I've seen various people make northern lights backgrounds for card and wanted to give it a go. I tried the ones where they create swirls of colour but I ended up with a horrid mess and tossed them. Then I tried the technique in this video where the colour is in more vertical bands. I ended up with three backgrounds I was happy with and turned them into three Christmas cards.
My favourite is this one as I got a bit of quite vibrant colour.
I stamped the image in black using my MISTI so that I go quite an intense image. I then sponged a lot of Distress Black Soot ink along the bottom of the panel. I heat embossed the little Noel sentiment in white on black cs and cut it out with a tiny square die and covered up a bit of smudged ink.
My second favourite is this one:
I die cut the village scene out of black cs. layered it over the northern lights background, and added a very small sentiment.
My least favourite is this one:
I found it easier to sponge the sky on a very slightly glossy cs - not as glossy as photo paper but with a definite bit of gloss. I didn't find much difference between regular Distress inks and Distress Oxide inks (the first one was done with Oxide, the second and third with Distress).
My friend, Loll, also did some northern lights cards and we decided to post them on the same day. Please go to this post on her blog to see hers - quite different to mine but beautiful!
Supplies:
Stamps - Stampendous "noel", Katzelkraft deer and trees, SSS tiny Merry Christmas, SSS Jingle Bells and Dashing All the Way sentiments
Ink - various Distress and Distress Oxide inks, SSS Intense Black, Versamark, Versafine Clair Twilight
Paper - white and black cs, slightly glossy cs
Size - A2 (the first two) and 6x4.25" (the third card)
Accessories - white acrylic paint, white embossing powder, tiny Spellbinders square die, Memory Box Country Landscape die, tiny sentiment die, SU sleigh and horse die
The deer card is the most dramatic. The sleigh card depicts the northern lights like we see them (when we can!) from where we live. All three cards are lovely. I will have to try this technique.
ReplyDeleteI've come from Lolly's and I love that you decided to post them together because it shows how the skies can look quiet different, but equally beautiful, depending on colors and depth of ink. And I admire that you could create these awesome sky colors without it looking like fire. Love them all, Susan! Hugs, Darnell (p.s. The way Mother Nature has been acting, it would not surprise me if she started throwing snowballs instead of snowflakes!!)
ReplyDeleteThese are all beautiful, Susan. I love how the colours show and the idea of using slightly glossy paper is one I will have to try. I definitely want to try the technique you followed for Northern Lights. Great work, my friend! xx
ReplyDeleteMore subtle than Loll's but definitely just as beautiful, Susan. Yours are more like ones I've tried.
ReplyDeleteYours are every bit as beautiful as Loll's Susan...just a bit more muted, but I love the look! Lovely, lovely cards!! Hugs. :0)
ReplyDeleteYou got lovely results with Northern Lights. The first card is my favorite too with the hint of red and yellow. Thanks for these great scenes.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Northern Lights, such soft subtle colours ♥
ReplyDeleteThey are all brilliant depictions of the Northern Lights Susan and I love how on the first you have that pretty green and pink glow behind the deer and trees, and the softer look is equally lovely on the next two with the lovely black die cut village scene and then the white snowy scene with that terrific sleigh in white which both work well, great white spattering for the falling snow too. x
ReplyDeleteYou did well with this technique, Susan, and have three awesome Christmas cards for your stash! I love how the deer look like they are enjoying the view and the sleepy village! The sleigh looks like a fun way to enjoy the Northern Lights!
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