Erin here, I’ve showed the May Arts Blog some fun letterpress goodies, but perhaps you love the letterpress look but don’t have the tools?  I’ve got a few examples on some fun faux letterpress cards.  I made some monogrammed cards and loved the added texture of the faux letterpress look.

For the first card I used a PTI impression plate, start my rubbing a few different colors of distress inks along the impression plate (don’t worry, it’ll come off) and then emboss.  Wipe the impression plate with a baby wipe after you use it, and consider using a piece of scratch paper after you ink to double check that you’ve removed all the ink.  Once I’d inked up the paper, I die cut it out with Spellbinders Nestabilities 8.

Next I took velvet ribbon and wrapped it around the inked up die cut.  I wanted a smaller ribbon to match, so I took some ¼ inch white silk and dyed it to match with one of the distress inks.  To add the monogrammed I die cut out a vellum stitched mat, stamped and heat embossed half a label and added a sticker.  I attached the panel with a mini paperclip and die cut out the card stock to create a shaped card.

Next up I wanted to show how you can add a bit of color to a woodgrain embossing folder.   I took the Tim Holtz woodgrain embossing folder and added some distress ink to the inside of the folder and then ran it through the die cut machine.  Once I inked up the card stock, I punched the corner and added a die cut and Cosmo Cricket chipboard sticker.  To add a sophisticated touch and added a 5 ½" piece of May Arts woven corduroy and a ¼" silk ribbon (dyed to match). 

There you have it…pull out your impression plates and embossing folders and get them inky. 

Blog post by: Erin Thiem

May Arts Ribbon Used:

• PV 3/4" Velvet

• SK ¼" Silk

• 357 3/4" Velvet Corduroy

• 372 1.5" Crochet Velvet

Partners in Craft Supplies Used:

• Stampendous Black Embossing powder
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 8

Other Supplies Used:

• PTI Mat Stack One Collection & Die, PTI Impression Plates, Card Stock
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks, Woodgrain Embossing Folder
• Doodlebug Design sticker
• Canvas Corp Mini Clothespin
• Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats
• Cosmo Cricket Chipboard Sticker
• Fiskars Corner Rounder Punch
• Doodlebug Design sticker
• EK Success 1 3/4^" Circle Punch
• Vellum