Monday 13 January 2014

It's your birthday...

Hello everyone, this is Astrid here and as this is my first post for 2014, I'll start by wishing you all a Happy and Creative New Year.

Now, it has to be said, I am not a card maker, but I needed a card for a friend's special birthday, so a card it was going to be.

Now this person is definitely not into over the top creations, so I had to keep it all quite simple (well for me anyway)...
I started by creating the background to the main panel of my card by covering a piece of card stock with Gesso to give it some tooth. I then added some colour with the help of Salty Ocean and Brushed Pewter Distress Stains. I just splatted them on, let it drip a bit and then wiped around a bit with a baby wipe.

Next it was time for some background stamping. I used the Smudge Background and the Calligraphic Mat 12 for that and stamped them in Watering Can Archival.


Now to complete the front panel, I first stamped the Butterflies from the Tim Holtz Papillon plate directly onto my background, but this time in Jet Black Archival Ink. I then stamped the largest of the butterflies again, cut it out and mounted it onto the panel on top of a bit of died cheese cloth. I also added some faux stitching around the edges and created a sentiment panel with one of the phrases from the Journaling Words 3 plate. Below you can see how I put it together with some inking round the edges and some wired garden twine from my stash.



Finally I mounted the panel on a piece of corrugated card and then some dark blue and some Kraftcard, Distressed with some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
Now for the inside of the card: I cut a piece of the Tim Holtz French Industrial paper to size and glued it to the inside of my card. I then stamped further phrases from the Journaling Words 3 set in random places.

Finally I added the words Happy Birthday with the help of the little Ideaology Label Letters.

Love these, they are so versatile (you get several sheets of them) and are great for journaling and all sorts of projects.

Well, hope you like it and thanks for visiting like always!!



36 comments:

massofhair said...

Great first 2014 post Astrid! Love everything about it especially the background & the butterflies.

Am sure your friend will adore her gift:-) x

craftimamma said...

It's beautiful Astrid and for a none-card maker you sure did well, lol! Love the darkish blue against the white and Kraft ..... would never have thought of putting those colours together..... must remember it now.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Scrumplescrunch said...

Hello Astrid,
I think this is beautiful.
Smiles:)
Sue

Suzi B said...

Gorgous card, your friend will love it!
Suzi B x

Michelle said...

This is beautiful. That background is so luscious. Love it!

Rita said...

Stunning card Astrid. I must give that background a try, it's lovely. The addition of the butterflies just finish it of nicely. You do make beautiful cards. Get well soon. Hugs Rita xxx

Helen said...

This is a wonderful card - I love the background panel on the front of the card, particularly.

Maryann Laursen said...

Never heard such nonsens from you before, NOT a cardmaker?? This is such a beauty and just a perfect card. I would be thrilled to get such a beauty here, it´s simply gorgeous, and just filled with all my favorites, in the butterflies and then they´re even blue, and that sentiment is over the top too, so it couldn´t get much better in my world. Just perfect hun.

Tx said...

Love it ! Pretty, simple but beautiful to receive !

Sid said...

Super card !!

Brenda Brown said...

Mmmmmm love this.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Marianne said...

I love this one!! You even created a fabulous inside :-)
xxx Marianne MW

Deborah said...

Beautiful. I love that you have taken butterflies - quite a feminine image - and given it a muted, almost masculine look.

Redanne said...

It truly is a beautiful card Astrid, I just adore the butterflies and the sentiment is so perfect for a birthday.

Claudia N. said...

I would not call this a "simple" make, Astrid!

It is a beautiful project with a lot of depth actually. I LOVE that background and how you put all the lovely elements together. The white showing through makes this card really delicate and "light" in a certain way. Perfect for those butterflies!

Hugs,
Claudia x

rachel said...

for a non-card maker you make a cracking card Astrid - just beautiful xx

Ros Crawford said...

Absolutely Gorgeous!!

Dorthe said...

It is so lovely and beautiful ,dear Astrid,- your "extra" butterfly in blue and the cheese cloth beneth is looking so wonderful- and the qoute is something importent to remember,-
Love your background, as well.
Hugs ,Dorthe

May said...

Stunning card Astrid... Love the stamping & colours... the butterflies are so beautiful...Love the quote... Hugs may x x x

Rossella said...

Absolutely beautiful
Rosie x

Unknown said...

This is a fab card. Love the colours. It all goes together so well.

Anonymous said...

That is a beautiful card, I love the butterflies.

Corrie Herriman said...

Wonderful card !
Corrie x

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Fantastic, really love it.

Words and Pictures said...

So, so beautiful, Astrid - I love the abstract inky background to the stamping, and those butterflies have seldom looked better - just lovely!
Alison x

Jools Robertson said...

Beautiful and elegant, love the fresh colours and lovely sentiment
Hope you are feeling better soon x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Beautiful Astrid - the background is really stunning and the butterflies just pop! Fabulous x

Titbelsoeur, mixed-media addict said...

this is a splendid card ! the recipient MUST love it !!!

Almo said...

Hi Astrid,Stunning card, love the butterflies I am sure your friend will love it. Hugs Mo x

froebelsternchen said...

OMG Astrid! This is such an eyecatcher.. amazing.. I really like this butterfly motif from T.H. and what you have done with it is simply gorgeous!

craftytrog said...

This is really beautiful Astrid! I love those torn edges!
Alison xxx

Margaret Mifsud said...

Wow!!! For someone who says they are not a card maker you certainly do a great job of it!!! Stunning creation Astrid. I love how you did the butterflies they look so gorgeous and really stand out from the page. A really elegant and beautiful card!!! Love it!! ox

Anonymous said...

Sensational.
So many aspects I find to be sublime certainly that dreamy background.
How I love this!
Wishes
Lynne

Anneke said...

Astrid this is so special, really love the look of this peace of artwork.
Thanks for showing Anneke.

Artyjen said...

that's some gorgeous card from a "non" card maker!!! ;)
xoxo Sioux

Dominike said...

It's simply gorgeous. I'm going to make one.