Emboss resist and essential oils 

As a long time artist - fine and craft - I have come to LOVE the creative community. In my youth loved to take classes in different things and get the "bounce" off of other creative souls. Most artists are truly a sharing bunch. Must come from the creative spirit within us. Sharing with younger and older folks too. Seems we ALL enjoy what we do enough to WANT to help others to be able to do the same. So, I thank you for sharing your creativeness, and also to the person that shared with you first!! :)

And now you have not only beautiful cards, but beautiful smelling cards too. 🥰🥰🥰

No matter where you get your ideas, the fact that you are so generous in sharing your ideas and your thoughts with us is very much appreciated. Just in this one video I made a note to purchase some essential oils, to laminate some copy paper to use as work surfaces, and to fill an entire sheet with a background stamp which I can then emboss and blend and colour. All thanks to you and people who share with you. Having a full sheet on hand to cut up in pieces was also sparked by you. Some days you are in the mood to color, other days to create.

I love the softness of the colors and the stamp on this card. Beautiful

Wonderful to know all these hints and tips which helps crafters in their card making, thank you for demonstrating it for us, love your stamp, take care

Christine the fragrance from that beautiful card would be absolutely gorgeous. Thank you for another inspirational video. Have a lovely day.

Beautiful card Christine. Essential oils are a pretty smelling option for helping to breakdown the oil and wax binder of coloured pencils to move the the pigments but there's a drawback of you're not careful. When using oils to blend, you can sometimes see a bit of the the oil seeping into areas of the card beyond the coloured area you've put it, creating a greasy mark where you don't want it. I am a self taught, part-time fine art artist and I have I worked using coloured pencils (and also various other media, paint and pencils including graphite for over 30 years). I use the simple layering coloured pencils method to blend and burnish oil or wax based coloured pencils. You can get various special colourless blender pencils, or you can use a white or a light version of the colour you're using light layers to blend and smooth the tooth texture of your card or paper, then use your original colour over this to further enrich the colour. In the UK, "Zest-it" blending fluid is used by many coloured pencil artists too. It smells more pleasant than other mineral spirits like Gamsol or OMS , it has a citrus smell. You still have to use these blending fluids sparingly.

Thank you. A beautiful card. Thank you for the info about using essential oils. 👏😊💕

Wonderful idea and I love the card. Recipient gets a bonus as the scent should remain for a while I would think. Thanks Christine for another great video 🤗

This card is just fabulous…❤

Love this background and totally agree. Crafting is for developing and refining your work to find what pleases you.

Gorgeous card, love the colors Christine! I've used a few things over the years to move the color of pencils, Vaseline, baby oil, Aquaphor, etc.... But never cared for the way it made the paper feel and you really had to use it sparingly. So I stuck with the mineral spirits aka Gamasol. Never ever did I think of using essential oils! LOL Great idea and of course it works because it's an oil. Love being inspired by other crafty people and I love learning from our crafty community! Hugs, Brenda

You know, my knowledge of English is limited, so I can't write a comment every time, but I read other people's comments very often . (this is how I have my daily private English lessons) I have nothing to add, I also say "thank you" for your ideas, creativity and instructions. Best regards, Angela

Elegant, beautiful, subtle and classy. Love this look! Had a good chuckle when you said you love salvaged patina as a color as you worked on a salvaged patina mat. Enjoy these videos so much as they are always building on my knowledge and clearly the knowledge of others. We are a community and sharing is the way we grow. Thank you for sharing.......

Your videos always spark ideas, Christine!

…and your card is gorgeous as ever.

What a lovely card this turned out beautifully. It would serve for many occasions and you could get more than one out of the entire stamp. Thank you for sharing and commenting to each person. That too takes time. I am waiting for a shoulder replacement so right now I have limited mobility in my right arm. So I am more into watching than creating. Thank goodness I managed to make all my Christmas cards earlier in the year. I usually send about 200 and they are now all addressed so I am just watching. Have a good day

I have that Leaves and Berries background stamp, and it's beautiful embossed with any color. I've made lots of backgrounds with it. Now I have some new ways to use it. Thank you!

