Cowboy's Have Birthdays Too!

Yes, even rough & tumble cowboys have birthdays too....and here is a winning combination for your cowboy! A cool cowboy themed birthday card and frame for your favorite buckaroo's!

Happy Birthday - Cowboy Style

Supplies: (these supplies are used for both the card & frame.)

Distress Ink - Ranger
Distress Embossing Powder - Ranger
Metallic Mixative - Alcohol Ink - Ranger
Birthday Sentiment - Inkadinkadoo
Star Stamp - SU!
Specialty Paper - FiberMark
Charms, feathers, leather cording, - Hobby Lobby - www.craftsetc.com

Instructions:
1. Tear a piece of leather specialty paper approx. 4x6". Crumble paper into a tight ball (this is some tough paper....you really need to get physical for the winkles to show up.)
2. Uncrumble paper and smooth out. Using Walnut Stain Distress Ink, apply direct to paper in sweeping motions hitting only the highest points of the winkles. Let dry. Repeat using Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.
3. Tear edges of inked leather paper and ink using Black Soot Distress Ink.
4. Stamp sentiment & star image onto inked leather paper with Distress Embossing Ink (or Distress Ink).
5. **Important** Shake Walnut Stain Distress Embossing Powder to mix embossing powder & release crystals. This will help ensure that you will get a good combo of ep & crystals...
6. Sprinkle Distress EP over stamped images making sure to coat the entire area. Shake off excess.
7. Heat the Distress Embossing Powder. NOTE - This embossing powder does not change to a glossy finish as regular embossing powders do. There are some colors of Distress EP where you will notice a very slight color change but for the most part, you won't actually see much change at all! How do you know when it's done? Well, I like to heat the image for approximately the same time it takes for a regular image then go back over it and heat it again. Have no fear....you can't over heat or burn Distress EP like regular EP's. So heat it as much as you like.
8. LET THE DISTRESS EP's COOL!!!! This is VERY important when using Distress EP's. If you don't let it cool a couple things will happen when you go to rub the release crystals off. 1.) You will burn the heck out of your fingers (yes, this is the voice of experience speaking!) and 2.) You will rub off all the EP!
9. Once the Distress EP has cooled, rub off the release crystals and dispose of them.
10. Mount the embossed leather paper onto copper specialty paper using star nail heads.
11. Attach to card and add desired charms, feathers, ect. (Note - the large star was inked using Copper Metal Mixative).

Cowboy Frame

Supplies:
Same as above with the addition of the following:
Wooden Frame - Hobby Lobby
Ribbon - Michaels Crafts
Sand Paper - unknown
Stipple Brush - TAC
E-6000 Adhesive

Instructions:
1. Prepare leather paper by crumbling and distressing with Distress Inks as you did for the card.
2. Remove the backing & glass from wood frame and set aside. Slather front of frame with Mod Podge.
3. Place distressed leather paper over frame. Don't smooth out the winkles too much...you want a worn, rough look. Let dry.
4. When the frame/paper has dried, turn the frame over and using an exacto knife, cut away the excess paper. Don't worry about cutting the edges precisely...we're going to take care of that in the next step.
5. Sand all of the edges.
6. Using Black Soot Distress Ink apply the ink to all edges. Stipple additional ink in the corners.
7. Shake the Distress EP as you did with the card and apply around the edges of the frame. Heat and let cool. Once cool rub off the release crystals & dispose of them.
8. Apply desired ribbon, charms, feathers, etc. to the frame using E-6000 adhesive. Let cure.

9. Re-assemble the frame components.

So there you have it....

a quick & easy Distressed frame & card for all the cowboys in your life :)

Happy Trails Partners!!