A Vintage Journey - Spring Is In The Air

Welcome to a new challenge with A Vintage Journey. This month our challenge is "Spring is in the air" hosted by Sandy.

This is what Sandy had to say about her challenge:

"Leave those winter blues behind.  Make anything that says SPRING using pastel colors. It is your choice, a card, canvas, 3D or a tag, etc. but remember it should be in one of the vintage; shabby; mixed media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk styles that we favour".

Whenever I think of Spring my mind always turns to my garden; fresh new growth, new shoots, frogs, birds and of course the Spring sunshine. With this in mind I was inspired to use a bird in some way in my artwork and Tim Holtz Bird Silhouette fitted the bill perfectly.

I began with a piece of corrugated card measuring 6" square which I coated with Gesso. I love working with corrugated card; one it is recycled from packaging and adds a fabulous natural touch and feel to any design.

I knew I wanted a random painted backdrop so I opted to use my Distress Paints beginning with Picked Raspberry, which I added to a non-stick craft sheet, spirtzed with water and then mopped up the paint with my card and then dried with a heat tool and then repeated the same process with the remainder of the paint.

My second layer of colour is Squeezed Lemonade, again added to a non-stick craft sheet and mopped up with the corrugated card, drying each layer in between applications.

Third layer is Broken China Distress Paint. I love how all the colours blend beautifully together.

Now it is time to add more detail to the background. I began with Tim Holtz Stripes Layering Stencil; applying Broken China Distress Ink directly to the stencil.

Spritz the stencil lightly with water.

Place the inked Layering Stencil onto the painted background and dab with a piece of kitchen towel.

The stencilling is subtle but it does add a further layer of interest to the design.

Apply Picked Raspberry Distress Paint to a lid and then stamp the lid onto the background and dry with a heat tool.

Continue adding painted circles to the background using Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Paints and then dry with a heat tool.

Die cut the Bird Silhouette from scap card; save the die cut bird for another sample and place the aperture/stencil onto the decorated backdrop. Draw around the aperture with a Stabilo All pencil.

 Paint around the bird with Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves Distress Paint, blending the colours with a finger. Applying each colour a litle at a time and taking some time to blend as you move around the focal image.

Add touches of Broken China Distress Paint to the background, again blending with a finger and then dry all the layers with a heat tool.

Tear some of the top layer of the card to expose some of the corrugated card for added texture and interest.

Smudge the edges of the bird using a waterbrush. The Stabilo All pencil smudges nicely with water and highlights the bird further against the background. Apply Black Soot Distress Crayon to the edges of the card.

Smudge the Distress Crayon with a finger to blend.

Add further highlights to the design with a Sharpie Pen.

I love how from this picture you can see all the layers of paint and markings added to the background.

Splatters of white Sharpie Pen add further highlights and lift the design further.

I added a ChitChat sticker 'spring is in the air', perfect for this months challenge.

I added scratchy paint lines to ground my bird using an old credit/store card and Black Soot Distress Paint. I also drew around the edges of my design with the Sharpie pen.

Our sponsor this month is Country View Crafts who are offering a £20 Gift Voucher to the randomly drawn winner. I hope you will create a little of your own Spring sunshine this month and join in our challenge!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x 

Artistic Outpost - New Release

We have a fabulous new release from Artistic Outpost (available from Our Daily Bread Designs) and today the Design Team are showcasing some of their designs using the new imagery.

The first new release I am showcasing is Ice Cream Shoppe.

I thought this card would make a fun birthday card.

I began by colouring the background with Picked Raspberry and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Ink; simply applying with an ink blending tool.

I then used a circular finger dauber to apply Memento Luxe Wedding Dress Ink randomly over the background and then dried with a heat tool. To add further interest to the background I used two random pieces of card from the top of a watercolour pad which I coloured with the same Distress Inks, but this time applying the ink to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and then mopping up the beads of ink with the card and then drying with a heat tool.

I stamped the ice cream cones onto Distress Coloured card using Black Archival Ink, cut them out and then added to the card front. Squeezed Lemondade Distress Paint was added to a lid and then stamped around the focal imagery. I punched out three small hearts from Distress Coloured card and die cut a tag from white card and added 'ice cream' text using the sentiment stamp. To complete I stamped "Life is better with ice cream" above the scraps of card.

My second sample showcases the Seed Packets Background, Harvest stamp set and the Grunge Elements stamp set.

I began by applying Color Burst crystals (Terre Verte, Burnt Orange) to the background of the white card and then spritzed with water and dried with my heat tool. I then stamped the boy from the Harvest stamp set with Black Archival Ink. I then created a mask, stamping the same image onto a piece of scrap paper; place the mask onto the stamped image and I then die cut a circle from scrap card, discarded the circle and used the aperture and placed this over the card and then stamped the Seed Packets Background into the circular aperture. I also stamped the boy onto the inside of the card.

I drew around the circle and the edges of the boy with a Stabilo All pencil and used my water brush to smudge; this adds definition to the edges of the imagery and makes it pop against the backdrop. I also coloured some areas with coloured pencils.

