Hi everyone. I was experimenting a little the other day and came up with this card. It's not my usual CAS style, but I'm really happy how it turned out.
For the background, I started with this ...
OK, so why the inky paper towel?? That's because I have a friend who is so clever and creative and she has a great way to use leftover ink. I'm talking about Maria Fischer (reislingmama). After wiping up leftover ink, she dries the paper towels and uses them on her cards. Check out her post HERE.
Well, I remembered that post ... it stuck in my head. So after playing with Brushos about a week ago, I was wiping up the leftover ink and decided to keep the inky-licious paper towels. :) I hung them up to dry to use later.
When I started my card above, I used mixed media paper, laid the inky paper towel over top, spritzed with lots of water and pressed down with my hands. That's how I made my background. Love the subtle colours, and the texture from the imprint of the paper towel design. Cool, right??!! Thanks again Maria, you inspire me ALL the time! :)
Next up, my new-to-me leaf die. Isn't it pretty?? It's by Penny Black. I love their stamps and dies, but this one is a bit tricky to use. Do you see the thin stem on the sprig?? It's not very strong, especially if you like to use techniques with water for colouring, which I often do. I had to be so careful moving my leaf sprig when it was wet. That thin stem tends to rip. Just a warning. :) Once dry, I glued a second die-cut sprig to the back to make it sturdier.
I also die-cut a piece of acetate with the leaf die to make my own stencil. I sponged two sprigs in the background (one light green, and one medium).
The die-cut sprig is watercolour paper, coloured with more Brushos and then popped up on top of my card base. The black sentiment banner really makes the other colours pop.
I'm entering this at Time Out! Challenge #59 - Masculine with an optional twist of mixed media.
Thanks for stopping by!
Stamps: Sentiment - Mix Mash (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper: Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. - 400 Series); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink: Versamark; Brushos (turquoise, lime green, leaf green); Distress Inks: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: water mister, Lively die (Penny Black), acetate, sponges, white embossing powder, heat tool
Challenges:
Time Out #59 - Masculine
what a fantastic card Loll - love all the greens and blues and the inky background!
ReplyDeleteIt's amazingly beautiful with all the paper towel texture. I've seen this look before using silk acrylics, where you wipe up with the towel. It's just stunning here with the leftover brushos!Loving this blue & green color combo too. Brilliant idea to create a stencil from the negative die, and it looks so dimensional behind the green leaves. Even though there's not the usual white space, it's CAS...just loads of texture and more color- the background is still a bit on the pale side. Very arty! TFS & Hugs
ReplyDeleteWow, what a fabulous technique creating such a soft, textured look for a background! Thanks for sharing this wonderful idea! And I don't have to shop to try it! Fabulous card and design. What a terrific way to use that die to create a stencil. Lost a little mojo here so thanks for such a terrific inspiration!
ReplyDeleteClever and stunning results!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had seen this before I threw out that fabulously inky paper towel last week. I looked at the colors and thought they looked great together but didn't know what to do with it. :( I love that leaf die, too. I have one that is WAY too big. I love that you turned it into a stencil. I tried that once and it would cut through my acetate. I'll have to try again. It looks wonderful as a background.
ReplyDeleteVery clever use of a mop up paper towel! Love the leaves, both stenciled and die cut!
ReplyDeleteYou and Maria continually rock my world! I always love my rag designs and missed that post of Maria's to reuse that gorgeousness. Applause!! Thank you to both of you and to you, again, for the needed reminder about making stencils out of dies! The sponged sprigs are brilliant!! Hugs, Dolly
ReplyDeleteYour inky paper towel background is just fabulous. I love that leaf die and how you used it. This is one amazing card. I'm going to check out your friend Maria's blog next :)
ReplyDeleteI love your inky paper towel background. The paper towel makes a great background. I'll have to remember this! Thank you for passing Maria's idea on to all of us!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful Loll! Such a cool design and I LOVE the fact that you made your stencil with the die ... inspired! Thank you for the details and the link too! have a wonderful week my friend! Hazel xx
ReplyDeleteMy Card Attic
Oh my! How phenomenal! The paper towel technique is brilliant! I love this leaf, and the fact that you made your own stencil with it! I once tried to cut acetate with my Cuttlebug - didn't work. Gorgeous colors, too!
ReplyDeleteLove your leftover watercolor background for your creative leaf stencil and die cuts. Very clever my friend. I will be saving my inky paper towels from now on :-). Would be cool attached with gel medium for texture and color too...see, you are inspiring me again my friend :-) Home tomorrow night so need to get my creative juices flowing :-) TFS sweet Loll. Hugs, Nancy
ReplyDeleteIt's always good when you can do your bit to save the planet AND make a fantastic card in the process - gives congratulatory pat on the back :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic card, Loll.
Have a lovely week. X
You are not only super inspiring, you are such a nice and considerate crafting pal too! Thanks, Loll. Happy I inspired you but you, of course, took it to new heights. I've attached "mop up" tissue paper to card fronts, die cut "mop up" paper towel, but I've never used it to make a print. Thank YOU for the never-ending inspiration! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteGreat card Loll. Love the leaves
ReplyDeletelilian
Love the idea of saving your wipe down cloths!
ReplyDeleteI can see why you had to be careful with that stem, but it was worth it! :)
I love this! The background looks amazing .... fab technique.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday too .... have a fabulous day with lots of cake 🎂 xx
It's a great technique and a amazing result!!! Thanks for this inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWow! So cool...love how you made the background. Your inking is absolutely fabulous.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for playing with us at Time Out!
This is SO pretty Loll! I love the idea of saving your inky paper towels and re-using them for backgrounds...I'll have to remember this one as it sure did make a beautiful but subtle background! And I love the leaf die cut too! Such a simple but fabulous card...love it!! :0)
ReplyDeleteShut the front door!!! I bet there won't be anyone who will ever throw away a ink filled paper towel again! lol I love it and I am loving your beautiful card Loll. No, not you usual design, but a beautiful one like you always make anyway. I so love the cool effect you got with the paper towel, the texture is amazing, love the subtle inking it gave-yep, I am loving it! That die is awesome too, but I can see how delicate the stem is, good to make it sturdier again with another layer. The brusho's came out so good on these leaves! I so love the variations of color on each leaf and I love the stenciling. I think you knocked this one right out the ball park Loll!!! And by the way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!! Uh, yes, I just shouted that right out there to you! Big hugs my friend!!! Brenda
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card and what a brilliant use of the paper towel. That texture is fabulous. This card is really, really beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteI always learn so much when I stop by your blog. Loving the paper towel 'idea' and loving the texture of it. Always good to try new styles and I know you enjoy learning and trying out new techniques. Good idea to cut the die and use it as a stencil too and thanks for the feedback on the die and the stem x Fabulous card...thanks for sharing x Happy Birthday (again lol xxxx).
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool technique, Loll! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous card...love those colors! And Happy Birthday!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the bg, Loll! And what a clever technique! I had to chuckle though, because now this will be one more thing that I won't throw away and I am running out of room to keep all the little scraps of things I don't throw away!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the colors, and the layer of depth you created with this card, Loll!
Have to try that paper towel technique! Such a neat effect! Love the new leaf die!
ReplyDeleteWow, Loll ... what a cool technique ... such a fantastic sense of texture and depth! The die cut and coloured leaf sprig is gorgeous ... fab against the softly sponged leaves! Delighted to have you playing along with us at Time Out! Hugs, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteYour inky paper towel background is just beautiful, Loll...and so clever! Gorgeous texture, and I love the colors! Thanks so much for sharing the link with us...I would love to try this technique!
ReplyDelete