Wednesday 9 February 2011

Gorjuss In Green...

Hey!! :)

I’m back with the card I mentioned in my last post which will be my first ever entry into the Sugar Bowl Challenge :) You wouldn’t know it from a look through my blog but, until last year I’d hardly ever made any ‘character cards’- it was mostly butterflies and flowers ‘til then- and I’m not sure I’d even heard of Sugar Nellie before I started blogging last year but I am sooo happy that’s been put right now!! :) This is actually my first Gorjuss Girl card, too- I’ve coloured a couple of the images before from a stamp of my own and some sent to me by a kind and very lovely crafting friend but, what with the madness of Xmas etc., none have made it onto cards ‘til now!! :S This is one of the new ones I treated myself to with the very last of my pressie money when Funky Kits had them reduced the weekend before last and I love it!! :)

I water-coloured the image with Distress Inks and was really only messing about as, after a pretty disastrous attempt before Xmas, I thought I’d need to get myself some proper water-colour paper to be able to produce anything even halfway decent... but, while far from perfect, it happily turned out usable even on the 160gsm Staples card I use most of the time for my PMs :) I'll still get some proper paper at some stage but I’m happy to play with what I’ve got for now- it’s been so long since I used a brush and water rather than a waterbrush (college art class almost 10 years ago kind of long, I’m ashamed to say!! ;) ) that I’d almost forgotten how but I read a great tutorial on Rachel’s blog as well as the one on Hanna’s, which Rachel links to, and they got me back on the right track!! :) My effort is nowhere near as good as either of their's but I'll keep practicing ...shame no tutorial can help with the M.E.-induced clumsiness that is the reason I’ve avoided open pots of water for so long, but no disasters so far- touch wood!! :S lol


It’s quite a different card from my usual, I think- the colours for a start but also the amount of pattern in the paper. I really like the cards I see others make with patterned papers and want to make them myself which is why I got myself some Pads of paper so at least the colours all co-ordinated but I’m a bit of a scardey-cat when it comes to pattern (in clothes as well as craft!) and especially multi-coloured patterns, so I feel a bit out of my depth here-  I like it (I think?! :S lol) but I just hope I haven’t got it horribly wrong and that others will like it too?! :S


So, for this card I used:
  •         Lovely image from Sugar Nellie, Gorjuss Girls – A Little Birdie Told Me stamped in VersaFine Onyx black  :) 
  •          DIs: Bundled Sage and Milled Lavender - clothes; Antique Linen and Tattered Rose - skin; Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Black Soot – hair; Pumice Stone and Stormy Sky – bird and background; little bit of Milled Lavender on bird 
  •        Cut and Dry Nibs with DIs to add finishing touches to the colouring 
  •          Papers from the Basic Grey Kioshi pad with scraps from Kioshi and Memory Box’s Gossamer padfor the flowers 
  •          White paper with Henna and Cool Grey 3 Promarkers for matting and frame (I used the grey over the henna to tone it down as the brown just looked too warm for the papers but it actually produced a grainy kind of look that seemed like wood to me... happy accidents!! :) ) 
  •          Brown Fineliner to draw on the woodgrain effect on the frame 
  •          Greeting ('hello!'on bottom right of frame) from Woodware Clear Magic ‘Jane’s Script’ set 
  •          Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad for greeting and to edge papers and flowers 
  •          Baby Pink flat-backed pearls



I really love these lollipop flowers- it’s the first time I’ve tried them and they were so easy to make, too!! :) Plus, they’re almost flat which is one reason I don’t use the gorgeous 3d flowers much as most of my cards have to survive the post and I can’t afford to send everything in boxes!! ;)


This last one's mainly me playing with the focus on my camera again but I think you can kind of see the woodgrain-effect I was talking about getting with the PMs on a couple of these- it's honestly better irl, though!! :)

I’d like to enter this card in the following challenges: The Sugar Bowl – Maria Therese’s fab sketch :) ;  Totally Papercrafts – Friendship (I think the girl and bird look like friends and the card will be given to one of my friends, too) :) ; Sweet Stampin’ – Spring Flowers :) ; Sir Stampalot – All Creatures Great and Small (my bird) :) ; Paperplay – Stamp It Out :) ; Crafty Cardmakers Spotlight – Water :)

Right, I’ll pop off and get those linked up before I’m out of time then!! :) So, I hope you like and thank you so much for reading and for all the lovely comments on my last card!! :) Hope you’re having a good week!! :)
 
hugs,  

13 comments:

pinky said...

Its just lovely, great little flowers, love the soft colours. Thanks for playing along at Sir Stampalot this month.
Pinky

Christina said...

That is a gorgeous card Rachel! Looks great!
Hugs Kristel

Vicky said...

This is stunning Rachel and your colouring is just stunning. Love the papers you have used and you have layered your card beautifully :o)

Those flowers are fab too hun, I'm not a lover of loads of flowers (for the same reason as you!) and I think seeing the image is so much more important!!

Take care Sweetie, hugs Vicky xx

Lindsey said...

Hi Rachel,
What a pretty card! Well done you for picking up a bargain! Love your flowers they are fab!
Linds x

Fiona said...

gorjuss card...love all the detail, fab papers and that flower is awesome.
Thanks for joining us at Sweet Stampin this week.

Fi

Maria Therese said...

Gorgeous card! Thank you for joining us over at the Sugar Bowl!

coops said...

stunning card rachel.the gg girl is one of my favs and you have coloured her beautifully.fabulous papers and layout and i love your lollipop flowers :D

xx coops xx

PinksyDoodles said...

This is really beautiful! Thank you for joining us at Sir Stampalot this month.
Clare x

An Occasional Genius said...

I think you've done a great job with the water colouring Rachel, it's a very lovely card. Thanks for playing along with our Sweet Stampin challenge x

Mel said...

Oh Rachel
This is stunning! Its perfect papers for the wee image! I would never have known it was never your "kinda style" if you hadnt said! Looks fab!
Thanks for joining in the fun with us at Crafty Cardmakers!
Hugs Melly

Ps I have CANDY xxx

Jules said...

Hi Rachel

Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog and for becoming a follower as this has now led me to your blog which is lovely.

Great creations and inspiration.

Love your Gorjuss in Green make .. .. the backing papers go so well with your image and the flowers are cool too.

Have a good weekend.

Love Jules xx

Vicky said...

Fabulous card I love the image your woodgrain looks awesome.
Thankyou for joining us girlies at Sweet Stampin Challenges, good luck.

Hugs Vicky xx

Sally H said...

Fabulous card, Rachel - so cute! Thanks for joining in the animal antics at Sir Stampalot this month and good luck!

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