Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Touch of Nature



Hi everyone.  Today is the first challenge for the Mixed Media Challenge Blog (#1 - Touch of Nature:  optional element - tag).  I'm so excited to be a part of this wonderful challenge blog and work with a group of extremely talented and creative card-makers. :)




Before we get to my card info, I'd like to again let you all know that Mixed Media for this challenge is defined as using stamps, ink and two other items (techniques, mediums, embellishments, special tools, etc.) that add texture and dimension.

On my card today, I used a few different techniques and also added texture and dimension.  The background is a mesh stencil, which I spread with white embossing paste.  The white of the paste on the white card front gives lots of texture, while maintaining a CAS look.  I cut the fern from watercolor paper.  I pounced my craft sheet with distress inks, misted with water and then dragged my fern through the diluted inks (smooshing technique).  I let it dry and then dragged it through again to intensify the colors.  It picked up some of the three shades of green and made for a very interesting and textured look, even though it's just ink and paper.  I die-cut a square frame, sponged the edges for more color and popped it up on the background (more dimension).  The fern is adhered to the frame with little dabs of glue and then a tag with sentiment is added with some white twine.

Click here to check out the rest of the Design Team cards for this fun challenge ... you'll be glad you did! :)

The challenge is open until the 25th of July ... so there's lots of time to play along.  Hope to see you in the gallery! :)







Stamps:  Sentiment Builders Thank You (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  110 lb. white (Neenah); watercolor (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  TH Distress Inks:  Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Peacock Feathers; Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Silhouette Cameo for cutting fern, water mister, Big Shot, Square Nesties, Textured Mesh stencil (Memory Box), Embossing Paste (Wendy Vecchi), palette knife, white twine



33 comments:

Sue said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgrous, Loll! Love the colours and beautiful fern. Congrats on your new DT position xxx

Julia Aston said...

Your fern is so lovely with the mixed colors Loll - and that partial stencilled background is the perfect backdrop !

Far North said...

So eye-catching! Stunning background! Thanks for sharing the details of add all that color to your fern!

Anonymous said...

Hi Loll! what a gorgeous card! I love the paste back ground and leaves! So glad to be on the team with you!

Unknown said...

This is gorgeous Loll. Love how you've added your frame so you can see the texture underneath - gorgeous!

Karen x

Stamps and Paper said...

Loll I love your textured backgrounds and your beautiful ferns

Anne

BożenA said...

beautiful combination of colors. Huge effect is convex background with white embossing paste. Lovely card!

Deepti said...

This is superb! I love the inking on those leaves, this is simply awesome and inspiring. I am so happy to be on this team with you :)

Brenda said...

I am loving this card Loll-the embossing paste gives such a great look as well as dimension to the card, I love the fern leaves and the way you did them. They really are vivid and beautiful. Love the way you tied your sentiment on too. Hugs, Brenda

Shery Russ said...

Perfectly executed card, Loll! Awesome example of a CAS mixed media card! Love how you colored the ferns and the frame -- great techniques! I'm so loving our little team, as we've all got different styles -- and it's a wonderful opportunity to learn from each other!

Maria said...

Stunning job! That leaf looks fabulous and your background is awesome! Happy to be on the team with you!

Michelle said...

That background is awesome. Beautiful card. I love your work.

nancy littrell said...

OMG Loll....I LOVE all the beautiful textures on your creative and unique card. Love how you inked your cameo cut ferns, frame, watercolored sentiment tag, embossing paste stencil background....gosh, every single detail.

Congratulations on being on this very talented DT. I do plan on playing my friend. TFS

nancy littrell said...

Wow....Fabulous samples from your very, very talented DT Loll!!!!

My Paper Epiphany said...

Fantastic example of a CAS Mixed Media card - so gorgeous! The colours are beautiful and I love the design!

Barb Ghig said...

I really love how organic your fern looks with your inking technique, and how you created texture to your background! Such a gorgeous card, Loll!

Lyndal said...

LOVE your textured background & framed leaves Loll! So excited to be on this fabulous Design Team with you :)

Pat said...

I love everything about this: the texture, the colors, the layout. Just a beautiful card! TFS

sannalippert said...

hi there!! I just adore this card of yours! those ferns are gorgeous. and the colours are my favorites! glad to be on this team with you! going to be a fun time, I think :)
xoxo, Sanna

shirley-bee said...

This is fabulous, Loll - still your distinctive style, but I love how you've "upped`' it a bit with the mixed media. So glad to be on this team with you :)

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Just gorgeous! You inspire me to use my embossing paste....

sandie said...

I love this Loll, the colours of the fern are stunning and the texture gives such a subtle background x

MaryH said...

What an awesome look you've achieved with the embossing paste background...then adding the bright frame and the sharp green of this lovely fern. (just got the Hero Art die for a fern, trying to do an embed technique...clumsy fingers!). This is so lovely. I like it...LOTS! TFS & Hugs

Bonnie said...

What beautiful ferns, Loll! And that blue frame adds so much added interest! You have such a good eye for color and placement!

Nonni said...

This is so beautiful, Loll. Mixed Media in CAS elegant style! COngrats on your DT spot, well deserved. xxx

Daria said...

As always, your work captures my attention. I always just want to stay a while and contemplate it's design. I love he way you combine a clean design with texture and dimension. Beautiful work.

Cathy said...

Awesome card Loll, love the white texture on white and the ferns look so striking, great technique, Cathy x

Claire Broadwater said...

I LOVE your card, Loll! Beautiful work--the clean look with the beautiful ferns is stunning! Congratulations on being on the Design Team, too! XX

Anita in France said...

Wow ... Loll, I always associated mixed media with non-CAS cards ... but you've completely changed my view with this stunning card ... crisp, clean, fresh and sooo gorgeous! Anita :)

joy said...

Beautiful creation, Loll! I love the CAS look you achieved. The colors are so pretty, too.

Susan Hogan said...

Stunning, stunning, stunning work.

Sue Lelli said...

Loll, LOVE the white on white texture and your fern is exquisite! THX also for leaving the Sweet comment on MY blog!

maria f. said...

You do CAS mixed media soooooooooooo well, Loll. Beautiful.