SHABBY CHIC VINTAGE POST CARDS

 Welcome friends! 

This week's challenge at Simon Says Stamp and Show is show us some shabby chic.

Shabby Chic can be so many things...from teals and browns, tulle and flowers, washed white to rust and everything in between.  Stamped french script, hand dyed ribbons, butterflies to bows.

I wanted to do something still in the realm of shabby chic but maybe not quite so frilly and fabulously feminine romantic "fluff".

So, I created three 4x6 chipboard "vintage" postcards in a shabby chic-ish style.

Each has its own distinctive style and background technique.

 

The backs of the post cards were done by cover the chipboard with kraft cardstock and then distressing it by sanding off the edges and smearing glue in various places on the cardstock.  Next, I distressed the paper with Vintage Photo Distress Ink followed by some Gathered Twigs Distress Ink and edged with Black Soot Distress Ink.  As you can see, the glue resisted the ink and looks pretty cool.  It also has a bit of a shiny finish, like something was spilled onto the postcards and left a residue.  Then I stamped various "POST CARD" images from Tim Holtz' Postcards stamp set.

The front of the postcards were fun to do because I used various techniques and images to create the dimensional backgrounds.

Life is Good

This postcard features what is probably becoming my favorite background stamp.  It is from Wendy Vecchi's new Heirloom Art stamp set.

I got so "into" creating these postcards that I forgot to take a lot of step by step photographs!  Here is the plain background of the first post card.  It is heat embossed with clear embossing powder over a base coat of Snow Cap Adirondak Ink topped with a coat of Scattered Straw Distress Ink.  Then clear embossed using Wendy's new background stamp.  Followed by a coat of Broken China Distress Ink.  Then I wiped away the excess distress ink, leaving the resisted clear embossed design.  I inked the edges with Gathered Twigs and Black Soot Distress Inks.  Next I wanted the postcard to take on almost a rusted metallic quality so I rubbed an embossing ink pad around the edges of the postcards and sprinkled Antiquities Rust Embossing Powder around all of the edges.  I used a regular paint brush and my finger tips to wipe away excess powder then I heat set the way I wanted it to look.  Below, you can see the results.  It's textural, looks rusty and I like the way it defines the edges.

Here are all of the elements for the first post card:  torn text added to the base, distressed with Vintage Photo and Broken China.  The Door Frame is a beautiful stamp from Darkroom Door.  I inked the stamp with both Coffee and Jet Black Archival Inks and stamped onto manila cardstock.  Then I cut out the frame and place the stamped script (center) behind the opening.  I placed "LIFE IS GOOD" from Tim Holtz' new Simple Sayings stamp set in the center of the frame.

I pop dotted the stylish B Line Design lady who was colorized using a Small Sakura Water Brush and Distress Ink Colors.  I also hot glued the little sunflowers onto the frame for more dimension and color.  I fancy her to be putting on her coat and hat and off to meet "the girls" for a luncheon and possibly a little shopping expedition.

The post card in the center has a sewing theme...thanks in part to Darkroom Door's Dressmaker stamp set.  This working class girl dreams of being a famous designer someday.  The background is manila cardstock glued onto chipboard.  I then sanded all of the edges and distressed the cardstock with Wild Honey and Scattered Straw Distress Inks; followed with a bit of Gathered Twigs and Black Soot edging.  I stamped the repeated pattern pieces in Jet Black Archival Ink.  The B Line Design lady and the tape measure were stamped onto Specialty Stamping Paper and colorized using the Small Sakura Water Brush and various Distress Inks.

The other pieces were stamped using Coffee Archival Ink and colorized using the water brush and various Distress Ink colors.  The spools were mounted onto chipboard and the ribbon dyed to match the inks colors being used on the postcard were tied to the spools.  On the left is ribbon colorized using Broken China and Scattered Straw mixed.  The spool on the right is a mix of Victorian Velvet and a touch of Scattered Straw.  The snaps label behind the spools is popped using pop dots and the spools are glued behind and on top of the snap label for more dimension.

The measuring tape the the top is also curved on one end and made to be elevated from the postcard for added dimension.  This postcard also has a touch of the Antiquities Rust edging, but not nearly as heavy as the first card.

The final card is done in orange and yellow tones against a greenish background of Tim Holtz' Carte Postale stamp that has been heat embossed onto the background using Antiquities Rust Embossing Powder.  Mixed with the heavy texture of the Antiquities Rust Embossing Powder all around the edges, this postcard really does have that metallic feeling.  The classic B Line Design Lady is standing next to a stack full of luggage with her Tim Holtz distressed train ticket in the background.  Holding her dimensional flowers, she reminds me of a young woman who is off on a romantic journey to meet her husband to be and live happily ever after.

Three different ladies, three different life stories.  But all very chic!

Join us at Simon Says Stamp and Show.  The Design Team has some beautiful shabby chic projects to show you. Then enter our challenge.  You could be the winner of our weekly 

$50.00 credit voucher.  You might also be recognized as one of our TOP THREE entries for the week...which is a very nice honor considering the quality of the projects we have posted each week.  I hope that my vintage postcards have inspired you!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and good luck on the challenge!

Here are the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used on these

 Vintage Post Cards ~

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