Merry Inka Gold!

 When I saw the Merry Monday Challenge features embossing, I headed to my box of embossing folders that have gone largely ignored for several months.  Although I got the Sizzix Winter Botanical embossing folder a few years ago, I am not certain that it ever made it to a finished card...I loved the design but couldn't figure out what to do with it.  Enter Inka Golds!

Viva Inka Gold is a beeswax product that comes in a number of beautiful colors.  (I am fortunate that my local cardmaking store stocks all of the colors.)  After it is rubbed on and polished with a paper towel, it has the loveliest smooth metallic shine.  I apply it with an applicator that looks like a marshmallow.  It allows me to apply the color to only the raised areas.

I colored my watercolor paper and then embossed it.  I found that I got the best results if the paper was still just a bit damp...then there were no worries of the paper cracking.
 

After applying the Inka Gold on the embossed paper, I also cut a layering paper out of white cardstock and used the same Inka Gold color on the edges.  Both cards were mounted on a white card base and then stitched with metallic thread.  I wish that my photo could truly capture the beautiful metallic shine!

I decided to just go simple on the outside and will add a personalized sentiment inside.

I also did one with just plain watercolor paper and platinum Inka Gold.  The sentiment is stamped on vellum and stitched into place.

Thanks for looking!  I am so excited to be getting a jump on my Christmas cards this year!