This is for Linda's fun Ways to Use it Challenge - Silhouettes and Stripes. The inspiration for the background came from a TV report about the Northern Lights being seen in countries that don't usually see them. The pictures looked incredible and immediately reminded me of Cracked Pistachio and Pickled Raspberry Distress Inks.
The background started out life as a failed brusho background (dirty grey with a few tiny highlights of blue and yellow). When I say failed, I mean seriously ugly. I have learnt though that distress inks applied over the top of the brushos is a match made in heaven. The brusho acts like a smooth gesso coat.
Using the smack & squirt technique (smack distress ink pad onto al foil, squirt on a lot of water and scrub the inky water over the card using a foam blending tool). With the brusho undercoat you hardly need to do any blending, it sort of looks after itself.
The Lavinia fairy sitting on the branch was stamped about 4 times using MISTI and Versafine black onyx ink. I did the top half of the background stamping in Versafine and Archival for the foliage at the bottom. The archival ink is not as black as the versafine, so it makes a nice contrast.
The doodled border, water drops and sticks were hand drawn with micron pen and white Sharpie paint pen. Lydia has a great tutorial for the waterdrops here .
I cut two narrow strips from the stamped panel, then attached the panel to 4" x 8.25" black card base. I cut off the excess black (about half an inch) from the front and adhered the coloured pieces to the outer edge of the inside back. I hope that makes sense, even I am confused now. I hope strips of stamped card qualifies as stripes??
Thank you for looking.
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 GMT Views: 12416
Favorited:34
Registered: February 3, 2005 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 34769
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 6:00 AM
Oh, Susie, this is gorgeous! I love this silhouette image, and your colors are stunning! Yes, I've heard the Northern Lights being able to be seen in Pennsylvania and other states - that's amazing like your colors! And the water drops - wow! It also reminds me of the beautiful from the movie, "Avatar" that we recently watched again! Stunning as always, sweet sis!! Hugs!
------------------------------ Cheryl
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Registered: October 19, 2007 Location: Packer Country, WI Posts: 71944
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 6:18 AM
Susie, when I was organizing this challenge....you came to mind immediately. You do magic with silhouettes. This does look like the northern lights. Always love how you explain the process of making your cards. The way you incorporated your stripes is fantastic. Thanks so much for gracing the gallery with this beauty. Fav'd
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Registered: January 19, 2014 Location: Central Indiana Posts: 90026
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 6:23 AM
Wow Susie this is amazing! I will need to try the Brushos and distress inks...what am I saying, I still need to get a good card out of the smack and squirt technique. I tried once...it failed but every time I see one of your cards I think oh I need to figure it out. We should see if Lydia will let you do a video. Wonderfully done on the doodling and your colors are amazing they do look like northern lights.
Registered: May 23, 2009 Location: sunny california Posts: 9825
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 6:51 AM
Your cards have such a magical quality, Susie. This one might be my new favorite. It feel very "cool and wet" like you are standing near a waterfall and the misty sprey is getting all over you.... the perfect thing for all of us in drought stricken southern Calif. I love the colors you used. Even prettier than the real northern lights. Into my favs.
This is awesome, Susie! A fairyland that's made so magical by your card design, colors and added hand drawn designs. And, yes, your description was very clear to me Love your card!
Registered: August 25, 2005 Location: Prior Lake, MN Posts: 454
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 7:26 AM
I usually don't add to comments when there are so many but this piece is just so fabulous and mystical. I have a "boat load" of Lavinia stamps coming because I've been so inspired by your awesome creative work. Thanks for sharing your talents with us.
Registered: April 1, 2012 Location: Rogers, AR Posts: 28833
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 7:48 AM
Oooooo the mysterious deep forest fairy .... this is lovely Susie!
------------------------------ Jan 'Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ'. Philippians 1:6
Registered: March 31, 2008 Location: Eastlake, OH Posts: 22598
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 8:23 AM
This one is pure magic! Only you could depict the northern lights so beautifully in a magical forest! Holy Moly, the colors are spectacular, Susie and the doodling and addition of the foliage make this one, incredible card!
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Registered: October 26, 2009 Location: Oakhurst, near Yosemite Nat'l Park. Posts: 46766
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 @ 8:30 AM
Susie, this is just so beautiful! I read all your comments on this card and agree with everyone! The first thing that caught my eye was the color! Absolutely stunning and then it was your fabulous fairy!!! You know I love fairies and this one is so strikingly beautiful!!! I have to look up that company but NO ONE does silhouettes like you!! OMGosh, and your doodling is out-of-this-world fantastic! I love your raindrops (or what Francie said, mist drops from a waterfall) love all the foliage around her because of course, she is a fairy and lives in such a fairyland! Hee! you are getting so good at the drops and the doohickies dangling down and rising up from the fairyland forest floor!! Perfect Susie...just like you my DD sis and Aussie mate!
------------------------------ Blessings, Robin Encourage one anotherMy Blog-InkMagination , QFTD201,Dirty Dozen Alumni.Impression Obsession DT, DRS DT.Formerly HC DT, ODBD DT.