Friday, August 10, 2007

Easy Embossing

So I recently purchased this box of gorgeous embossed cards from Michaels and I absolutely love them, but to buy an entire box of cards is pricey so I wanted to see if I could create my own. So after looking at the various posts on blogs & SCS about the Spellbinders Nestabilities and alternative ways to get similar effects, I decided I would give it a go. Here's how it went.....
I just grabbed a scrap piece of paper and taped it to my lightbox then I traced around it with my stylus, as I would with any template. Made a great embossed border for my card. And the smaller the piece of cardstock, the smaller the embossed edge....kinda like the rectangle Spellbinders embossing dies. So then I decided to try squares...

I did the outline of the 3x3 scrap cardstock on the center of my card first. Then I decided to add some circles using my new SU brass template...

An even cheaper way to do this would be to use various size circle punches and make your own template by using a scrap piece of cardstock and punching various size holes in it.
Here is my embossed card....and I must tell you that it looks EXACTLY like one of the ones I purchased in that box of cards from Michaels, only this one probably only cost about 10 cents. :)

And here is my finished card.....

So I challenge all of you to try this out, use punches or brass templates that have been sitting on your shelf collecting dust. Pull them out and see what fun you can have with them again!!! I'd love to hear what you all come up with!!!

14 comments:

Melissa Craig said...

What an awesome idea. I saw those cards at Michaels and they are pricey. I'm going to try it. Thanks Jillian - you never cease to amaze me.

Sealed, With Love said...

Wow! Very neat. What a beautiful resulting card!! Found your blog through Paper Pretties....CONGRATS on becoming a design team member. How exciting. I'm favoriting you....will be watching what you come up with. Like what i've seen so far. So, GO GIRL! Best wishes on this new venture.
Terri

Anonymous said...

Very neat! Thanks for sharing it with us!!!

Julie Campbell said...

Ooh! Your blog is fabulous! I'm going to have to subscribe! I can see why you were selected for the Paper Pretties team!

Finja said...

what a great idea, thanks for sharing... now i can use my stuff again... it's lying in a corner...
greeting from Germany Finja

Kristine Reynolds said...

I love this idea. Gonna try it.

Debra said...

Excellent job! (as always) I'm going to have to get one of those circle templates.

Anonymous said...

Love Love Love this. Ha, saved this card to my favs yesterday, never even looked at who made it!
Great job!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE this card! What a great idea to make your own template, too! I'll have to give it a whirl...thanks for sharing your genious! =)

Janette said...

Great idea I had forgotten that you can make your own templates.
We have done this using punched out designs too.
What was the name of the SU brass template..??
I dont see it in the catalogue online ??
Janette

4Hounds said...

Thanks for sharing such an awesome idea---for those of us who aren't able to make the huge purchase of the new Spellbinders, etc. this is a super alternative!! What a sweetie you are for telling us all about this. Thanks again- Pam B.

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE SO CLEVER!! Thank you for your instructions, and I bet the quality of your cards are nicer than the ones at M's. I have gotten used to the nice heavy SU cardstock which I do not get at the BIG BOX art stores!!

Anonymous said...

YOU ARE SO CLEVER!! Thank you for your instructions, and I bet the quality of your cards are nicer than the ones at M's. I have gotten used to the nice heavy SU cardstock which I do not get at the BIG BOX art stores!!

Unknown said...

This is super cute, what a great card, and also a great tutorial on embossing without all the high priced gadgets just plain old punches and your initiative