Make it Monday #305 - Love of Layers

This week's Papertrey Ink Make it Monday Tutorial #305 is "Love of Layers" by Laurie Schmidlin and shows us how to add lots of layers and texture to our projects. I am a big fan of Laurie's work and to get to see her process was a treat for me.  Laurie showcased her layers by adding ink to her die cuts and by using foam tape.  I love this look but I don't do it often because I know it might not fit in my envelope after and it can add to the cost of postage.  However, given the season, I was all in for this challenge. I  try to keep a few 6 x 9 padded mailers on hand for just such an occasion.


My card started with a top folding card base made from Stamper's Select White Cardstock.  I've been so anxious to use Brilliant Baubles so I die cut a few of each shape I planned to used and stamped them using my MISTI so that I could double or triple stamp for better color saturation.  I'm participating in the Merry Monday Christmas Challenge # 267 with this card and their colors dictated my color scheme; Hawaiian Shores and Green Parakeet with White/Silver or Vellum.

For the next layer, I wanted the texture of Linen Cardstock but I added lots of sponging around the outside after die cutting and embossing the panel. You can't really tell in photos, but it is there.

I have been using the Gemini quite a bit on some of my larger dies or those that can be embossed because even with a tan or grey embossing pad, it cannot come close to the level of detail from the Gemini. I also noticed that Simon Says Stamp is planning to carry these machines in both the regular and junior sizes but they aren't available yet. It does take a bit of practice to figure out the sandwiches and I encourage you to keep your manual handy to check recipes because I accidentally cut through my rubber embossing mat and had to order a new one.  The thing is, because it is so thin, you wouldn't think it could do anything, but the embossing is second to none.  I'm still using my Cuttlebug for most of my die cutting, but if it is one that can be embossed, I'm hauling it into my kitchen right now because that's the only place I have room to set up the Gemini. Don't get me wrong, I think it has a smaller overall footprint than the Cuttlebug but I have a system in place for this house that needs to stay in place until we move next spring.  Since our kids are grown and gone, it isn't an issue to leave it sitting on one end of my kitchen island.

I had stamped all of my ornaments last night so they were completely dry before I hit them with some Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist and set some little jewels in place. After I sponged the ink onto the linen cardstock paper, I also misted it.  With the texture, the shimmer mist kind of settles in some of the deepest corners of that paper and really catches the light in real life.  I mounted that directly to my card base with my favorite Kokuyo dot runner.

Next I cut the next size smaller in the hemstitch rectangles from Hawaiin Shores Cardstock but without the hemstitched detail layer this time.  It just cuts a plain regtangle when you do it that way but I really like the crisp, die cut edges.

Using a piece of the larger Bitty Big Plaid in Aqua Mist adhered to a piece of Papertrey Ink #160 Tag Stock I die cut Tag Sale #12.  If I need to do this again, it would have been much easier in the Gemini vs. my Cuttlebug.  I had to run it through a few times to get it to cut the hanger part completely.  After cutting that, I inked up the very outside edges with a Mini Ink Blending Tool in Aqua Mist Ink.  That just helps to separate that layer from the background layer. I attached that with foam tape.  Next came the ornament that I had stamped in Green Parakeet with another layer of foam tape.  I also stamped one of the small flowers from the set in Hawaiian Shores and added a little gem to that.  The banner is from Keep It Simple Frames and is stamped with the "Merry Christmas" greeting from Beautiful Berries: Winter in Versamark and heat set with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Embossing Powder.

Once I had this card all finished, all the layers assembled and, of course, all the photos taken and edited, I decided it needed a little pop of color from some sequins. I adhered them using Ranger Multi Medium Matte and then added a little gem in the center of each sequin.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  You can find the supplies I used linked below.

Stamper's Select White Cardstock Shop at: PTI	Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Embossing Powder Shop at: SSS	Kokuyo Long Dot Runner Adhesive Shop at: SSS	Papertrey Ink Hawaiian Shores Cardstock Shop at: PTI
Papertrey Ink Beautiful Berries: Winter Shop at: PTI	Papertrey Ink Keep it Simple Frames Shop at: PTI	Wagner Heat Tool Shop at: SSS	Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS
Ranger Multi Medium Matte Shop at: SSS	Papertrey Ink White Tag Stock #160 Shop at: PTI	Papertrey Ink Tag Sale #12 Shop at: PTI	Perfect Match Green Parakeet Shop at: PTI
Perfect Match Hawaiian Shores Shop at: PTI	Papertrey Ink Brilliant Baubles Shop at: PTI	Papertrey Ink Brilliant Baubles Dies Shop at: PTI	Spellbinders Hemstitch Lace Dies Shop at: SSS
Fresh Snow Linen Cardstock Shop at: PTI	Gemini Full Size Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS	Aqua Mist Bitty Big Prints Shop at: PTI	Perfect Match Aqua Mist Shop at: PTI