Wednesday 19 December 2012

Craft Barn Calendar Challenge #12

Well, the final calendar challenge at the Craft Barn has arrived and the theme this week is 'Embossing'. If you've been here before, you will know that I love embossing of any variety so I was very pleased that this was the chosen theme.

I decided to just start with a coloured background, choose an embossing folder and go from there. I used brass metallic distress stain, distress ink and a quick burst of dylusion ink spray. I wanted to base my page on the textures achieved with embossing rather than a main image. Of course, I couldn't resist adding some stamping here and there with a little machine stitching thrown in for good measure too!

Here's my completed page:

The main page piece was embossed in a texture fade folder. Metallic distress stain was put on the folder and the card was sprayed lightly with dylusion ink and water, dried and then embossed in the inked folder. Distress ink was added to deepen the colour in some areas and walnut distress was used on the edges.

Two pieces of card were die cut for the top and bottom of the page. Each was inked with distress, and stamped with script in the same colour. Machine stitching was added using gold thread  to each piece.
This image gives a clearer view of the effect achieved with metallic distress stain.

Each die cut piece was stamped with a coffee ring image which was embossed with teal enamel (I love this colour!). The scalloped edge and the eyelet holes were embossed with aged gold enamel (another favourite!). Some rings were stamped and embossed onto left over embossed background card. Each ring was cut out, inked and embossed with aged gold on the edges. They were then arranged at the bottom of the calendar page in a scallop design to echo the die cut. Some jute twine was then added as a finishing touch.

This image shows the script stamping, embossed rings and gold embossing on the die cuts. The gold machining can also be clearly seen here too.
I've really enjoyed doing this calendar and apart from the 'felt' theme week, I have enjoyed all the page themes. At some point soon I'll try to take a picture of all the pages together - if I can! Thanks for looking at this busy time and if you've also found time to leave a comment, then I send you an even bigger thank you!

28 comments:

  1. Huge amounts of drooling going on here - the colours are sublime (ooooh, that metallic distress works wonders through the embossing) and your ability to get so many layers of texture into this is amazing. What a way to finish your calendar; it is a thing of beauty and should lighten your days throughout next year.
    On a personal note I hope you are fully fit and well in time for Christmas and have a wonderful break surrounded by all the things/people you love. Thank you for being such a supportive and creative friend this year. It has been appreciated more than you know.
    Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year, Jenny xx

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  2. This is really wonderful with so many things to look at. The stitching is perfect and the embossing on the edges looks like real gold.

    Best wishes Chrissie xx

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  3. This is awesome - love the bluey-green colour scheme with all the embossing and gold details. Thank you for your kind comments on my blog - it's been a fun challenge and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's 12 calendars all together. Merry Christmas to you.

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  4. A wonderful calendar page - great detail and beautiful colours and embossing.
    xxx Hazel.

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  5. Beautiful this is my fave page till now! Hugs, Valerie

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  6. I've enjoyed looking at all your calender pages, embossing is a nice way to end the year! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

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  7. GORGEOUS, Julia, a lot of interesting details!

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  8. Now its my turn to apoligise for being remiss in my visits and what a lot I've missed stunning work Julia you are brilliant at blending and mixing colors together.Unfortunately I will not be able to finish the calander challenge - this arm is causing me a lot of frustration!!!
    And sorry that you have been under the weather too hopefully you will be better soon so that you can enjoy the festivities.Take care x

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  9. Golly, this is gorgeous Julia! I love the colour! xx

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  10. Beautiful and gorgeous calender page Julia.
    Great colors you used.
    Greetings Janny

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  11. Stunning work Julia, I love it. What a fab colour combo and true homage to embossing my lovely.
    Huge huggles x x x x

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  12. You positively ran with this challenge theme and what a result.
    Stunning!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  13. Sorry to hear you've not been well, but thanks so much for taking the time to not only visit my blog but leave comments.

    Now to your fab last calendar page, absolutely fantastic embossing, but I love the stitching, the colour combo is perfect too.

    Happy Christmas if I don't get back before.

    Sam xxx

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  14. Hi Julia, I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey through your beautiful calendar but this has to be my favourite! You always emboss so well and I love the wonderful colours you have chosen. Gorgeous. Hugs, Anne x

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  15. So glorious... you are an absolute wizard with the enamel embossing, it looks magical - especially around those eyelet holes - fabulous! And the subtlety of the blended colours, and the text just floating through - a triumphant finish to the calendar.

    So happy to have found you in Craftyblogland - such inspiration and joy to be found whenever I visit here, and always new discoveries and ideas; and I'm happy and proud to call you a crafting friend. Do hope you and your family enjoy a peaceful and joyous festive season, and look forward to seeing what you create in 2013!
    Alison xx

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  16. Wonderful detail on this page, the colours and textures are superb. Thank you for such beautiful work which has spurred me on to try new techniques, and your help when I started on the road to "Blogland Challenges". Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year too.

    Sylv x

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  17. A finish on a high note ! I love the colours (need to get myself some of that Teal enamel)and the dots echoing throughout the page in circles and scallops. I am glad for this little virtual community that pushes us to last the 12 weeks course ! Thank you for visiting and commenting on my blog. Have a great Christmas.

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  18. Gorgeous embossing! The circles are wonderful and the gold borders make me happy! Love this!

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  19. Another wonderful page, love the colors and texture. This was a great challenge - wasn't it ?!

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  20. I love everything on your calendar page! The colors and the embossing work give a wonderful page!
    Have a Merry Christmas!
    Michelle

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  21. Love that gold stitching, really beautiful work on your calendar Julia. Love those colours too, gold and green, fab. Michelle x

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  22. Beautiful, beautiful! Love that gold stitching! AND the texture AND the colours! Merry christmas!

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  23. What a deliriously delicious colour you have achieved Julia and with the textures and splashes of shimmer and shine your piece reminds me of a a small beach not too far away! I know you are probably thinking huh, delusional :)
    I have thoroughly enjoyed sharing ,vicariously, your calendar journey Julia.
    I hope every day gives you pleasure when you look at the date. Have a wonderful Christmas and may 2013 be kind to you.

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  24. Stunning work. Love how you combined the stamps and colors. I really like the gold on the borders. Merry Christmas. Thanks for your support.

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  25. Wow, this is gorgeous Julia ! Love the colours & textures, the gold is so rich (I love gold embossing :) I would also like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2013 ! Thanks for you kind comments at my blog. Cheers, Shirleyx

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  26. Wonderful techniques to give a fabulous embossed calendar, bravo!

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  27. Love the colours & texture of this with the gold accents. Have a Merry Christmas.

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  28. Fabulous! I love the faux patina finish, and I'm pretty sure you've covered the embossing portion of the challenge :) Another gorgeous calendar page!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Juliax