Sunday, January 10, 2016

Happy Retirement


Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a card I made for a friend who recently retired.  I have two friends that I used to work with years ago, both retiring at the same time, so you will be seeing another retirement card soon. :)

I made a CAS Mixed Media card.  The flower is from STAMPlorations and I got it as a free stamp along with one of my purchaes.  It's currently out of stock as it was so popular, but will be back soon as an addition to Shery's stamp inventory.  Click HERE to see.

I stamped the flower onto mixed media paper with archival (waterproof) black ink.  Then I added bits of colour with my distress markers, blending the colours out with a water brush.  I love how it turned out.  I used both orange and pink which created lots of tones of colour and depth.  I fussy-cut the flower and set it aside.  The background splats were stamped in Delicata Gold (my favourite gold ink) and then the flower was popped up over top.  The sentiment was stamped onto a banner and popped up for added dimension.

Once the card was finished, I thought the flower looked a little dull against the gold splats, so pressed some gold ink onto my craft mat, picked up the colour with my water brush and sloshed some of it over top of the flower.  It added some shimmer and sparkle ... love how it turned out.  Close-up picture below that hopefully gives you a better view.




I'm entering this into several STAMPlorations challenges that are running for January.  First up, the brand spanking new CAS challenge.  I didn't use the option this time.




Also entering this into STAMPlorations January Theme & Sketch Challenge ... my card is definitely CAS and looks a bit like the sketch ...

  



And also entering STAMPlorations Anything Goes challenge, as well as the Mixed Media Card Challenge - New Beginnings.  The mixed media on my card is stamps + ink, plus watercolouring, splats, fussy-cut and popped up flower and popped up sentiment --- hope it qualifies. :)


  


And last, but not least), entering the Snippets Playground to share and have some fun with Di and the gang.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!








Stamps:  Helenium Large (STAMPlorations); Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!); Gorgeous Grunge (SU!)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media paper (Strathmore)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Distress Markers: Ripe Persimmon; Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush

Challenges:
STAMPlorations January CAS Challenge
STAMPlorations January Theme & Sketch
STAMPlorations - Anything Goes
January Mixed Media Card Challenge - New Beginnings
Snippets Playground - Week 211



38 comments:

Gibmiss said...

Hi Loll
Fabulous card... Love the flower...
Hugs Sylvie xx

Cathy said...

Gorgeous card Loll, love the shimmer from the added gold. Cathy x

Shery Russ said...

Beautiful CAS card, Loll! Love the artsy background! The flower is the Large Helenium stamp -- it's the large version of the helenium stamp in the Floral Bliss set. It was a STAMP Lab stamp that sold out quickly. It'll be officially released in the next couple of months, but it's here: http://stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/Helenium---Large-P5390961.aspx

Loll said...

Thanks so much Shery. Have updated my post to include the name and that this gorgeous image will be available at STAMPlorations soon! xx

Barb said...

Your card is beautiful. I'm sure that you're friend will be delighted. Barb x

Barb said...

Your card is beautiful. I'm sure that you're friend will be delighted. Barb x

Anita in France said...

Such a lovely bloom, Loll ... all that splattery shimmery gold is gorgeous with it! Hugs, Anita :)

Barb Ghig said...

This is such a beautiful flower! I love the mix of pink and orange, and how you added bits of Delicata Gold...it really added so much shimmer, and ties in perfectly with your splattering on the background! Such an artsy, yet elegant card!

Karen Dunbrook said...

gorgeous...love it!

nancy littrell said...

Your daisy turned out beautifully Loll. I love how you added the additional gold to your flower. TFS the close up photo too. A real Wow Card my friend. Hugs, Nancy

Lee-Anne said...

Fabulous coloring, Loll! Lovely the grungy background in the Delicata! Lucky you getting your hands on that stamp...it's wonderful!

Canonbury creations said...

Fabulous flower Loll, your inking and watercolour techniques are amazing!
Val x

Bonnie said...

A beautiful flower, Loll! And I love all that gold!

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Love that shimmer and shine from the gold there Loll! I also love that beautiful flower too! Have a great week! Hazel xx
My Card Attic

Vicki Dutcher said...

Fabulous! Love the background a lot

TK said...

Beautiful and glamorous, what great use of a freebie!

Brenda said...

Oh my Loll, this is a beautiful retirement card! I love that flower and the way you watercolored it. The gold is a perfect addition to this card. Love the shine from the inka gold. Hugs, Brenda

Unknown said...

Lovely card Loll. So glad you took a close up photo as you can definitely pick up on the gold in the flower........stunning!

Hugs.

Karen xxx

Linda said...

I love this!! That beautiful large bloom is stunning ..... great colours and I love the background. Thank you for playing along with the STAMPlorations CAS Card challenge ..... Linda xxx

sandie said...

I really love how you creat these wonderful backgrounds x

JJ said...

Hi Loll,

Not sure whether I wished you and your family a Happy New Year or not, its my age, so if not there it is lol! Stunning card, love how you have done the flower, like you say it really pops, beautiful.

Love & hUgs

Jacquie J xxx
http://jewelscardcraft.blogspot.co.uk/

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely card Loll and your flower is gorgeous...

Anne

Pamellia said...

Beautiful Loll. Love that flower and brilliant job with the fussy cutting!! hugs :)

Nstiz said...

Loll, you painted this beautifully! I love how this turned out, the gorgeous color pallet and of course, the spatters! Beautiful flower stamp and one I wouldn't mind getting too!

Bobby said...

Love your gorgeous flower with all it's gold accents, Loll.

Di said...

One word Loll - STUNNING! I love this card - so striking and the gold is a fabulous finishing touch!

Hugs

Di xx

Mac Mable said...

The colours are gorgeous. Such a pretty background and such a wow flower x

Julia Aston said...

Gorgeous coloring on your flower Loll - and the golden splatter behind really sets it off nicely! thanks so much for joining us in the Mixed Media Card Challenge! Julia xx

Inkyfingers said...

This is gorgeous Loll and the golden splats are a perfect foil for the lovely flower.
Hugs
Carol x

Toni said...

I love your flower and, of course, you added gold. You are Loll, after all. LOL! Beautiful card!

Toni

Sarn said...

LOVE your pretty card Loll. The big bold flower against the GG splats (my fave) is perfect.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Becca Cruger said...

This is truly a stunner! I love how artsy the whole thing feels and the splattery background was the perfect highlight for that flower. Thanks for covering all the bases at STAMPlorations AND for linking up at Mixed Media Card Challenge, too!

shirley-bee said...

Beautiful CAS mixed media card, Loll! Love the gold wash over the petals. Thanks for linking it up to the Mixed Media Card Challenge :)

Linby said...

This is just so pretty.

Pink Unicorn said...

What a stunning card, the gold background is setting of the flower so beautifully!

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

gorgeous! Love the colors of the flower! Thanks for joining us at the STAMPlorations CAS Card Challenge!
Lisa

Julia Aston said...

Hi again Loll! wanted to let you know I was totally inspired by your card to make a retirement card for someone at work - and I linked to your card on my post as my inspiration! http://createwithjulia.blogspot.com/2016/01/retirement-new-beginning-mixed-media.html

hugs, Julia xx

maria f. said...

So very pretty. That golden glow is lovely. I personally love that bloom (I only have it in the smaller size.) So nice to see your beaut in the MMCC gallery this month!