I then used the Grunge Elements circle and dotty stamps to add further interest to the background, adding miniature pumpkins for added interest. I then added the sentiment to complete along with delicate splatters of Peeled Paint Distress Paint.

My fellow team members have created more inspiration for you, please stop by their blogs to be inspired.

Shari

Julie

Terry

Avril

Lisa

Just for commenting on the Design Team Blog Posts, you have a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Website.  You have until April 1, 2016 at 10:00 PM CDT to leave comments on the participating designers blogs for a chance to win! One random winner will be selected from the comments left on the designers blogs, the winner will be announced on the AO Blog on April 2, 2016, be sure to check back there to see if you have won!  

I will be popping back over the next few weeks with more designs using the fabulous new releases including The Golf Club stamp set which I have not showcased today.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

Circle of Life

I could not sleep last night so thought I would take the opportunity to make something just for fun. Andy Skinner and Tracy Weinzapfel have a "We Dare You To Create" challenge on their Facebook page which you can find here and I thought I would take this opportunity to join in.

I decided to have a change from making cards and try a canvas just for fun.

1. Paint canvas with a coat of Gesso.
2. Apply DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Diarylide Yellow, Vermilion and Cobalt Teal Hue to the background of the canvas, applying with your fingers. Do not think about it too much you are aiming for a real random feel.
3. Place Andy Skinner's Industrial Elements stencil onto the background and then apply Cobal Teal Hue randomly over the stencil. Repeat this process with Titanium White Fluid Acrylic.
4. Using an old credit/store card add scratchy paint lines to the background using Vermilion and Cobalt Teal Hue Fluid Acrylics.
5. Add a touch of random background stamping with Black Archival Ink for added interest. 
6. Apply Titanium White Fluid Acrylic to paint lids and stamp the lids onto the background.
7. Add delicate splatters of Titanium White Fluid Acrylic to the background.

1. Once I was happy with the background stamping I then added DecoArt Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic to paint lids and stamped the circles onto the decorated background and dried with a heat tool. I then painted around the circular areas with Cobalt Teal Hue Fluid Acrylic, blocking out the background pattern apart from the cricular areas. I applied three coats to completely cover the background.

1.  Paint around each of the circles using a fine paintbrush with a layer of Texture Sand Paste and allow to dry. Then apply one coat of DecoArt Burnt Umber Fluid Acrylic.
2. Add touches of DecoArt Quinacridone Gold Fluid Acrylic around the circles.
3. Add small touches of Carbon Black Fluid Acylic around the circles to add further to the rust effect.

1. Die cut a wild flower from white card using Tim Holtz Wildflowers Die and then colour the stem with Diarylide Yellow and touches of Vermilion Fluid Actylics.
2. Add splatters of Vermilion Fluid Acrylic to the background.
3. Add touches of DecoArt Crackle Glaze here and there for added interest.

1. Add touches of Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic to the edges of the canvas, applying with a finger.

 I had fun with this piece and love the contrast of the bright colours against the subtle rusted areas.

Thanks so much for popping by. Hope you are enjoing the Easter break. Tracy x x

The Great Gatsby

Welcome to my final card in the series using the Gatsby stamp set from Artistic Outpost, available from Our Daily Bread Designs.

I painted the background of my white card with DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Medium Grey and Dark Grey, blending with a baby wipe and then drying with a heat tool.

I stamped the focal image of the gent with Black Archival directly onto the painted background and then added layers of interest with stencils.

I applied Hickory Smoke Distress Ink over a Tim Holtz Layering stencil to add letters to the background, giving a tone on tone effect.  I highlighted the focal image by adding painty circles around the image using DecoArt Fluid Acrylics Titanium White and Carbon Black and then dried with a heat tool.

For added contrast I applied Titanium White Fluid Acrylic over a Chevron Layring Stencil and also included delicate splatters of paint. To complete I stamped the sentiment "The Great Gatsby to the bottom of the card and added a ChitChat sticker to the top.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x

The Lost Generation

Welcome back to the third in my series of cards using the Gatsby stamp set from Artistic Outpost, available from Our Daily Bread Designs.

This week I am showcasing the feminine image from the Gatsby stamp set, stamping her onto a die cut heart, adding shading around the edges with Fired Brick Distress Ink and colouring with pencils. I have also included rusty wire to highlight the focal image, stapled into place.

I began by applying a touch of Fired Brick and Hickory Smoke Distress Paints to a non-stick craft sheet, spritzing with water and then mopping up the paint with my white card and then drying with a heat tool. I then dabbed the card into any remaining paint and dried once again with a heat tool.

I applied Fired Brick Distress Ink over the Dot Fade Layering Stencil and then repeated once again using Hickory Smoke Distress Ink, adding yet a further layer of interest to the background. I also die cut two smaller hearts which I coloured with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink and added a few delicate splatters to the hearts and to the background of the card using Fired Brick Distress Paint. I added three strips of Tissue Tape behind the focal image for further interest and texture.

I applied DecoArt Fluid Acrylic Titanium White over a Heart Layering Stencil to add contrast to my design, along with scratchy paint lines using an old credit card and Carbon Black Fluid Acrylic.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Tracy x x