Stamp-a-faire: Challenge #1 Faux Frescoes

The challenge is to create a project that features some sort of "faux fresco".  Luckily, I just received a jar of embossing paste and used it for this card.  This is my first time using embossing paste...and what have I learned?

#1 - it takes a long time to dry

#2 - probably smart to wait until it dries completely before stamping on it

#3 - if you don't put it on thin enough, it really makes the card feel heavy

#4 - it's easier to work with than I thought it would be

#5 - it adds a really nice texture to the card!

I started with a piece of white cardstock and spread the embossing paste over it.  I used my heat gun to help dry it...not sure if that was smart to do or not.  I was originally going to stamp flowers on it, but since it's cooler today it feels like Fall weather so I pulled out my Leaf Prints stamp set.  I thought the paste was dry and started to stamp the leaves on it in dark green ink, only to find it wasn't completely dry.  Oops! 

I placed the finished panel on a layer of Dark Chocolate cardstock and adhered it to a Kraft cardstock card base.  I die-cut the banner in Kraft and stamped the sentiment in Dark Chocolate ink, placing it on foam tape.

I like the way it turned out and definitely will be using embossing paste again in the future.

And a close-up of the texture:

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Leaf Prints, Keep It Simple:  Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Kraft, Dark Chocolate, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Dark Chocolate; Memento Olive Grove
• Tools:  PTI Sketched Shapes Die
• Other:  Embossing Paste; Foam Tape
• Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"