Beautiful card! Thank you for your inspiration😊

Another delicate and elegant card Chris. I had no idea that Prisma pencils need something to activate them! Mine colorings with them have gone naked into the world! I always learn something new from your videos; Salvaged Patina is a favourite for me too. I have a similar background stamp which is from Pink Fresh Studio and I shall be experimenting with it today. Thanks for the inspiration. 🍃🍃🍃

I have just recently discovered your channel and I have learned so much from you! Thank you for sharing your tips and ideas! Every one of your cards are stunning!

Beautiful card I could see it working maybe with a holly leaf and berry stamp for Christmas. 😁

I would have never thought about essential oils. I have problems with my chest so have stayed away from the anything warning you to use in a well ventilated area. Now I shall go out and get an essential oil. Love the card. Jenny ❤😊

Lovely! I don’t care for the smell of lavender either. I think it stinks in my opinion. Glad I’m not alone! This is a fabulous idea! Thanks Christine!❤

Lovely card and very good video

such a lovely card. tfs

I used to do a lot of parchment craft and this was a technique we used to pull colours with on velum, so it works well on that too.

What fun, Chrissy! I, too, would love to see your creative space - often get ideas from other crafters in their spaces. Thanks as always!

Very pretty, and last week we were just talking about using essential oils on cards! Lovely

Beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing Ms. Chrissie!!!

You are so right about seeing something that you like and running with it!! I just love finding a new idea. The cards you have made have inspired me so much. Thank you Christine.

Beautiful card.

I absolutely adore this!

What a fabulous idea! I have a box of essential oils that I don’t use anymore- apart from on a tissue in the bottom of the bin! I’m going to give this a go and see if I can match scents to the card theme. I’m not sure how long the scent would last on the card, but there’s only one way to find out!🤗🇦🇺

Odorless Gamsol works beautifully with Prismacolors pencils that are wax based. A couple types are on Amazon in the UK. But based on your discovery I think I’d like to try Jasmine or Bergomot maybe? “They” say that olfactory memories are the strongest! Like the smell of the ocean… or lavender on a trip (with a scratchy suit)! Your card is so beautiful and peaceful. 🌿

Such a beautiful card - and thank you for sharing the essential oil tip - I too don't like the smell of the blending solutions - they give me a headache - so I rarely use my pencils. I shall try with the oil now. Thank you so much for sharing this technique. Jennie x

What a lovely idea. Thank you for sharing

Different, delicate, and can be accomplished in so many different ways! I love this one. You must’ve been such a motivating teacher.

Hi Chris,what a lovely demo , I love the technique thanks for sharing.😁

Brilliant idea and so much healthier than chemicals. I’ll be smelling essential oils tomorrow now at our local health shop..getting some strange looks no doubt 😂😆

Chrissie, thanks so much for this video! Thoroughly enjoyed it. What a lovely background stamp. It would work for Christmas Cards as well, I think. I have a big set of Faber Castel Polychromos coloured pencils. I use odourless artist’s mineral spirit to blend the pencils. I’ve also used baby oil, but I prefer the mineral spirit. It IS odourless so does not cause breathing issues. In Australia, I can purchase it at any artists supply shop, along with the paper stumps. My tip for your paper stumps is - in order to clean and refine the point, file with a fine emery board. The stump should be dry before filing it though.

Very lovely. Wonderful thing to know.

Gorgeous card again. Love the soft colours. If you want to avoid any scent (I personally love Bergamot) you can use baby oil. The regular solvent solution gives me a headache, therefore I was looking for alternatives as well.

