I have been making some beautiful hearts ready to decorate some valentines ATC's. I've used a mixture of materials I have in my craft room. I hope you will try these too! Nina xx
For those that don't have embossing machines... Same here! lol. Here are some ways that have worked for me. Sometimes I use a rolling pin, pressing it down hard as I roll. Sometimes, I use a super cheap manual pasta machine to roll the pieces through which can be really useful for thicker pieces. But what works best for me is the massive story below. 😂 I have stacks of thick old books like old encyclopedias, dictionaries, and medical books. I have mostly gotten for free at the "you take it" storage room at our local dump where people set things they don't want but could be useful to someone. Items get a week on the table before they are disposed of/dropped off at the donation center/recycled. The table is pretty long and has divider lines and labels painted on it- New, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and last chance. Each day, last chance is removed and the others slide down to the next day. (Larger pieces like lamps or bookcases will be lined up on the floor behind the day they belong to.) Maybe you have something like that nearby or a charity shop that has cheap ones? They are multipurpose books. I cut pages out to use in my crafting, to stamp/emboss and squishing/drying flowers. I make my "sets"... embossing stamp with foam, stamp with cardstock, etc... and then place them in the gaps of the books where I removed pages. I try to put them in spots that are skinnier, so they really get a good squish. I usually put 5 "sets' in each book, making sure to space them throughout the book. I stack the books three high, spine facing me, in the bottom of my craft closet (so a total of 15 "sets" per book stack). Then I put a concrete cinder block on top of the stack. I have 5 book stacks in there at a time, pressing 75 things total. My own little factory setup. lol. I have some old gym weights to add extra weight should I feel like I need it for any reason. Then I just let them sit like that until I need one of the books/stamps/pressed items. I rotate them around occasionally as I pull books to use or if the mood strikes me. I bet you're thinking, how can you find what you need? The reason they are stacked spines facing me is that each of the books has a piece of duct tape on the spine with a number on it. I keep a dry erase board to document the "sets". For example, if loading book 1 with "sets"... I would write 1 and underline it. then under the underlined 1, I write the numbers 1 through 5 (or however many sets you are planning for that book). Then I add "sets" into the book. I usually don't go in order because I do like to space them out. Since I do 5, I put one near the top (spot 1 ) and write the "set" on the board, then one near the bottom (spot 5) and write it on the board, then in the middle (spot 3) and write it on the board, then fill in spot 2 and write it on the board and then spot 4 and write it on the board. It sounds like a lot, but it's not after you get the list going. I use shorthand because I've done it for so long, but you can list the "sets" names however you want... For example... Spot 1 under book 1 might say d.blue foam/sm.script folder... meaning a sheet of dark blue foam pressed in an embossing folder that looks like small handwriting. Spot 2 under book 1 might say yellow cs-np/hm-rosebut... meaning a yellow sheet of cardstock with no pattern pressed with a homemade stamp pad that is covered in decorative rose shaped buttons. Spot 3 might say violets 5-5-19... meaning real violets that are being pressed and dried that were added on May 5, 2019. When you need something, check the board. For example, you need pieces for a 7-year-old girl's party invitations... You can look at the list and see in book 4 spot 3 is a pink glitter paper pressed in a princess themed stamper. So you can go to the closet and only pull out book 4. Open the book to spot 3 and pull out the "set". Go to your board and erase the "set" name from spot 3 and put a dash in its place. You have now marked that it's empty. Then when you have a chance, create a new "set" and add it to book 4 spot 3 and write the "set" name in its matching spot on the board. I recommend the erase and add dash system even if you are going to replace the same exact "set" back in. You never know when the phone will ring and by the time you come back, you've forgotten to replace that "set" and next time you need it, it's not made yet. Once you get the hang of doing it, it works out great. Since I always do this system, I have written each underlined book number and the 1 through 5 spot numbers in permanent marker on my dry erase board, so it keeps it easier to keep it spaced out and orderly. And only in extreme case of emergency with strong metal stamps, snap that "set" together and put it in a ziplock bag that has the air squeezed out. Take it and put it on the ground in front of your cleanest tire and let the car slowly roll onto it. Set there for a few seconds and then slowly roll back off. Just saying, sometimes crafting needs extreme measures!😂
The hearts are gorgeous! I'm not a pink girl, so this is a great option to that. And thank you for showing so many options! That's a thing I really like about your videos. Tfs, Fia xx
Oh, Nina, these are spectacular! Thank you for showing the different ways we can achieve this beautiful look! Another one for my to-do list!!! Hugs, Debra. (Hope you found the cute little heart!)
+elvisisabigsweetie Thanks for your lovely comment Debra. The tiny heart has still not re-appeared. I have even checked the waste paper basket, lol! Hugs xx
Thank you Nina. I like how you investigate things and find various different ways to make similar items. Not everybody have the same supplies so it's good to have alternative ways to make such lovely things.
I'd never heard of Scrapstores, but googled it and discovered one close to me! I'm heading over there as soon as the Lockdown is lifted! Thanks for a great video and some good ideas x
I don't know how I missed this video, but I love these hearts and the techniques you've used to make them, I can see me making lots of embellishments this way, tfs.
Oh, Nina, these are adorable. Somehow, I managed to miss this tutorial. As you knoww, I am in the middle of valentine making. I get easily bored, doing tne same on over again, so by the time I am done, I have many different cards to send off, while staying entertained the entire time. I saw this and thought, 'thanks Nina for a wonderful idea for something else to make.' I am going to use the ink and alcohol background, you have shared this week(1/21) and use this technique for tne focal point. Thanks for all the terrific ideas, you remind me to use. You are the best!
