Friday 23 January 2015

Love is in the air at AVJ

A Valentine type theme starts today at A Vintage Journey,  The lovely Astrid is the host and she has chosen the title and describes it thus -
It being nearly the end of January, it's not long until Valentines day.
A flower cannot blossom without sunshine,
And man cannot live without love.
So the saying goes. For this challenge please share what moves your heart with us, be it a Valentine's card for a loved one, a heart themed project, or something else that expresses what true love means to you. Just make sure that Tim's style is evident in what you make.



I have taken the opportunity to make a card for my dear hubby.

A heart with festive berries, barn door and aged mahogany distress paint, dried and covered with rock candy crackle paint. When the cracks appeared and it was dry I painted with brushed pewter distress paint letting it seep into the cracks and wiping off the excess before it dried on. Then covered with walnut stain distress stain and baked on with a heat gun.


A pair of wings were dabbed over with brushed pewter DP, dried, sanded and inked with walnut stain distress stain.

I always collect pieces together that I think will go on my card.


These are the two pieces that formed the background layers. The striped piece is from Tim's Merriment paper stash and the dark red panel is a left over from Christmas where I had used the reverse monoprint technique using the holiday knits stencil. To give me more of the colour I wanted I dipped it into festive berries, barn door and aged mahogany distress paints, smooshing it on my mat and heat drying. Love the effects of the deeper mottled inky background and blended paints on top.





Using a small flourish embossing folder I added texture to the corners of the background piece and gently blended over fired brick and walnut stain distress inks.


I used the trellis framework, cut three pieces from another piece like the red panel, sanded the edges and blended walnut stain over before adhering them to the background

 Finally I added the collected elements to finish my card.


Now I just need to keep this hidden for a few weeks before I give it to Ken.

We are looking forward to seeing what projects you make with a 'love' theme and if you enter the AVJ challenge you could be in with a chance of winning a £10 gift voucher from Country View Crafts, our fabulous sponsor, where the prices are keen and the p&p is free.

Have a wonderful weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx


31 comments:

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Brenda,
This is just gorgeous, love the Heart and the Red palette is so exciting and dramatic..Love all the texture too of course.
Smiles:)
Sue

Unknown said...

I hope your DH doesn't read your blog!! He'll see his wonderful Valentine's card! This is beautiful, Brenda!! Love all of the red you used--so rich and romantic, indeed!! Fabulous inspiration for the AVJ challenge theme!! This is more than inspirational!! XOXO-Shari

S@ndy Diller said...

Brenda - love the red on red. Each color is the same but different in a fabulous way. I'm sure your hubby will love it.

Hugs, Sandy xx

Julia Aston said...

what a fun and fanciful Valentine Brenda! love the vibrant reds and all the layers of ephemera and die cuts!

sally said...

Hope Ken doesn't read your blog (I know mine reads what I post)! Your surprise would be right out the door.

It's hard to believe that Bill was in hospital a year ago & we spent our first valentines day apart in 39 years!

Sally

Jane said...

Oh this is perfect for your hb Brenda, that distressed heart is wonderful..so tactile. The reds all work so well together x

Astrid Maclean said...

Fabulous card Brenda (I'm sure Ken is going to love it, - can't imagine him reading your blog lol, so I am sure this will be a surprise for him) <o:)

Love how you used the trellis in the background, because you kept it in the same colour, it adds texture without distracting from the rest. The cracked heart is stunning too of course!

Pamellia said...

Beautiful Brenda! Love the deep red against the white and the striped background is amazing with the flourishes! Great texture on you heart too! Perfect for your hubby! until next time, big hugs :)

Nikki Acton said...

Oh that Ken is a lucky man! Lovely card Brenda, adore all your elements and your depth of colour Nikki xx

Margreet said...

Wow Brenda, you made a true piece of art for your Ken!
Have a nice weekend!
xxx Margreet

Gina said...

Luscious! :D XXX

massofhair said...

Fantastic Valentine card for your Husband Brenda. It is full of fun, great colours and wonderful textures:-) xxx

Terry said...

Interesting how we both thought of our husbands for this challenge theme!! Love all that texture and rich reds! The little tickets are great little treats! Have a beautiful weekend. Hugs!

Redanne said...

I am nearly stuck for words on this one Brenda... it is stunningly gorgeous. I love the red (of course), the papers, the embossing, the layering - well everything really. Beautiful, simply beautiful! Hugs, Anne xx

crafty creations said...

Its absolutely stunning Brenda

Meggymay said...

Gorgeous Valentine card for your OH. Super texture and layers .
Yvonne

sarascloset said...

Love the red and white combo with the vintage grunge. Great use of that little embossing folder! I've always wondered what to do with it! I'm loving that red background leftover from Christmas. And the Gasoline ephemera and the tiny staples give it a great masculine feel. Perfect husband card!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

OH...this excites my red heart!!! LOVE the whole design...wonderful!

Tincan Crafter said...

Brenda, this is all so utterly lovely. Love the colours and the tone on tone effect. The heart is my favourite.

Karin said...

gorgeous card, love the red and white! Groetjes Karin

Juliz Design Post said...

Gorgeous Valentine card Brenda, with great techniques. Love your heart.
Enjoy your weekend, Julie x

Jennie Atkinson said...

There are so many wonderful details in this stunning card Brenda. The colour combination is just stunning and I love it when christmas products become all year round ones! Wonderful crackling and effects on the heart. Just stunning all round! Have a lovely weekend! Jennie x

Words and Pictures said...

Glorious depth to your reds - I especially love the Walnut Stain edged trellis over the monoprint background - fabulous! And the crackly heart is obviously a highpoint for me!!
Alison xx

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Totally drooling over this, Brenda. LOVE the reds and the way you used the trellis die cuts. And the heart and wings are wonderful too. Sensational piece of work!

Hugs,
Linda

Sylvie Collet said...

So beautiful Brenda, I love the heart and the red too!!!
Sylvie

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful Valentines card
Love the combination of patterns and trellis
Fabulous rich red tones and the gorgeous winged crackle heart

❤️ it

Jools x

trisha too said...

That is absolutely gorgeous, Brenda--the red is so RICH!

:)

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous valentine! He is sure to love it!

Jenny Marples said...

Love the way you've created that trellis panel and the crackle heart. A card I'm sure Ken will be thrilled to get. Jenny x

experiments in paper said...

Love this! Your background using the "knit" piece is fantastic, and then to layer on the trellis in the same colors is brilliant. And love your crackled heart - as well as the other ephemera to provide a contrast which balances the whole thing....beautiful! xx Lynn

Deb said...

Gorgeous! Your hubby is going to love it, such beautiful colours and textures. Thanks so much for sharing.