Hello there!
Happy Saturday! I hope that you are all safe and well and enjoying your day! I’m back today with a tutorial for a card that I created using a background that was rejected by me last week…LOL! Funny story… As I was creating last weeks Vintage Frame Vignette, I was putzing around with an idea to use white embossing powder as a resist and then watercolor in the flowers. Well, I started making it and decided I didn’t like it and I pitched it into my “maybe someday it’ll work pile” and forgot about it.
So, the other day, I was cleaning my room and happened to glance over at the pile and see it and I thought, hmm, I wonder…
Funny how sometimes something isn’t hitting you quite right one day, you leave it alone, go on with life, come back, and it’s right up your alley. Anyways, that’s how this card came about. I used the same stamp set (Lady Rose CMS255) that I had used last week.. plus a few others. ๐
Here’s an upclose look at the watercoloring with-in the white embossed areas.
let’s get to it!
I stamped the floral images onto a sheet of Watercolor Paper and sprinkled the areas with White Embossing Powder, then embossed it with my embossing gun.
I spritzed the paper with a little water and spritzed it with Antique Linen and Speckled Egg Spray Stains. Then dried it with my heat tool.
I colored in some of the open areas of the flowers with a variety of Distress Markers, then, using a detail water brush, watercolored the areas and blended the colors.
Here’s the up-close look at the watercoloring. ๐
When both areas of the flowers were colored in, I took my steel wool blending tool and scuffed the shine off of the embossed areas. This creates more of a matte look to the area.
Another idea I had after the fact, was to possibly iron off the heat embossed ย areas..a fun thing to try another time. ๐
Next, I cut out and stamped a butterfly from the Flutter CMS294 stamp set and coordinating Flamelit set.
Here’s a little trick that Tim shared on one of his Saturday Demo Days a few weekends ago. In order to get the stamped image perfectly aligned on the cut out shape, simply cut your shape out of a piece of watercolor paper. Then lay the paper that you cut out the image into a stamp platform.
Line the matching stamped image over top of the empty shaped area. The stamp will align into the cutout area.
Shut the door of the platform and let the stamp cling to the door.
Add the cut out shape back into the open area.
Then stamp you image…it lines up perfectly!!! How swift is that??? I hadn’t even thought to do that…EVER!! Love that little tip.
The butterfly that I stamped below in Hickory Smoke was only done as a sample so that you could see how the image matched up. In real life, I stamped the butterfly with Distress Embossing Ink and then embossed it using White Embossing Powder…you’ll notice that in the next photo below.
I lightly scuffed up the butterfly using the steel wool blending tool, then colored the butterfly with a variety of Distress Markers and a water brush.
Then I blended Frayed Burlap Distress Ink around the edges of the butterfly and found additional paper to use for the card in my scrap box.
I stamped the phrase “imperfections make life interesting” onto a scrap of paper. I thought that phrase was a good one, since this background wasn’t so perfect for me a week ago. LOL! (Tiny Text CMS394)
…and began arranging the layout of the card.
I cut some greens out of some scrap paper…
(Wildflowers, Wildflowers 2 thinlet sets)
and messy stitched around the edges of the background paper.
The body of the butterfly was sewn using my sewing machine and the leftover bits of thread were used to create antennae, then they were rubbed with collage medium to add stiffness.
I stitched on some buttons, scraps of lace and mummy cloth. Then wrapped the ends of the phrase with some thread.
All the layers were then attached to the background and added to a card base.
With that, my card was complete!
Thanks so much for stopping by..have a great rest of your weekend!
Creatively yours,
Stacy
What is an affiliate program, and why should I click on the link and buy through you?..
When you shop via the affiliate link on this blog, I receive a small commission, from the affiliate provider (Simon Says Stamp), at no extra cost to you whatsoever. These commissions help me to cover hosting fees and other costs to run my blog and be able to provide you with FREE inspiration. If you shop the links, THANK YOU! I truly appreciate being able to share my love of creating with you.
