Thursday, January 8, 2015

Decidedly Different

Sorry, lovely people, that I've been missing in action since the calendar turned to 2015.  Happy New Year!  I've finally gotten to get in my Closet and craft today for the first time in the new year!  I wanted to try out some of the new goodies I received as the most thoughtful gifts.  Let's see what I can do with them!

There are many challenges this time for us to use or try something new, so I have tried something I've never done before--make an all white, shabby, feminine card!  The Challenge over at Cheery Lynn is to create an all white card using at least one Cheery Lynn die.  Only the image may have color--thank goodness!  I was about to go nuts trying to make a card with no color at all And as you know, photographing an all white card is quite a challenge in itself.


I used my only Cheery Lynn die which is brand spankin'new--French Lattice Small Frame.  I wanted to try a Cheery Lynn die out, since I've seen them used on so many beautiful cards around the blogs.  To get a little more out of my one die, I also used the bits that fall away after you cut.  Armed with so little, and limited to white,  I realized I need to focus on texture. By the way, I will definitely be purchasing more of these fabulous dies--they cut perfectly every time!


Here is what I did with my die and die cast offs:  I cut my lattice using the Cheery Lynn die out of plain white card stock.  I gave it two coats of  Shimmers Air Dry Perm-enamel which is also brand new to me--I've had it on my shelf for ages, and never used it.  I expected something blue and fuzzy to pop out when I opened the jar!  It gives a nice porcelain sheen to the paper, which I just could not pick up with the camera.  You're just going to have to go on faith with me, as I tell you, in person, this card shimmers and shines  from top to bottom! I embossed the bits with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.  First I tried the Shimmers on the embossed bits,  as was done with the lattice, but it just didn't give the card the look I was going for.  So into the tool chest I went and dug out another first use product for me, although I've had it for years--Cloisonne High Gloss Granules.  I had no idea how to use them, and have been hunting on the Internet for years trying to find something out about them with no luck (I bought these off someone whom I have lost contact with).  I did a little test strip using my new Ranger Glue and Seal, some micro beads, and the Cloisonne granules, because I wanted to see what would appear white on my background. Once dry, the micro beads weren't going anywhere, but the granules sloughed off.  So I blasted it with my heat gun, and there was the most beautiful porcelain surface before my eyes!  Happy accident for sure! By the way, I've tried using the granules with embossing ink with no luck. If you like UTEE, you would love this!  It only takes one layer to achieve what 5 or more does in UTEE! I only did one layer on my little bits, because I wanted the embossing to show.  I have this in 6 colors--lucky me!

The layer directly under the lattice is plain white card stock embossed with the same embossing folder, and each dot except those around the perimeter were high lighted with Crystal Stickles.  Very tedious, but well worth the view in person. This panel was popped up off the bottom panel which is a very thin, fine white finely textured paper.  I used texture paste through a Recollections stencil and while the paste was still wet, added Tim's Rock Candy Distress glitter with a light hand to give a hint of sparkle (couldn't get that on camera, either--trust me--it's there!). I distressed the edges and glued this to a card stock base.



I heat embossed white vellum with a stamp from Tim Holtz Urban Grunge and white embossing powder, then tore around the image and popped it off it's background with dimensional glue dots.

The swallow from my new Tim Holtz Bird Feather set was stamped in coffee Archival ink, painted with Distress markers and a waterbrush. I edged with Bundled sage for a shadow, but it kind of lost that shadowy feeling when I fussy cut the image.  To give it a little pizzazz, I added woodland microbeads.  I added some white fibers to finish.


Now here's why I made this special card...My Mom and sister are coming for a brief visit, and I am able to actually give my Mom a nice card without worrying it will get squished in the mail.  I think she'll love it!



Thank you for stopping in to take a look!  I love your sweet comments, and read and try to respond to each and every one! I should have another project posted in another day or two, which is quite different from anything I've made. After all, it's a New Year--time to try new things!  To tease you a little, I will let you know my kitty picked the color palette!

I would like to link this up to the following inspiring challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge #166 "Winter Whites"

Frilly and Funkie "Anything Goes"

Mixed Media Place Creative Gym Exercise #3 "Wings" First time entering!  Thanks, Georgie!

Artistic Trading Post Exchange "Fresh Beginnings" I used 2 stamps on this card; my new products (to me) are in bold text.

Country View Challenges "Use Something New to You" All the products in bold text are new to me. I've also tried something new to me--a shabby, feminine style and a completely white card (except for the focal image).

Fashionable Stamping Challenges # 88 "Turn Up the Heat" I used heat embossing on the frame stamp, and heat gun to melt the Cloisonne granules.

The Mixed Media Card Challenge #7 "New" New products used are in bold text; my new style I've tried out is shabby, feminine, all white (except the image, of course).

                                                     

42 comments:

  1. WOW you sure have created a stunner..love the textures and the photography with the pearl string!
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia
    Cards Crafts Kids Projects

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    1. Thank you, Dr. Sonia! Wish those were real pearls!

