I recently had the pleasure of creating a tutorial for the Ranger Ink YouTube channel featuring Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Glaze, and I am so excited to share these tags with you today! The glaze is translucent, which means you can use it like a traditional embossing powder but still see color and detail through it — and the vintage mixed media results are absolutely stunning.

What is Distress Embossing Glaze?

If you've ever picked up the Distress Embossing Glaze and wondered what to do with it or how it's different from a regular embossing powder, you're not alone! The key is that it's translucent — so instead of covering your image or texture with an opaque color, the glaze allows the color and detail underneath to show through while still adding that beautiful raised, dimensional finish. Once you see it in action, it all clicks!

The Background Techniques

In the Ranger Ink video, I walk through three different ways to use the Distress Embossing Glaze — with an embossing folder, with stamped images, and combined with Distress Translucent Crackle Paste through a stencil. Each technique produces a completely different look, and I use Distress Spray Stains and Distress Paint to add color and bring out all that beautiful texture and detail. Head over to the Ranger Ink YouTube channel to watch the full background tutorial!

 WATCH HERE 

The Embellishments

Once the backgrounds were complete, I had so much fun layering in the embellishments to give each tag that eclectic, vintage collector feel. Each tag features a vintage portrait photo as the focal point, framed with postage stamps and layered with Tim Holtz die cuts — butterflies, florals, leaves, and architectural elements — along with sentiment labels that really bring the whole story together. The combination of the glazed, textured backgrounds with all those layered details gives each tag a rich, curiosity cabinet quality that I just love.

For the embellishments on this tag, I die cut a couple of butterflies from Distress Watercolor Cardstock using the Scribbly Butterflies die set. I sprayed them with Distress Spray Stain in Fossilized Amber and inked the edges with Distress Ink in Walnut Stain. I then layered in an antique portrait from the Tim Holtz Photomatic set, tucking a few stamps from the Tim Holtz Postmarked Sticker Book behind it. A sentiment from the Tim Holtz Quote Chips labels finished everything off perfectly.

For this tag I followed a similar process, die cutting the Tim Holtz Vault Funky Floral Wreath die set and spraying it with Scorched Timber Distress Spray Stain. The flowers and leaves were inked individually with Distress Ink in Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Salvaged Patina, Fossilized Amber, and Walnut Stain. I then finished it off with an antique portrait, a few stamps from the Tim Holtz Postmarked Sticker Book, and a sentiment from the Tim Holtz Quote Chips labels, just as I did on the first tag.

For the final tag, I die cut the globe images using the Tim Holtz Vault World Travel die set and heat embossed them with gold embossing powder. After adhering them to the tag I trimmed off the excess. I then finished everything off with an antique portrait from the Tim Holtz Photomatic set, a few stamps from the Tim Holtz Postmarked Sticker Book, and a sentiment from the Tim Holtz Quote Chips labels.

I hope these tags inspire you to pull out your Distress Embossing Glaze and give it a try! If you have any questions about the techniques or the embellishments, feel free to leave them in the comments below. I'd love to see what you create!

Supplies

Below you'll find the supplies I used to create this card. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here: https://www.17turtles.com/p/affiliate-and-product-disclosure.html. Thank you so much for your love and support!

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What if you could create a rich, textured background without an embossing folder? Today I'm sharing one of my favorite techniques using some of the newly released dies from the Tim Holtz Sizzix March release — and the best part is it works with any dies you already own.

The technique uses dies you already own and creates that beautiful raised, textured look without any special equipment. Add Distress Sprays and a little Foundry Wax and the results are stunning — this card has that vintage wanderlust vibe I absolutely love. You'll want to watch the video to see exactly how it all comes together!

The Faux Embossing Technique

The key to this technique is that you don't need specific dies — you can use whatever you have in your stash. Any die cut adhered to paper before adding color will create that raised, textured effect. For this card I used dies from the Tim Holtz Sizzix March release, which were previously released and retired and are now available again. So if you missed them the first time, this is a great opportunity to grab them!

For color I used Distress Spray Stains in Uncharted Mariner and Broken China, along with Distress Oxide Sprays in Uncharted Mariner and Weathered Wood. The good news is you don't need both types of sprays — use what you have, mix and match, or stick with one. That's the beauty of this technique: it's flexible and works with your stash.

Watch the Full Tutorial

Ready to see the faux embossing technique in action? Watch the complete tutorial in the video below, or head over to my YouTube channel to check it out. 

I'd love to know — do you have dies sitting in your stash that you haven't used in a while? This technique might be just the reason to pull them out! Leave a comment below and let me know what you're thinking of trying it with.

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Three Levels, One Embossing Folder

The idea behind this tutorial is simple — take one embossing folder and show how you can use it three different ways, each one stepping up the complexity a little. No matter which technique you choose, the Sizzix Luster Wax is the secret weapon that ties them all together — it catches the raised areas of the embossed design and makes it pop beautifully every single time.

The beginner technique keeps things simple with colored cardstock, Luster Wax to highlight the embossed design, and inked edges using Distress Ink. It's approachable, low-risk, and gives you a gorgeous result with minimal supplies.

The intermediate technique introduces Distress Watercolor cardstock and Distress Spray Stains before adding the Luster Wax and inked edges. The Spray Stains sink into the watercolor cardstock beautifully, adding depth and color before the Luster Wax works its magic on the embossed design.

