Sunday 12 November 2017

.... the snowflakes fall .....

..... each one a gem .

This is my Tando DT sample for our theme of embossing this week, there have been some lovely projects with great ideas from my teamies. Di had kindly cut me some boards exactly the size I wanted to make stand up cards - you'll see some more coming up soon.


I prepared the greyboard with two coats of gesso and then stamped the snowflakes with versamark embossing ink and covered white embossing powder ......................
well I thought it was ordinary white embossing powder but it turned out I had picked up the sticky version instead ..... so my plan had to change!!!!


I decided to use gold foil on the snowflakes and had success with some of them but others didn't take much of the foil at all, but I didn't worry as I was seeing nice variations of the random touch - and I always look for the random interest in my work lol.


I then took a piece of blending foam and using the black side I blended over titan buff, raw umber and burnt umber decoart media acrylic paints, rubbing away at the snowflakes quickly with a piece of dry kitchen roll.


Inevitably some of areas of the snowflakes got covered whilst other bits still show some shine.


Next came some dips in brown .....


and splatters in white and of course drying them heated up the embossed snowflakes again so I rubbed more foil over them and got an even shinier coverage than I did before.


To finish off I diecut a snowflake painted it with gesso and ran it through the embossing folder and used pritt stick to foil it. I painted some Tando snowflakes with dazzling metallics champagne gold and punched a gold one too.


I had stamped some of the beautiful Winter quotes from the brilliant Alison Bomber's new collection of stamps and mounted this perfect one on gold card.


It really looks fabulous mounted again on some canvas type material daubed with white gesso and some rustic ribbon, string and a shabby bow at the bottom.


 So I layered up some snowflakes and added some champagne coloured gems.


You can see the stand I have added to support it, made very easily from 480 gm white card.


I've realised now it's all together and photographed I have been influenced by Alison's style too, I wonder if she would think so?


Well Christmas is well and truly fixed in my mind and I need to get some cards made. As I'm at the Ministry of Mixology retreat this weekend with Di, the inimitable Andy Skinner and Nikki Acton that will be my next job when I get home.


Do pop over to the Tando blog to see the other embossing creations this week and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx



22 comments:

Kate Yetter said...

Your background is so gorgeous! I love how you went from an embossed snowflake to a golden one surrounded by drippy paint. So pretty with your neutral color palette.
Kate

Words and Pictures said...

Well, I do think it's absolutely glorious - if that's complimenting something influenced by my style, then sorry about that!! I think the sticky embossing powder was a very happy accident - the distressed gilding of the stars looks amazing with all the other inky painty layers added. I also really love the fabric layer under the quote and the burlap/twine/white ribbon wrapping. Gorgeous!
Alison x

Astrid Maclean said...

This is just the perfect blend of yours and Alison's style I think, with fantastic results! Happy accident with that sticky embossing powder lol, the subtle shimmer with the foil looks super! And the painty and drippy layers are a great backdrop to the quote and other textural elements! Love the stand too!

Redanne said...

Like Astrid has already said, this is a wonderful blend of your style together with Alison's, the painty background is gorgeous, the snowflakes look amazing, as do the wraps you added. I hope you are having an amazing weekend, would love to have been there! Hugs, Anne xx

Meggymay said...

Its a beautiful stand up card, a wonderful background.
Yvonne xx

Gina said...

I know it sounds like an insult to most people...but you really are the Queen of Shabby Chic :D XXX

Rita said...

So beautiful Brenda. I really love this style of card. Lovely quote too. Hugs Rita xxxx

Corrie Herriman said...

This is beautiful Brenda ! Love it !
Corrie xx

beth b said...

So very lovely!! Wow! Love the texture and soft color!

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

So beautiful and elegant yet vintage! LOVE the foil addition!

crafty-stamper said...

Fabulous background and great step by step tutorial
Carol x

Lisa said...

Wow, this is absolutely amazing!! The texture is spectacular!! I love the details and your fabulous tutorial!! The quote is so beautiful!! Love this, Brenda!! Stunning, as always!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Annie said...

totally stunning make Brenda xx Love the snowflake background and dies, complete with Alison's fab stamps...love this stamp set and hope to play with mine this week xx

Sending hugs
Annie xx

Jennie Atkinson said...

Oh wow Brenda! this is just stunning. I love the wonderful background and then how you dressed it up with Alison's quote and all the lovely ribbons and hessian. Just fabulous! Jennie x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Gorgeous Brenda. The snowflakes are lush. Happy creative week, Angela xXx

Jackie PN said...

I agree s well, you do show similarities to Alison's style Brenda!

This card is just divine! Absolutely gorgeous! I think the receiver would not put it up after the holidays- I wouldn't!
Jackie xo

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Amazing festive composition, love it!
Hugs Anja

SewPaperPaint said...

I absolutely love the foil effect beneath your grungy layers! This is an amazing design and I'm so happy to see it from you. How I've missed your incredible inspiration! Hugs, Autumn

Dortesjs said...

Absolutely amazing work ;O)

Deb said...

So gorgeous Brenda and love how you took advantage of the sticky embossing powder to add the foil, so very beautiful! Your backgrounds are always so full of depth and interest, I could look at them forever. Thanks so much for sharing this stunning piece, Deb xo

Mrs.B said...

Gorgeous card Brenda, love the effect you created with your 'happy accident' makes a beautiful background.
Avril xx

Unknown said...

I was looking for some inspiration, feeling a bit anxious because we're in December now and I haven't made a single card (yet!) and wasn't feeling it on other blogs so decided to come to yours. As ever gorgeous projects. Thank you for sharing. X