Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Mixed Media Birthday


Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card that I gave to my son-in-law, Alex. His birthday isn't for a couple more weeks, but they are heading for a long weekend away in Seattle soon and wanted to give him some $$ to treat himself while he was there. :)

I made this background a long time ago and was waiting to use it for someone very special ... and that's Alex! :)  I made the background using the Saturated Watercolouring technique (click link to see my video tutorial on this).  It is basically smooshing using re-inkers so that you get more vibrant (or saturated) colours. :)

I used turquoise and orange reinkers for this and was really happy how it turned out. There's always a risk when using complementary colours (opposites on the colour wheel), as sometimes they will mix together and you end up with a brown, muddy mess.  You'll see that there are a little bits of brown in spots, but I'm happy with it.

I added more layers by stamping script over top in medium brown, and then added a stencil, randomly covered in matte heavy gel.  It's hard to see, but it adds another layer.  I popped up the watercolour panel onto some cream linen-textured paper that was a gift from my friend Christine (thanks Christine!).  To finish the card I added two die-cut cork leaves and stamped sentiment.

I'm entering this into Virginia's View #17 - All Things Embellished.



Hope you enjoyed my card and thanks for coming by for a visit.








Stamps:  Butterfly Birthday sentiment (Happy Little Stampers); En Francais (SU!)
Paper:  Cream Linen (Spicers), Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar; Re-inkers:  Tempting Turquoise, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Cubist stencil (Crafter's Workshop), matte heavy gel (Golden), Meadow Leaf die (Poppy Stamps), cork

Challenges:
Virginia's View #17 - All Things Embellished

21 comments:

Bonnie said...

This really is a gorgeous background and I'm sure Alex will treasure it! Love the orange and turquoise together. The cork leaves are the perfect complement!

Carol said...

This is a gorgeous card Loll, love the background and cork leaves. Carol x

Susan said...

Fabulous mixed media, Loll! You've made a perfect masculine card - and I think the bits of brown really help make it so. Love the cork leaves and the linen card base!

Shirl said...

Beautiful card, and fabulous background paper. Thanks for the video on this with all the details. Very well done.

Shirl

Kylie said...

Gorgeous background. Love that technique. The subtle script is beautiful! xx

Linda said...

Oooh .... what a gorgeous colour combination. The background looks fab and I love those die cut leaves. xxx

Julie B said...

Great masculine card Loll, love the cork foliage and background. :)

Pamellia said...

Wow Loll, so beautiful. I love the earthy feel to this one. Your background looks like a far off forest, such a great backdrop for your cork foliage pieces! Alex will love it!! hugs :)

Brenda in IN said...

Wow, this is a stunning card and perfect male card. I watched the video you linked to and I can't wait to try this. I've tried smooshing and I'm just not good at it but I like that this covers the whole card. Your card and video from Sunday also has inspired me. Sunday's card is so pretty too. Thanks so much.

Susan Achter said...

Thank you for sharing this fun and simple technique! (even I can do it!) It's lovely.

Maura said...

I'm over-the-top loving this card Loll!! The colors and texture are gorgeous and the cork leaves are PERFECTION!!

lamepaw said...

Simply stunning!

Unknown said...

Another stunner Loll. Absolutely love the background and I'm sure Alex loved it (as well as the enclosed $$$$'s!)

Hugs.

Karen xxx

nancy littrell said...

Wow...Love your saturated watercolored background for your cork leaves Loll. Your added stamping and mixed media on your background added so much depth too. I'm sure Alex will Love his beautiful card made love :-) TFS my friend.

Darnell said...

Warmth and texture and depth all wrapped up in a beautiful card! This is really breathtaking, Lolly!! Hugs, Dolly

Inkyfingers said...

What a fabulous background Loll and the cork leaves make it a perfect masculine card. I bet Alex loved it.
Hugs
Carol x

Laurie Unger said...

I really like this background and the "mud" makes for a super masculine twist.

gail said...

Love this background, the colours are gorgeous together and look very masculine. Gail xx

Deepti said...

Oh my this is soooooooo beautiful :)

Pat said...

I love the background colour Loll and there is certainly no muddiness here, and the added bit of script and stencil work is perfect. The leaves cut from cork is something I would never think to do but so lovely and I have some cork myself so must get it out in the future and use it. x

Lee-Anne said...

Wow...simply stunning...loving the colors and that cork adds such amazing texture, Loll!