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Saturday, April 20, 2013

Shabby Postcard - Challenge Day at A Gem of a Challenge

Hello!

It's time for this week's challenge over at A Gem of a Challenge, and the theme this week (Challenge #76) is "Distress It."  This challenge will run from 8:00 AM April 20 to 6:00 PM April 26, and the prize for the winner will be 2 individual digi images (NOT SETS) from Pink Gem Designs.  So do head on over and see what the rest of the lovely Design Team have created, then join us, won't you?  We'd love to see you!




My card today uses two digis from PGD, Butterfly Postcard and Keep Calm and Eat Cake.  I have quite decided I like combining digis, and these two go together like, well, cake and frosting.  Speaking of which, my cards lately seem to have had lots of "card frosting."  Guess it's a clear indicator of how I like my cake.  A little cake (or card) and LOTS of frosting (embellies).



I've noticed a lot of challenges lately focusing on Earth Day, which is April 22, and their requirements are to recycle something, which inspired me to use a couple of recycled items on this card. 

 One is the paper toweling I used for the roses. 


After spraying some ribbon with some of my homemade shimmer sprays (pink and brown), I used a paper towel to wipe up the interior of my spray box, and I liked the look on the towel, so I sprayed it a little more and die cut it with SB Rose Creations dies to make roses!  You can see where the original wiping section was, but that just gave more depth to the resulting flowers.





The other recycled item was the gold leaf I used on the buttons.  There are always "crumbs" left over when I use gold leaf, and I do hate to throw them away, so this time I used them on some buttons.


The remaining flowers were airbrushed with Copics, and the leaves were enhanced down the centers with Copics as well.



Perfect Pearls form the centers of the flowers.



And I couldn't resist a teeny, tiny gold leafed button to use as the "postmark."



Close up of the messy bow with another gold leafed button and some linen thread.  You can see the distressed edge of the base layer on which I also stamped some French script for depth, then sponged around the edges with distress inks.

And that, dear readers, is my distressed card for today's challenge.  Please do join us at A Gem of a Challenge this week - we'd love to see you!

Happy crafting!




Challenges entered:

The Shabby Tea Room #162 - Pretty Shabby (recycled paper towels and gilding "crumbs")
Tammy's Scrappin' Corner #58 - Spring Has Sprung
Tuesday Throwdown #143 - Focus on the Sentiment
Creative Card Crew #34 - Handmade Flowers
Frilly and Funkie - Upcycle for Earth Day 
Red Carpet Studio #32 - Hollywood Noir
Inky Impressions #105 - Punches/Dies
Fussy and Fancy #87 - Vintage

613 Ave. Create #15 - Sketch

 



31 comments:

Sue said...

Oh my goodness Shea, this is stunning! Your roses look amazing and I love the touches of gold. The colours scheme is so beautiful too.
I hope you have a good weekend
hugs Sue xx

Unknown said...

Beautiful shabby chic card hun, I love the colours and those flowers are gorgeous!
Hugs xx Cara xx

Kristi said...

Shea,
This is exquisite! I can't believe those roses are paper towels: I would never have guessed! Love the gold leaf too,I never thought to use it on a card,or buttons,it's gorgeous!

lou14 said...

What a beautiful card, gorgeous colours and details. So pretty. Thank you for entering in Creative Card Crew challenge.
Lou DT.

Gloria Shirr (purpleglo) said...

Stunning Shea!! I can't believe you made flowers with a paper towel. How very creative!! Love Love your creation! Those flowers are fabulous!!

I have FREE Candy on my blog and would love for you to stop by and register for a chance to win.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful creation with us at Tammy's Scrapin Corner!! Have a fantastic day!! Hope to see you again next week. Hugs, Gloria DT

http://purpleglocreations.blogspot.com


Margaret said...

Exquisite design. Your flowers are fantastic. Must try that. Thanks for joining us at Tuesday Throwdown for this challenge.
Margaret, DT

Janet said...

