Monday, January 9, 2017

I Just Wanna Make Nice Things

Hello, crafty friends and visitors! Any crafty New Year's resolutions for you? From my last post you saw I want to try new styles and revisit old tried and true techniques in a new way. I also want to try to use the things I have in a new way, even those things I might have just used a few days ago. I guess I just wanna make nice things! For this card, I took a CAS design I tried last week and made it into something I'm a little more comfortable with-grungy vintage in more of a mixed media style. I promise you, it didn't start out like that, but rather evolved.


My stamped (I used Tim Holtz Woodland Scribble set for the deer and the snowflakes in the background) and water colored focal deer and background pretty much was done according to my CAS card here, but things just started happening. I wanted to see what would happen if I took one of those die cut snowflakes and used it as a stamp. Here's how I went about doing that. I laid my snowflake into a puddle of watered down Distress ink, dried it just so it wasn't sopping wet and laid it down on my prepared background. I ran this through my die cutting machine as if I were embossing to transfer the color and then quickly dried it with my heat gun so the watery ink didn't spread. You can see it more clearly on a card previously posted and pictured directly below.


But you might also notice it just below the die cut snowflake (Tim Holtz Paper Snowflakes, Mini Thinlits) on the card featured in this current post in the photo directly below.


Anxious to try out my new found way to use die cuts on this card, I applied the same technique to the card blank and layering card, taking care to line up my die cut to appear as one stamped image. I might better explain by the photos below. It looks messy in the process, but it adds some nice interest to the layers. Perhaps it looks better to me in real life! Be prepared to see this done on future projects!



Like I said before, I basically was copying my card design from a previous post, but I wanted to see if my Hidden Color embossing powder would look any better using a colored ink. So what did I choose? Picket Fence Distress ink, of course! Duh! Where's the color? Using this did not produce any different results than clear embossing ink. Note to self: try a dark color next time!


Eventually I did try it with Tumbled Glass Distress ink and it gave these results. The color is supposed to be copper, but it looks almost pearl.


To make this more in the mixed media style, I simply splashed on some watered down inks and white acrylic paint after placing a mask over the deer and distressing the edges. I even tucked in a little scrap of burlap from Tim Holtz Textured Surfaces I had in my recycle bin. (Another crafty promise to myself--use those scraps!) A few die cut snowflakes colored with Distress ink and heat embossed with brown Embossing Puffs (Another resolution--use some of those old products in an unexpected way) and a Chit Chat Small Talk sticker give this simple design some texture. This is my husband's favorite of my deer series.






Thank you for stopping by today and for all your wonderful comments!
Hugs and Blessings!
Sara Emily

29 comments:

  1. A wonderful card Sara, right up my street! - Lots of ink and stamping and I do admire those of us who step outside the box and experiment - isn't it wonderful when it works so well! I also love the stamp you've used. I really enjoyed reading this post on your blog. Thank you for sharing this with us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges,
    Leanne DT.

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  2. Love the water colored background. Beautiful creation!
    Thanks so much for joining us this month at Penny Black and More!

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  3. Another lovely card in your current series! Sara Emily . Love the effect of the diecut stamping - Looks good to me too :)
    hugs x

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  4. This is gorgeous ! Thank you so much for joining us over at Country View Challenges !
    Corrie x

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  5. Hi Sara Emily..you really had some inky fun there playing with your CAS design and your finished mixed media card is beautiful. Some great techniques too. Thanks so much for joining in with our anything goes challenge over at Country View xx

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  6. This is grungy vintage mixed-media perfection, Sara Emily!! Wow!! I absolutely love it!! I so enjoy reading how you create these masterpieces!! You do things I never would have thought about doing and the results are amazing!! The deer head is a fabulous focal point!! The colors, textures, design - everything is stunning!! Love, love it my sweet friend!! I'm so glad you shared it Scrapy Land, too!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  7. Love your grungy take on your CAS, the embossing powder does look 'pearl' and it gives a lovely sparkle to the background. Love the effect with the die cut stamping.
    Avril xx

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  8. OH WOW this is awesome! Thanks for the details! Thanks so much for playing in our ‘Anything Goes with Dies’ challenge at Dies R Us! Please come back again soon!

    Darlene (DRU Blog Leader)
    DIES R US CHALLENGE BLOG
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please come for a visit.

