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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Winter Sky


Hi everyone.  I can't believe we are into fall and Christmas is not long away.  It's the start of the Happy Little Stampers October Sketch Challenge, and this month I made a Christmas card to add to my stash. :)

Here's the sketch ...





Plus



I tried a new-to-me technique called Floating Alcohol Inks to make this background. I actually took an afternoon to experiment a while back and made about 20 different backgrounds in just minutes. :)  The biggest time is waiting for the card stock to dry! :)  This is one of those "you get what you get" types of techniques.  The inks float in the water and then you dip your card and you never know what you're going to get. I love the randomness of it.

To me, the colour combination and pattern above looked like a cold winter sky, perfect for my sketch card. :)  And I had another background which was similar, but had a bit of darker blue added (almost looks like the northern lights to me), so I made a second card with the same design.  I'm going to keep one for myself, and the other will be donated. :)




We are excited to have our very first Guest Designer for the Sketch challenge.  A warm welcome to Valentyna (Flourishtina).  We're so happy to have you with us this month for the sketch challenge!  Please click HERE to check out Valentyna's amazing sketch card, along with the cards from the rest of our very talented Design Team members.  I'm sure you'll be inspired to join in the fun.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by.








Stamps:  Mixed Christmas Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Alcohol inks: Botanical and Mermaid (Ranger)
Accessories & Tools:  Country Landscape die (Memory Box); Dazzling Details glitter glue (SU!)

Challenges:
HLS October Sketch

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26 comments:

  1. Marianne30 September 2015 at 13:09

    Wish I had any alcohol inks, because that looks like a fabulously quick and fun technique. Love the background on your second card even more than the one on the first.

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    1. MaryH30 September 2015 at 13:24

      Another fun technique & new to me! You can bet I'll be trying this. At first I thought these wonderful backgrounds might be with the shaving cream. Each one is so effective as a sky background for your hilly villages. I love #1, but think #2 is my fav because of the darker colors! Both are just wonderful, and clever you to get such super results from a fun technique. TFS & Hugs

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  2. Gloria30 September 2015 at 16:00

    Wow!
    Alcohol ink background is so beautiful!
    Your card is absolutely stunning!!!

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  3. Bonnie30 September 2015 at 16:33

    What beautiful backgrounds, Loll! So perfect for this cozy little village! Off to check out that technique!

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  4. Aileen30 September 2015 at 16:48

    Brilliant cards, they really do look like stormy winter nights

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  5. Deepti30 September 2015 at 16:49

    That winter sky is incredible !! Swooning over this beauty :)

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  6. Kylie30 September 2015 at 18:44

    It is incredible how your background looks like a beautiful winter sky. Amazing! Perfect design and I love your take on the sketch xx

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  7. Susan30 September 2015 at 19:04

    Loll, you turned some of your alcohol ink backgrounds into fabulous cards. I love both of them - the softness of the first sky and the vibrancy of the second are equally beautiful! So glad that one will be donated :)

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  8. Julia Aston30 September 2015 at 20:10

    what a wonderful technique with beautiful results Loll! Your winter skies are lovely on these - I'll have to go play now!! Julia xx

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  9. Maura30 September 2015 at 20:27

    So lovely, Loll! Another great technique to add to the list. Looking forward to the other 19!

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  10. Tanja30 September 2015 at 22:23

    love the technique you used for the sky background - looks almost like Northern Lights

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  11. Barb Ghig30 September 2015 at 22:24

    Your backgrounds are really gorgeous, Loll! The first one reminds me of VanGogh's 'Starry Night', and I love the dark blue running through the 2nd background...WOW! You always create the most beautiful cards with your techniques...I can't wait to see more!

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  12. ÅsaJ1 October 2015 at 01:49

    Your background is just stunning!!!! So gorgeous! And I love that country landscape die. Have to look for it. xx

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  13. Linda1 October 2015 at 02:29

    Love these .... those backgrounds look amazing! xx

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  14. Melissa L.1 October 2015 at 03:14

    This is gorgeous, Loll. Superior.

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  15. My Card Attic: Hazel1 October 2015 at 03:55

    What a stunning sky this is Loll! Beautifully peaceful scene! Love the snow glistening too! Have a great day! Hazel xx

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  16. Birgit1 October 2015 at 05:29

    Loll, your background in fabulous!! I just love coming here and learning about new techniques. ;0) Your card is perfectly winter! Isn't it wonderful to add another Christmas card to your stash.

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  17. shirley-bee1 October 2015 at 10:59

    These are beautiful, Loll! I think I'll be trying out this technique :)

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  18. Pat1 October 2015 at 14:30

    What a great technique Loll and these backgrounds are beautiful and with the die cut houses and snowy slopes have made these really pretty winter scenes. x

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  19. Lee-Anne1 October 2015 at 20:31

    Cool technique...that background is stunning! Perfect backdrop for your lovely scene!

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  20. Valentyna Komisarenko2 October 2015 at 07:39

    That background is gorgeous, Loll! On both cards! Such beautiful creations!

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  21. diana2 October 2015 at 15:00

    Beautiful backgrounds!
    Did you use the Neenah White paper to dip into the water? Did you dip more than one piece of paper before adding more ink to the water? Can't wait to try this. ;-)

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    1. Loll2 October 2015 at 15:07

      Hi Diana. I tried this on a variety of papers and they all work (regular white card stock, glossy card stock, mixed media paper, watercolour paper). Each one is a bit different look. I believe the pieces I used above were mixed media paper.

      As for the ink. You need to add two or three colours to start. Once you dip your card stock, most of the pigment stick, so there's very little left. You can dip a second piece, but it won't get much colour, but might be perfect depending on the look you want. I ended up adding more ink every time I dipped to get lots of pigment.

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  22. Anita in France3 October 2015 at 02:46

    Oh my goodness, Loll, these background skies are amazing ...just gorgeous ... and completely delicious with the frosty village scenes! Hugs, Anita :)

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  23. sue t.4 October 2015 at 10:27

    Its like those marbeled papers in old books! Great background! Very cute card!

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  24. Karen Dunbrook5 October 2015 at 05:05

    love it!! ya know that I will be trying this one out!!
    hugs,
    K

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment. I love hearing from you! Loll :)