Let's get in gear!

For this month's card sketch at Scrapping Everyday Miracles, I indulged in my love of steampunk and gears (lots and lots of gears, lol). Here is the sketch I made:

 

And here is the card I made from it:

This is a birthday card for a friend. I'm glad I don't have to mail it - this thing is heavy!! For the background I layered strips of metal foil tape on a sheet of paper and then applied various layers of Distress Paint over the top. Once it was dry I lightly sanded it to distress it. Then I had lots of fun layering gear parts.

I also want to mention this month's challenge over at Inspiration Journal, Falling for Faux. Be sure to go check it out and you can link up your project there by the end of the month for a chance to win $50 to spend at Inspiration Emporium!

Most of the supplies I've used on my card can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping.

September Sketch Challenge!

This month at Scrapping Everyday Miracles we have some great sketches to inspire you! As always you can choose from a layout or card sketch (or do both!) and incorporate the scrap twist. This month the sketch is from Scrapbook etc. and the twist is to use some kind of twine or fiber in your project.

 

Here is my take on the sketch. I kept it pretty close but did flip the sketch.

I always take a zillion photos on vacations and it's nice to fit a bunch of them all on one layout! I'm going to do a layout using the same sketch for the photos I took of the Star Wars Miniland section. Head on over to SEM and see the card sketch and inspiring work of the Design Team. Link up your projects there by the end of the month and you'll be in the running for winning the prize from our monthly sponsor. Have a great week!

Happy Birthday Melissa!

Today is my friend Melissa's birthday and she gets a sneak peek at her card since the birthday bash will be next week or so. Hi Melissa!! =) For her card I wanted to take advantage of the September Inspiration Journal challenge which is Falling for Faux. I went to my Pintrest boards (I love Pintrest!!) and found a tutorial I had pinned for creating a faux rust background with Distress Paint. Perfect! Check out the link above for the great video Contadina K created to show you how to do it. (I added some Vintage Photo Distress embossing powder also for more texture.) Here is the card:

 

To embellish the front, I used several different techniques. First and easiest was to paint the metal parts with Distress Paint to colorize them. The label holder was silver and completely the wrong color for the card but a little Tarnished Brass and Peeled Paint took care of that! The metal Foliage flowers I painted with Wild Honey and Seedless Preserves. I've found that the paint tends to bead up on the flowers so I'll wipe them off with some rubbing alcohol first and that removes the residue. You can paint the brad tops too so they match. Distress Paint works great on metal!

The leaves were created with a oldie but goodie Tim Holtz technique that he shared here. It involves using glassine paper and alcohol ink and gives you a wonderful look.

The flowers I cut out of coffee filters and colored with Ripe Persimmon Distress Stain. I didn't have any Dusty Concord stain so I swiped my Dusty Concord ink pad across my craft sheet, misted it with water and then squinched (technical term) the flowers around in it. 

There are some fun techniques here to be explored. I hope you check out the Inspiration Journal challenge and link up your own project there. You have until the end of the month and participants have a chance at winning $50 in Emporium Dollars to spend at Inspiration Emporium.

Most of the supplies I've used on my card can be found at Inspiration Emporium. Follow the links below and use my code JUICE to save 10% if you go shopping.