A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
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Saturday 31 December 2016

New Year Wishes

Happy New Year to all my followers!

A couple of challenges over at SCS inspired today's cards.  The Free for All challenge is "Happy New Year" and the Inspiration Challenge is to be inspired by a beautiful website of colourways called Design Seeds.

I found two colourways that I loved  "Winter Horizon":

and Color Dreams:


The first was a bit pale and the second a bit too bright - I wanted something in between (Goldilocks or what!).  Here's what I came up with:



I created a background with brushos on watercolour paper, and then stamped my image and heat embossed it in white. I darkened up the edges with a bit of sponging with Distress Faded Jeans.

I added white liquid pearls to the berries.  I stamped the sentiment directly on the panel and it came out crooked so re-did it on a scrap of the brushos background.


Then I decided to repeat the design with black embossing powder instead of white.


I made the brushos closer to the paler of the two inspiration colourways.  And got my sentiment straight on the panel this time!  Instead of sponging the edges, I mounted it on a piece of black cardstock.

I personally prefer the white version.  Which do you prefer?





Supplies:
Stamps - Penny Black bush, Happy Little Stampers sentiment
Ink - Versamark (1st card), Versafine Onyx Black (2nd card)
Paper - watercolour paper;  white linen cs (cardbase for 1st card); white and black cs (2nd card)
Size - 4.75" square
Accessories - white liquid pearls; white embossing powder (1st card); black embossing powder (2nd card)



8 comments:

  1. It's amazing how different these look from each other, Susan! I think I prefer the "icy" white branches but both have their own beauty! Happy New Year!

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  2. I definitely like (LOVE) the white embossed image best. I really like both color swatches. The black embossed one seems a bit prickly to me. I can certainly relate to the crooked sentiment that had to be replaced. My stamping friends call me the Queen of Crooked!

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  3. Oh, I forgot to mention that I love your blog header too. It's very dreamy!

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  4. both look so pretty but I agree the white with the icy pearl drops looks stunning

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  5. It's so interesting how different the cards looks with just a few changes. Both are really beautiful ... love those brushos backgrounds. I like the white embossing the best with the pearls. Happy New Year! xx

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  6. I love both your beauties, Susan. I love the icy look of your 1st card and how your 2nd card pops. Both backgrounds are gorgeous. TFS my friend. Hugs, Nancy

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  7. Very pretty cards! I like both. the white is elegant but I love the black too!

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  8. And.. I forgot to say Happy New Year!

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