Gather Your Supplies-
Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous- Lady Rose CMS255, Flutter CMS294, Tiny Text CMS394, Field Notes CMS396
Tim Holtz/ idea-ology- Mummy Cloth
Tim Holtz/Sizzix- Wildflowers, Wildflowers 2, Flutter Framelits
Tim Holtz/Tonic- Stamp Platform, Tonic Guillotine Paper Trimmer, Tonic Shears,
Tim Holtz/Ranger-
Distress Ink- Frayed Burlap
Distress Sprays- Antique Linen, Speckled Egg
Distress Markers- Variety of Colors
Distress Tools/Mediums- Distress Sprayer, Media Mat, Heat it Heat Tool, Blending Tools, Distress Collage Matte Medium, Foam Tape, Distress Watercolor Paper, Distress Texture Paste Crackle, Embossing Gun, White Embossing Powder
Other-ย Sewing Machine and Thread. twig, vintage lace and buttons
Jacqui Blondel says
Love it. Your colour choice is beautiful
Wanda Hentges says
Another beautiful card, Stacy!!!!!!!!!
Fonda Rush says
I’m glad you were able to work the rejected piece back in! It really does something for the whole composition! Thanks for sharing.
Sue says
I just love this card – the speckled egg and vintage photo background are a pair made in heaven. The stitching and all of the pieces you add to make it so special. You are just a wonderful creator to follow and learn from. Thanks Stacy!
Sue says
Wow, this one is stunning. Love the colours of the flutterby, and the sentiment is perfect. Excellent project Stacy!! Thank you so very much for the tutorial. Love knowing these lovely techniques.
Deborah Saaranen says
Gorgeous once again, Stacy! Wow!
Carole says
Stacy I love this card, the layering and addition of so many wonderful features makes this card awesome!. As always your work is beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing, you always inspire me.
Sherry/scrappergirl56 says
So, so good, leave ‘um and come back to love ‘um another day….would love to have some of those mossy branches you find in your yard….
Grandma Bonnie says
the sentiment is perfect. When we see imperfections other see beauty.. And eventually, in your case, you did see the beauty of “what if” like Tim tends to say. Right? Your card is so beautiful! Have a lovely day!
Ellen Vink says
Wow Stacy, this is so awesome, love the details (have them all ๐ ) and the colors!
Have a nice Sunday!
Cathy R says
Stunning project, love your colours and that butterfly is so pretty! Cathy x
Carol Celeste says
This card is sooo very pretty. I’ve always loved this style, but have never successfully created it. Your thorough directions have inspired me to give it another try.
While I was reading, I kept trying to clean my computer screen. It took me a while to realize that it was the background, not my screen. That give me a really cute giggle, and nice way to start my morning.
Have a great day.
Betsy says
Your blog is such a gift! The creativity you possess is a treat that I always enjoy. You make me open my eyes to new possibilities. A new posting from you brightens the day and this work of art is no exception. Thank you so much.
Nancy says
Stacy, so GORGEOUS! The directions are so clear and exact, I think I could do it! I really the vintage-y look of the card, the color, and layers; thanks for sharing!โค๏ธ
Conniecrafter says
Love it, just goes to show not t throw anything out, looks fabulous!
Nancy Dempsey says
Stunning!
Gigi Jordan says
Stacy, Thank you so much for the step-by-step explanations of the process for putting your projects together and achieving the layering effects that give your creations so much depth. I love the beautiful soft background colors created by using the Antique Linen and Speckled Egg sprays and the soft rich browns in the butterfly. Wonderful piece!
Linda S. says
Fabulous card and it gives me hope that someday I’ll use the discarded backgrounds in my box of leftover pieces I haven’t used, yet. Thanks for the inspiration and the tutorial. I love the idea of steel wool on an inking tool.
Sara Emily Barker says
So beautiful, Stacy! I always appreciate that you take the time to take the process photos and then to provide your steps. Thank you for your inspiration!
Paula Cheney says
very beautiful Stacy – I love it so much! Your attention to detail is spot on!
Jenny says
Wonderful layouts all the way through….entre’, main course and extra desert. You have dished this up to us impeccably…..more, I want more ๐.
Thankyou for you creative work. Fun times ahead for me xxx
Anita Houston says
I’m just pinning you left and right girl. This is uber gorgeous, and the white embossing is my particular fav part, and all the stitching. Just elegant and grungy gorgeous.
Jill W. says
Just beautiful! The colors are gorgeous and the detailing of greenery and embellishments are spot on! Thanks for sharing the tips about using steel wool and the stamping platform.