After trying out some different inking effects with my Distress Oxide ink pads this week and being inspired by the Tim Holt'z fans over on Facebook, I was inspired by a card made by a group member. The card had a background which had really "made" the card. Previously I had been creating lots of vivid rainbow backgrounds and some pastel ones too. But this time after seeing that inspiring card I approached the background effect a little differently than usual by just using 2 colours. I simply used Fossilised Amber and Peeled Paint for this background.
I used the swooshing method and water to create the background of the card and I was amazed to get this effect I surprised myself lol! I am enjoying this Distress Oxide journey. Thank You Tim Holtz!
Yesterday was a "staying in" day, which gave me a good time to design (play!) with one of my newest stamps too...
This is my new Stitched Poppies stamp by Woodware, it was released January 2018 I love the many stitched lines around the poppies which give a stitched effect as if someone has sewn the poppies. I did however cut off from the stamp those grungy edges though! eeeeek yes I said CUT!!! but I saved all the pieces in case I want to use them in future. I did this because I didn't want them stamped in black on my card. That would have been too dark for me as I wasn't trying to achieve a grunge effect. Also, they limit the use of the stamp... without those grungy borders I can use a square or circle die to cut the image out too.
I really like the effect of stitching on cards and mixed media. There's lots of dies available now with a faux stitching edge. I used to add faux stitches by drawing them with a fine line black pen but the new dies are so much easier to use. For my card I used my wonky stitched rectangle dies to cut the image out and then tried to highlight the stitched lines with a black fine line pen. My eyes are not that good and failed me in places but I managed to get the effect I was looking for which has pleased me. But I think I will leave the stitching to the work of the dies in future! trouble is once I had started I had to complete it!.
I am entering this card into a few challenges
"Favourite way to add stitching (faux, real, drawn) and why"
favourite way to add stitching is with dies just because it's so much easier
Crafty Card Makers challenge
"Get Inky / Messy"
Yes I did have a play with my Distress Oxide Inks!
"Anything Goes + a Stamp"
This Stitched Poppies stamp is the star of this card!
"Anything With Flowers"
Definitely 3 Beautiful flowers
"Anything But Cute"
No, this is not a cute card but I do love it!
I stamped the image again and coloured the poppy flowers using my watercolour pencils. Then I cut them out and shaped them so that I could layer them 3d style, I added Nuvo Jewel Drops to accent the centres. The leaves were coloured using Peeled Paint oxide ink and an almost dry brush.
I used pieces of sage green and red card to add layers behind the image and cut a velum lattice strip and 2 corners using my spellbinders lattice die set. I added some guipure to the top of my stamped image sticking the image down with foam sticky tape.
I made a little pennant from style banner from velum then stamped and white embossed it with "for you" sentiment
Finally to accent I added some cotton thread and a die cut sewing needle (Tattered Lace die) to give the illusion of hand sewing again and 2 little buttons on the sentiment banner and a few twinkly sequins.
I have a number of friends who are fabulous needle workers, whether machine or by hand or cross stitch, This stamp will be so useful to make cards for them too.
thanks for looking have a great week!
