Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Purple Love

Hello again!  I guess you can tell I've been busy in the Closet.  This time I was experimenting with some new paints I picked up from an artsy friend who is going to focus all of her artistic talents into sewing! Lucky me, I was able to scoop up a bunch of her new, almost unused art supplies she no longer wanted cluttering up her space.


Have you heard about Creative Carte Blanche, the new challenge blog for crafters?  Their mission is to inspire us to approach our art with a sense of freedom and spirit of exploration. This blog was introduced by Linda Ledbetter, and the talented Design Team is made up of the girls from Compendium of Curiosities 3. I recommend popping by and seeing what all the hoopla is about; you won't be disappointed! So that being said, I HAD to try something NEW to me; well, a few things, actually.  There is nothing more inspiring than sitting down with something you never used before and just playing!


This card is actually a store bought invitation which I covered with distressed card stock on the back, and on the front--gesso, Distress paints in Shaded Lilac and Worn Lipstick, distressed papers and a pattern laid down with Hickory Smoke Distress ink and Tim's Dot Fade stencil.

Now here's the "Try Something New" part! Like I said, my friend Sharon was cleaning out, and one of the things I got from her was a brand new set of Reeves Gouache colors. I couldn't wait to use them! Gouache is an opaque watercolor paint--I learned that from my high school art classes, but somehow I had forgotten!  I expected the pigment to be thicker, like an acrylic or even as thick as oil. I was a little disappointed in it's thin consistency, so I added it to Golden gel medium before dragging it across my watercolor paper with a palette knife.  Here's why I wanted it to be thick...I was inspired by Autumn of Sew Paper Paint to scribe into my paint. Be sure to pop over for a visit; her blog is bursting with creativity!  Writing in paint is something I've never done before, and I happen to hate my handwriting. Here's a little secret....in penmanship class in grade school, I would let my sister do my homework for me, because she loved penmanship!  So no practice as a kid, and then years of writing in medical charts makes for poor handwriting. Hey, next to the Doc's, mine looked pretty good!

I digress...Since this is a card for my Mom, I thought she might like to see my handwriting on it. What a fun technique!  I just had to try it, but in my own Sara-style of trying something new.  Unfortunately, I didn't take process photos, because I was just too busy throwing this and that at this background.  But I did take notes.

After drying the gouache/gel medium layer, I used the negative space from Tim Holtz' Heartfelf die and outlined a few of the hearts with a reddish pink water color crayon and spritzed with water and dried with a heat gun. This didn't look so good, so I swiped on distress paints in Shaded Lilac and Worn Lipstick, blended with a spritz of water, placed a paper towel over the surface to absorb the extra water and quickly pulled it off to reveal a lovely subtle texture.  You can barely see a little of this at the top in this photo.

I added some stamping with a Stampin' Up script stamp and Watering Can Archival ink. Next up, I added some embossing using texture paste and Tim's Flourish stencil. Before it fully dried, I sprinkled lightly with Ranger Embossing Glitter Tinsel in Lavender and then thoroughly dried and embossed using a heat gun. Finally, I gave it a spritz of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Viva Pink, then took the lid off and splattered some on with the hose end.





For the embellishments I used three of the Heartfelt die cuts.  I embossed the purple one in Ranger embossing Tinsel Glitter in Lavender (Some of it is chipped off, because Biskit is a thief!  My little kittie loves to prowl my desk and take shiny things.  It took me a 1/2 hour to find this after she took it off to her special hiding place! Needless to say there are teeth marks!) The two smaller hearts are heat embossed in Ranger Embossing Tinsel Glitter in silver, and each of them embossed with embossing folders: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Tim Holtz Damask. Lastly, I swiped on Wilted Violet Distress paint, dried somewhat and wiped back with a towel using Tim Holtz' Industrial technique.




The sentiment is Heartfelt Creations heat embossed with white powder on a scrap of vellum, which I cut into a banner.

 It was really fun to step out and try something new!  Thank you to the Design Team at Creative Carte Blanche and to Autumn for the little nudge.  I hope my Mom loves her purple card--her favorite color, of course!



