Retro Bella

After I finished my homework for class tomorrow night, I rewarded myself by trying out today's Technique Lovers Challenge on SCS. The technique is called grout-free tiling. To me, "faux" home improvement techniques are much more fun than the real ones (such as the never-ending bi-fold closet door project that consumed my weekend yet again). I knew right away I wanted to use some of this Basic Grey Phoebe paper for a retro look for the tiles, along with my Cosmobella stamp. The paper also looked great with some of SU!'s new In Colors--a bonus!

I cut the paper into 1" squares, being careful to keep the paper pieces lined up so I didn't end up with a puzzle when trying to match the patterned images up. I covered the paper with Versamark, then with Glassy Glaze. It took two coats of the heavy embossing powder to get this look. Unfortunately, when I started to use my heat tool, grains of the glaze kind of splattered all over my work area, so when I finish this, I'll be busy peeling it off the table and other stuff . . .

I stamped Cosmobella on white cardstock and colored her with Prismacolor pencils. Her shirt is made with paper piecing. I stamped the Bella image on a scrap of patterned cardstock and *carefully* cut around the shirt, then used it to fill in the shirt of my stamped Bella. I added some Crystal Effects to Bella's drink for extra shine and to match the shiny look of the tiled background.

Materials Used:

From Stampin' Up!: Basic Black, Bayou Blue, and River Rock Classic inks; Versamark; Bayou Blue, River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky, and Whisper White cardstock; large oval punch; Crystal Effects; Glassy Glaze; dimensionals

Other: Cosmobella and Cheers stamps (Stamping Bella); small oval stamp (Amuse Art Stamps); Prismacolor pencils; Phoebe patterned paper (Basic Grey); green jeweled brad (Making Memories)