The advanced technique builds on the intermediate version by layering Distress Oxide Sprays on top of the Spray Stains before finishing with the Luster Wax and inked edges. It's the same process with one extra step, but that additional layer of color adds a richness that takes the background to a whole new level.

The Focal Point

While the focus of this tutorial is the background techniques, I also walk you through how I created the die cut focal point for each card using the new Sizzix Tim Holtz Vault Picture Wheel and Handwritten Thinlits Dies. One of my favorite things about the Handwritten dies is how beautifully they layer with the Alphanumeric Stretch Upper Case dies — and you'll see exactly how I used that combination on these cards.

Watch the Full Tutorial

Ready to see all three background techniques in action? You can watch the complete tutorial in the video below, or head over to my YouTube channel to check it out.

I'd love to know — which background technique would you choose for your next card? The beginner, intermediate, or advanced version? Leave a comment below and let me know!

Supplies

Below you will find links to the supplies I used to create these cards. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here. Thank you so much for your love and support!

Welcome to Part 2 of my mixed media cardmaking series! In Part 1, I walked you through building a layered background with seven different techniques. Today, I'm taking you step-by-step through creating the embellishments and assembling everything to complete this card. You'll see how I stamp and watercolor flowers, create a vintage ephemera piece, and use foam tape strategically to add beautiful dimension. Plus, I'm sharing some of my favorite tips and tricks that make the assembly process so much easier!

This is Part 2 of a two-part series! If you missed Part 1 where I created the mixed media background, check it out first: Read Part 1 | Watch Part 1 on YouTube

From Stamped Images to Finished Embellishments

One of the questions I get asked most often is how to take stamped images and turn them into polished, dimensional embellishments that look cohesive with your background. The key is in the details - how you color them, how you create supporting elements like ephemera, and how you plan your placement before anything gets adhered down.

In this tutorial, I'm using watercoloring to add soft, natural color to my stamped flowers. Watercoloring with dye inks gives you so much control - you can build up layers for depth, blend colors seamlessly, and create that loose, artistic look that works beautifully with mixed media backgrounds. The best part? You don't need special watercolor paints. Regular dye inks and a water brush work perfectly.

I'm also showing you how to create a vintage ephemera piece using stamps and inks to coordinate with your main elements. These little supporting pieces add so much to a design - they give you something to tuck behind your focal images and help tie everything together visually.

And here's the game changer: my Press & Seal technique for keeping die-cut pieces exactly where you want them while you add adhesive. This trick has saved me so much frustration over the years, and once you try it, you'll use it on every dimensional project!

Creating the Embellishments: Step-by-Step

Here's how I built the layers for this card:

Step 1: Stamping the Images

I stamped the outline flowers and leaves using waterproof ink on watercolor cardstock. Using waterproof ink is essential here since we'll be adding water for the coloring - you want those outlines to stay crisp.

Step 2: Watercoloring the Flowers and Leaves

Using a water brush and dye inks, I added color to each flower and leaf. I built up layers of color for depth and let each layer dry before adding more. The key is working with a light touch - you can always add more color, but it's harder to remove it.

Step 3: Die-Cutting the Elements

After all the stamping was completed, I used the coordinating dies to cut out each flower and leaf. Having dies that match your stamps makes this process so much easier and gives you clean, professional edges.

Step 4: Creating the Vintage Ephemera Piece

I stamped a ticket image and aged it using ink smooshing and edge inking, then added water splatters for that authentic vintage look. This piece will tuck behind the flowers to add visual interest and help ground the cluster.

Step 5: Adding Dimension with Foam Tape

I added foam tape to the backs of my pieces, creating different levels of dimension. Not everything needs to be popped up the same height - varying the dimension makes the design more interesting and realistic. Now, I already had a pretty good idea of where I wanted everything to go, so I jumped ahead to adding the foam tape. But if you're not sure about your layout yet, you might want to plan your placement first before adding adhesive.

Step 6: Planning the Final Layout

Even with foam tape already on, I still played with the placement to make sure I was happy with the arrangement. This is where my Press & Seal trick comes in handy - laying a sheet over the top lets me pick up all the pieces at once without them sticking together, flip it over if needed, and keep everything exactly where I want it during final assembly.

Step 7: Adding the Sentiment and Adhering to the Background

Finally, I adhered the completed background to my card base and added a sentiment sticker. I shared my tips for getting everything straight and centered without measuring.

Watch the Full Tutorial

Ready to see all the details, watch the watercoloring process in action, and learn that Press & Seal trick? The video walks you through everything step-by-step with all my tips for getting professional results. You can watch Part 2 below.

If you missed Part 1 where I created the mixed media background for this card, be sure to watch that first to see how I built up all those layers! You can watch Part 1 below.

What's Your Favorite Assembly Trick?

I'd love to hear from you! Do you have a go-to technique for assembling dimensional cards? Have you tried Press & Seal or do you have another method that works great for you? Drop a comment on the video or send me a message on Instagram—I always love hearing what works for other crafters!

Supplies

Below you'll find the supplies I used to create this card. When you shop through these links—whether you purchase that exact item or something else entirely—you're supporting me at no extra cost to you. The commission I receive helps me cover the costs of my blog and other expenses, and allows me to continue providing you with FREE inspiration and tutorials. If you want to learn more, you can see my full affiliate and product disclosure statement here: https://www.17turtles.com/p/affiliate-and-product-disclosure.html. Thank you so much for your love and support!