Distress – Linda's Studio

SENDING PRAYERS

Handmade Card by Linda Fields

This was an absolute first for me, making a shaker card, and I must say, it was so much fun to do! A pretty yellow butterfly finds it way through a bed of pink roses to send prayers to that someone special.

I used the following Tim Holtz products to create the backdrop: Distress Oxide Inks in Kitsch Flamingo and Peeled Paint with the Rose Bud Stencil. I highly recommend using a small blender brush for the best results.

I cut the pattern down to 3″x8″ and ran it through my Spellbinder Platinum machine using my Honey Bee Swirling Leaves Piercing Plate. If you look close you’ll see the leafy hole pattern it put into the stenciled card front.

I used Altenew’s Silver Lake Crisp Dye Ink around the edges of the card front and matching envelope. I used Altenew’s Dream Big set to stamp and die cut the pretty butterfly. I used Jet Black and Lemon Yellow ink for his wings. I stamped and clear embossed “Sending Prayers” from Altenew’s Dotted Blooms Stamp set. I used parchment paper to create the sentiment band. I used acetate cut a piece 1/2 inch larger than my card front. You’ll need a good bone folder to emboss the lines for all four sides and then fold three of the edges over and securely tape them behind the backdrop. I poured clear sequins from Nuvo into the plastic pouch then sealed the last edge.

After mounting the shaker to a grey mat, I used foam tape to attach everything to a slimline card base made from Nina 120# Classic White cardstock. The envelope was made using Nina’s 80# paper. I repeated the stenciling on the paper, adding the butterfly last, before cutting the paper to create the final 4×9 slimline envelope. Making shaker cards is fun and opens the door for infinite creative possibilities!

ROSE RECEIVED

Card Created by Linda Fields

I made this card for the Easy Ink Blending Techniques course in Altenew’s Education Certification Program. My goal was to create a vintage, botanical, scientific field notes look. I used wood texture and contrasting inks to bring it all together.

AECP Homework – Easy Ink Blending Techniques Course

First, I used Altenew’s Dock Planks embossing folder to transform my backdrop mat. I applied Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks in Ground Espresso, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, and Tattered Rose using a rounded foam applicator. I started with the darkest color, lightly grazing the paper at an angle, moving in circles along the edges. I worked my way to the center, blending to the lightest colors. I blotted water droplets and splattered thinned Altenew’s Jet Black and Charcoal Suit to age the paper.

I used Altenew’s Garden Rose Layering Die set to cut the rose petals and leaves from 120# classic white cardstock. I used Altenew’s Silver Lake, Evergreen, Forest Glades, Pistachio and Frayed Leaf Crisp Dye Inks to shade and color everything.

I used a mechanical pencil to illustrate a rose stem with leaves. You can always trace around the die cut leaf, flip it over, and draw it again so they’re at different angles. I call the next steps the “Transfer Method”: Use tracing paper to copy your original drawing. Use pencil. Repeat the process after turning the paper over. The key is to lay down graphite on both sides. Place the tracing paper on your final piece to be inked and traced one more time to transfer the drawing permanently. I finished this method by inking over the pencil with a .005 Fine Point Black Micron pen.

I used the Tim Holtz Field Notes Stamp set but only applied the second generations so to enhance the distressed, age look even more. Altenew’s Crimson Ink was the perfect color for this theme. Nuvo Crystal Drops were added for the copper nailhead illusion. I finished everything by pulling the pieces together using cut foam sheets measuring 3×8 and foam tape under the rose for dimensional effect. In the end, I really love how this science themed, botanical rose card turned out.