Friday 1 August 2008

Birthday Cards- Inspired By...



...Sid and Jo!
I tend not to enjoy card-making at the moment, as I am finding it hard to reconcile my arty-farty, distressed side with the need to make pretty things for people who nothing about my hidden nature! I am quite pleased with these, though, as they have been made using arty and interesting techniques, even though they are essentially cute and pretty.
The first card features Robin Beam's Bandanna technique. Sid did a great step-by-step tutorial, which is on his blog, and he challenged me to have a go. I don't have a lot of solid image stamps, so I tried it with these Inkadinkado scribbled flower stamps, and I love the effect. The card is for a friend's nine-year old daughter, and I think she will like it, especially as I bedecked it with Stickles!
The flower on that card, and the flowers on the second card were made using a technique from Craft Stamper magazine last month, which was from Jo Capper-Sandon. The idea is that you scribble randomly on watercolour paper using water-soluble crayons. I used my ancient set of Caran D'Ache here. Once you have scribbled, you spritz with water, then use a straw to blow the colours around until you have an effect you like. You can keep adding colour and water until you are happy with the finish. I tried this on two different kinds of watercolour paper. The top flower was from a really heavy textured paper, and the effect was very bold. The colours didn't mingle very well. The second card is from the second try (which I remembered to photograph before cutting!), and is on a much smoother finished paper. I was much more able to create a blended effect. In both cases, I stamped in black and cut the flowers out.
Thanks for the inspiration and great tutorials, Jo and Sid!

Stamps: Inkadinkado (flowers), Heidi Swapp (sentiment)
Colour: Caran D'Ache watercolour crayons, Brilliance, Versacolour, Versafine, Ranger Inkessential white pen
Other: Ranger Stickles, braid from my stash.

This morning I have had a huge session cropping and sorting photos of things I have made. I will have lots to show next week! Bye for now!

7 comments:

Sid said...

Hazel, Thanks for the mention and also thanks for giving the technique a go. The effects can be quite wonderful, as you have discovered, and also the other technique 'blowing with a straw' needs to be explored to it's fullest. Some really fantastic effects can be achieved. Just goes to show that all of us are on a learning curve and that by sharing we all become more expert! Keep up the good work.

Robin Beam said...

Awesome Bandanna-ing!

Inky Hugs, Robin

Jo Capper-Sandon said...

Ahhh smashing work Hazel. These have come out so sunny and summery. Thanks for the mention too.
If you find that the colours are not running add spay colour to blow around or mixed watercolour splatted on.Anything really to create a kaleidoscope of colour. :0)

Daisy Chain said...

Hi Hazel

Thanks for visiting my blog, and a special thank you for leaving your comment and recommending TWO PEAS IN A BUCKET. It was very useful, I have now posted a link on my blog for future use if anyone else is looking for verses or sentiments.

Love Debbie xx

Anonymous said...

What lovely cards Hazel, I am quite taken with the background technique (I obviously haven't read last months CS as well as I thought I had)I will have to re-visit it!
I'm sure the recipient of the second card will treasure it - it's beautiful without any hint of being 'twee'.

joanne wardle said...

Jo's article was inspiring! and you've done a beautiful job, love the mix of colours

Sid said...
This comment has been removed by the author.