THE SUN, MOON AND STARS VINTAGE CARD

Good day blogging friends!

It's a new theme at Creative Carte Blanche brought to you

 by the lovely and very talented Yvonne Blair.

This month's theme is "Sun, Moon and Stars".  So many possibilities!!

I have created a sweet little vintage card using a couple of my favorite things:  the sentiment from Tim Holtz' Life Quotes stamp set, the sweet image of the little boy and my DecoArt Media line products.

My whole inspiration for this card was from the sentiment.  While Tim Holtz did not originate this sentiment, I really liked the font he used on his stamp.  When I thought of "moon", I thought of Tim Holtz' Crescent Moon and Stars die cut. Perfect for this theme and perfect for my card design!

Here are the basic things I used to create my design for the card.  Pretty simple but through the magic of color, amazing things can happen!

Here is the little boy image I used for my card.  You can just right click on him to save him to your computer.  Isn't he adorable?

Now let's move on to the tutorial as to how to create this card.  

I am listing the actual products that I used but you can substitute products you have on hand or prefer.  Totally up to you.  Let's begin ...

Begin with a piece of 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" white cardstock and apply DecoArt Media White Gesso over the entire surface using a palette knife.  Heat set to dry.

Paint over the gesso'd surface with DecoArt Media Prussian Blue Hue Fluid Acrylics.  Let dry or heat set.

To lighten the Prussian Blue Hue, add a touch of DecoArt Media Tinting Base to the paint and randomly add this color over the surface of the cardstock to create a "night sky" effect.

To give a bit of a shimmer or a "star shine", lightly add some DecoArt White Pearl Dazzling Metallics to the surface.  Let dry.

Now that the background is in good shape, let's move onto the design of the card.

Die cut the moon and stars from Tim Holtz' Plain Grungeboard.  Cover the surface of the moon using DecoArt Media Texture Sand Paste to give a rougher, dimensional texture to the lunar surface.  Let dry or gently heat set.

Paint the surface of the Grungeboard stars with a mix of DecoArt Media Yellow Oxide and Hansa Yellow Media Fluid Acrylics. Let dry.  Then using your finger, give a light coating of Mercury Glass then Stardust Stickles to the surface of the stars.  Let the Stickles dry between coatings.  This will add a bit of a starry shimmer and give the stars more of a vintage look. 

Once the Texture Sand Paste is dry, brush on a layer of DecoArt Media Yellow Oxide Fluid Acrylics.

For a deeper, richer lunar surface, randomly add DecoArt Media Raw Sienna around the perimeter and center of the lunar surface.

Next add touches of DecoArt Media Quinacridone Gold randomly at the perimeter edges and along some of the ridges of the lunar surface. I even used some of the Quinacridone Gold to create a subtle "blush" effect on what would be cheeks if the moon have a face.

Finally to better define the edges and some of the detail of the surface, add touches of DecoArt Media Burnt Umber Fluid Acrylics.  Let dry.

To create a shimmer from the glow of the stars in the night sky, add touches of DecoArt Media Metallic Silver and Gold to the ridges and edges of the moon's surface by using your fingers to lightly apply the paint.  I also added Silver and Mercury Glass Stickles around the outside edges of the moon top better define the edges and give it more of a vintage look.

Now to colorize the sweet little vintage boy ...

Using Neocolor II Watercolor Crayons, apply color to the little boy.  He was originally printed out using an inkject printer and semigloss photo paper.  The color was applied with a Tim Holtz Detailer Water Brush.  The color was brushed from the crayon tip then applied to the surface of the photo paper.  Let dry then cut out the boy and use a Black Distress Marker to blacken the white edges around the boy.

Lay out the little boy, the moon and the stars on the card top to get spacing.  Glue everything in place (minus the boy) using Glossy Accents.  Leave an open section on the moon's edge where the little boy will be placed.

Add a narrow decorative metallic gold Dresden trim around the perimeter of the card front using 1/4" Scor Tape to secure the trim in place.  

Next secure the little boy in his place sitting on the moon by adding adhesive pop dots on his backside.  Then position him and glue in place.

Paint a light coating of DecoArt Media Metallic Gold Fluid Acrylics onto a piece of scrap white cardstock.  Heat set.  Heat emboss the sentiment onto the gold surface by stamping the sentiment onto the cardstock with clear Embossing Powder.  Sprinkle Fine Black Embossing Powder over the Embossing Ink, remove the excess powder and heat set.  Cut out the individual words, ink the white edges with a black Distress Marker, lay out and glue in place using Glossy Accents.

Add an antique gold brad to each corner and pound them to give them a vintage look using Tim Holtz' little hammer and pad.  Set the card top to the side.

Cut a piece of cardstock to create the greeting card.  I used a piece of taupe cardstock that was cut in a 6" x 12" strip.  Fold the card in the center.  Using your finger, add a strip of DecoArt Media Metallic Gold Fluid Acrylics to the outer edge of the card.  

Add 1/4" Scor Tape to the back outer edges of the vintage card top you've created and glue it in place evenly on the greeting card surface; centering the top onto the backing. I left the inside of the card blank so that a personal thoughts and message could be written.

