More 9x9 Album Pages....Accent Layouts with Heat Embossing

I am so enjoying working on the 9x9 Album remembering DH's trip to France. The Simply Snapshot CTMH pages I discussed on June 21st make it so easy to quickly complete beautiful pages. The CS pages contain a basic layout that can be embellished to your heart's content.

I've completed 2 more pages and used ink resist heat embossing to accent the layouts. This technique is very simple with dramatic results.

First, collect your supplies. To complete this page, I used a stamp from CTMH's set called "Key to my Heart." CTMH has several sets that would work beautifully for this technique including Adorning Corners, Playful Flourishes and Blooming Flourishes. Anyway, complete your heat embossing using clear embossing powder and VersaMark ink. I embossed the image in the corner because I want the completed image to act as a corner frame for my photo.

After I allowed the embossing to cool, I sponged over it with ink. The clear embossing powder resists the color allowing the image to show through.

Once the sponging is completed, add your photos and other embellishments. Very simple and easy with elegant results.

This is 2 page layout I completed for the album using this technique. When ever I complete a 2 page layout, I try to include the same elements on each page. The pages don't have to be laid out the same, but the design should encourage the "eye" to move around the page. The embellishments should accent the photos. I don't add embellishments just to add embellishments, I try to image how they will help to create movement. I want my photos to be the focal point, not the embellishments.

I tried another new trick on one of these pages. Notice the "arrows" on the bottom of the right page. These are painted photo hangers. In one of my "Goodie Boxes" I received an entire tube of photo accents. Yippee! One trick is to paint the accents to match the colors of the layout. Using "Create a Shade" paint and re-inker, color can be added. Well, this is a great idea and I am pleased with the results; however, I learned something that I need to share. If you try this do not use your heat gun to speed the drying! The drying does take a long time. I painted these little guys and waited. It was a humid day and they just weren't drying. After an hour, they still weren't dry. So, I thought....hum....the heat gun would speed the drying, forgetting that the little tags were metal. When I touched them to see if it was working, the still tacky paint caused the HOT metal tag to stick to my finger. OK, the hot tag is stuck to my finger, but I can't mess up my paint job because I've waited an hour for these little guys to dry. I started to wave my finger to get it off...didn't work....I finally pried the tag off with a toothpick. Didn't ruin the paint! :o) I immediately plunked my finger into the glass of ice water I was drinking and all was well. Lesson to be learned, this is a great technique, but if you want to use it, do your painting the night before you want to work on the layout! :o)

I've added the pages to the slide show album on my sidebar. Accenting your layouts with heat embossing is a simple, quick and elegant way to enhance your layouts. For Now, Happy Crafting!