Saturday 5 July 2014

Happy Birthday Shery!!

Today is the day for celebrating Shery's birthday! Shery is the owner of STAMPlorations and I am privledged to be on her Design Team. 

Nonni and Sandie have organised a linky birthday party for Shery and I am so happy to have been asked to particpate. If you would like to join in the fun, please link up your birthday card over at STAMPlorations!

Shery has really opened my eyes with her mixed media projects. She has inspired me to try new techniques and styles. 

With that, I bought some stencils from the STAMPlorations store. My first ever stencils! I had bought some texture paste a few weeks before that and it has been sitting on my desk ever since just giving me the evil eye. We came to a bit of an understanding (the texture paste and I) that if I didn't bother it, it wouldn't bother me. Wanting to use my new stencils, I decided that I wasn't going to be bullied by a tub of paste and knew that the opening ceremony would be in Shery's honour.

Here is what I have made for her -


Firstly I gave my watercolour paper a wash of ink and water with a brush. While it was still a little damp I used my first stencil (Bubble Layering) and sponged ink over it. 

Then came the opening ceremony - my texture paste. I used a palette knife to spread the paste over the next stencil (Dot Fade), removed the stencil and..... woo hoo. Why had I been so scared?? Dunno!

While I waited for the paste to dry, I stamped the chevron and sentiment from the Vignette: Chevron and Arrows and Vignette: Celebrate Artsy (July New Release).

Once the texture paste was completely dry, I sponged over it with some white ink just to bring out the texture a bit more.

To create the butterflies, I grabbed a transparency sheet and put some alcohol ink drops in different colours on the sheet. I used some Alcohol blending fluid so they would, well, blend together into a random mass of colour. Then I grabbed some glossy cardstock and pressed it onto the transparency, lifted it up and had a beautiful mix of colours that I could now use to stamp on or die cut.

I stamped the butterflies using the Vignette: Artful Flutters and once dry (because I had used glossy cardstock), I fussy cut around them and popped them up with foam pads.

So with that, I have overcome my fear of texture paste. I looked like a mixed media professional at the end of it all. I mean, my fingers were completely inked up and I had made a mess of my craft sheets. It was so much fun!

Thank you for inspiring me to create a card like this, Shery!!

We also thought it would be cool to answer three questions for Shery. They are -

1) Your favourite STAMPlorations stamp

This is a HARD question! May I have more than one favourite? I do have more than one but if I did have to pick, I really LOVE the new Vignette: Celebrate Artsy set from the July new release. The fun grungy shapes and little sentiments are awesome!
2) Your favourite piece of writing or your favorite book
 I used to read a LOT. I don't seem to do that too much anymore. I am way too busy with my crafty time. When I did read novels there was one writer that I used to buy his books all the time - James Patterson. I have always loved crime/thriller books. I also loved the Davinci Code.

3) Your message to the birthday girl Shery
Dear Shery, thank you (again) for the inspiration you provide me. I love being on your DT with all the other wonderful ladies. I hope you have an awesome day and get spoilt rotten!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Edited to add - Deepti suggested I should enter this card into the brand new challenge Mixed Media Challenge. Thanks Deepti xx




18 comments:

  1. Hi Kylie - texture past - evil eye - you are speaking right out of my heart girl! I have one sitting around too - I actually put it in a drawer, so it does not bother me, haha....Absolutely awesome card!

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  2. Oh wow this is just delightful and the butterflies is a lovely touch. Shery will love this.
    Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

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  3. LOVE that background on your card!!

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  4. This is gorgeous, the BG, the colors and the butterflies look amazing :) you might wanna share this at The Mixed Media Card Challenge too :)

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  5. wow girl, you rocked this stencil-what a fab grunge mixed media card. I am so impressed!

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  6. LOVE IT!! So happy you had fun getting inky and covered in paste :) This is amazing - love the layered stenciling!! Shery will LOVE this card! Loll xx

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  7. Just love how you used the chevron to direct attention to the sentiment. Happy day to you too, teamie!v

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  8. Oh my goodness, Kylie...your card is truly magnificent! I love how you used several techniques, and how each one stands out in its' own way on this card! I'm so glad you overcame your 'issue' with the paste, too...I'm sure you'll be enjoying it on lots of projects now, too! This card is an absolutely stunning work of art, and one that Shery will appreciate for years to come!

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  9. Well, first of all, Happy Birthday to you, Kylie!! I hope you have a sensational day and (like me) you celebrate for weeks!! Your birthday card for our friend Shery is out of sight!! It is so Shery!! She will fall in love with it instantly!! Hugs, Darnell

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  10. What a background - amazing. Love the colours and textures. Happy Birthday Kylie, hope you have a really wonderful day, x

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  11. Wow, Kylie! This is amazing! Mixed media scares me. I think I need to jump in and get over it!

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  12. Gorgeous - you did a wonderful job with the paste, Kylie!

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  13. Popped on over to wish you a very Happy Birthday! Your card for Shery is amazing. She is going to love it.

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  14. Fabulous mixed media background & card Kylie! So glad you joined in the fun @ the Mixed Media Card Challenge :)

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  15. Gorgeous multiple challenge card Kylie. TFS

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  16. Well, phooey! Color me impressed, Kylie! And you said you were scared of textured paste? You conquered the thing in this lovely, lovely card! I LOVE it and I'm so PROUD of you! It's just the kind of card that makes me so happy, beings I love mixed media and all. I'm so blessed to know you and have the opportunity to play with you in our little design team. You're an awesome card-maker and wonderful person, period. Now, it's my turn to greet you a happy, happy birthday! Have a blast!!

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  17. While we haven't met I like to say "enjoy a great birthday celebration" and I am glad to hear a little encouragement assisted in your entering our first Mixed Media Card Challenge! So glad you enjoyed your first experience with texture paste for there is a world of fun techniques you may choose to explore over time. Thanks for playing in this month's challenge.

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  18. For someone who considers herself mixed-media-challenged, you've done a fabulous job, Kylie!

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