Now to mix it up a bit! The best example I have is when I made a batch of Valentine cards. This is when I really started to experiment and once I started I could hardly stop. There is so much that you can do with leftovers!

So what will you need? Here’s a list of suggestions:

1. Todo machine with smooth plate and red foil;
2. Glitter card-black, red and gold;
3. Heart themed embossing folders;
4. Texture stamps , I’ve used what I had in my stash-two from Sam Poole designs, one from Indigoblu and another from Inkylicious;
5. Dies. I’ve used small hearts and sentiments from Sara Davies signiture collection, Love and Romance, also some sentiment stamps from the same range. I also used my larger heart dies from Tattered Lace;
6. Black and white card;
7. Black ink-Archival;
8. Coloured gems for a bit of sparkle!
   

   

   

   I started by foiling a heart embossing folder with red foil using the same technique described in my previous post. I did this a few times using different folders and different card to experiment with texture.I also did some block foil in red. I then decided to cut some small hearts in plain white card in different sizes using my dies and a die cutting machine (you could use Todo when the hot plate cooled) I placed them on top of one of the ‘reverse’ foil sheets (the foil left after the embossed design has been transferred to the main card) When these were run through the machine the hearts pick up an abstract pattern. I kept these for later.I repeated the same technique on the block red foil this left four white heart shapes on the foil. I transferred this to white card and cut it out with a large heart die.Next I added texture to the white hearts by stamping patterns in the centres, making sure to mask the red foil. I edged the large heart with a black alcohol marker.I thought this would look nice mounted on to a foiled patterned back ground, raised up with foam pads for added dimension.I added some swirly black gems and a few die cut sentiments, cutting ‘love’ in glitter card. Finally I mounted it all on to a black card.

   Here are a few more examples using both the positive and negative foil. One card’s left over is the next card’s feature. I felt inspired to be a bit more creative with my die cutting.I should also say that I really enjoyed using Sara’s love signature collection from crafter’s companion. As you can see I became a bit obsessed with the Love die!

   

   

   

   

   

   You have got to have a go. Only nine more months to practice for St Valentine’s day!