Hello Nina, I love your hearts you created. Thank you for sharing all your tips and tricks. You have inspired me to create some of own, possibly in different shapes as well.
they are really lovely, all of them. I really do like the glitter sticker hearts with only one coat of paint so you get a tiny bit of colour showing through
Just stumbled onto your channel, and I love these ideas! I will need to try them for some ATCs and handmade books. Couple of tips for your American viewers on where to get supplies. -The fun foam shapes are often available at Dollar Tree. They have some pretty good crafting supplies. -For random scraps and crafting supplies, check American Science and Surplus. If you live in IL, you can go in person, but they also have an online and a print catalog. They get scrapbooking supplies, scraps of leather, office and craft supplies, gears, gaskets, and lots of very random stuff.
Wonderful ideas on making these embellishments. Love how you showed different products to make these. I have some fun foam so I think I will give these a try.
Sorry I've taken a while to reply Di. I used adhesive foil tape which was just attached to the front side of the heart. You could use a tin foil adhered with a thin coat of PVA. No need to apply the foil to the back. :)
Hello Nina :) Love all your hearts, they turned out gorgeous :) Your little heart is probably glued to Louie, lol :) tfs, and Have an Outstanding Day :) amy
Wonderful looking hearts Nina. I love the ATC you made. I might have a go at the fun foam & stamp option as I have those materials. it looks like fun! TFS maybe Louie took your heart...😊
Lovely video ,Nina. Your hearts are fab! I love making the foam embellies. I first saw Marina make them. It's great to see the different things people come up with. Tfs. Hugs,Dee xxx
Ooh my husband found me a roll of that metallic tape and I haven't had any idea of how to use it - we all know how it's going to be used now. Brilliant embellishments thanks.
This is absolutely brilliant... you have inspire me to make some of these...been in a little of slump and now I want to make something...thank...you...sooooo much,...tfs
What a wonderful embellishment. Love the idea of leather, especially for you ladies that have the scrap store. The foil tape hearts are gorgeous. I will have to think on what to use to imprint with, I want to play around with the fun foam idea. (Thank you for the extra information on Dee's video about postage. It is good to know sending stuff internationally.) Nina, have a wonderful, joy filled day. Give Louie some loving from me, just hearing his mischief gives me joy, and makes me smile.
Thanks for your kind comment Monica. I hope you manage to locate something around your home that you can use for the texture. Sometimes glasses and china are heavily textured, just an idea. Louie is a complete bundle of mischief! Gotta love him though :) xx
Thanks Nina for sharing this I absolutely love everything about them and the butterflies. off out soon to look at the kids art section of our local store. Take care out there.
WOW! I absolutely love these....didn't think I would be able to do without embossing machine,but with you showing so many dif ways,can see it is possible 😄...I have kids foam,tin foil and heat gun 😄X
I missed this video somehow, thank you for the link in the last one. They are gorgeous Nina, and I'll give it a try with leather & tape! I don't have embossing supplies but you showed a lot of alternative ways to get more or less the same result. So thank you! X
+Mieke Middelhuis Thanks Mieke. The kids toys you sent me would be perfect for creating an embossed effect on foam. I hope you kept some for yourself! Hugs xxx
Yes, you're right, good idea! The rest of the blocks I shared with Femke, so we all have a third part. As soon I have good results I'll send you a photo! X
Hi, Nina. I do similar projects with tetra pack. After using the milk I always recycle the TETRA PACK. It is very easy to emboss and the silvery side is great for altering with black or other paints. It`s wonderful for cardmaking and very, very durable. I never saw anyone using tetra pack for these purposes, which is a shame, because it costs nothing. Just wanted to share this with everyone :))
Oh, that`s a pity. But you confirmed my suspicions. When I was in London, I never saw any tetra pack, but I thought that I had been at the wrong places... LOL. But maybe someone else will take the hint and run with it :) Have a wonderful day, Nina and thanks for all your great projects. Sunny greetings from Slovenia :)))
Gosh I love these so much. I am in the process of moving my craft room--everything is boxed up, so I won't be able to craft for several more months. The things crafts you do inspire me and make it VERY hard for me to abstain from crafting right now! Thanks for sharing, so I can craft vicariously!
Hi Nina, Omg! I had a leather mini skirt and matching jacket in that purple colour in the early 90's lol. I love how we crafters inspire each other love the hearts and butterflies 😊 xx
They look Great Nina, Just tried making some with ordinary Kitchen Foil which I stuck on to cardboard on both sides using double sided tape and also some I stuck with tacky glue, waited for it to dry, then ran through my Big shot with various Dies and then embossed them, going to try and colour some of them to see what effects I get, really good idea and TFS. Hugs Linda x
Oh wow i just saw you wrote this 4 yrs ago, but i'm hoping you'll see my question here, i'm just wondering how your projects turned out, once you put them into the Big Shot, did this workout for you & how were the effects?
I like to use the aluminum covers from the cat food bowls. You can use them to cover cardboard or fun foam, or use two layers back to back. And they can be structured just as easily. Thanks for this lovely video!
Love this, Nina! I saw Katerinas awesome butterflies the other day and wondered how she made them.Thank you so much for sharing all those different ways to create these! ❤️❤️❤️
I love this, Nina! I have some glittery foam hearts that I bought at the dollar tree last year. I'll have to look around and see where I put them. Thanks for sharing, Nina :-) Julie
WOW!! really fell in love with these. thank you for always coming up with alternatives for those of us with limited supplies. the scrap store sounds amazing wish we had something like that here in the states that would be amazing :). tfs, have a blessed day! can't wait to see what you come up with next xoxo
