Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #60 was a totally different kind of layout for me (Interpretation: a bit of a challenge for me, LOL!). But that's what I like about these challenges -- trying to figure out what elements I can use to fit the sketch. If you've never played along, I encourage you to try it -- you just might discover a really great new layout that you love! Finding the right coordinating papers (Crate Cowgirl) really helped my card come together -- this is what I came up with:
I also knew I wanted to use Anna Wight's Whipper Snapper latest stamp release and I ended up combining two of the sets: Harvest Blessings (bird house) and Give Thanks (sentiment & bird).
I stamped the bird house (omitting its normal star shaped opening on the large house) with Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink on Neenah Classic Crest Natural White cardstock and colored with these Copic markers & Spica glitter pens:
I used E11 to pick up color from the tip of the darker E08 marker -- blended together, this color matched the rust colors in my paper perfectly. Then I used the E08 to make the new heart shaped opening in the house (to coordinate with the 'Home is where the heart is' sentiment!). I used Copic's Black 0.3 Multiliner pen to outline my heart shape, so it would look like part of the original stamp. This ink is permanent and won't bleed with the Copics.
I used Ranger's Ink Blending Tool to apply Ranger Vintage Photo Distress Ink around the edges of the cut out bird house image.
Someone emailed me a question about how the Ink Blending Tool is different from a sponge or stipple brush so I thought I would share that info here as well, in case you haven't seen one either. You can see a photo of it in this post. The Ink Blending Tool's pad is foam and much softer and smoother than a sponge, so you get a softer and less "gloppy" transfer of ink to your project. The pad is more dense than a makeup sponge applicator but quite similar, so that should give you an idea of the consistency.
For the most part, my blending on the edges of the bird house image were nice and soft, but I thought I'd point out a mistake I made. You see how the top left corner is a bit darker than the other edges? (you can click on the photo for a larger view). I happened to get a little too much ink there and thought I could just grab a regular Blender Pen used for dye inks (I used Stampin' Up's brand but Dove also makes one). I tried blending away some of the color but after only a few swipes over the area, the cardstock started to pill . . . yuck! I had gotten so used to using my Copic markers and Copic Colorless Blender pen that DON'T pill your cardstock!
So that's another wonderful thing about Copics to note -- you can blend, add color, remove color as much as you want but it sill won't pill your paper!
I used Copic's Clear Spica glitter pen on the heart since this card is all about home being where the heart is (wink!).
I distressed the edges of my focal image and of the background paper (using Tonic's Edge Distresser) -- this is one of my favorite things to do to projects to give them more texture. Machine stitching around the sentiment strip is also another great way to add texture to your cards . . .
If you are all about texture or want to try it for the first time, Ellen has a great World Cardmaking Day challenge going on over at the CLASSroom today so be sure to check that out. She'll be having challenges tomorrow, too, and some giveaways you won't want to miss!
Be sure to check out samples of this week's sketch from these talented ladies . . . they'll really get your creative juices flowing, I'm sure! Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Laurie, Lori and Mary Jo. Have a great weekend . . . we'll be headed to the pumpkin patch and I'm sure I'll have some pictures to share!
