THE SILVER GEARS FRAME

i am lucky enough to have an electronic die cutting machine in my crafting arsenal. Out there there are lots of projects that can be made for the house, like this project i'm able to cut out and then construct a one off frame to use.

There is one thing to cut, glue and then put proudly or give away as a present to someone. However why do you have to just accept that what you have constructed has to end there?. This is why i did this project as i wanted to show that by using a stamp and a few embellishments you're able to upgrade that project to something else.

To embellish this frame i used a large figure stamp from what is slowly becoming a firm favourite from LYNNE PERRELLA under the PAPERARTSY Company. This stamp set is called LPC006 and the Coin from LPC009. This along with other stamps from this designer and company along with a wide selection of other interesting and firm favourite from THATS CRAFTY ON LINE. A visit well worth making to see what's available to you.

MATERIALS USED:
Frame and Stand downloaded from a electronic Die Cutting firm.
Adirondack Pitch Black Ink Pad
Selection of Flexi-Markers
Mod Podge Glossy and Brush
Glitter Pen
Tim Holtz Distressing Ink Pad
Super Fine Embossing Powder
A5 White Stamping Card
1" Circle Punch
A6 Silver Card
Ranger Emboss Dabber Clear
Ultra Thick Embossing Powder
3 Bottle Tops Silver
Strong Clear Glue
Heat Mat
Heat Gun
Sharp Tipped Craft Knife
Sharp Tipped Scissors.
5x7 inch Piece of Clear Plastic [lighter than glass]
Woodware Clip It Tool [A new must have when embossing items]

LETS EMBELLISH A FRAME!
The frame was constructed out of 3 sheets of 12"x12" Card Stock. If you want further information about this then please send me a message and i will do my best to help you.
Now then we have constructed the frame and its sitting there ready for what we are about to do.

The first thing we need to do is to select the image that we are going to use to embellish this newly made frame. i felt that this image would fit in perfectly with the materials used to make the frame.

i have not really explored what the 'FLEXI' markers do. As a firm believer in the pro-marker and the same to use the tip of the flexi marker is more like using a 'Brush tip' than the normal pen.. Once i got the feel of the pen i found them to be easy to use and they add the colour to the page very easily.

After the stamp had been coloured the next step is something i tend to do with all the stamped and then coloured in images. A Blue-Grey Pen. i was happy to find out that i found out that there was Blue-Grey Pens in the Flexi Marker Range. So using this pen i edged the image and removed out the white surrounding area. By colouring the white it then helps blend the stamped image into the project your working on. White stands out and it will just look like you have cut it out and glued it into the project and not look as if its part of the project. So i recommend that the Blue Grey Pens are a MUST HAVE in your crafting box. Remember though always pick the RIGHT INK PAD when using Alcohol pens.

After the stamped image had been coloured and cut out i wanted to give some extra highlights. So armed with just a glitter pen i followed the edges of the frill . Not all of the frill just the outer line.

i wanted to make the image highly glossy this protects the stamped image from being scuffed and marked it also gives the image strength to stand up to being picked up and handled.

The photo above shows you what happens to an image when its embossed. As you can see it has darkened. By showing you this it will give you the understanding and your choice of colours when your going to do this kind of crafting.

i took the coin stamp from a stamp set and stamped it out 3 times on to some silver card stock. i have done 3 as the golden rule of 3 will always apply when it comes to crafting as well as other decorative arts.

Using a 1 inch circle punch i punched out the coins from the silver card stock.

Using the dabber this time i put a layer of embossing liquid onto the coin then dipped them into the Ultra Embossing powder. i used thick as i was going to 'flood' the bottle tops with embossing powder. if i had used ultra fine it would have taken me a very very long time. Ultra thick allows you to flood an area very quickly.

As the frame was constructed using card stock by putting several coats of Mod Podge i'm able to give the frame some strength. its also a lot easier than having to 'Emboss' the complete frame!

There you have it! By dipping into the stamping collection we all have you can make something plain very special. Now then you don't just have to use a project constructed out of card.. i'm sure there are lots of us out there who enjoy digging around for that bargain in Charity Shops or Car Boot sales. You can embellish a wooden frame or even a plastic frame can be up-cycled to fit into anything you want it to.

So don't think that this project is just for a Frame constructed from Card. i just wanted to show you that anything can be embellished also encourage all those electronic die cutters out there that projects can be embellished using what you already have in your crafting tools box.

Any questions send me a message and i will get back to you a.s.a.p.