Guest Designer for the Month of June - Kavitha

Hello everyone,

June is a whole new month here at Lulupu. Yes we started with our monthly Challenge - Hop HERE for this months Challenge on stamping.

And to get you grooving we will have a Guest Design Post by some wonderful crafters out there on the 15th of every month.

This month we want you to meet the lovely and super talented Kavitha from http://kalalayaa-artclub.blogspot.in/.
We thank Kavitha for her fabulous tutorial and taking time out to give some inspiration to all you lovely people out there! We hope this motivates you enough to join our stamping challenge this month :)

Getting to know Kavitha
I am Kavitha from chennai.A freelance artist and designer.I  love playing with colors n designing from my school days,but dint get chance to take  any formal training. Post my college, I did a designing courses like fashion designing, visual designing n fine arts. With 6 months of experience i started my own art school and then there was no looking back since then. I love trying out different mediums/styles/art all the time and would say paper crafts is my latest addiction. It allows me to work freely, not much restrictions like painting/art works. Anything and everything looks beautiful with paper crafts when its done with creativity. So whats more a person like me who loves independence even in work would ask for? :) I am yet to figure out which style is my favorite, because I love trying out anything from CAS to layered, to vintage etc...but if you ask me to pick one, shabby chic style  is a step ahead of all these :)) I hope you find my tutorial useful, I thank Lulupu.com for giving me this opportunity to be the Guest Designer for this month :)

A sneak peak at Kavitha fabulous cards

As we are focusing on stamping techniques this month, I am here with a tutorial on the heat embossing technique. This is such a fun technique to use, and the end result is oh so colorful n fabulous :) So here is the picture of all the supplies that you need to make this beautiful,yet simple card. I have used the heat tool from Lulupu store, its an awesome and a must have tool for every crafter. It comes with 3pin plug, made for Indian voltage so you don't need to look for a voltage converter :) I am using this for past 6 months n have no issues,where as my imported one got burnt after my first use.

Step1:

Take the desired stamp (solid designs will be much better for this technique), mount it on the block and stamp it on the card stock with versa marker ink. Apply the clear embossing powder generously over the stamped image, covering the whole area.

Step2: 
Now take a plate like this, hold the card stock inside the plate and tap the excess powder.In this way you can easily restore the remaining powder in its container.

Step3:

Now with the help of your heat tool, start embossing the stamped image. Hold the tool 2 inches away from your working surface, hold it upright and slowly start moving it from top to down. Once its embossed the image will turn from white to clear,this is the indication that it got embossed,then move on to the next area.

(sorry no pic for this as its totally white n not visible in the photograph)

Step 4: 

Once you have completely done with the whole card stock,allow it to cool for few mins.Then start applying the distress ink of your choice with blending tool. I have used shabby shutters, broken china n mustard seed here. Have one tool for each color,randomly apply the colors one by one,but make sure it blends well.Look at the end result,..doesn't it look fab?..its like magic when you apply the colors slowly the embossed design will start showing off :)

Step 5:

Now for the main image of the card,i have stamped it with versa marker ink pad and heat embossed with black glitter embossing powder

Step6:

So here is my finished card, I have just mounted the stamped card onto fabriano blue card stock and mounted the main image with foam dots. I hope you liked my card. If you have any doubt, feel free to leave a comment.

  Few things to remember while you do heat embossing:

• You have to be really quick for this technique. If your working area is big divide into two and work
• Never work under fan for this technique, if the ink dries out, the embossing powder will not stick to it.
• The more solid the stamp is the more pretty the result will be.
• Decide on your color scheme before you start working
• While you do the heat embossing,your card stock will start bending,its absolutely fine..do not worry,allow it to cool for few mins and it will get back to its normal shape.
• When applying the ink, do not apply too much pressure while blending it, hold it light and apply the inks in the circular motion(clock wise and anti-clockwise),this will save you from getting patches.
• Use a smooth white card stock
• Finally since the ink is clear you cannot see the stamped images until you apply powder on it,so make sure you stamp it well at first shot as you cannot stamp over it again and make sure you dont overlap the images over each other:)

Supplies used:
Card stock Fabriano
Stamps: Micia clear stamps - Happy Blocks
Inks: Versa mark
Clear and black embossing powders.
Heat tool 
Distress inks
Blending tool

Have a great day!

Kavitha :)