Happy Monday everybody! I hope all you Moms out there (in the US) had a fantastic Mother's Day celebration yesterday.
This week's Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge is "Anything Goes". So, get those creative thinking caps on and create whatever you heart desires for this challenge!
I am in the midst of making some ATCs for a future swap. The theme is corsets. The only stipulation is that the cards have to feature vintage images of corsets. Here is one of the designs I've created for the swap. While the trio of lovely ladies are wearing what I'd like to call "semi corsets", the little vintage ad features a full corset...so I'm safe.
I found these images online, I just fell in love with them and knew I just HAD to use them! Aren't they beautiful? I absolutely love teal and browns together anyway, so I love how this ATC turned out....simple yet elegant.
Ranger has some wonderful options for ATC cards in Black, Kraft, Specialty Stamping Paper and Manila. Check them out HERE. I like to back all of my ATCs with mat or mounting board. (You can get it at craft stores and cut it into 3 1/2 x 2 1/2 size.) It really gives the cards extra strength so that they won't easily get bent. They also look and feel so much more impressive and substantial when they have a strong backing.
The background for this ATC was some left over Pink Paislee "Butterfly Garden" paper that I had. Pink Paislee has some beautiful paper lines out right now at Simon Says Stamp. London Market is another one that I adore right now. Anyway...back to this ATC. (smile)
The background is one of the teal backgrounds with small brown images of text and drawings from Butterfly Garden. I taped it in place using 1/4" Wonder Double Sided Tape. Next I distressed the paper using Vintage Photo Distress Ink and then just touched the edges with Black Soot Distress Ink. This background color was such a lovely color-especially after the Vintage Photo added such wonderful rich tones. But it needed a little "umfph". So, I lightly brushed some Sunflower Sparkle Perfect Pearls Powder over the teal background; particularly around the outside edges.
I tore a strip of book print from another scrap from the Butterfly Garden collection, distressed it with Vintage Photo and Black Soot and then glued it going somewhat diagonally across the ATC. I cut off the excess edges and then distressed the edges of the card with Gathered Twig Distress Ink followed with a touch of Black Soot.
Next, I cut the trio of ladies out using my Honey Bee Scissors. I love them for the fine detail cutting! Then I lightly...very lightly added just a touch of Vintage Photo Distress Ink to the picture. It's amazing what just a touch of Vintage Photo can do to change the appearance of a photograph. I inked the edges of the ladies with a Chestnut Roan Cats Eye Ink Pad. I always ink edges....it gives them real definition! Then I centered the ladies on the ATC and glued them in place. The sparkle on their pearl necklaces is courtesy of Waterfall and Stardust Stickles.
The vintage ad at the very top and the bottom of the ATC were actually one ad that I cut apart. I distressed the ads using Vintage Photo and Black Soot Distress Inks. Using 1/8" Wonder Tape, I placed the smaller ad line at the top of the ATC. I gathered a bit of vintage cream tulle and glued it in place using 1/4" Wonder Tape. Then I laid the other part of the vintage ad on top of it, using 1/4" Wonder Tape. I liked the little bit of dimension and femininity it added to the ATC.
Finally, I wanted to add just a small embellishment to the right side of the ATC, where I felt like there was a glaring bare spot. Melissa Frances' Cream Pearls were the perfect solution! This set has several different sizes of the prettiest cream pearls!
Enter your Anything Goes creation in our challenge. You might be the lucky winnner of our random weekly drawing for a...
from our most generous sponsor! Lots and lots of amazing products at Simon Says Stamp!
You could also be selected as one of the Top Three projects for the week. This is quite an honor as we always have such beautiful work on display from our entrees. And also from the Design Team!!! If you've not seen the amazing Anything Goes ideas from my Design Team buddies this week, click on the Simon Says Stamp and Show's Challenge Blog Link.
Good luck!!!