Well, I like lavender. I did a perfumery diploma in the 70s and every part of the lavender plant is used, in several processes, to extract the essences for use in many applications

Lovely card, Chris! I’ve never heard of this exact essential oil and agree that Lavender is not my preferred choice. It never occurred to me that essential oils would work just as well as any solvent..which gives me a headache if it’s not well ventilated and too strong…reason why I don’t oil paint inside any longer… Yahoo!! Wonderful we can use a product that will add a pleasant smell to the room and works as well as the other options.. I’m just so delighted to find this out. I’ve been aware of “zest it” which is a strong orange scent but never equated it with using any essential oils… I learn more from your channel than anyone else I’ve watched! That’s a credit to your sharing so many different details along with your clear instructions on the techniques used and ways to “fix” items that don’t quite please you… Blessings sweet lady, Nancy Rolfe I’m just like a child…I really do get so excited after watching some of your videos which opens up different options!!! My husband finds it funny 😊 Is it a citrus type of scent?

Hi Christine. Thanks for the video and technique. Just wanred to let you know that I tried your trick for extending a rectangle/sentiment die and it worked. I was so pleased with the result. Thank you. I hope you will be creating your daily Gumiapan advent calendar this year. 😊

I use these pencils too but I use them with Clarity Stamp “Dorso-oil”. I started using it with Parchment craft many years ago and still use the same bottle! It smells of beautiful oranges …

Thank you so much, I hate the smell of Gamasol. I have not tried bergamot but will get some. You are so wonderful to share what you learn. I LOVE Salvaged Patina too! Beautiful card, as ever!

Love lavender, can't stomach geraniums in the house, vive la difference! The only essential oil in the house is "Christmas" which smells of cloves, lovely, (b.b.date: 2015!) so perfect for Christmas cards :) Beautiful card Christine, eucalyptus leaves are so pretty and go wonderfully with the colour theme. Thank you :)

What a beautiful card and a very interesting technique. That’s a new one on me so thank you for sharing. - Dawn 🌅

Great technique, love the result. 😊

I am so pleased my idea worked for you (I adore Lavender 😁) The stamp you have used is so very pretty. I would never thought of using a stump though, for the smaller bits! Whatever oil you use, it would make it smell wonderful.

It is just beautiful!

Gorgeous card and love the blending tip - I seem to recall someone using baby oil to blend pencils so might give that a go too - thanks Christine

This is wonderful! For me, lavender is just as harmful as a harsh chemical. So, I love that we can use essential oil! Bergamot is such a fresh, citrus-y scent, too. I have some other flavors so I may try them, too. Thank you for sharing all your creativity and delightful adventures into "alternative" card making techniques. I love it!!!

Brilliant idea! x

What a fantastic idea 💡. I have been wondering how to add scent to my cards. Brilliant 🎉

Gorgeous!

Absolutely gorgeous, and the aroma must be beautiful. I’m thinking Christmas cards with other scented oils?

You are awesome!

Great idea!

Hi. Oh I do love a bit of lavender but it's a shame that you hadn't got a bit of eucalyptus oil for that one, it would have been very fitting and would have cleared any lingering cold away, too.😂 Thank you for sharing that, handy to know that if I run out of my Gamsol ( which is odourless and available in the UK from Jackson's Arts ) then I have a host of scents to choose from to use in a pinch. Your card is a beauty and has me thinking of spring even before the last of my roses have faded. Thanks again and have a wonderful day.😊

Brilliant!!! And it smells so much nicer than Gamsol! 🤭

Oh my stars Christine ! I can’t wait to try your magic, you never cease to amaze me. Your imagination sparks so many beautiful ideas. Thank you once again for being so generous with your ideas. The card is simply elegant 😀. Oh, my Mother told me bergamot helps keep the annoying mosquitos from getting to you. Hugs from the US. Peggy in MD

Hello christine .If i haven t misunderstood it must ne à substitude for deodorized mineral essence. Good evening and thank for this idea . The stamp la beautiful and your card too👏👋👋👋

I love that SSS leaves and berries image and so pretty white embossed and with the added mix of blue toned inks and the Prismacolour pencils to colour the leaves and berries, and I too would not have thought to use essential oil instead of the blending solution to move the pencil colour around, but of course is a much kinder thing to use and with a lovely smell. I think the eucalyptus leaves go beautifully over the top, and just the addition of a few tiny pearls as a finishing touch look great Chrissie. x

Lovely colours! Harmonious and beautiful card! ❤️ Do you like tea? Bergamot is a part of Earl Grey and other tea flavours. ☺️

So lovely!! I also can not use anything with a strong smell. I tried baby oil and it worked for me. It is nice to know that I could use other oils also!! I really appreciate you sharing your ideas and thoughts with us!! It is so very helpful. I always love to learn something new!!

