I was on a card mission on Saturday; actually, more of a technique mission, and yes...an attempt to reconcile with my distress inks/markers. My motivation: the incredibly talented Loll, from Stamping with Loll, and the gorgeous backgrounds she created on her cards here and here (I could easily add more...). I read what she did; I watched, several times over, the tutorial she recommended, and I went to work.
Let's just say that after 600 tries, 601 giving-ups, and a whack of epic fails, I decided time to change strategies. Creating a background with the whole ink + spritz + 'tap your paper in' wasn't working for the cards I'd envisioned making. So...changed gears. I stuck with the 'technique' (to the best of my ability) and rather than use up even more water-colour paper, I die cut a few leaves with my latest 'crush' leaf dies, and tapped and poked those babies into the distress ink/marker concoction. The result = 'interesting' leaves. The plan, initially, was to set them aside, and tackle something else (NOT involving water-colours...we are soooo not ready to reconcile, though I continue to persist thinking so! Grrrr...what's that saying: what you resist, persists? Yes sireee, that's what's happening. Darn things...), but they kept staring at me...
Anyway, I discovered a couple of challenges that fit my big 'autumn' coloured oak leaf, in the land of guy cards, of all wonderful places - The Male Room #18~Autumn/Fall and Cardz 4 Guyz #35~Clean and Simple. The layout from Wanna Sketch #19 caught my eye as well...
Here's Card #1...
The photo above doesn't capture the shimmer, but the one below, while a poor photo in general, does. I "may" have had a wee Wink of Stella accident. Squeezed too hard...must remember to be gentle...
Card #2...its shimmer comes from stickles...
In real life, they're much prettier...er, handsome...and manly. Hope the challenge teams think so, too (if not, let me know...).
(hahahahahaha...a bit of irony in that....)
Thanks so much for dropping by (and being patient while I iron out this whole distress ink situation *grin*); your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!
I love the multi-coloured leaves!! Just like in real life when they first start changing into their full autumn gear. Way to let the resisting lead to persisting :)
ReplyDeleteHallo my friend Carol..how are you I just arrive in my office and see you have posted this lovely card....I just wanna say HI and wanna say lovely MANLY card I love the shimmer and I love the sentiment and great combine of thats challenge..the leaf looks like a real one...wish you like to pop by my Blog my Friend it was long time ago :) miss you Miss C...
ReplyDeleteBig hugs, Monika
Now what were you saying about not getting on with w/c? This leaf is fab, don't beat yourself up so much. I think it's a good idea to leave your trial panels then come back too them a day or two later, you see them in a totally different light!
ReplyDeleteLove the multi-coloured sentiment block set off with that green mount.
Thanks for joining us at Cardz4Guyz this week. :) x
I'm so pleased you haven't given up on Distress Inks and Markers because you are creating lovely cards with them, Carol! Both cards here look fantastic! Just put the trial pieces aside and maybe in a few days you can see the potential - die cut them, stamp over them, use embossing paste over them, sponge on different colours. Just don't give up! :) hugs!
ReplyDeleteOhh, this is so lovely and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe colors and the sparkle on those leaves are amazing! Swoon!
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you perservered, your oak leaf is fabulous. Learning new techniques isn't always easy, but once you've got it, that's another success. I love your varied coloured sentiment, a beautiful card. Thanks for sharing with us at Cardz 4 Guyz. We do hope to see you again. Caz
ReplyDeleteCarol, that leaf is divine - it encapsulates 'autumn' - the colours, the blending, the translucent watercolours…..The shimmer on it is just gorgeous and I love your variety of autumnal sentiments. Just perfect. I'm sure you will get there with the water colouring….I must have a wee look at the video you are suggesting and give it a try (although I've no distress inks (yet)) xx
ReplyDeleteThe die you were asking about on my blog is by tattered lace - here is a link for UK ebay, but hopefully you will be able to find it somewhere closer by!! xx
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/380984900774?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not sure what all that talk about stuff not working was all about, because these leaves are stunning! Makes me want to get the watercolors out...almost :) haha! Your cards are very lovely er... handsome...:) ((Hugs))
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous leaves, Carol ... so pleased there's progress on the reconciliation! The colours are beautiful and I love the WoS shimmer ... like melted frost on a chilly morning! Hugs, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful leaves Carol, I would like some just like that! Only amazing tries here my friend. Love your perseverance!
