Saturday 10 September 2016

Engagement Card, Pears, Congratulations

 I love my Memory Box and Poppystamp dies.  But you already know that, don't you?
They take up well over three quarters of my collection and get used a lot...  but I'm not brand loyal to any one company (is anyone..?) so if I see something I like, I buy it.  Simple as...  My only caveat (other than can I afford it?) is that it has to compliment my existing collection OR I know that I will use it a lot.

Speaking of simple, there's just something about the old Quickutz dies that I love.
Yes, I know...  they aren't trendy or popular and most of you probably have a neglected stash somewhere or other.  But I haven't been crafting for that long compared to most of you and missed the boat when these may well have been 'in'...  so I'm making up for lost time with a collection that currently totals about fifty.  And I still have a few more to go!

As I'm trying to 'use' rather than just hoard my stash, (I've borrowed this phrase from the very lovely Jeanne Jachna), I've paired this Lifestyle Crafts/Quickutz 'Pears' die with a ring I made from a tiny Poppystamps die, a sequin and a gem stone.
One other die for the hearts, one for a decorative strip running left to right, an embossing folder for the bow, a stencil, some watercolours and shaving foam (used to create a very 'clean' looking marbling technique), 3D glue gel, the use of a paper tearing ruler, a stamped and heat embossed sentiment...  and this card was done.




I've included a close up or two of the ring as I'm quite pleased with how it turned out.  Using embossing powder on the band makes such a difference, don't you think?  I so love adding dimension...







Now I'm seriously not a fan of messy techniques, so playing along at CAS Mix Up this month was a real challenge for me.  As it is, I've already been working (again) on my issue of using black for this challenge...   AND I've started using my husband's very intimidating looking camera for my blog posts.
(Still a long way to go on that one)! 

Baby steps.
This works for me.
Recognising what I don't like to do (craft wise), then just giving it a few teeny tiny tries.  I guess it's a bit like aversion therapy although seriously, it'll never work for me when it comes to spiders!
We had a HUGE, sprint running beastie in our house the other evening.  My poor husband gets the honour of depositing them outside.  Don't laugh, but after he's caught them I make him take them out the front door and across the road!  It may well be ridiculous, but it makes me feel better!


So...  a 'clean look' marbling technique with minimal shaving foam and paint it was.  It won't win any prizes, but at least I gave it a shot.  
 Do you think I would prefer it if I bought some alcohol inks and floated them in water instead?  Maybe I should investigate that thought before buying as I refuse to buy what I will never use...  which is obviously very different to bought but just haven't got around to using yet!!!
I'm sure you understand...

Oh, and just before I forget...  I should probably mention that although you can't see any evidence of it in the photo's I did actually use two black inks on the stencil.  Bottom layer Brilliance 'Starlite Black' and top layer Tsukineko/Memento 'Tuxedo Black'.  By putting on a thick bottom layer and dotting on a second lighter layer you get the depth of a darker black with some added shine from the Brilliance Ink underneath.





Supplies Used:

Dies:
Quickutz/Lifestlyle Crafts 'Pears'
Poppystamps 'Paper Chains'
Paper Smooches 'Tiny Hearts'
Impression Obsession 'Tied Line'

Stencil:
Crafters Workshop 'Butterfly Collage'

Ink:
Brilliance 'Starlite Black'
Tsukineko/Memento 'Tuxedo Black'
Ranger 'Perfect Medium'

Embossing Powder:
Ranger 'Liquid Platinum'
Stampendous 'Clear Detail'

Embossing Folder:
Spellbinders/Celebrations 'Fabric Weave'

Other:
Crafter's Companion/Spectrum Noir AquaTint Inks 'Essentials'  - Black and Gold
Stamp from stash
Sequin
Gem Stone Embellishment
Shaving Foam
Paper Tearing Ruler
3D Glue Gel




Challenges I'm Entering...




(Large scrap of white used, plus tiny snippets on pears, ring and hearts).





Challenge #163   'Anything Goes + A Sentiment'


Week 380   'Anniversaries and/or Special Occasions'


CFC #156 Dimension & Bling




Enjoy your weekend...  and thank you so much for taking the time to stop by.  It really is appreciated far more than you know.

Donna. x

33 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed reading your post today. Can empathize with it all!!! Even the spider story (except my DH pops them into the garden). Lots to look at on your fabulous card. Gorgeous colours, marbling, layout and techniques. Fabulous job on this clever card. Thank you for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Mac.
      It really was a HUGE beastie - even my husband had the shivers!
      have a lovely weekend...
      Donna. x

      Delete
  2. Fabulous card Donna - loads of beautiful work there for sure. I've had to giggle about 'the beastie'! I have one in my craft room (and oddly just wrote about it in my Sunday Snippets post for tomorrow). It's too wily to catch and deport across the road :)

    Have a lovely weekend my friend, hope you're feeling better after that vile cold?!