I would like to enter my Valentine into the following inspiring challenges:
Frilly and Funkie Enjoy Your Embossing! I heat embossed, pressure embossed, embossed using stencil and paste, then heat embossed again, embossed my sentiment and you might even consider writing into thick medium a form of embossing!
Emerald Creek DaresValentine's Is NOT in the Air I'm going on the grey heart thing...my silver hearts look grey. :)
-A Vintage Journey Industrial Maybe I needed to go a little grungier?!
Scrapy Land Challenge # 35 Anything Goes I used a Sizzix die--just one of the 40 brands Scrapy Land sells!

Thank you for stopping by and for all your wonderful, encouraging comments!  I read and appreciate each one!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily
UPDATE: My card was a WINNER!
Mom loved it!

35 comments:

  1. This card is so stunning Sara! I love all the lavender and purple colors and the background you created is beautiful. I love your three hearts with all the embossing and texture! Thanks for sharing with us at Scrapy Land Challenges!

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  2. Oh Sara Emily, I am very happy that I inspired you to try something new and what fun you seem to have had!!! Gorgeous Valentine, such perfect layers. Love that you bulked up the watercolor to use the technique, that's a great idea for me and something I haven't tried! This is beautiful. Your family is so very lucky to receive these two handmade beauties! Biggest hugs, Autumn

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  3. this is brilliant Sara - sounds like a good friend to have giving you all those goodies - lucky you - and you have done them proud - beautiful! Hugs Rachel x

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  4. Wow, Sara, how lucky were you and just fabulous you managed to use your new supplies! Your card has turned out so beautiful and I am sure your mum i going to love it!! Thanks also fr the link to Linda's new challenge, - I had not heard of that before and just recently I became a follower of Autumn's blog, and yes her work is very inspiring!

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  5. Oops meant to say still, thanks for adding it to our challenge at AVJ and CVC

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  6. Hi Sara: Wonderful purple card. I saw Autumn's card on a blog post, and I think your writing in stencil paste technique came out great! What a keepsake for your Mom to see your handwritten words. The new challenge blog with Linda will be nice to expand everyone's creative side, which you have already done so well!

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  7. I bet you dear mum squeals with delight upon seeing this purple masterpiece! Love the Love scribbled into the paste, looks like a fun time to be had! Your backgrounds are always so layered and amazeballs, I need to try more layering with stamps. Thanks for the inspo! So happy you found Linda's new blog! Awesome sauce! Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin

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  8. Oh my, Sara, another amazingly beautiful card from you! It's a purple heaven! That writting in stencil paste is awesome! I also love Autumn's inspirational artwork! Your Mom is a very lucky lady having such wonderful daughter as you! She is going to adore your card! You put so much love in creating this beauty! Stunning card, my friend! Lots of love to you! Branka xxx

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  9. I am sure your mom will love this beautiful card, Sara! Gouache paints are great to use. Almost forgot that as well - thanks for the reminder! ;)

    And thank you for playing along with us at Emerald Creek Dares!

    Hugs,
    Claudia x

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  10. Simply beautiful! I am sure your Mom will cherish this lovely card ! xoxo

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  11. Gorgeous Sara Emily!! I have been liking purple more and more recently and this is just another reason to love it!! So many fabulous techniques here, you must have had a lot of fun putting this one together. Love all the shimmer and glimmer, such a fantastic Valentine's card, as unique as it is beautiful!! hugs :)

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    1. Man, I forgot to say thank you so much for joining us at Anything But Cute for our 'Enjoy your Embossing' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  12. Wow, Sara, this is a gorgeous card to share with us. Your mom will LOVE it. I'm happy you gave it a go with the inscribed writing. Such a personal touch it adds. Trying something new is always scary at first, but then you can look back at what you learned and go forth with confidence. Thanks for joining us on the Creative Carte Blanche blog. Your process and your story will surely inspire others.