Hartelijk bedakt voor uw antwoord, dat witte in de oile dan smeren. Maar ik heb gevonden. Liefs Yvonne 😘

Isn’t that a great use for essential oils..use them a lot..thanks for sharing

I have all the Distress dye inks in minis but only about 30 in the Oxides. I also love that shade of blue/green and it's funny to see the colors I've chosen in the oxides. I do have a good spectrum of the ROYGBIV but it seems I have much more in the Teal/Aqua/Turquoise than anything else. Very good to know about the essential oils! I have a huge bottle of unopened Gamsol BUT if I have an issue with it, I know what to use instead. Much like you, I think I'd prefer Bergamot to lavender.

very interesting video, Christine! I am curious, does the fragrance linger on the card for a long time? If so, would be fun to match a fragrant oil to the occasion and the card subject. I have some pumpkin scented oil and some pie dies from Spellbinders, so could send a pumpkin pie card, kind of like those scratch and sniff things😄

I have the Black Widow pencils and they brilliant, i have the stumps but not the solution as it was near £17.00 a bottle, but will try the essential oil trick, beautiful colours and love the background xx Mandy x

How does the back of the card stock look after using the essential oil? Love the smell of bergamot and it is a mood lifter, too! Did the fragrance linger on the card stock? An added treat! TFS 🌸😎

if you use essential orange oil it does the same --- plus it is brilliant to clean stubborn marks from all kind of paints

Always beautiful cards. Btw I would guess that most of your followers have the same or similar trolley, just a guess by how popular they are at the stores(I have 2). 😂 thank you for your informative videos.

So pretty ❤ Another vote against the smell of lavender… yuck. Which is a pity cause I love the plant, so good for bees 😊 I’d love to see your craft room too. I have a feeling it would be more like mine. So many room tour’s just show a tidy craft space. We all know it’s not like that all the time 😂

Does the scent from the oil stay on the card for very long o does it dissipate over time? Love the effect you got and want to give it a try! Beautiful card!

So pretty...I wonder if you could use baby oil?

Sorry ik kan niet zo goed engels.. heel mooi kaart. Hoe heet de essentials oils...en de pen..? Hartelijk bedakt, Yvonne

Beautiful effect. I was wondering if you made your own Christmas cards.

I’m curious about why you use distress oxide and you don’t spritz with water to make them oxidize?

Not a fan of lavender either but I do like bergamot

I wonder how long the lovely smell will last?

Hiya I can’t stand lavender either, I use baby oil it smells great too

Gamsol is a brand of odorless mineral spirits. Even if Gamsol isn’t available in UK some kind of odorless mineral spirits is. I love Bergamot, and I loathe lavender. I would be hesitant to send a scented card to anyone. I’m very sensitive to odors; in fact scent is what triggers my migraines. I dislike people foisting scents on me. Gawd, laundry is the worst. A load of laundry can scent a neighborhood, at least it can in the States. I avoid the aisle at the supermarket that has cleaning products because the smells overwhelm me. It’s dicey sending scented anything to others unless you know the other person likes the particular smell and scented stuff. Another alternative to Gamsol or alcohol markers is mineral oil. Everyone tends to think of baby oil with its powdery scent, but I get mineral oil from the tummy medicine aisle. Mineral oil is a laxative too, and when sold for that purpose, no fragrance is added. It doesn’t smell like much of anything. And since you can use the stuff both on & in your body, it’s reasonably safe.

Your soooo funny the world's my lobster

couldnt it be a carrier roil instead of essential?

How can I get your address to send you a Christmas card?

I got told baby oil help in place of Sansador

= Your microphone needs to be in a better place. It is very difficult to hear you