Best Wishes

Hi Bloggers.

Today's card is quite an inky one. I thoroughly enjoyed making it. I took my time with the colouring in and had a ball with the background. I know it won't be to everyone's taste but please remember that this is a positive feeling blog and negativity has no place here! Sorry - just have to say that!

So here's my inky card -

The background starts with a technique I picked up from Tim Holtz a few years ago. I scrunched up a piece of Milk Card. I opened it out and then passed the Terra Cotta Adirondack Dye Ink Pad over the peaks in the card. I misted it with water and left it for a few seconds for the ink to move a bit. I then ironed it with my Encaustic Iron to stop the ink from moving further and to flatten the card.

With the stamp in my hand, I randomly stamped the Justrite Vintage Alphabet Soup Background using Current Adirondack Dye Ink. I then stamped the border from the Justrite Elegant Fan Elements Stamp Set top and bottom, again using Currant Ink.

Finally, I splatted Festive Berries and Seedless Preserves Distress Stain in a few places and put aside to dry.

I stamped the floral fan from the Justrite Floral Fan Elements Stamp Set 5 times onto Milk Card using Jet Black Archival. In the centre of two of the fans I stamped the sentimentand in the centre of the other 3, I stamped a single flower (both from the Elegant Fan Elements Stamp Set).

I popped some Festive Berries Distress Stain onto my Craft Sheet. I picked some ink up with my Water Brush and coloured in the flowers. I added some Seedless Preserves Distress Stain to the edges of the petals where the artist has drawn some shading lines. I swiped some Clover Adirondack Dye Ink onto my Craft Sheet and used it to colour the leaves. I used Terra Cotta Adirondack Dye Ink to colour the edges of the fan and the central accents.

I cut the fan images out using the Justrite Vintage Fan Dies. I added a Brad to the centre and secured them to my background.

I cut the Couture Creations Holly Branch out of Black Card twice. I made a flower out of Burgundy/Ivory Striped Grosgrain.

I assembled the card as shown adding some 8mm Black Pearls and piercing around the edges using my Tim Holtz Ruler, Precision Probe and Piercing Mat.

If you like the look of Distress Stains, there's a cool video by Tim Holtz showing some other techniques with them here.

The White Card from the last Freebie Friday hasn't been claimed. Please check Monday's post to see if you've won.

Thanks for stopping by.

Julia.
www.juliawattscrafts.co.uk
Free card with all website orders (ask for one in the comments box at checkout).
Deal of the Day today (20th January) - Phill Martin Sentimentally Yours Words of Comfort Stamp Set only £9.99!