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  13. Oh, Sara Emily - your mom will adore this card - I know I do! Very clever how you've colored your gel medium, and very effective! Those little hearts are the perfect touch, teethmarks nonetheless! And that flourish is gorgeous! xxx Lynn

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  14. What a lovely friend you have! Well done for trying something new, your scribe work turned out beautifully, I do love the flourish stenciling in the background and the embossed heart are a beautiful addition. Your Mum is a very lucky lady! Hugs, Anne xx

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  15. I love the texture and shine. Beautiful!

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  16. Mmmmm! This is purple-icious! I love the texture from the different kinds of embossing, and I love the technique you used to write in your paint. Very, cool! Enjoy your new paints! I know you will do wondrous things with them!! Thanks for sharing with us at the Frilly & Funkie "Enjoy Your Embossing" Challenge!

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  17. Gorgeous card !Absolutely Fabulous !
    Thanks for joining us at Scrapy Land Challenges blog and good luck !Maryvonne DT MEMBER

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  18. Gorgeous! Just love those colours! Hugs, Chrisx

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  19. Sara....wow! This is SUCH a pretty card and I'm not really even a purple person! But I truly love this! I've never heard of the Gouache watercolor paints. They sound fascinating! Love your blended color background and the script stamping in Watering Can. Isn't that a fantastic color? I also love your embossed white Tim flourishes. Such a romantic touch for the beautiful glittery tinsel embossed hearts! LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing with us and going through your process at Creative Carte Blanche!

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  20. Hi Sara Emily! I have never tried those paints either, but it is on my list! wink..especially now! I love the effect you got...I really like the fact that you changed something store bought into a beautiful hand made card! Brilliant! I bet your mom will love this card...truly from the heart! Thank you for sharing your creativeness with us at Creative Carte Blanche!

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  21. Loving your love card and you are so right, sitting playing and just letting your art guide you is the best... Thanks for joining us at Creative Carte Blanche

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  22. A gorgeous card with a real feminine touch - perfect for your Mum especially with your own handscript on the background - great idea and I can see why you were inspired by Autumn . Love the textured stenciled flourish and your trio of hearts are wonderful embellishments . Thank you for sharing with us at A Vintage Journey . Hugs Amanda x

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  23. Awesome card Sara! Love all the different colours and textures you used to create your card for your mom.
    -Katelyn DT member at Southern Ridge Trading Company

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  24. Sara, this is absolutely gorgeous! Oh, those purples-- so feminine and elegant. You've inspired me to try Gouache, which I've never used before, so thank you! And, of course, thank you for sharing your talent at Creative Carte Blanche!

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  25. What a great technique, I love it! Reading through your blog, I kept getting a picture in my head of you in a lab coat throwing ink and paint and glitter all up the air over your head. You mad scientist, you! Your joy of creation really came through. Beautiful work. :-)

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  26. Just popped back to say thanks so much for joining in our 'Industrial' Challenge at A Vintage Journey! Hugs, Anne xx

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  27. Your creation is gorgeous
    thanks for joining our challenge at
    http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.co.uk
    Debbie DT

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  28. Of course your mum loved it Sara Emily and it's absolutely beautiful. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  29. Beautiful texture, colors and lovely hearts, Sara! Fabulous card for Mom.
    Thanks for joining us at Artistic Stamper this month. Good Luck.

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  30. Beautiful card .... the colours are gorgeous and I love all the textures. Thank you for playing along with the Craft Stamper Challenge. Linda xx

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  31. This is a beautiful card and your writing is a wonderful personal touch. I love the soft colours you've used and the fabulous textures.
    Thank you for joining in with the February challenge "Anything Goes" at Creative Artiste Mixed Media and good luck x

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  32. Oh my, Sara, another amazingly beautiful card from you, I love the textures and colours from the different kinds of embossing... Thank you so much for entering our challenge over at Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge Blog, we hope to see you join in again...

    Hugs Rhonda DT & Owner
    http://creativeartistemixedmedia.blogspot.co.uk

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  33. The handwriting is such a thoughtful and sweet addition! Thank you for joining in on the challenge at Southern Ridge Trading Company!

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