Use Your Stash - Embossing (Faux Leather)

Hi Everyone.

This is Michelle from Lady of Leisure Ink, making my debut as a guest designer here on Paper Craft Weekend Challenge.  Thank you so much Allison and Caroline for giving me this opportunity.  I really am very new to this whole blogging world, and probably would not have even started my own blog had it not been for some 'threats' (I mean 'encouraging' ) words from a few friends (you know who you are.) All that having been said, let's get on with the challenge.

As tempted as I was to go out and buy something new to try for this post, I stayed true to the theme and used my stash - embossing folders and powders.  Here is my project.

This is not a completely new project, some of you may have seen this purse over on the Cricut message board, but I wanted to revamp it a bit and try a new technique - Faux Leather.  I started with  2 handbag shapes from Kate's ABC's (height 5.09") Use the Gypsy to flip one bag and then weld the bottoms of the bags together with a rectangle from George (height 3.6" and width 1.86")  Here is a screen shot of my Gypsy with the pattern ready to go.

The other pieces to cut out (keeping the same height) are the handles and the handbag flap.  Once all the pieces are cut you need to make an accordion fold on the rectangle like this.

Now we get to the embossing part, take your embossing folder and run each side of the handbag through a cuttlebug/sizzix machine.  I used the 'Bubble' folder, but the 'Mosaic' folder works even better.  Once the hand bag is embossed take an ink pad and randomly rub across the whole bag, including the flap.

Next, cover the one side of the bag with Versamark, sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set. It is much easier to do this one side at a time.

Attach the handles and flap, (I also used a brad for the 'clasp')  Here is a look at how I finished off the inside (the velcro dots come in very handy for keeping the card closed.)

I hope you will join in the challenge this weekend if you are able, and post your project using the link below.  Thanks once again Allison and Caroline for inviting me in to be guest designer.

Michelle