Monday 6 August 2012

Live Out Loud - make a frame from cardboard

This is one of my weird and wonderful experimental cards trying out new techniques and some fun products. I hope you like it!

"Live Out Loud - front cover"

The background for all three panels is cut from a masterboard made by spraying pearlescent cardstock with various colours of Dylusions ink sprays and blotting. This allows the gorgeous, pearlescent sheen to come through those brilliant colours. Once dry, the background is overstamped using black archival ink.

The three birds on the front of the card are diecut and each of the bird panels is heavily embossed with thick layers of UTEE. After setting, the embossed panels are flexed to induce cracks in a roughly horizontal direction and a gold aquamarker used to frame the pictures. Gold thread is wrapped around the front panel emphasising the cracks in the panels, and the whole thing mounted on gold cardstock.

"Inside panels"

Inside, the cardstock is decorated with that fabulous Chocolate Baroque tree branch stamp by repeated heat-embossing in gold. Some of the gold thread used on the front of the card is braided to make the thicker string used for the closure and glued behind the panels. Two ornamental panels are diecut from the masterboard sheet and decorated with stamping in archival ink.

"Two little birds - inside left panel"

Spare card is stamped, cut out and mounted over the main stamping in the left hand panel to provide some extra colour and dimension. Some glitter was added to the moon using a quickie glue pen. The birds are shaped and mounted with Pinflair dimensional glue, and the diecut panel is adhered to the background with Pinflair to help it stand out.

"Birdie closeup"

The closeup of this pearlescent bird also shows some of the detail in the background layering and stamping. Some tiny self-adhesive gems are used for eyes.

"Let your mind wander and your imagination fly"

The sentiment reads "Even the wildest dreams have to start somewhere. Allow yourself the time and space to let your mind wander and your imagination fly". Oprah Winfrey (!).

I'm really pleased with how the frame turned out. Start by diecutting five frames from waste cardboard (I use empty cat food boxes) using Tim Holtz' Ornamental and mini ornamental dies. Stick them all together with plenty of PVA glue and set aside overnight to dry thoroughly. Then apply a good layer of Viva Decor Croco Gold paint, allow to dry and watch those wonderful cracks appear.

"Embossed bird"

The birds are made using the same technique as the bird panels on the front of the card, flexing after embossing to produce some cracks, and going over the edges with a gold pen.

Ingredients:
Chocolate Baroque stamp sets: Live Out Loud, Fly Away With Me
Sizzix Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers dies: Ornamental, Mini Ornamental
Dylusions spray inks
Archival Ink: Jet Black
Versamark clear ink
aquamarker: gold
Sakura quickie glue pen
fine glitter
 Viva Decor Croco Gold
embossing powders: UTEE clear, Stampendous Pirate Gold
gold thread
cardstock: white pearlescent 200gsm, gold 160 gsm, brown 300gsm
self-adhesive gems
adhesives: PVA, Pinflair dimensional glue

Entered for the following challenges:
Sir Stampalot - Take Flight
Simon Says Stamp and Show - Paint it Up
Joanna Sheen - Try Something New
Penny Black and More - Whiskers and/or Wings

21 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness Maddie, I saw the front of your card was totally blown away and then saw there was more lovely your work on the inside. Such a fabulous fusion of colours and stamping, stunning work.

    May thanks for joining in our Wings and Things theme and Stampalot challenge this month.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Izzwizz...this is such a cool frame and I love it! You've done some very interesting things with that pearlescent paper! I love the way Dyan's sprays look on it. I also love your design...both inside and out! Your embossing is fabulous and I love each of your stamped and cut out birds, too. The sentiment and frame surrounding it are perfect. This is such a well thought out and executed piece. Love it! Thanks for sharing your art with us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

    ReplyDelete
  3. Me again Maddie, I did say the lift doesn't go all the way up at times didn't I ?

    I read right through your post, but my mind was so involved in taking in the the various techniques you used that I totally forgot to say thank you for joining us at Penny Black and More challenges well.

    B x

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOW! This is totally stunning Maddy. I love every single detail, the colours, the design, the quote - just wonderful.
    Thank you also for giving really great details and instructions.

    Take care
    Hugs Sue

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is gorgeous!! I used the exact same dies to create a frame for my card, but it looks totally different. That's what I love about dies - so many different looks with the same one. I will definitely be trying your technique!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gorgeous card exquisitely put together.
    Anne x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! Beautiful creation. Thanks for joining us at Stampalot this month.
    Pinky

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW, stunning, an amazing card, love it. x

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is so fabulously fun and your attention to details really makes it shine keep on creating!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Maddy, this is just fabulous. You put such a lot of detail into your creations. Congratulations on your win,too!Thanks for joining our August challenge at Sir Stampalot, Ruth :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, wow, wow! What a stunningly beautiful creation! I LOVE it! Thanks for sharing it with us for our take Flight theme at Stampalot this month and good luck!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Maddy this is amazing. The colours are beautiful and I love the inside. That tree stamp is amazing. Beautiful project. Lee x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Isswizz what more can I say, FABULOUS piece of ART, wowzerssss thank you so much for joining into the fun over at the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge blog, hugs terry xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, so beautiful, great piece of work.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gorgeous creation, thanks for joining Penny Black & More @ Allsorts and Sir Stampalot challenges, good luck.
    Happy crafting
    Tracy x

    ReplyDelete
  16. A work of art!! Thank you for joining us on the Joanna Sheen Challenge blog.
    Hugs
    Sandra x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow! This is amazing! Thank you for joining us at Sir Stampalot this month.
    Clare x

    ReplyDelete
  18. What an amazing piece of work - love it and so much fine detail in your work.
    Thank you for joining in the Whiskers and/or wings challenge over at Penny Black and More at Allorts and good luck x Susan x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Just came across this - it is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for wonderful details too! Nicola x

    ReplyDelete
  20. I wish I was born with this kind of artistic ability. Gorgeous beyond words!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for leaving a comment, it's nice to know I'm not just talking to myself :)