It’s time for a Tuesday Technique. Today’s technique is a heat embossing technique called cracked glass. There is no actual glass involved so perhaps I should call it “Faux Cracked Glass” or “Faux Crazed Glass.”
Heat embossing are the best techniques ever!
You might have guessed from my YouTube Channel that I am a bit of a fan of heat embossing. There are just so many different heat embossing techniques to explore and most of the time they are relatively inexpensive once you’ve invested in your heat tool (We all love cheap options!).
One little jar of embossing powder goes a very long way. I’ve had my jar embossing powder for years. So long in fact, that Stampin’ Up! has implemented at least two branding changes since I bought my last container of clear Stampin’ Emboss powder. (It’s been a while!)
Inspiration behind the Cracked Glass technique
When I was really little, my Nanna Parker (Nanna or Nan is what we call grand mothers) had a beautiful hairbrush and mirror set that sat on her bedroom dressing table. It was incredibly old and had been her mother’s and passed down through generations. The back of the brush and mirror had a glossy enamelled or glass finish but over the years this had crazed (got tiny cracks) over time. Regardless of its imperfections, the brush set was beautiful. The bristles were soft and whenever I had a sleep over at Nan’s I’d ask her to brush my hair with it – I felt like a princess.
Another inspiration for this technique comes from my other grandmother, Nanna Best who gave me a painted cameo-style brooch. Like the brush, this keepsake was crazed with time but it was beautiful. Sadly, it was misplaced in one of my house moves so I can’t share a photo.
On to the Technique
Rather than complicate things by writing instructions, I’m going to show you this technique, then share all the materials you need to make the entire card down below:
How easy was that heat embossing technique?
To get the look you don’t even need to use an embossing buddy or stamp. You could even use this technique on a piece of designer series paper or a photograph instead of a stamped image. Those would be great in a junk journal or a scrapbook layout.
Here’s another look at the two versions:
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Let’s look at little closer at the card, I finished in the video:
As well as the cracked glass technique, this card uses lots of sponging, background stamping and layering to get a vintage look. The combination of sponging and heat embossing makes the whisper white shape take on a shade of very vanilla. The Best Birds stamp set is perfect for a vintage card. I coloured this bird with the Stampin’ Blends (I’ll include the details at the end of this post) . The retired tea lace doily and the word banner are sponged with Cherry Cobbler classic ink to provide contrast. The layer under the cracked glass stitched shape is a piece of Wood Textures Designer Series Paper and it wouldn’t be a vintage style card without a linen thread or the pretty artisan pearl embellishments. The Very Vanilla Layer is sponged with a combination of early espresso and crumb cake ink to complete the aged look.
Cracked Glass Card – the inside story
Of course you can’t forget to decorate the inside…
The same stamps, inks and sponging were used to continue the vintage theme inside and an early espresso and crumb cake branch was added to give it a focal point. A wink of stella was added to the old olive leaves and very pale Cherry Cobbler inked flowers to give them shimmer. The centers of the flowers were highlighted with the Real Red Stampin’ Blends for contrast
The essentials you need for the cracked glass technique are:
- Versamark Pad [102283] $15.75
- Clear Stampin’ Emboss Powder [109130] $8.75
- Heat Tool [129056] $50.00
- Early Espresso Classic Stampin’ Pad [147114] $13.00
- Sponge Daubers [133773] $9.00
- Your image
- A paper towel, tissue or rag to clean off the excess ink
When you buy all these Stampin’ Up! items together during Sale-a-bration (before 31st March), you will be eligible for a Sale-A-Bration reward. Check out the Sale-A-Bration details.
If you need to know more about heat embossing be sure to read the Heat Embossing – how to – it’s under the “Learn” menu at the top of the page.
Hope you enjoyed this technique… until next time “Happy Creating!”
Chrissy x
But I want to make the whole card:
That’s so awesome – Here’s everything you need to recreate the entire card. Just click on the product pictures below to add them to your shopping card at my online Stampin’ Up! store:
Tea Lace Paper Doilies (RETIRED) [129399] | ||||
