Hocus Pocus! A Halloween Botanical 3D Embossing Tutorial

Hello! Is it me, or is there something ridiculously funny about that expression-'hocus pocus'? After seeing  Tim Holtz' videos for his Sizzix, Stampers Anonymous and Idealogy 2018 seasonal releases, I was really in the mood to start on my Halloween crafting. While I wait to get some of the exciting new products, which are shipping now, I pulled out some of my favorite spooky colors and played with one of my favorite 3D Texture Fades and some older Sizzix Alterations Halloween dies. Feel free to click on any photo to zoom in or to scroll down for the close ups.

It's really easy to make this eerie textured background. I started with silver Metallic Kraft Stock and embossed it with the Botanical folder, spritzing the back and passing it through my die cut machine three times as per Tim's instructions.

After drying, I sanded the raised areas fairly vigorously to reveal the kraft core and to scratch the flat background, then removed the dust with my tack cloth. Look at that amazing dimension  this embossing folder creates!

I swiped the Oxide pad over the panel and moved the color around with a clean cloth. Pretty! I would have been pleased if I stopped there, but I wanted more of a creepy vibe than elegant. But wouldn't this be a fabulous background for a wedding or anniversary card? Oh, my! The ideas keep flowing every time I play with this folder!

Next I scribbled Distress crayon over the raised and sanded areas and buffed with a clean cloth. Oops! There goes my Wilted Violet background! But it stayed in the crevasses and on the exposed kraft.

Now to add more color back in. I swiped the two purple oxides over the surface and smeared the inks with my finger, making sure plenty of color made it onto the flat background.

I spritzed the panel with water and dried with my heat tool. This has several effects:you get that lovely oxidation, some blending of colors, and it makes the metallic surface craze a bit. Very cool. Can you see some of that crazing from heating the metallic card in the photo above? Not shown in my process photos, but in the end, I swiped on more of the Black Soot crayon to create more contrast.

The witch and cat die cuts from Tim's Witchcraft die set were sweet and most welcome gifts from my creative and generous blog friend Marty Fishman of Merry Marty Cards.  Thank you, Marty! You don't want to miss how she used this die set on her fabulous Witchy Pumpkin Latte card. I took the first photo above outdoors in the bright sun, so you can see that great shimmery effect from Distress Resist Spray.  The second photo shows off the subtle bumpy texture you get from the spray. I also used the resist spray on the Vintage Spirits die cut. For the record, I'm not usually a 'witch' person and all that it stands for, but something about the Witchcraft set presses all my Halloween buttons.

I blended the witch with Black Soot and Hickory Smoke Distress ink, and smoothed on Black Soot Distress Crayon. I heat embossed the cat, witch's shoes and broom ends with Ranger Emboss It Dabber and Wow Embossing Glitter.

I added some Halloween Remnant Rubs from last year.  How about that spider? Eeek! Tim's newly released Halloween Remnat Rubs have some incredible new features, like jack o lantern faces and epitaphs you can rub right on his Ideaology pumpkins and tombstones. Genius! No more tedious painting!  And who wouldn't want a pair of those sparkly shoes and a little glitter on the tips of their broom?

I matted with plain white card I colored with Distress oxides and crayons, giving a nice contrast to the black, gooey edges of the metallic embossed panel. I hope you've found some festive inspiration here today. Tim Holtz products used are listed and linked below.

As always, I greatly appreciate your visits and welcome your comments and questions. I hope you get to enjoy some good crafty time soon!

Hugs and Blessings!

Sara Emily

The following products were used and can be purchased at The Funkie Junkie Boutique:

(MAY PRE-ORDER) Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Botanical	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Stitched Ovals by Tim Holtz 661188 (February Pre-Order)	AUGUST PRE-ORDER Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Vintage Spirits 3PK by Tim Holtz 662385	AUGUST PRE-ORDER Sizzix Thinlits Die Set - Witchcraft 3PK by Tim Holtz 662386	TIm Holtz Distress Mixed Media Heavystock TDA53835
Tim Holtz ideaology Metallic Kraft Stock TH93586	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Marker - Dusty Concord	(FEBRUARY PRE-ORDER) Tim Holtz Resist Spray 2oz	Ranger Adirondack Emboss It Dabber	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Antique Linen
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Black Soot	Ranger Tim Holtz Hickory Smoke Distress Ink Pad	(JULY PRE-ORDER) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Seedless Preserves	(February Pre-order) Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Wilted Violet	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Matte TDAK47933 (February Pre-Order)
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Vintage TDAK47940 (February Pre-Order)	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs Halloween	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Crayons - 6PC Set #3 TDBK47926 (February Pre-order)