Playing with Distressed Embossing Powders

The Dream Team are so excited to have the opportunity to play along with some unique Ranger Products in the Tim Holtz line...specifically, the Distressed Embossing Powders! Our own Louise Healy demonstrated how fabulous these are with the Dreamweaver Stencils when she created this card for a fun class at CHA Summer 2012:

Apparently, Tim Holtz agreed with all of us on this unique use of his product, so he very generously had Ranger (thanks, Patti!) send the team some samples to play and blog with. So...here we go!

Here's my post for today::

I know it doesn't exactly fall into the Festively Fall theme but I have a good reason. I have been busy working on a tutorial for the PaperCraft Planet blog for the polymer clay pendant featured last week. (See blog post below for a link to the tutorial.)

Today's card definitely falls into the Clean and Simple, yet Distressed/Grunged category. The supplies used are:

• Dreamweaver Steampunk Clock #LX7018
• Dreamweaver Matte Black Embossing Paste
• Dreamweaver Paste Spreader
• Ranger Embossing Ink
• Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink
• Ranger Black Soot Distress Embossing Powder
• Ranger Inkssentials Blending Tool and Foam Pad
• Ranger Heat-it Craft Tool
• Tim Holtz Ideology Watch face, gears, and Brads
• Kraft cardstock
• Black A6 folded card

After securing the stencil with removable tape on the kraft cardstock, apply Embossing Paste using Paste Spreader, remove and clean stencil; set aside to dry. When dry, realign the stencil and apply the Distress Embossing Ink in a pouncing motion with a sponge. Remove stencil and sprinkle on Black Soot EP (remember to shake first). Heat with the Craft Tool. Unlike traditional embossing powders, the Distress Powders don't change appearance all that much when heating, so use your best judgment, lightly testing an area with your finger if you're unsure. Remember, you can always heat again and even apply more ink and powder if you want to, but you can't remove the scorch marks if you burn your cardstock!

Once the Embossing Powder has cooled, rub over it with your finger to remove some of  the powder to give it a distressed look. Option: use a different colored EP, like Vintage Photo or Walnut Stain to have the black paste appear more prominent.

Using your blending tool, edge the embossed cardstock with the Vintage Photo ink and adhere the Watchface and gears where desired. Mount to folded card, sit back and admire your results!

Very easy, very distressed and very much done in classic Tim Holtz style.

For the next four weeks, on our regular Thursday posts, we will be featuring the wonderful things that you can do with Tim's Distress Powders and Dreamweaver Stencils. Leave comments on each of the team blog posts (links below) for an opportunity to win this fabulous prize package compliments of Ranger Ink and Dreamweaver Stencils:

And here are the links to all the blogs.

Ranger Ink Blog

Dream It Up!
Pam Hornschu

Laura Drahozal

Cherylynn Moser 

Louise Healy

Wendy Jordan

Cyndi Bundy

Terrece Siddoway

Kristi Van Doren

Georgia Sommers

Lee Kellogg

Liz Martin

Don't forget to play along with the Dream Team's monthly challenges for more opportunities to win some great stencil designs! October's challenge is Festively Fall, and November is CAS (clean and simple) Christmas! Link your creations on the Dream It Up! blog, or email pics to lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com. Join us on Facebook as well! Lots of inspiration, and lots of fun!