    Hugs

    Di xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lengthy coughing fits now... but the cold has gone other than that. (Thanks for asking).
      So you go in to your craft room knowing full well that there's a monster beastie in there? You are a braver woman than me. Maybe they're in training for a spider olympics or something! After my husband came back in he said that the spider he evicted legged it straight back towards our house... but fortunately it stopped at the kerb. Vile things!
      Enjoy your weekend, Di. x

      Delete
    2. Have to say that Len evicted one from the garage the other evening when it tried to do a wrestling stranglehold on me and I screamed blue murder. He won't kill them, neither will I, so it was scooped up y Len and popped outside a door to the back garden, Ha! Guess which way it immediately did a 180 degree turn around and headed for - yup, the house again! I think they have homing devices :( xx

      Delete
  3. So sweet and beautiful! Love it Donna!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Olga.
      Way out of my comfort zone on this one. x

      Delete
  4. A fab card, Lovely style. Glad you got rid of your 'beastie'. Thanks for joining Aud Sentiments challenge. Elaine

    ReplyDelete
  5. A really lovely Congratulations card, love the die images and the design.
    A fabulous post.
    My craft room is being invaded by wasps, at least 20 a day, nightmare.
    Thank you so much for joining in my challenge this week at Allsorts.

    Kath

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh Kath, you have my sympathies on the wasp front. Is there anything you can do to get rid of them or do you just have to wait it out until they die off?
      Many thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave such a kind response to my craft endeavours. x
      Donna.

      Delete
  6. I love your "clean" marbling, Donna! I don't like messy but do get messy sometimes just to prove to myself that I can. I did move this technique to the kitchen where I could be close to the sink and used some disposable foam trays so I could just chunk them. This is a fantastic card and I'm proud and honored that you tried it for us! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Bonnie.
      I've said this in my comments section to someone once before... I treat CAS Mix Up as craft training... and as long as I have the craft supplies I will always attempt to join in. It's good for me :)
      Thanks so much for your kind and supportive words. X

      Delete
  7. Luckily I live with a murderer - a SPIDER murderer that is . . . or my HERO . . . whichever way you want to look at it. Spiders get splatted in my house so they CANNOT return! I am scared stiff of the perishers.

    Beautiful and unusual card you've made. I LOVE it. Well done for using some black too . ..

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Sarn :)
      My husband would have quite happily taken a photo of this giant, black beast of a spider... if it would have obligingly stayed still for long enough, that is. Instead, it ran straight out from somewhere near the sofa and only stopped running when it's way was blocked by a bean bag - which wasn't quite long enough for my husband to leg it to the kitchen and get the plastic cup out from under the sink as it had started running off again by then! Fortunately, making a getaway behind the beanbag made it easy to capture - which it did very obligingly for some strange reason.
      I hate the things, too. I'm ok to get rid of them myself up until a certain size (unless they are the jet black, stocky variety). But if my husband's around I get him to deal with them all.
      Nasty blighter's, aren't they?
      Strangely, my husband doesn't like dealing with woodlice. They don't bother me one bit!

      Delete
  8. It's a beautiful card Donna, love the design and super dies.
    Must admit I don't mind spiders but hubby always removes them from the house if he's quick enough to catch them before they run across the room and into hiding xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Andrea. x
      I think a lot of the spider issue is how they were dealt with when you were growing up. My mum literally jumped up and down and shrieked whilst trying to squish them... so it's no wonder I have some issues with the beasties!
      Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. x

      Delete
  9. So cool Donna! Beautiful designing and the ring the perfect embellishing! Our youngest daughter had a cute pear shape container at their reception. Everyone put their marriage suggestions on a perfect pair card and put it in the pear. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that sounds so lovely Pam.
      What happened to the cute pear shaped container afterwards? Wonder if they still have it?
      Have a lovely rest of your day. X

      Delete
  10. So creative and original Donna. Your pears, ring, colors, die cuts and marbling are fabulous. TFS and joining us at CAS Mix Up. Hugs, nancy

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your "Congratulations to the special pear" card. Very clever how you've put it all together. A beautiful card as always Donna. Barbxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Barb :)
      Took me a while to get my head around a design that would work with the marbling technique. Not convinced it's for me, but it's early days yet, I guess.
      Hope you are doing ok. X

      Delete
  12. Oh, I love this! Wonderful take on the inspiration photo!

    ReplyDelete
  13. What a wonderful and very unique idea, super use of dies!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for entering our challenge this week at allsorts Tracyx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post Donna. I can relate to a lot of it. :) I have lots in my stash that I have bought and will eventually get around to. And I have some things that I'm sorry I bought. I saw someone else do something magical with it, but when I gave it a try, it wasn't "my thing". I always think about what I could have bought with that money instead. :)

    I'm so thrilled that you gave this messy marbling technique a try because of our challenge. That makes me happy. And I appreciate your extra effort. That's what we are all about, adding small bits of mixed media techniques and products to see if it's something you enjoy. :) The card is amazing with so many different techniques packed into one gorgeous card. Thanks so much for sharing it with us at CAS Mix Up! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Loll... Those are some very kind and generous words. X
      I read your blog post earlier on this evening... I'm so sorry you're having to go through this - I can relate to feeling alone and scared; though not for health reasons.... and I can relate to not being able or ready to want to share that news. I'm so glad to hear that although you aren't completely out of the woods yet, you are getting there. That's a good thing, Loll. X
      Why haven't you sold or given away your misguided purchases (we all have them, Loll)!? Are you a secret hoarder, I wonder?
      I so appreciate your kindness, your crafting talent and your willingness to share your creativity, Loll. You are truly amazing - whether you feel like it or not :)
      Have a good weekend. Sending you lots of hugs. X

      Delete
  16. Wonderful engagement card! Love the pears and your great take on the inspiration photo! Thanks so much for playing along with us at the Curtain Call!

    ReplyDelete