She's an Angel with a Messy Background!

Welcome back friends!  I have a looooong post today with lots of information!  I hope that you will find some inspiration here to create something fabulous today!!!

After much deliberation, I finally decided to use this little cutie called Knowledge is Power Angel by Elisabeth Bell for SCACD.  These beauties are just that...  beautiful!  It's so hard to choose which to color up first lol!  And... I even dusted off my Lacey Ovals Nestabilities die which I haven't used in awhile, and paired it with Classic Large Oval Nestabilities die.

This stamp has been been released before, but because she's one of our favorites, Susana has decided to Re-Release the whole collection of beauties!!!  She's from the Guardian Angel Collection.  But wait... there is one Brand New Angel you may spy at the store (or have seen on my blog!).

Here's the full background.  You can see the great texture the Embossing Paste provides.  Susana carries different colors of Embossing Paste so you can create just the right look!

The bottom layer of flower petals was stained with Vintage Photo Distress Stain.  The top petals were pressed on the already distressed petals, so it got a kind of 'second generation' distress.  You could get a similar effect using Nutmeg Silks (intensity of color would depend on how much you apply).  I'll have to try that cuz the Silks are shimmery goodness!!!

I adhered Tulle behind, and a cute li'l button center on top and it's ready to glue on using... you know it - ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever lol!  Yes, I am in LOVE with glue ♥

Oooooh, a better shot of that texture lol!  If you look closely, you can see the bottom layer, which is stamped text.  Lots of beautiful layers to enjoy : )

Wanna know how to get this look?  Here ya go...

Making Your Own Background

Of course there are many many ways and products one can use to create different backgrounds.  I'm going to show you how I created the background I used on my card today.

First step:  Using Archival Ink *Here* or *Here* and rubber stamp, I stamped the text on a sheet of 8 1/2"x 11" four times.  Any size paper/stamp can be used.  This isn't the stamp I used, but is a cool text stamp (which I want now have!)

Second Step:  Tape down the Damask stencil (using removable tape) and apply Black Embossing Paste, icing as you would a cake!

Third Step:  Carefully lift up the Damask stencil, revealing a beautiful design!  After about an hour, reapply the stencil and tap an embossing pad (I used VersaMark Dazzle) on open areas of stencil.

Fourth Step:  Apply Stargazer Mica Powder (or color of your choice) with a soft brush.  Stargazer is a beautiful blue color, but on top of the Matte Black Embossing Paste, it turns a pretty teal color!

For my card today, I spritzed the paper with water and brushed on more Stargazer.  When that was dry, I added Ice Silks and used my finger to add Solar Gold Mica Powder on bits and pieces.

* Solar Gold Mica Powder doesn't have a base color, but on top of the color I already laid down, it shows up beautifully!

I cut the paper for my background (5"x5") and had some left over which I showed you on my tag yesterday...

Why Do I Need ScraPerfect Best Cleaner Ever?

Well, to be perfectly honest... you don't!  However, there are some definite benefits to using this amazing cleaner!  Take a peek below.  Nothing has been retouched.  These are 'as is' photos!

I scrubbed as best I could, but I didn't want to rip the intricate design...  Soap and water removed the major part of embossing paste, but certainly left a lot behind!

Look how CLEAN the ScraPerfect Best Cleaner Ever worked on this stencil!!!  I mean even the nooks and crannies of this intricate stencil got clean.  It's AMAZING!  You can click on the photo to make it larger so you can see in detail.

...and of course, I used ScraPerfect Best Glue Ever to adhere my ENTIRE card!

Whew!  I bet you thought that I'd never end hee hee...

Thanks for visiting today!

Love and blessings ~