This is for Linda's fun Tortoise or Hare challenge.
I work like a tortoise on tranquilizers, but that suits me just fine. I make cards because I love the process. If I don't like a card I put it in a box and use it at a later date for die cutting or a mixed media card base, stencil over it etc. When I have a string of failures, like I have this week....I have pleated punched strips littering my desk from Sabrina's challenge, I coloured in some flowers for the CAS challenge...they looked dead, the colour challenge card has been turned into punched butterflies and I didn't even try the sketch challenge.
My tip this week, if you have lost your mojo and nothing is looking right, choose one of your own cards that you love and recreate it in a different colour. I originally did this card in purple last December (MIX100). I wouldn't normally repeat a card for a challenge but it seemed appropriate as Linda has encouraged us to share tips.
The background is my favourite smack & squirt technique - smack distress ink onto a sheet of aluminium foil, squirt with water then using a foam blending tool swipe the inky water over your cardstock. After you have applied the colours (in this case green and orange) choose what areas you want to be more intense then randomly scrub undiluted distress ink onto cardstock using the blending tools.
I usually ink all around the edges with walnut stain distress ink. This seems to make the other colours look more 'blended".
The dancer is stamped with Archival ink, coloured with Distress Inks and an aquapen then when completely dry, fussy cut her. To get all the variance in the colours smacks the ink pad on foil and carefully squirt a tiny bit of water in one corner only. From this one smack of an ink pad you will have about 10 different shades of the one colour. I think I used Spiced Marmalade (if not it is ripe permisson, both are sitting in front of me as I type this LOL).
TIP: Stamp image onto a piece of acetate - no need to fussy cut unless you are using the acetate as a mask. Move the acetate image around the cardstock and work out where it will look best. I keep the acetate stamped image with the stamp.
Add foliage; use tree and foliage stamps upside down or sideways. Finish with a doodled border. The trick is to use a very fine pen, put the card squarely in front of you, hold the pen and place the side of your hand on the desk. With the pen nib touching the card drag your hand down the length of the card ensuring the side of your hand stays in constant contact with the desk. When you get to the bottom, rotate the card and do the same thing again. Do not look at the line as you are dragging your hand on the desk, look at the edge of the card. About two thirds of the way down do a loop de loop or a few zigzags or go back later and add them in. Little imperfect circles and zigzags take your eye away from the line. The line doesn't have to be straight; otherwise you would use a ruler!!
Fussy cut tip: After fussy cutting use a dauber with a small amount of black ink on it and carefully ink on the cut edge, trying not to get too much ink on the image, just the cut edge.
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015 GMT Views: 1525
Favorited:12
Registered: October 19, 2007 Location: Packer Country, WI Posts: 72025
Fri, Mar 27, 2015 @ 7:10 AM
Susie, I knew you were a tortoise....no one can make the beautiful detailed creations quite like you. This card is again a stunning creation with your bg technique. Your fairy seems magical, as it should. The way you share your process is perfect....a lot of detail with a little humor. We as stampers are so lucky to have you upload your cards. Thanks sooooo much for playing in the challenge.
Registered: December 14, 2007 Location: Vancouver canada Posts: 8914
Fri, Mar 27, 2015 @ 7:17 AM
wow, amazing card, and also so many tips. I think I know what I'm going to try this weekend, I can't waste all that wonderful instruction. Suzie, you make such beautifully vibrant cards, real eye candy.
Registered: September 12, 2007 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 61357
Fri, Mar 27, 2015 @ 9:04 AM
Suzie Australia, this is pure artistry! Wow, those colors and that technique are a sure winner for you. Your card is wonderful to look at and contemplate the spread your wings sentiment. You certainly spread your wings on this one.
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Art Neko and Prickley Pear DTs
Former DT Dolce Designs, Rubbernecker, StampItCrazy,
I Brake For Stamps
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"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there
is no path and leave a trail." ... Ralph Waldo Emerson
Registered: February 21, 2007 Location: Bay City, MICHIGAN Posts: 17556
Fri, Mar 27, 2015 @ 11:04 AM
Another tortoise commenting on the delightful whimsy of your creative processes - Susie, I love reading every drop of your description and the humor that pours through every sentence. I could not imagine making a card this imaginative in less than 2 days. Your background dances with color and the stamping of the trees and foliage make your card - and the fairy - all seem magical! Oh, and yes! I love the sentiment too - you are really going to town with these Unity images -
Gosh, I wish I could win the lottery, and come to watch all this happening in person!!
------------------------------ SUE aka GREENIE - Twisted Sistah Handmade cards because..No one displays an email on their mantle, or saves a FB post in a box of treasures! Nothing is impossible with God!
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Registered: January 19, 2014 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 90528
Sat, Mar 28, 2015 @ 5:35 AM
I love this card and I love all the great tips. This one really gives some insight to how you process putting together some of your great techniques and I love how you say if you don't like it put it in a pile and use it for something else on another card later. I have had some big failures and just tossed them because I thought there was just no way to save it. You are right, we can salvage them but in a different way. Thank you for such great tips.
Registered: October 30, 2007 Location: Posts: 26718
Sat, Mar 28, 2015 @ 8:02 AM
Wow, I love the image of "a tortoise on tranquilizers"!! That is so me, sometimes! But I agree about loving the process - otherwise it wouldn't make sense to spend the time! This is such a dramatic card - I love the bold girl image against all that color and drama!
Well, I am sorry to hear you had one of those weeks but I am glad you CASED one of your own! I think your December one was my favorite of the year of all of yours. This is another striking card. I have to tell you Susie, that I tried this technique a few weeks ago and came up with the most incredibly ugly card it had to be trashed. I wish I could watch you! I like my distress/water backgrounds when I use one color but I don't know how you do it for multiple colors! ANYWAY, this is an absolute delight for the eyes!