A is for Adorable - Lis Inspired
Stamping with friends is SO much fun! Last night my buddy Lis came down and ate some yummy cake with me to celebrate my birthday Ü I've been telling myself this past week that with each year that passes I must be getting a little more "learned" - can't think of it as getting older - right?!? So instead of celebrating with a birthday card I thought I'd go back to the very beginning of days when babies are simply "adorable" and celebrate those days instead.
One of the huge benefits of stamping with my friend Lis is that she stamps differently than I do. She will create key elements for her cards, using the oh so clever techniques she has learned over the years. Some of the techniques she has shared with me are from the courses she has taken, others are just things that are trial and error. So I just started to "trial and error" with her Ü. Using many of the fabulous stamping products that are tucked away in my cabinets brings glee to my heart. I am quite tickled with the finished trials of today. At first I questioned them, but I create with an end picture in my mind. I created my elements wondering if they would be good enough and WOW - they all came together when the finishing touches were added.
I began with the letter "a". Lis was playing with her grungeboard and I was loving her results, but instead of grungeboard I had Cosmo Cricket chipboard Alphabuttons. We discussed the merits of these different materials. Lis had also created a piece using a chipboard button and it really intrigued me. So I started off on my little journey emulating and learning from what Lis had done. I painted the chipboard with a handy white Paint Dabber allowing it to dry. Then the Large Polka Dot backgrounder was stamped over the white background and embossed with clear embossing powder. After heat setting the powder I then rubbed a Lettuce Paint Dabber over the letter. This is when the trial and error part started for me - LOL! Timing is obviously of the essence with this technique. You are supposed to let it dry a little and then rub off the excess paint with a damp tissue or wipe. Well this little exercise happened a couple of times before I felt like the color and look of the letter was "good enough".
I couldn't leave well enough alone and so at this point I inked up the Paisley backgrounder with Silver Encore and stamped my letter, quickly realizing - oops I shouldn't have done that if I wanted to keep the polka dots exposed. I grabbed my heat gun and began heating it to see what effect this would have. Not liking where it was headed I grabbed a paper towel and quickly wiped the entire letter. This is when accidents can turn into beautiful discoveries. You can not see it in this picture, but the letter has an almost irridescent quality to it and woohoo - the polka dots were still in place. Yep, a happy mistake.
I then took my blending tool and added several different Distress Ink greens to the edges of the letter. I love the soft feel that this spongey tool gives to my projects. This was followed by edging the letters with a Silver Leafing Krylon pen. Yeah - I had one fabulous element for my card and a fun adventure and new discovery that I wonder if I'll ever be able to emulate again - LOL!
The next component was the brown piece of cardstock. It is also difficult to see the beauty of this piece, but here is a closeup to try and give you a better idea of what it looks like.
This piece was created by taking Vanilla Bean CS and stamping the Paisley backgrounder using a Perfect Medium ink pad. I could have used an embossing ink pad or Versa Mark pad, but this is the one that was convenient - LOL! Once again I used clear embossing powder and then heat set it. I followed this application by sponging over the top of it in a circular motion using Distress Peeled Paint and my blending tool. This helped bring my brown cardstock closer to the brown/greens that were in the decorative paper I had selected from the new Memory Box Sprout collection.
Last but certainly not least was the little Sweet Pea that would be the focal point of the card. I stamped it on Arturo using Palette Burnt Umber (this is a waterproof ink) and watercolored the image using a waterbrush and Lyra watercolor crayons.
A scalloped classic circle, a little more sponging, some piercing, brushed silver brads and some pink gingham ribbon and wheeew - I was finished. Woohoo - I made it all the way through - did you? LOL! I think it took longer for me to describe this process then it took for me to actually make the card Ü So my final thought for today is don't be afraid to experiment - sometimes you discover fabulous things by doing so!
Of all your beautiful creations, this may be one of my favorites. Just had time to skim over the deets but I'll definitely be back. This is wonderful!
Posted by: Beth | February 23, 2008 at 07:52 PM
Ohhh this is gorgeous Ellen!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, sweetie!!!!! xoxoxo
Posted by: trudee | February 23, 2008 at 08:59 PM
Magnificent card!!! I love everything about it. TFS.
Posted by: Juanita | February 23, 2008 at 09:49 PM
Ellen, this is fabulous! I love the layout, the colors, the techniques--the whole nine yards! Didn't know it was your birthday. . . Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Debbie Olson | February 24, 2008 at 06:09 AM
FABULOUS!! =) And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! {{{{{{{ELLEN!}}}}}}
Posted by: Anna Wight (SweetMissDaisy) | February 24, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Ellen - this is just LOVELY!
I hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: Bethann Silaika | February 24, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Happy Birhtday Ellen! I hope it was filled with things you love.
~Meredith
Posted by: Crafty Math Chick | February 24, 2008 at 09:21 AM
What better way to spend your birthday stamping and with a friend. May all you wishes comes true. Happy Birthday Ellen!
Posted by: Susan N | February 24, 2008 at 09:39 AM
Gorgeous, as always, Ellen! Hope you had a wonderful birthday and that this is your best year yet! HUGS!!
Posted by: Carole (TruCarMa) | February 24, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Oh perfect Ellen!!! I totally LOL at your last paragraph!! I love that little stamp!!
Posted by: otter | February 24, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I love this!!
Posted by: Kar | February 24, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Love those "happy accidents"!! Great job. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Tami Mayberry | February 24, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Love those "happy accidents"!! Great job. Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Tami Mayberry | February 24, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Looks FANTASTIC! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! With age comes wisdom....and a couple of wrinkles!
Posted by: Linda Marie | February 24, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Happy Birthday! I love it Ellen! Loe the piercing, shabby look, colors, layout, everything!
Posted by: Debbie Fisher | February 24, 2008 at 05:26 PM
It's a beautiful card, and I am so glad you were able to spend time with a special friend! Happy Birthday!!! Tinla
Posted by: Tinla | February 24, 2008 at 06:28 PM
Happy birthday, Ellen!!!! Your card is gorgeous!!
Posted by: Rose Ann | February 25, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Well first of all, this IS an absolutely adorable card -- love the layout, monogram letter, and gorgeous papers/distressing!
Second -- happy birthdy!! Was it the 22nd? Mine was the 24th!! Happy birthday fellow Piscean! Glad you got to spend it with a friend!
Posted by: Sharon Harnist | February 26, 2008 at 06:17 AM
Ellen - this is a BEAUTIFUL card! You are good, girl!
Posted by: Heather McNally | February 26, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Sounds like you had a stamp happy birthday! What a pretty card! Here's to many many more fun filled birthdays for you!!
Posted by: Jane | February 26, 2008 at 05:56 PM
Gotta love a happy accident! You created a beautiful card! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!
Posted by: Danielle | February 27, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Totally cute card Ellen! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY...did you get my message I left on your birthday> I was soooo jealous that Lis and you were stamping having fun with out me!!!!!!!!!!! But I am glad you had a good time together!!! HUGS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Keri Lee Sereika | February 27, 2008 at 02:13 PM
Happy Bday!! This is so cute!
Posted by: Jen del Muro | February 28, 2008 at 06:21 PM