Friday 26 February 2010

Here Comes The Sun

I wonder how many of you are now are finishing off the title with ‘little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter’ and singing along to the George Harrison song.
I am, so it’s just as well that I’m here on my own. Lol!

It’s the The Daring Cardmakers that are responsible for getting me singing, Lythan to be precise and her ‘Here comes the Sun’ theme this week is intended to get us thinking about warmer days that are hopefully just around the corner.

I’ve tried something a little different for me this week and had a very messy play with my Distress inks in readiness for my Tim Holtz TSV arriving but I think I actually ended up with more ink on me than I did on the card but that’s another story!

I buy Craft Stamper every month and I’m always in Awe of the beautiful creations that greet me as I flick through the pages, but I’ve never really had a serious go at recreating any of the projects and techniques, until now that is.

It was this tag in the November 2009 issue, designed by Isabelle Norris that inspired me and although my card turned out looking nothing like the tag, it


was the background that I wanted to try and recreate.


On the tag they used Brilliance Inks applied direct to paper but as I didn’t have any of those I used Distress ink in various colours which I sponged over the card and then sprayed with water.

Impatient as ever, I couldn’t wait for it to dry so out came the iron….a quick rub over the back and it was ready for the next stage.

The diamond pattern on the tag is obviously a stamp and again I didn’t have the required equipment…..but I did have an embossing folder that looks remarkably similar.
I gave it a rub with a dye based ink pad and then just pressed the card between it so that the pattern was just down one side. I didn’t put it through the Cuttlebug because I didn’t want to actually emboss it but that would have worked too.

Next I stamped some lines and swirly bits and finally I stamped and embossed some more swirls to give the texture and sparkle that I wanted. If you look closly you can just about see it.


So, that was the background done, all I had to do then was stamp and colour the Cherry Blossom and cut it into circles, layer them up and attach them to the panel.

To finish the card I added a ribbon, attached the panel to an A5 card blank and then added the greeting and some faux stitching around the edge.

Square Card Blank – Craft Creations (Embossed Hammer)
Inks –Ranger Adirondack (Butterscotch) Distress Ink (Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick & Dried Marigold) Tsukineko – VersaFine (Onyx Black) StazOn (Blazing Red)
Rubber Stamp – Personal Impressions Cherry Blossom, The Artistic Stamper (Simple Swirls) Basic Grey (Two Scoops Swirls) Rubber Stamp Tapestry (Happy Birthday)
Embossing Powder – Heat It Up (Enchanted Gold)
Pens – Marvy Le Plume
Embossing Folder – Cuttlebug (Argyle)
Creative Memories Shape Cutting System


Stash Stuff
Plain Paper
Ribbon
Fine Pen for Faux Stitching

7 comments:

Lythan said...

this card is just a work of art Sue and could feature in Craft Stamper itself!I love the diea of using embossing folders as stamps. Genius!

Annie said...

Love the card. So bright and cheery :-)
A x

Anonymous said...

You've done a wonderful job of the background Sue. :) Love it.

Vanessa.

Angie said...

This is a beautiful card ...all of it... from the muli-stamped background to the cherry blossom toppers

Lynda said...

Wow Sue I thought the background was a Designer Paper - it's stunning and I love how you've created it - very ingenious using tools that you've got to replicate the tag background. You've put so much thought into it and it shows. Fabulous card!

Love Lynda xxx

Minxy said...

I think your background, in fact the whole card turned out fantastic, and i love the colours too :)
hugs minxy
Oh BTW..you need to check my blog ;)

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Lovely card Sue :) Yes I did sing along.
Anne xx