foiled flowers...

Hello my fabulous friends!

Wow, it's been a long time since I've written a blog post... For those of you who have stuck around and been so understanding, thank you so much! For those who are new, welcome! 

A quick update before jumping into today's tutorial. If you want to skip to the project, go ahead and scroll down to the first photo...

On May 3rd, my dear mom slipped quietly to the other side, ending her long, hard battle with cancer, and for the first time in a long time, being free from pain. Due to the pandemic and current local laws, our family couldn't gather... Only my dad and I were by her side. We also couldn't have a funeral...  I don't know how to describe how strange and hard that was... Nor how grateful I was for the friend who knew that I needed a hug far more than I needed a 6 foot gap of painfully empty space surrounding me... 

Over the next month, I carefully packed up my mom's sewing room... Everything in labeled boxes, waiting for the day when my sisters will be able to come go through everything with me. My dad asked me if I would like to turn my mom's sewing room/she shed into an art studio for me to work in... so I have been slowly moving my stamps, inks, dies, and paper out of my house and over to my new studio... 

Before she got sick, my mom spent many happy hours over here creating amazing quilts and other fabric creations...I want this place to be a happy place again.

As I have been struggling with my grief, and helping my dad find a new normal, I have been dealing with my own health problems that have been flaring up, and watching with a broken heart as the world sinks into chaos around me. All of it has felt completely overwhelming and has left me struggling to find any creative mojo. 

However, I am slowly starting to feel a bit more 'normal', and I've been pulling out my stamps, markers and paint more often, and I'm hoping to be back to bringing you regular inspiration soon. In fact, I have some new product making it's way to me now that I'm excited to share when it finally gets here... (This slow mail thing is hard,  even though I completely understand why it is slow) 

Ok... enough about me.  Let's talk about gold...

Paper: Arches Hot Press Watercolor; Paper Studio Country Road

Stamps: Hero Arts/Gina K. Designs Friendship Blooms; Simon Says Stamp Be My Valentine

Ink: Inkon3 Juicy Clear*, Blackout*; Copic Multiliner

Coloring: Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors

Rose Madder, Bright Clear Violet, Indigo, Yellow Ocre No 1

Dies: Honeybee Stamps Deckle Rectangle A2

Other: Clear Embossing Powder, Heidi Swapp Gold Foil

The other day, I shared this WIP video over on Instagram that had an overwhelmingly good response, and many people asking for more information... Which I'm happy to provide!

Step 1: Heat emboss your image with clear embossing powder. 

When doing a project like this, I like to use an anti-static powder over my paper first because you don't want any stray powder, then ink up your stamp using  a clear embossing ink and stamp onto your paper. While the ink is still wet, dump clear embossing powder over your image. You want the entire image to be covered. Gently tap off all the extra powder back into the jar, then heat the image. You want to watch carefully as you heat. You want all the powder completely melted, but not over melted. Just watch for the powder to turn shiny and smooth. 

Step 2: Color

I knew I wanted to use watercolors for this project, so I stamped on some hot press watercolor paper. This is a great way to practice with watercolors as the embossed lines help create little wells to catch the water so it stays more controlled. This technique also works with Neenah paper and alcohol markers (like Copics) if you prefer, or on Bristol Smooth paper.

This is what it looked like after painting... You can stop here if you want, however, I am making this for a 50th wedding anniversary, so I wanted to add in some gold. 

Step 3: Foil.

I use a laminator and heat reactive foil for this. I start by folding a piece of copy paper in half to create a carrier. Open your carrier, place your image inside, then lay a piece of reactive foil (I'm using Heidi Swapps Minc foil) over the image, making sure to completely cover the image. Close your carrier and send it through your hot laminator. This will remelt your embossed lines, and that will stick to the foil.

Step 4: Remove foil transfer sheet

Once your carrier sheet and image have gone through the laminator, let the paper cool (doesn't take long) then carefully pull off the foil sheet. Your lines should now be foiled!

NOTE: This method of foiling DOES NOT create PERFECT foiled lines. If you look closely at my photo, you'll see there are small gaps in the lines, and the lines aren't perfectly smooth... I know that bothers some people, but I like it. It's what makes it twinkle when you move it instead of shine like a mirror. 

So embrace the imperfections.. they make it sparkle!

See you soon!
~Kassi

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