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  9. This is a gorgeous winter card... love the CAS style and the gorgeous image! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Dies R Us in our Anything goes using Dies challenge! We hope to see you in the next challenge too! Have a great day!
    Hugs,
    Jo-DT
    ♥ Dies R Us Challenges ♥
    ♥ Jo's Scrap Shack ♥

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  10. This turned out great (!), Sara Emily, and I plan to try this technique out sometime. Love your brown snowflake die/stamps in the corners over the two layers - using the brown made it a bit more masculine. The way you colored your deer is awesome, of course, and I do love those pearly snowflakes! I am really enjoying seeing different versions of such a great design! Your sentiment is perfect since you always make nice things :-) Hugs!

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  11. Wow, another great card using that beautiful deer head! Great idea to just make nice things, and you certainly did with this one!(Well you always do anyway lol) Love the mixed media style background! Those dreamy snowflakes offset with the other ones look just super!

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  12. Sara, I am so excited for another year of crafty inspiration from you... you have such a unique eye for design, not to mention spectacular ideas and themes. Your work today is stunning! The focal point is amazing and your techniques forever leave me speechless. :) You are such a special crafter and I'm grateful for the gift of enjoying the fruits of your labor. :) Have a twinkly night, dear friend!

    Hugs and blessings,
    Karen

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  13. You've created such an atmospheric card, love the background. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Penny Black & More.
    Lynn x
    DT

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  14. I could eat this up! What a yummy background with the "stamped" snowflakes and amazing vintage vibe! I adore it completely and oh so love the quote! :) Hugs, Autumn

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  15. You ALWAYS make nice things Sara, I just love the wonderful grungy background you created and the way you coloured the deer head is fantastic - and then those scrummy snowflakes - love this!! Sorry, still playing catch up... Hugs, Anne xx

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  16. WOW WOW WOW absolutely stunning, I love your card and the wonderful background.

    Greetings from Germany
    Anke

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  17. Sara Emily, your grungy piece turned out beautiful, even it it was not meant to work this way!! heeehhee Hoping all is well and sending best wishes for your new year ,my friend! xoxo

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  18. I have to confess this slightly grungier version is definitely more up my street... I love the inky splotches, and the fabulous light-catching embossed snowflakes. Lovely stuff. If you just want to make nice things, I definitely think you've succeeded!
    Alison x

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  19. I love what you have done and the results you have achieved Sara - so very interesting and such a good write up too! Thanks for sharing! Big hugs rachel x

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  20. Absolutely beautiful work, so glad to have you play along with us at MMP.

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  21. Amazing creation wow lovely thanks for playing at Mixed Media Place challenge !!!

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  22. Oh, Sara, you always make nice things! I am completely in awe! These are absolutely stunning! Again, so many wonderful techniques and genius ideas! I so enjoyed reading how you created these yummy cards! I adore your grunge version and the way you colored that deer head is awesome! What a dreamy snowflake background! Ooooh, it's a mixed media perfection, my super talented friend! Lots of love to you! Branka xx

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  23. Fabulous!
    Thanks for joining us at Scrapyland Challenge blog and Good Luck !
    Maryvonne – DT member

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  24. Oh wow, this is beautiful. I love it. Thank you for joining us at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.
    Greetings Carola

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  25. Well I just adore this beauty and all of his handsomeness. Love that you are trying so many things and using scraps. That's a very good plan! Your background is awesome sauce and your white picket fence sorry is something I would have done. Lmao! Fantabulous and stunning design details. Love the vintage grunge. Hugz to you muffin! ~Punkin

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  26. I always know when I stop by your blog I'm going to find something amazing, and I'm so happy I am here today. I love that Tim Holtz stamp, but you've taken it to the next level with your regal and proud stag. What a wonderful background you've created for him. This is a fabulous card! Thank you so much for joining us at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge!
    Hugs,
    Nancy

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  27. Haha - just had to laugh at the sentiment, I think that sums us all up :) LOVE this sweetie I think it is brilliant, the little sparkly snowflakes, the turned over corners and vintage feel! Perfect!!
    Thanks for joining us at MMP again xx

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  28. This is so beautiful ! thank you so much for sharing with us at The Artistic Stamper
    WIshing you good luck to win beautiful stamps !

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  29. This is fabulous. Love your background and the stamp. Your sentiment certainly reflects your card.
    Thank you for sharing this with us at Noor Design UK.
    Hugs Sharon. x

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