you HAVE been busy, Darnell! Each one so different. My favourite is the first one, I love the colour combination.
Liz xx

Carol L said...

Those are some great cards, and the first one is my fav with that falling leaf. I love that embossing folder and those colorful leaves. Each card is fun using your EF's and I like your IDEAS too. Well Done and congrats on finishing that puzzle in such a short time too ROFL!

Stef Perry said...

My goodness, you were certainly in the creative mode with these four cards! They are all fabulous uses of embossing folders and bits from your stash, pulled together so brilliantly! Using washi taped then embossing it is not something I'd ever thought to do, but it worked so well on your rainbow card, and then there's that gorgeous pink floral adding more wow to the design! Thanks so much for sharing with us at The Flower Challenge!

Donna said...

Four great cards! I really like your “ Idea”. So smart! 👏🏻👏🏻

Laurie Unger said...

Wow! So many wonderful cards made with embossing folders. I love that you used up some washi tape too. My favorite element of the flower card is the white spots that Hammy left behind. =) Thanks for playing over at The Flower Challenge.

Bonnie said...

Just look at you go, Dolly! Your IDEAS is a great tool and fun too! I love the colors of your leaves and the vertical leaves embossed background! Great colors! The white on white is AWESOME! The die cut frame is perfect with the embossing! I hadn't thought of embossing Washi. What a great idea and it makes a beautiful background! I've never been able to get the inking right on the tree embossing. I get so cornfused with up and down, front and back!

Lisa Elton said...

Wowee, you've been a busy bee! These are all terrific, Darnell. The little falling leaf on the first card is perfect. That Hammy has a good eye!

Christine Alexander said...

wow, you have been busy. I have lots of EF in a box and don't use them as much as I should. Wonderful inspiration xx

Loll said...

Beautiful cards using your embossing folders Dolly!! I LOVE the beautiful design and texture on your first card ... that is one gorgeous ef!! So lovely paired with your leaves ... and I LOVE the one leaf falling - perfect! Your sentiment and framing with the shimmer makes it even more special. Love the second card. I have this same EF and haven't make a card with it. Yours is perfect with the white-on-white design. And what a cool third card. The washi tape make a fabulous embossed background. Always great to use something from your stash to complete a design too. Awesome fourth card ... I always screw up the way to stamp and emboss with this technique - great job! :) I have played along (thanks for the visit) and I'm really enjoying using some long-forgotten purchases. Thanks dear friend! Love, Lolly

kiwimeskreations said...

Your mojo has returned in full force, ably assisted by Hammy - these are amazing Darnell - well done
Blessings
Maxine

LesleyG said...

I’m so glad your ideas idea is going well, it’s great inspiration for us all! Love how you used the EF’s in so many ways, trouble is you’ve now given me another job to do, as I love the stamped idea, and have to try it ! Who’d have thought a snipped off leaf could be a finishing touch! Genius 😃xxx

Cat Craig said...

They are all fab. It looks like you had lots of fun.

Kath said...

A fabulous collection of embossed cards Darnell.
Kath x

Susan said...

Your plan is really working!! You sure made the most of "e for embossing folders". Four great cards - my favourite is the white on white one with the lovely feather tree layered on top of the embossing.

Tammy said...

Lovely cards--all of them!! Thanks for sharing at Christmas Craft Creations!!
Please note that to be eligible for our prizes, or to be our winner or honourable mention, you should include our challenge graphic in your blog post. I’ll check back before the challenge end date to see if you’ve updated to be eligible 🙂

Gerrina said...

Love the almost totally white one! That is my favorite... But they are all fun and beautiful! I still haven't tried the technique on the last card; have to do that! Think this way you get a lot made and the mojo for sure will come back... Hugs, Gerrina

Cheryl W. said...

I LOVE your cards so much, Darnell! Embossing folders are some of my favorite tools. I made a couple of cards today featuring 3D embossed backgrounds with some ink applied to the EF before running it through my Big Shot. I haven't had time to take pictures of them yet, but I like how they turned out.

Brenda in IN said...

You are making great use of this idea chart and the cards are wonderful. Great embossing folders and you captured a new technique with inking on the folder. I joined you this week and used your inspiration to get a card done. Love the puzzle joke!

Linby said...

So much inspiration! EF and die cuts - I need to get to the craft room now lol! All so fabulous.

Sandra H said...

Totally stunning cards Darnell great technique and l love the backgrounds, another interesting read with your post as always so amusing too x

Birgit said...

These are all fabulous cards Darnell! The embossing folders you've used are brilliant, and I love the CAS designs you've created using them. The washi tape card is brilliant, yet again! What a grand idea. I have some wide washi's that are sitting collecting dust. Guess I can do something about that, huh? Thanks for the inspiration! Thanks also for stopping by my blog for a visit. It's been a long while for both of us, hasn't it? I'll try to do better. I just added your blog to my blog list. That will help me remember as I grow older and the lights get dimmer. So glad to see Hammy is still keeping you on task.

Greta said...

I love dry embossing, so this post is right up my alley! You had me with the first card and the beautiful, soft colors! Hugs, Greta

Julia Aston said...

Wow sis - you are OFF AND RUNNING with getting back into creativity and production! Four lovely EF's used here with various lovely die cuts over them - particularly love the white on white - but the colors on colors pops off the screen right below it. I'm intrigued by your car lost in the woods card... maybe that's Bonnie and Clydes vehicle??!! what an interesting technique! Julia xx

Diane said...

Wow, four gorgeous and very creative cards!!
Thank you for joining our challenge at Simply Clean & Simple and Can You Handle The Pressure.
Diane SCAS and CYHTP Co-Owner
{Nellies Nest}
{Simply Clean & Simple}

BożenA said...

My dear Darnell. You are a great inspirer and a great "locomotive" for our creativity. I love all four cards. You showed us how to use our supplies in an original way. I love your challenges, and the recently launched one is valuable due to the supplies lying in our drawers :-))
Thank you for all your work, my dear Darnell.
hugs,
BozenA

Vicky Hayes said...

I do love a leafy card and your onefer and twofer satisfied my leafy tastes! Love the falling leaf and see how it balanced the design out perfectly. I love a bright colour too and your threefer was like a burst of sunshine! The flowers in that intense pink were perfect for displaying against the rainbow backround andI love the banner too. Thank you for bring it to play at The Flower Challenge :) I'm intrigued by the fourfer. You made a brilliant card but I don't think this technique is for me because I can never work out the ups and downs of embossing folders, try as I might. Or of life for that matter. Lovely to pop in and visit - so much inspiration always! Vicky x

frommycraftroom said...

More fabulous projects. Loving your "ideas"

Rach83 said...

What a fun technique to have the stamped card behind the embossed trees. Very atmospheric and I love your die cut sentiment. Thanks for joining us at Christmas Craft Creations.

Sue - said...

I’m very behind with my commenting I’m afraid! What a fabulous selection of cards, I love the first one with the falling leaf. Love your idea of “I.D.E.A.” A great way to get the creative juices working. xx

Anna said...

What a fun card. Thank you for joining us for this challenge at Christmas Craft Creations Challenge and look forward to seeing you again soon!
Anna, Design Team