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  2. A gorgeous card Sara, the central image is beautiful shaded in and the use of the micro beads on the feather edges is inspired. Lovely shimmery white on white and I'm very interested in the Cloisonne granules! Thanks so much for joining us at ATP Exchange. Ruth x

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    1. Thank you, Ruth. I appreciate your thoughtful comment! I don't know anything about these granules, nor do I know if they are still available on the market. I left a message on your blog about that. Thanks for visiting!

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  3. Happy new year Sara! Fabulous white on white card and great that you got to use your new goodies the little bird in flight looks fabulous against the cool, textured background. Thankyou for joining us at the ATP Exchange x

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    1. Happy New Year to you, too, Toni! I'm so happy to get your sweet comment!

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  4. That is gorgeous! Love how you've used the off-cuts from the die as well and the use of the micro beads on the wings is beautiful.

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Deb! And thank you so much for your sweet comment!

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  5. WOW Sara, my day is just brimming over with 'Barker Beauty'! This is just stunning! You've come over to the shabby chic side for a day, how does it feel?? lol I love it, all that white on white, so many wonderful layers of gorgeousness! Your bird is incredible, love the glittery wings!! There's about a dozen products here that I'm gonna need to try, yipes! Your Mom is going to just love this!

    Thank you so much for sharing with us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Anything Goes' challenge!, I just love your wonderful creation! Big Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

    PS - enjoy your visit with your Mom and Sis!

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    1. You are so funny, Pamellia! Shabby chic is not so easy! We are going to have a nice, but brief visit! I can't wait! Hugs!

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  6. Gorgeous card Sara. Love all your detail and how you used your die and off cuts. Your bird looks so elegant against your white on white. Thanks for joining in the challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs and good luck.
    Julie x

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    1. Thank you, Julie! This is such a great compliment coming from you! I am really enjoying this one CL die, but have to add others to my list, especially that one you used for your vintage frame! Gorgeous!

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  7. What a beautiful card Sara! Thanks so much for participating in the Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge this week. I am now your newest follower and would love it if you visited my Make Time To Craft Blog and became a follower too.

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    1. Hi Bonnie, Thank you for your sweet comment. I did visit and signed up, I think! I don't know anything about this follower thing!

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  8. Gorgeous card Sara! Love how you created the bird, just stunning!

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  9. Stunning white on white card, Sara, you did a fabulous job at a new style of card. Good luck and thanks for joining in on the fun at Cheery Lynn Designs challenge.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy, and I have to say it was NOT easy for me to do this style. I will continue to flex my shabby muscles and see what happens!

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  10. Beautiful! Great white on white card! Thank you for joining the Mixed Media Place Creative Gym!

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    1. Thank you, Riika! And indeed it is a creative gym; trying something out of my comfort zone really made me feel my creative muscles! I am going to have to continue to stretch them! :)

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  11. Such a pretty card Sara, you'r mum is going to love it!! The bird is just deeeelish too. Glad you're back on the crafty scene, I adore your creations xx

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    1. Thank you, Georgie, that's so sweet! So short of creative time this month. Hopefully things will change! Happy you stopped by! :)

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  12. A gorgeous card Sara packed full of techniques and products. I love the bird and the use of the micro beads on the feathers. The Cloisonne granules sound very interesting to me too!
    Thanks so much for joining us at Artist Trading Post this time.
    Juliax

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    1. Thank you, Julia! I'm really excited to learn how to use the granules! I can't wait to try the other colors!

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  13. Oh gosh how gorgeous! I bet your Mum will be thrilled to bits with this beautiful card. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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    1. Thank you, Jenny! What a wonderful compliment you've given me! Now to make one for my sister, so she doesn't feel shorted! Her's will have a flower, since she is a grower (professional).

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  14. Beautiful card!! thanks for playing at Mixed Media place !!

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  15. Oh wow Sara, I love this gorgeous card - very shabby chic and very, very beautiful! You should use this style more often! I hope you do well in the challenges. Anne x

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    1. Thank you, Anne! I'm so happy you like this card...it does not come easy for me. But I'll continue to flex my shabby side! Thanks for the encouragement!:) Hugs!

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    1. Thank you! It's different from what I'm used to doing!

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  17. So beautiful, the textures are fabulous.

    Love and hugs
    Maarit

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment, Maarit. I just came from your blog and left a little love for you. I mentioned a thank you for following me, but I see that is another person with your lovely name...oops! I'm following you anyway!

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  18. What a lovely piece of art all in white. The bird is beautiful too. I'm sure your mother loved it. Thank you for joining us at the MMCC this month.

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    1. Thank you, Maria! Yes, my Mom loved it! Her eye sight is not that good, so probably white on white was not the best choice for her!!!

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  19. This is so classy and elegant :) Love the layers and colors. Thank you for sharing with MMCC!

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    1. Deepti, what a sweet compliment! Thank you for visiting!

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