Using Your Dies with Embossing Paste

This week I am so excited to be showing you different things you can do with the new nested owl dies (DG751). There are three different dies in the set. The largest one matches our largest owl stencil (LG751) and is actually only a shape. The second or middle sized die we refer to as the "owl buddy" die and it matches our "owl buddy" stencil (LL3039). Friday and Saturday I worked with the "tiny owl" die, which as you may have figured out, is the tiniest of the three. Nope, it doesn't match any stencils, but we had room to fit another owl inside for added value, so we couldn't resist. On Friday and Saturday I worked with this tiny one and had a great time.

If you leave a comment you could be one of the two random winners of this new nested owl die set (DG751). (Not the stencils though...I just put those in the picture so you would know how they match for paste-embossing or stenciling.) Also I am throwing in some of the double sided sticky paper scrap that I have a plethora of. When you are leaving me a comment, give me an idea of what you might do with the dies...that would be a bonus for me!

Today I am working with the middle sized die, "owl buddy".  I started by putting a piece of double sided sticky paper (MPDS) onto the back of the paper I wanted to die cut and ran it through the Big Shot embossing/die-cutting machine. This means that each piece has a sticker backing added and makes it much easier to attach to the paste-embossed surface you see in the next step. 

The "owl buddy" stencil (LL3039) and the bird words stencil (LG734) were paste-embossed with the Matte Black Embossing Paste (DMBP). I did the tiny nest above his head and the word "nest" first that way when I paste-embossed the "owl buddy" stencil there was room between these other two images and the owl stencil was not lifted. The "bird words" stencil is large with a lot of other bird words and thoughts on it and if I had done the owl first the larger stencil would be raised up and it might be harder to paste. Let these images dry really well. I use an old electric griddle on the lowest setting and place my paste-embossed pieces onto this warm surface. That way the paste will dry in record time...just ten minutes or so.

When your owl design is dry, reposition the nest stencil from bird words onto your paste-embossed image. The Metallic F/X come in a beautiful array of colors. Prepare them by opening the lids in front of each jar. I used Glacier, Cocoa and Kiwi for this nest design. Begin by daubing glue from the Stamp and Stick Gluepad (GSP) with a jumbo dauber (KD02). Then put the tip of the stencil brush (GHB) into the pot of Glacier colored Metallic F/X and tap it into the lid so you will have just a tiny bit on the tips of the bristles and then tap it onto the center of the eggs. Leave just a bit of the Matte Black Embossing Paste showing at the edges for contrast. Rub the brush out on a dry or damp paper towel and repeat the process for the twigs using Cocoa and finally use Kiwi on the leaves at the outer edges of the design.

For a finishing touch I added the May Arts Houndstooth Ribbon behind the owl.

Now remove the die-cut pieces from the release paper and place on top of the design wherever you want. I added the thought bubble and left the pupils of the eyes, eyebrows and chest showing just the Matte Black Embossing Paste (DMBP). Putting the die-cut pieces on top of the Matte Black paste really gives it that extra handcrafted embossed touch.

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