And here is the finished vintage card!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and checking out my "Sun, Moon and Stars" piece for Creative Carte Blanche!  

I hope that this has inspired you to come join us by creating anything your heart desires as long as it follows the theme.  Then link it to The Creative Carte Blanche website so that your art and your process can inspire and educate all of the lovely artists in our community!

Sending hugs out to all ... 

GOT INK??? HOW ABOUT MAKING A VINTAGE CARD?

Can you believe it's already November?  Where is this year going?  

This week at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, our theme is "Got Ink?"  We want to know about the inks you choose to use and why as you create a wonderful project.

Recently I completed Tim Holtz' Creative Chemistry 102 online class.  If you didn't take it, good news...you still can!!  Tim is a fantastic teacher and this sequel to his Creative Chemistry 101 class is well worth your time and minimum investment. 

I created this vintage card using a couple of the techniques I learned or re-learned from Tim in Creative Chemistry 102.  The inks I used on this card are mainly my very favorite line of ink: Distress Inks; both Distress Markers and Ink Pads. I also used a little Emboss It! Embossing Ink and my new favorite brown, Wendy Vecchi's Potting Soil Archival Ink.

I love Distress Inks because they are water soluble and that can lead to all kinds of creative fun...as you will later see on my background.  I love the variety of colors, the depth of the colors and the reliability of them.  And, they are designed by Tim Holtz and who doesn't love everything he does?  Yes, I admit it ... I am a Tim Holtz junkie! if it says "Tim Holtz" on it, I pretty much have to have it!

I am in love with Tim Holtz' new stencils!  I love the designs of the stencils and they go so perfectly with everything else that Tim has released.  On this card, I used two of Tim's Stencils in different ways.

First I used the Cargo Stencil on Tim's Nostalgic Kraft Core Teal paper and ran it through my Vagabond to dry emboss the stenciled letters.  Then I sanded them and added Gathered Twigs to the edges and over the tops of the letters.  The Gathered Twigs adds such a rich aged feeling to the letters and edges.  

Next, I brushed a little Glue N Seal to a few of the letters and lightly sprinkled them with Antique Linen Distress Glitter.  I removed the excess and heat set it.  Then I lightly sanded off the letters; removing some of the glitter.  It adds a bit of sparkle but really looks more like an old card that is losing it's glitter over the years.  

Finally I added a touch of Black Soot Distress Ink just on the edges to finish that aged look.  The ink just completes the look!

While I was playing with techniques, I decided to try another one.  This time, I used a piece of Manila Cardstock and created a background using first Pumice then Vintage Photo then Walnut Stain followed by Black Soot just at the edges.  I used Tim's Spritz and Flick method of mottling the background.  

Next, I laid Tim's new Splatters Stencil (a VERY COOL stencil) over the background and using Stormy Sky Distress Ink and an Ink Blending Tool, I created the splatters design on top of my background.  

To create even more interest, I used a small text stamp from Tim's Curiosities Stamp Set and using Jet Black Archival Ink, I stamped directly onto the stencil and over the areas I'd just added.  Very cool!  (Clean your stencil right away to remove what would be a permanent ink).

I really liked my results from playing with these techniques and knew that they would become part of my card background. Each very different from the other.  One very textural with it's dry embossed letters, sanded paper and gritty bits of fading glitter.  The other very flat but because of the inks, has a lot of depth. 

 Next I needed a focal point.  Time to play with Tim's Tinting technique.  He's taught this online several times; once during his 12 Tags of Christmas.  That was before he had released his Distress Markers.  You simply used a Water Brush to distribute color from a Distress Ink Pad onto your photograph.  But now, you can skip using the Water Brush and use your Distress Marker!  It has two tips; one more like a brush and the other more like a fine point pen.

I used Distress Markers for tinting this darling vintage photograph.  Weathered Wood followed by Tumbled Glass transformed one of the little outfits and Scattered Straw was used to colorize the other.  I have to admit, I did still use the Detailer Water Brush to soften and blend the colors.  I think I am addicted to that thing!  Isn't the transformation just amazing?  Simply by adding color with Distress Inks! After completing the coloring, gently wipe over the entire photograph with Antique Linen and an Ink Blending Tool.  It instantly ages the photograph!  I then added a touch of Gathered Twigs and Black Soot just to the edges of my pinked edges to further complete the aged look.

Okay...so far, I've used Distress Ink pads and Markers.  Time to add a little Emboss It! Embossing Ink!

I love Tim's Hanging Sign die cut but didn't need to use the sign portion for my card.  But...I did want to use the sign pole; only upside down.

I have to admit that I always get so excited when using Embossing Powders.  I've done it for years but I still am amazed as the powder changes once hit with the heat tool! I got so carried away with this step that this is the only photograph I took of the transformation in progress.  Dang it!  I started with a piece of plain Grungeboard and inked it with Emboss It! Embossing Ink.  Then I lightly sprinkled Queen's Gold and Copper Embossing Powder and heated it.  Next I added more Embossing Ink and Rust Antiquities over portions of the pole and heated that.  Finally, I inked up the pole again and added Verdigris Antiquities sprinkled here and there to create a patina effect on my now "metal" pole and heated that. 

