Susanbcards: Making a Card Look Like Ceramic Tile

I watched the extremely informative Tim Holtz Facebook Live videos over the last few weeks (and binge watched the first few I missed). He showed how to use his Sizzix Impresslits to look like pieces of ceramic using a Distress Embossing Dauber with the Distress Embossing Glaze and giving it an aged look with Distress Crayons. I didn't have any Impresslits but a lightbulb went off in my head, couldn't I use the 3D embossing folder? Here is what I did (with what I had):

I inked the Stamper's Anonymous TH Reflections cursive stamp in black and pressed onto a few flat areas (the side where the flowers are recessed) of the Sizzix TH 3D Botanical Embossing folder. (I used the original A2 folder but it also comes in a large A5 size and a mini size). Using a lightly misted piece of 110 lb cardstock, I ran it through my Big Shot.

Do you wonder why the Reflections stamps are backward? It's so you can stamp on these folders and when you run it through it'll be the correct way! I wiped off the folder and lightly ran Distress Ink in Ground Espresso over the flat areas, put the cardstock carefully back into the folder and ran it through the Big Shot again.

I worked on small areas at a time. Using an embossing pen, I went over the recessed areas of the flowers so the distress embossing glaze would stick to all the nooks. I then lightly ran Tumbled Glass (or Speckled Egg which wasn't out at the time) Distress ink pad over the raised images to add color and help the Embossing Glaze stick to the paper.

I poured the Distress Embossing Glaze (in Weathered Wood), tapped off excess, used a small brush to brush off the powder that stuck to the background and heated. After I was completely done, I took a Distress Crayon in Vintage Photo and went over the blue embossed areas to give it more dimension, I rubbed it in with my finger, wiped the excess off with a towel so it would shine.

I wanted it to look like a ceramic tile, so the next step isn't necessary if you don't want the recessed area to shine or just use the Distress Embossing Dauber and rub it all over. I took the embossing folder again (!) and ran the embossing ink pad over the flat areas, ran it through the Big Shot and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Note: Clean the folder with a little soapy water.

At this point I was done, I took some hemp cord and tied it around the front, found the hope key and the Idea-Ology Compass coin and attached them. I like the TH Clippings Stickers and when I saw the one that said "she was herself again" it was perfect. I attached it to a small piece of cardstock, swiped a little Distress Glaze over it and attached it with Distress Collage Medium.

Thank you to Tim Holtz for the informative Facebook Live demos and for encouraging me to blog these instructions.

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This is the original sized embossing folder which is discontinued. It's still available from SSS, at least for now.