After my little card yesterday and saying that whilst I prefer little ones, I make mostly large cards because that's what I get commissioned to make, here is a large one!
I know we all missed Sue and Julia doing the Spellbinders shows at the weekend and personally I would include Hels Sheridan, Christine Emerson and Jo Channon in that list, because they really are my big inspiration, but I really really loved the small demo cards from the US Spellbinders team. As some of you know, I have spent a fair bit of time in California, having family all over the State and it was there, many years ago, that I was introduced to the brilliant idea of not just sticking photos in albums! They have never been as much into card making as us, though it is a growing craft, just as scrapbooking is here. I really do adore small cards ..but hey, big cards are still gorgeous and it's what the majority of us British like, so who am I to argue with that?
This card is the first one I have made that is inspired by a project in the Creative Expressions Project book. This for any of you have the book, is my 'take' on the "Love is Blind' card by Julia Watts.
I decided to change the colour scheme completely and go for golds and yellows. I started with an 8x8 blank and matted and layered satin gold card, white card, gold again and some shades of grey patterned card from a Kanban Vintage Tapestry paper pad. I pin pricked around the edge of the white layer.
All the dies used are from Spellbinders: I used the Lacey Ovals die in exactly the way that Julia instructs in the book, a technique which I can't believe I had never used before! It's simply die-cut and then at the embossing stage I added an M-Bossabilities folder, using the sandwich:base plate, 2 sheets of card, tan mat and raspberry embossing plate. The cutting edge must face up and the folder remain open - and it worked a treat! I then left the card in the die and inked with Wild Honey distress ink.
The corset stamp and sentiment are from Creative Expressions Vintage Lingerie; I stamped them both with clear Perfect Medium and heat embossed the corset in gold and the quote in black. I die cut the quote using Labels Four Small and inked with Wild Honey.
The leaves are cut in gold and white from Assorted Leaves and Decorative Chateau and the white leaves were inked with Wild Honey.
The roses were made with the Spiral Blossom One die. I used cream card and inked the edges with Fired Brick before making them up. Once I'd made them, I dipped them in my new favourite toy...my Melt Pot! It makes them shine and feel like they are made from some sort of resin, it's hard to believe there is just card underneath and this is so much easier than the old way of heating up UTEE over a flame and coating your makes!
I made these on Friday, whilst having a day of 'playing' for a change..just doing what I wanted in my craft room! I made quite a few flowers (but didn't dip all of them) and then one of my other 'crafting heroines' was on C&C, Ali Reeve...who after her show had me in the kitchen making salt dough! All will be revealed later in the week!
Just to return to CHA, did anyone catch the Indigo Blu show last night? I was hooked on their products since the first time Kay appeared on C&C...that was about 18 months ago and the Company has come so far since then. If you saw it, then you would have seen her make the Cog Clock...not that I haven't already got boxes full of altered art parts to transform - and after promising no more craft stuff for at least a few months - I just had to order it, so watch this space..it will become a priority make when it arrives!
Have a good Monday everyone!
Carole X
