Japanese Crane Project

For thousands of years, the Japanese culture has treasured the crane as a symbol of honor and loyalty. The crane is depicted in numerous works of oriental art; it mates for life and is extremely loyal to its partner. The crane is strong, graceful and beautiful. Therefore, I have created a card using Dee Gruenig’s graceful crane from the Posh Impressions Japanese plate.

• Stamp the crane image on the parchment paper with Brilliance Moonlight White and heat set. Turn parchment over to the reverse side on top of a mat. Trace the image with the small end of your stylus tool. Using the larger ball of the stylus, dry emboss the solid sections of the crane. Be careful not to push too hard or you will puncture the parchment. Set aside.

• Ink the image with black pigment ink and stamp a scrap of white paper and cut out to use as a mask. Turn the parchment with the dry embossed crane right side up, place the mask on top and using a makeup sponge or a ColorBox stylus tool, apply various Brilliance inks around the crane. I attempted to apply more blue directly around the crane as an offset to the white embossed image.

• Cut small pieces of foam tape and apply to the solid sections on the reverse side of the completed image. This will keep the embossed area raised and serves as the adhesive to attach the parchment to a turquoise card the same size as the parchment. Edge the completed image with Peel ‘n Stick gold strips or edge with a Krylon leafing pen.
  
• Cut a piece of oriental Washi paper, origami or other decorative paper slightly smaller than the folded card and edge with the gold strips or leafing pen. Attach decorative paper to a folded turquoise card. Add completed image and white tassel. I added a small circle of gold foil for the crane’s eye.
  
• The Finished Project