It looks like glass

Hello crafty friends,

If you follow me on Pinterest or have checked out my Etsy shop, you will see that I love making coffee, wine and beer cards. And on of the things I like the best is to make the wine glasses, beer bottles and coffee mugs come to life by adding either clear embossing powder or a clear, glossy liquid (dries 3-D).

The clear embossing powder has a slight raise and really makes any ink color or patterned paper shine.  I used the clear embossing powder over patterned paper to give the illusion of china.  It's subtle but I think it adds something extra. The great about the embossing powder is there's not wait time.

Below is an example of how I added Nuvo Drops to make the the beer bottle and mug look like glass. The drops are very easy to apply to the stamped image and does not make the ink bleed.  It does take a good 24 hours to dry but the results are worth the wait. If you look closely, I also used the drops to make tiny fizz bubbles above the mug - I thought that made it look more "real".

There are few brands that carry this product.  I have tried the Crystal Effects (don't think this is made anymore) and the Nuvo Drops.  I have also heard really good things about Glossy Accents.

How have you used products like these?

Happy crafting!
Kathie K.

P.S. Blog readers are entitled to free shipping on orders over $20 on my Etsy shop - just enter BLOGSHIP when you check out!

Glitter paper - a must have

Hello crafty friends,

I have been experimenting with glitter paper lately and have just fallen in love with it. In the past, I reserved my glitter paper for Christmas cards. And then I started out by adding accents to my cards like in the Valentine's Day card below. I used a heart-shaped die to make the embellishment - it cut beautifully (I have to admit, I was a little worried). Using glitter paper really made the heart pop and added a very special touch to the card.

Here's another example using pink glitter paper - who knew all of these non-holiday colors were available!

When I was designing a 25th wedding anniversary card, I decided to add more than just a hint or small accent of glitter. Cards below used background dies from Spellbinders and the cards turned out great if I do say so myself. Beware - its addicting.

I have learned a couple of things about glitter paper.  Not all paper is the same.  Some have a looser bond and tend to "shed" leaving glitter behind.  I did have to clean my Big Shot cutting plates after using the red glitter paper. My favorite brand is Misscrafts Soft Touch Glitter Cardstock (Amazon carries it; 10-sheets for $9.99).  In my opinion, this is the best quality - little to no shedding and the sparkle is outstanding.

Do some experimenting yourselves.  And save ever scrap - even the smallest touches (center of flowers, stars, snow, lights, etc) add that special touch to any project. What have you tried -please share.

Happy crafting!

Kathie K.