october 2005 idea of the month with close to my heart rubber stamps and scrapbook supplies, dimensional elements

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October 2005 Idea of the Month

Dimensional Elements

Dimensional elements are fun, new accessories in the Autumn/Winter 2005 catalog. I really enjoyed making the samples you'll see below, which also use the October Stamp of the Month, D1110 Give Thanks. Dimensional elements are sturdy chipboard shapes that can be decorated with ink, chalks, markers, paint, embossing powder, paper, embellishments and much more. They are available in several styles, including bookplates, slide frames, basic shapes, and alphabets. As always, Close To My Heart's dimensional elements are of the highest quality. For example, they are coated with a white primer, which takes on ink or paint easily and smoothly and without significant absorption. All feature a white core, so you can easily color the edges to match your project. Check out the samples and ideas below:

The card above features a slide frame, Autumn Sassy Strands, and one of our new fall buttons. (Did you know there is no shank on the back of our buttons? This gives you a smooth, flat surface for the adhesive!). The slide frame has been inked in Barn Red Exclusive Ink TM on one side, and covered with a piece of torn My Reflections TM Autumn Harvest background/texture paper on the other side.

This card features a bookplate dimensional element, gold brads, liquid glass (on the bookplate, though it doesn't show well in this photo), sandpaper distressing, and stippling. I colored in the cornucopia using watercolor pencils and a waterbrush. Then, I used a stipple brush to apply Chocolate and Cocoa Exclusive Inks TM (applying them heavier around the edges), followed by a stippling of gold metallic ink over the entire image. To make the bookplate shiny, I squeezed on a blob of liquid glass, and used paintbrush to smooth it out.

This card also features a bookplate dimensional element (each package contains a lot of different shapes!). I have layered the bookplate on top of a stamped message.

Note: Check out Trish Gutuskey's beautiful tag art using dimensional elements in the Customer Art Gallery (in the Community area) of my newest website at www.stampsforthememories.myctmh.com. If you don't yet have access to the Community area, just email me your choice of username and password, and I'll get you set up!

More Dimensional Element Tips:

	Elements can be inked, chalked, or painted. You can use a brayer for more even ink coverage, but I've had good luck just pressing and rubbing the element onto the ink pad surface.
	Create custom inks by mixing any of our 60 colors with white acrylic paint. Apply with a paint brush in thin or thick layers as desired.
	Distress your inked or painted surface for a shabby chic look.
	Stamp directly onto the element with small stamps.
	Use chalks, watercolors or markers to add color to stamped images.
	Cover the element with background/texture paper. Miter the corners to avoid bulk, or just cover the top and trim the excess with scissors or a craft knife.
	Use ink, markers or paint to cover the sides of the element to match your project.
	Layer, crumple, tear or sandpaper your paper or cardstock. Use brown inks to "age" it.
	Lay paper over a dimensional element and then dry emboss or sand over it. This works especially nicely for alphabet elements.
	Try dry embossing a shape using foil sheets and using the metallic shape on your project.
	Emboss the element by pressing into embossing ink and then covering with powder and heating it.
	Cover the shape with liquid glass for a shiny look. Use a paintbrush to gently spread it around.
	Lay an open element or letter over background/texture paper or contrasting cardstock.
	Decorate elements with waxy flax, ribbon, buttons, beads, glitter, and more.

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ŠLinda Harrison 2005