Monochromatic Embossed Cards

There is such an understated elegance on monochromatic cards. I only used cream cardstock for these cards colored with Tim Holtz distress Ink but you can actually use any dye ink pad.

I have been pinning a lot of embossing tips and techniques for embossing machines like the Cuttlebug and the Sizzix Big Shot embossing machines on my Pinterest board. I have also been pinning a lot of Embossed Cards to get back to for card ideas. I just love embossed cards! One of the techniques that I've been wanting to try is braying the embossing folder with ink to produce a colored embossed surface, or braying the embossed card directly instead of the embossing folder. I don't have a brayer but I when I saw this technique, I immediately purchased one from an online store in the USA. It will take a while before I will get it and since I've been itching to make these cards, I used the Tim Holtz blending tool in applying the ink unto the embossed card which worked perfectly well. Perhaps I don't really need the brayer. I actually learned how to make my own homemade blending tools with the use of wooden blocks. I plan on posting a tutorial on how to make these.

I created the square frame perfectly measured for any of the Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page punch set. I used the 'Deco Fan'. The 3 layer flower is my own design. The flourish and leaves are all designs purchased from the Silhouette online store, names indicatd in the photo captions. The flower, the flourish and the leaves were manually embossed with my favorite stylus set, the McGill Paper Blossom tool kit. The details of the other supplies used are all indicated in the caption of the photos.

For attaching the card layers, I always use double sided tape instead of glue. For the 3D effect of the flower, flourish, leaves and the recessed frame, I always use my homemade 3D tape. Make sure to use strips of 3D tape that are the full length of each side of the frame to make it sturdy.

Everything in the card, except for the flourish and the leaves which are Silhouette designs, are included in the free file:

card base

frame

square piece to be embossed 

3 layer flower

Birthday Wishes sentiment

sentiment tag

ADDED July 8, 2013: I created a matching box for this card (Click on the link).

I only share my files with my blog followers. Just post a comment with your e-mail address indicating your request so I can send you the file. For those wishing to become a follower, just click on 'JOIN THIS SITE' right above my blog followers' list. Please make sure to double check that your name appears in my blog followers' list. If you don't see your name, that means something went wrong with your registration. Please make sure to check to follow 'publicly' and not 'privately' in the registration box otherwise your name will not appear in the followers' list. Please note that subscribing by e-mail does not put your name in the blog followers' list so it does not get counted. Again, to become a follower, you must click on 'JOIN THIS SITE'.

Happy crafting,

Ligaya

3 layer flower - my own design

Silhouette :Design ID #2529  'Flourish' 

Silhouette Design by Lori Whitlock: '3 Wheat'

Silhouette Design by Lori Whitlock: 'Beautiful Branch'

Tag & sentiment - my own designs

Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page Set- 'Deco Fan'

Sizzix embossing folder - Flower Lattice (Corners & Lattice set)

Cuttlebug embossing folder - Brocade

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Milled Lavender

McGill Paper Blossom Tool kit