LaBlanche Sweet Poker Face Card

I happened to be browsing before Christmas and fell in love with the Sweet Poker Face stamp by LaBlanche. I put it on my Christmas wishlist and last month it arrived in the mail from a friend. If I would have known my friend was going to buy the stamp as well as everything on my wishlist I would have added more La Blanche stamps. They are lightweight silicone heat resistant stamps that use no pressure at all to get professional looking detailed images. You are suppose to be able to cover the stamp with VersaMark ink and then sprinkle UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) on the stamp and heat it up with your heat gun to melt the embossing enamel. Once the enamel cools you can peel it off and use. I just found out about this technique with this companies stamps will have to try it later. Oh you wanted to see the card!

Cameron my Cameo was happy because he got to cut out the gears that I designed in Studio as well as the template for cutting out the embossed shape. I went and used perfect medium on the gears after of course cutting them out of scrap card stock. Then heat embossed with copper embossing powder. I felt like there needed a break from so much gold/yellow color.

The embossed panel is done with a folder by Teresa Collins. The folder came with the e-Bosser I bought. LOL! Being the frugal person I am I embossed on a scrap of heavy weight card stock that a print and cut printed out the colors wrong as soon as I unpacked my machine. Because the panel was already embossed I had Cameron cut out a template and used that to hand cut my panel. LOL! Don't worry the template will find its way in another project. I decided to play and painted the embossed panel with gold water color paint. I thought it was too brassy looking so then with a wet brush painted Vintage Photo Distress ink over it.

I played with the Sweet Poker Face stamp and different media. I finally decided to stamp it on ink and pen paper with Memento Tuxedo ink. I then painted over the stamped image with Tea Dye Distress ink and Vintage Photo ink on the edges. After the ink had dried I went back and re- inked the edges with Vintage Photo ink to give it more definition.

 I melted some beeswax from a candle and it got sooty looking. I went ahead and brushed the melted wax over my image anyway. In a few places I got some wax blobs but decided to leave them to give the image a dirty look like maybe someone had been carrying the card in their pocket. I thought of using a heat tool I have for use with embossing to melt the wax and brush it out more.

 Next time I'll use regular beeswax instead of a beeswax candle but now the candle fits better in the candle holder. I will also use. my electric wax burner as the wax will stay liquid longer. If you want to try the beeswax technique do use a disposable brush. Perhaps one that you plan to throw out anyway. Also be aware that beeswax can be unpredictable. For example if you used a scrap with writing on the back the writing may come through. Some colors may bleed. You may want to scan in your project first before applying the beeswax so you will have it if the beeswax makes a really awful mess.

What ideas do you have for using this stamp? I have a few more ideas floating around in my head including a couple which are  more frilly cards so don't be surprised if you see more cards using this stamp this year.

I was going to cut out stamps today and misplaced my kit. I just found it so will be doing that probably tomorrow. Unless I'm too tired after trudging through snow to mail some cards and buy some groceries.

Thank you for stopping by and do come back. Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again!