Thursday 24 March 2011

Starry, starry night


I have never gone much on distress inks, probably because I have spent the past year building up my marker pen collection, and I didn't want to get embroiled in yet another money pit obsession. However the advent of the "Less Is More" style has sparked my interest in distressed and shaded backgrounds, and I was further inspired when I saw Debby's wonderful distress backgrounds with resist and stamped images using the fabulous Unity wildflower stamps here (I am as we speak eagerly waiting for a set to arrive from America!)

Anyhow, I pulled out the very limited collection of distress inks I own (grand total of 7!) and decided to have a go at a "nightime sky" background as a precursor to some silhouette stamping with my beautiful but neglected Lavinia stamps (again, the only ones I own).

This exercise, in conjunction with some very kind tips and comments I received from Debby and Lisa, taught me that I needed several things:

a) a non-stick craft mat (bought one today :-) )

b) some more distress inks (likewise ... bought 4 new ones today ;-) )

c) a blending tool - haven't managed to get my hands on one yet, but in the meantime I have bought some cut'n'dry foam to keep me going.

Here's a card I made BEFORE buying my new bits & pieces ... watch this space for my experiments in the near future with my new stash!!



I actually made his card for this week's Less Is More Challenge - masculine - and then I felt foolish when I looked on the blog and saw no one else had used a flower!! I think my mind was full of the drama of silhouette flowers against the masculine colours of a night sky ... though I can see the overall effect isn't necessarily masculine in the sense of giving the card to a man. However it's done now, so I might as well blog it and move on lol!!

Recipe:
Main image: various stamps from the Lavinia "dandelions" set;
Sentiment: Penny Black;
Background: "Dusty Concord" and "Faded Jeans" distress inks;
Supplies: Papermania "sparkly trims" black frayed ribbon; pearls from The Hobby House;

Challenges:
Less Is More #7 - Masculine
PaperPlay #12 - Distressing
Spoon Full Of Sugar #144 - Ribbon + Pearls/Rhinestones + Flowers
CES #28 - Inspired By A Song
Crafts & Me #27 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Sisters #28 - Anything Goes

That's all for now. Hope to have chance to play with my new toys and get my fingers inky later ;-)

27 comments:

Chrissie said...

This is super Pauline... I love this kind of background. Some fabulous effects can be achieved with Distress Inks... I've just put a list into my purse of the colours I don't yet possess to take to the NEC on Sunday!
I think you could get away with flowers for a bloke... probably didn't need the pearls however!
Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you next time!
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Mandi said...

I think flowers or indeed silhouette flowers are fine for a man
Sorry but our rules are that we only allow a total of 5 combinations of challenges including ours
Do hope to see you again Pauline
mandi
"Less is More"

Anonymous said...

Wow, wow, wow!! Pauline this is fantastic!! I love it!I so want to get into this style myself but don't own a single thing to get me started. As you say it's another money pit ... might be tempted when we go shopping if I've got you to point me in the right direction with what to buy :D xx

Suzi B said...

Beautiful card... my favourite Lavinia stamp :)

Helen said...

Very elegant and I love the background you've created. I love those (and the other!) Lavinia stamps.

Helen x

Lynne said...

Well I think it`s a smashing card. I can never understand why we don`t put flowers on men cards, afterall most gardeners are men aren`t they?
Lynne xxx

Tracey said...

I love your card, you have made the flowers really stand out. Tracey

Angelnorth said...

No reason flowers can't go on a masculine card - my hubby loves to get flowers! Great dramatic look here. I've never owned a blending tool BTW, I use chunks of car wash sponge snipped from big ones from Poundstretcher - they last ages and just get tossed when they get too tatty.

Suze Bain said...

Beautiful card Pauline. Gorgeous stamps and colours.

Kathyk said...

Well I think it's lovely and such beautiful colours

KAthyk

pickle said...

this is stunning..what a fab effect you have achieved.
Kerry x

massofhair said...

I own most DI's and not many other ink pads as i love to use them a lot, they are so versatile... I find the blending tool too expensive to maintain so i use thin felt that i cut to size and stick onto a small wooden block with velcro. you can make your own tool for a lot less...

Fantastic and beautiful card Pauline. Stunning colours and one i would have loved to make. Thanks for the info on the Lavinia stamp as not seen it before and it is just what i'm looking for:-)

Anonymous said...

I love this. Beautiful colors

Sheila in Cyprus said...

STUNNING CARD! I showed your card to my lovely O.H who said it was 'good'. In his terms he means it is really nice!
Must have a go at creating some backgrounds too. I have only 3 distress pads, but they would blend together OK - I think!
Love Sheila (Cyprus)

Donna said...

Such a beautiful card Pauline! Thanks for joining in the fun at CES this week :) Donna x

Sylvie said...

Wonderful card
Hug Sylvie x

Marja Sch said...

Oh Pauline this is so wonderful. Hugs Marja

Handmade with Love said...

Beautiful card, I love the colours you have used, enjoy playing with your new toys! Tracey x

Riet said...

What a wonderful card Pauline.

Hugs Riet.xx

Milliesmarvels said...

Gorgeous card! The background is stunning and the stamped images are really dramatic. Thanks for joining us for the CES Challenge.
Jane
x

Seafield Jo said...

This is such a beautiful card, love the stamps you've used and your colour choice. It's lovely. Jo x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Wow a beautiful card.

Susan said...

Pauline...even without the right stuff....you hit a homerun!! Excellent card!

Kaz said...

They may be flowers but not girly girly flowers. Stunning background.
Kaz xx

Julie M said...

Lovely lovely card, Pauline. I love the colours (and the matching pearls) and that beautiful silhouette image.

Thanks for joining us on PaperPlay this week.

Julie :o)

Louby said...

Oh I love, love, love this card, Beautiful and so effective,
Louby x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card, it turned out fab! Thanks for joining us on PaperPlay this week!!