Here is the finished pole, turned upside down and with a sentiment from Tim Holtz' Simple Sayings added to it.  The sentiment and label are stamped in my new favorite deep, rich permanent brown ink ... Archival Potting Soil.  It's a gorgeous brown and it blends perfectly with all of the different colors and textures on the pole because of the various layers of the Embossing Ink and four different Embossing Powders.  The Antiquities Embossing Powder line is one of my favorites. It has rich, more matte colors and leaves a little bit of a gritty feeling.  

As I was deciding on a layout for this what was to become a card, I knew that I wanted to add a piece of ribbon with a small Tim Holtz Buckle.  So, I pried open the metal flanges of the buckle and added a piece of ribbon.  I closed them back up, stuck the brad through the hole and bended the brads towards the buckle so they would not be seen on my finished card.

I attached a Tim Holtz Enameled Tag that I altered from a white surface to more of a Scattered Straw color.  I then added a Remnant Rub On bee from Tim's Elements collection and attached the tag to the buckle using Tim's Ball Chain.  All of his stuff just WORKS TOGETHER SO WELL!

I started playing around with all of my inked pieces and decided to create this piece as my focal point.  I love the tinted photograph and thought the splatters background would really compliment it well.  I added some machine stitching and some metal buttons for more detail.

Here are all of my pieces on the card stock I decided to use as the background color.  I love everything I have made but it sort of dies on the background.  Know what it needs?  INK!!!  Brown around the edges to really warm up the perimeters of the card.  So ....

I added Gathered Twigs to the outside edges of the card with a touch of Black Soot just along the edge.  See the difference?  Amazing what a little ink can do!  I put everything together, glued on a couple more metal buttons that I had and it's all finished! 

Now it's YOUR turn to share your projects with us.  You could be the winner of our most generous sponsor's $50.00 credit voucher.

 And if your work is voted on as one of the most inspiring for the week, you could be featured in our 

 

 And ... you can also check out more creative fun at Simon Says Stamps' other blog by clicking on this link.

Good luck and I can't wait to see what inks inspire you and why!

Here is a list of all of the products available at Simon Says Stamp that were used in creating this vintage card:

*Tim Holtz Layering Stencil CARGO THS001	*RESERVE Tim Holtz Layering Stencil SPLATTERS THS009	*Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps CURIOSITIES CMS104 2011	*Tim Holtz Cling Rubber Stamps 2013 SIMPLE SAYINGS cms155	*Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival POTTING SOIL Ink Pad AID38979
*Ranger Glue N' Seal 1 OZ MATTE Inkssentials	*Ranger Inkssentials EMBOSS IT CLEAR INK PAD Embossing CEP07036	*Tim Holtz Distress Glitter ANTIQUE LINEN Ranger TDG39112	*Ranger EMBOSSING POWDER COPPER Rubber Stamp Ink	*Ranger EMBOSSING POWDER QUEEN'S GOLD Rubber Stamp Ink
*Ranger RUST Antiquities Embossing Powder Industries EAJ00655	*Ranger EMBOSSING ANTIQUITIES POWDER VERDIGRIS	Elements Remnant Rubs	*Tim Holtz Idea-ology BALL CHAIN Hardware Altered Jewelry Metal	*PREORDER Tim Holtz Idea-ology 2013 ENAMELED TAGS TH93058
*PREORDER Tim Holtz Idea-ology 2013 BUCKLES TH93064	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD BLACK SOOT Ranger	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD STORMY SKY Blue Ranger	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD ANTIQUE LINEN Brown Ranger	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD GATHERED TWIGS Ranger FALL
*Tim Holtz Distress Ink PAD VINTAGE PHOTO Brown Ranger	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD PUMICE STONE Gray Ranger	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD WALNUT STAIN Brown Ranger	*Tim Holtz DETAILER WATER BRUSH Ranger Watercoloring TIP33080	*Tim Holtz Sizzix Die HANGING SIGN Bigz Alterations 656631
*Ranger Inkssentials 8.5 X 11 MANILA CARDSTOCK plus Bonus Tag! Surfaces	*Tim Holtz Core'dinations KRAFT CORE NOSTALGIC ColorCore 6 X 6 Cardstock GX-1920-28	*Tim Holtz Idea-ology GRUNGEBOARD BASICS PLAIN Altered Art	*Tim Holtz Distress MARKERS TUMBLED GLASS Ranger TDM32717	*Tim Holtz Distress MARKERS SCATTERED STRAW Ranger TDM32649
*Tim Holtz Distress MARKERS WEATHERED WOOD Ranger TDM32755	*Tim Holtz Idea-ology SANDING GRIP Block Tool Sand TH92482	*Tim Holtz Sizzix VAGABOND MACHINE Die Cutting Embossing Alterations 656850	*Ranger Inkssentials INK BLENDING TOOL Applicator Foam IBT23616	*Ranger Inkssentials US HEAT IT CRAFT TOOL HIT00471

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