Group of Seven - Gilding Flakes on Acetate

Hi everyone.  A new month starts over at the Group of Seven Cardmakers, and we are shining a light on using gilding flakes on acetate.  I don't think I have used acetate with gilding flakes before so something new.  This card uses the Cosmic Shimmer Autumn Leaves Gilding Flakes with a bee stamp from Art Journey called Honey Bee, and a background made using a Tim Holtz stencil called Honeycomb and some DecoArt White Modelling Paste.

I started with a piece of acetate and covered the bee stamp with Zig glue with a wide flat nib applicator which makes it easier to spread the glue over the stamp, and having made sure all the stamp looked amply covered I stamped it using my stamp positioner for more accuracy and if an extra application of glue should be needed.  I did apply the glue again and stamped once more and then very quickly laid it on some paper and covered it with plenty of gilding flakes and pressed down making sure they made good contact with the glued image and then left them like that for a few minutes before very carefully brushing away the surplus flakes with my fingers, and then I used the scoochy to burnish it.  I won't say it was a perfect outline but I had already decided to cut the bee out and I refined the edges as I cut it, especially on the legs where the flakes had spread so I did cut the outlines back a bit looking at the photo on the front of the stamp to see how it should look, and I did scratch off the flakes where I thought the eyes should be and added a bit of copper Sharpie pen over those.  Then I went on to stencil the honeycomb onto the centre area of a piece of square white card cut to fit a 6" square card base with a fairly narrow border.  I coloured the paste with some yellow and and orange Brusho powders and then used the paste in the centre trying to keep the edges a little rough, and then left it to dry.  I finished the background with a sentiment stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia and heat embossed with WOW Clear Gloss Embossing Powder and I also added some foam tape down the centre of the bee to raise it up a little.

I am entering the card above in the following challenges:

We Love Stamping Challenge - April '25 Anything Goes/Favourite Stamps.

Stamping Sensations Challenge - April '25 Birds, Animals, Flowers and Nature/Anything Goes.

Darnell's I.D.E.A.S. - Week 4 'A' = Anything Goes.

For my second card I thought I would used a set of Creative Craft Products Torn Edge Stars and a Crafts Too Stars Embossing Folder which I have had for quite a long while and it is only now being used for the first time.  I used one of the stars to cut an aperture in the centre of a piece of white card cut to fit a 6" square card and then used the Stars EF over it, extending it as it is an A6 size, and this worked well.  I then cut a smaller star to fit inside the aperture using some acetate.  I did intend to use some glue through a star stencil and then add the gilding flakes, but this did not work well and I tried several times but the small stars looked extremely blobby although I used a blending tool with a good covering of glue added to the sponge which I thought was the best way to do it.  I then decided instead to cover the whole star with glue and then cover it with the flakes.  I then backed this acetate star with another star cut from black card and then put the card together.  I added a banner sentiment across it stamping with Versamark ink and heat embossed with WOW Metallic Brass Embossing Powder. 

I am entering the above card in the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS Challenge - No. 281 Star.

Allsorts Challenge - No. 822 Inspired by a Song/Anything Goes (Catch a Falling Star by Perry Como.

Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge - April '25 Anything Goes/Weather.

Rudolph Days Challenge - Anything Goes.

NBUS Challenge - No. 73 Where we use our Never Before Used Schtuff.

52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge - April '25 Technique: Stamping.

Peace on Earth Challenge - April '25 Anything Goes.

My last card is not made using the acetate but I will show it anyway as it is mounted onto the acetate instead.  I used up some remnants of some very old gilding flakes covering a piece of white card with some adhesive sheet and then added the gilding flakes over this and then die cut some Spellbinder Bold Bloom flowers and leaves being used for the first time, and added these to the piece of acetate.  I added a Reverse Scallop die cut frame from Crafter's Companion, also being used for the first time, and coloured it with a copper Sharpie pen, added a piece of blue card behind the acetate and a die cut sentiment which I cut from a piece of white card heat embossed with WOW Metallic Copper EP.  On reflection I think the Metallic Brass I used on the last card would have matched a bit better but it does look a lighter colour in real life.  This was mounted onto a 7" x 5" white card. 

I am entering the above card in the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday Challenge - No. 304 Anything Goes/Stencilling.

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge - No. 28 Anything Floral Goes.

Triple B Challenge - April '25 Birds, Butterflies and Blooms (using 1, 2 or all 3).

I have to say I don't think acetate and I mix terribly well..lol, and I think that the Flitter Glue from Indigoblu is the best one for using with stamps for a good clear outline and I have used this in the past and it did work well with the flakes but I don't have any at present, and they do say you can use any glue but the other glues I have did not work so well for me.  I think my last card has the look of the technique but was a bit of a cheat, but nevertheless I was pleased with it.  The other ladies over at the GO7 have produced some beautiful cards so do take a look and if you give it a go there is a Linky at the bottom of the post for you to add your cards for us all to see.

Thank you for visiting me here today and I'll see you again soon.