ReplyDeleteWow!! LOVE the leaves!! They are so pretty and colorful!! And a great take on the sketch with the sentiment on a rectangle!!
ReplyDeleteI think your watercolored leaves are amazing!! ... looks like you've figured things out. Watercoloring has a mind of it's own, and once I accepted that, I enjoyed the process so much more ... hopefully you'll find a way to enjoy this technique too. Thanks for the shout out! :) Loll xx
ReplyDeleteCarol, you are just the sweetest with all your wonderful comments!! I wish I could put my thoughts into words the way you do because it would be ditto to you what you say to me! lol I'm not very good at getting my thoughts and words out on paper. Isn't it funny how we try and try a technique but no matter how hard we try we just can't get it to work?! So frustrating, but I've learned over the years that sometimes we just have to stay true to ourselves and go with what works for us. And I think that is what happened to you. What you knew how to do worked out so beautifully for you and this card is amazing!! I love, love that leaf with all those beautiful fall colors on it. I swear it looks like you went out and picked up a leaf that fell from the tree! I'm still swooning over those leaf dies too, more like drooling over them! lol They are so realistic looking, it just amazes me. Both of your cards are beautiful, the wink of stella looks amazing and I don't see any heavy handed winks at all. Love how you did the sentiments, not sure if you have a stamp with all those sentiments or if you used a lot of sentiments and made this yourself, but I know that I loved it! And let me just say that everyone else is going to love these cards too. Oh and the Sugar Cake recipe will be on my blog on Wednesday complete with pictures of said cookies. lol Big Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteWow the colors on the leaf are so fab that it looks almost real and I love the sentiment panel :)
ReplyDeleteLove those gorgeous leaves and the little bit of sparkle is the perfect touch.
ReplyDeletei am in love with that beautiful leaf!!! such a gorgeous focal point for this card and lovely sentiment. I'm so thrilled you were inspired by wanna sketch, thank you for playing along.
ReplyDeletehow pretty! I love that leaf!
ReplyDeleteYour leaf is awesome! The casual design really lets the leaf pop. So glad you shared your creation at Cardz 4 Guyz.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you adjusted this to how it suited you. Very creative and very inspiring. I love the colours of the leaves and the shimmer is just perfect. Wonderful card Carol x
ReplyDeleteThe leaf is totally gorgeous, Carol! Sometimes you have to just walk away & when you come back it looks wonderful after all!
ReplyDeleteOne masterpiece after then next!! Your cards AND your talent amaze me!! These leaves are honestly works of art! The wink of stella is gorgeous - I would say the extra squeeze resulted in a very happy accident, because not only do I see shimmer, I also see sweet, glistening dew drops! As far as your distress ink technique - I say you mastered that along time ago! And what you've done here is just more evidence of that! Spectacular!!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous! Love that leaf!
ReplyDeleteI think you are not giving yourself enough credit – your cards are stunning! But if you still feel like you and your Distress Inks are not on the same leaf … err, page yet, maybe try stenciling? ;) I know you want to :P
ReplyDeleteAnd when it comes to Wink Of Stella … Carol,you can NEVER have accidents with Wink of Stella. It's shiny, it's glittery, it makes our eyes sparkle, mouth water, and draws those longed for "oohs" and "aaahs" from whoever sees the card. How can you ever put too much of that goodiness on something? And you always have the failsafe "I intended it to look that way". I mean, who except for us crazy-detailed crafters will ever know that something didn't turn out the way we intended to? I mean, it's not like we tell the entire world what we had originally … oh, wait. We blog…
Hi!! Fabulous use of water coloring on your shimmering leaf! Thanks for joining in with JUGS!
ReplyDeleteI think both cards are fabulous. Love the colours - the leaves look so real, and I do like the shimmer and sparkle! Thanks so much for playing along with The Male Room this week!!
ReplyDeleteYour leaf is just gorgeous! Love how the sentiment has similar colors! Nice job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us this week at Just us Girls!
All I can say is WOW! I didn't check out what the other gal did, I thought your were great! Bravo! Thanks for joining us at Just Us Girls!
ReplyDeleteStunning leaf!!! I love it across the top of the rainbow of fall words!
ReplyDeleteI love the way your accidents turn out - you are just so darned incredible and you sell yourself short!! You are amazing, spectacular at anything you attempt - that is the awesome thing - at least you attempt and try new things!! I admire you so much!! THESE CARDS ARE BEAUTY AT ITS BEST!!!!
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