Angie, you're killing me...I love fair trade, I had knowledge of this site but purposely avoided looking. YOU MADE ME LOOK! In a few weeks, I'm heading to Holland MI and they have a wonderful fair trade store called The Bridge. I'm in trouble.
I have been having a boat load of fun this past week, creating backgrounds and mixed media. It has become a passion. I've really never had a passion before, it's about time.
This is what inspired me: https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/...apiz-ornament?
To be truthful, the whole site inspired me, with all the color and texture, metal, sari fabric, the whole thing. I don't usually work ahead on Christmas too much, I like to stay in the moment, but thought my play this week evoked a Christmas card. I like simple Christmas, like stars and single word sentiments.
I sprayed a piece of Distress mm paper with the Bo Bunny, then used a new product to me, Nuvo expanding mousse. Put it through a stencil, then heat it up. It bubbles and creates wonderful textures. It has mica in it but it dulls a bit as you heat it. So I used the worn linen with my finger to catch the bumpy parts and add some shine.
Earlier this week I tried a new technique to me, powdered gel press, which is liquid inks on a gel plate, then sprinkling baking soda, instant coffee and iced tea granules. Lydia has a video on YouTube. I kept doing this in layers, making colors with the ink, sprinkling powders, more ink, pulling prints, etc. I never cleaned the plate. So the smaller stars are made from my 'clean off the brayer' paper. The pulled prints are even cooler, so much texture.
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2019 GMT Views: 1219
Favorited:8
Paper: Distress mm paper, gold metallic, wc, vanilla cs
Paper Size: 4x5.5"
Ink: Splash Inks
Accessories: baking soda, instant coffee and ice tea granules, Ikat stencil,gel plate, brayer, star and joy dies, Bo Bunny bronze spray, Nuvo expanding mousse (tuscan gold and worn linen)
Techniques: stenciling, gel printing, mixed media, powdered gel press
Registered: August 30, 2006 Location: Saugus, Massachusetts Posts: 65113
Sat, Jul 13, 2019 @ 9:30 AM
Goodness! you sure have been experimenting with techniques! what wonderful texture you achieved on your background and I bet it smells great with the coffee mixed in! A beautiful card!
------------------------------ Julia Aston Proud member of SCS Fan Club and Dirty Dozen Alumni, former DT member on Color Challenge My Blog
Registered: September 3, 2007 Location: native Texan living in extreme N. GA Posts: 73389
Sat, Jul 13, 2019 @ 8:02 PM
How wonderful, Jean! I love the neutral colors & the texture is fabulous. I'm so happy you found your passion! I almost wish I didn't have so many..too little time to get around to them all.