Shea this is gorgeous.....you are getting so clever with your digi merging. Those flowers you made are fabulous! So inventive :) Keep up the fab work. Ps your garden is beautiful! xx

Debs said...

Beautiful elegant card Shea - so many gorgeous details.
Love it :o)
Debs xx

crafty-stamper said...

Stunning card love the flowers and the gorgeous bow-thanks for joining us at Tammy's Scrapin Corner
Carol DT x

Viv said...

Just beautiful Shea!

Unknown said...

I love love love love those roses. Paper towel gave that cool texture :) ... Creativity at it's best!!! :)

Kristie Goulet said...

WOW! I love that you made your roses with paper towel, so creative! Beautiful card, as always!
Mwah!

My Creative Therapy said...

Wow this is awesome! I LOVE the roses! I had no idea they were a paper towel! And your interpretation of my sketch is wonderful! Love how it's rotated and on an angle. You have made our Top 3 this week!

Congrats!
Kathi
Co-Owner

Jenn Bedient said...

Beautiful card and such lovely flowers! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Creative Card Crew and 613 Avenue Create! Hope you have a great day!

- Jenn DT

Cathymac said...

Your paper towel flowers are just gorgeous, Shea...thanks so much for the wonderful tutorial! Love the shabby, vintage look of your card and the tip for reusing those little pieces of gold leaf! Blessings!

Angelique said...

This is beautifull. Love the soft colours. I'm goin to try those paper towel flowers today.
Your take on the sketch is stunning.
Thank you for joining us at 613 Avenue Create

Huggsss,Angelique
EngelDesignsScrap

Unknown said...

Absolutely adorable! What a cute idea to use paper towels for flowers. Thanks for the tutorial.
~Deb~
CDAC DT Member
A Look Through My Eyes

Unknown said...

Wow, I just simply Adore your Design.
I love your creativity.

Thanks for visiting and entering this week's challenge.

we hope to see you back next week.
Hugs Tammy Ortiz - Owner of Tammy Scrappin Corner

Colleen Dietrich said...

Those gilded buttons are beautiful! Don't blame you for using up the crumbs..that stuff's too precious not to.

Sally Dube said...

Oh, I want cake!! Gorgeous card!! Love the fun sentiment and LOVE your flowers, buttons and bows!! Thanks for joining in on the fun at Tuesday Throwdown!!
Blessings to you!!

Tonya said...

Love your card! Thanks for joining us at Red Carpet Studio.

Decosse's Dynamite Doodles said...

Paper towel flowers? Fabulous! I always learn something new here. Beautiful card as always. You got it in just under the wire it seems over at 613 Create and managed to get a top three placement out of it. Well done my dear friend. You deserve all the accolades you get.

Hugs,
Lisa

Joynana said...

Very pretty. Love the sentiment. Thanks for playing along with us at Tuesday Throwdown this week.

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

What a brilliant idea to use the colored paper towel to make your flowers - love the way they came out. Your card is just lovely and I'm delighted to see a shabby entry into our Frilly and Funkie challenge. Thanks for sharing!

SamsHomeCookedDesigns.com said...

This is so beautiful to look at, and Tactile too. I love the freshness of this whilst still capturing the Vintage feel. Thank you for entering our Fussy and Fancy Challenge Blog. Sam

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card, the flowers are stunning ! Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Sue C x

Terry said...

Fabulous idea, lovely project love the colours too thank you for sharing with the DT from Frilly and Funkie, Hugs Terry xxxx

Heather said...

Beautiful card!!
I love your flowers and bow!! The post card is darling too!!
Hugs
Heather

Nathalie said...

So gorgeous card. I love flowers and rubban. Thanks for playing with us at Fussy & Fancy challenge.
Nathalie

Donna Gibson said...

Love how you used the paper towels to create the flowers! I have some that I've been saving but didn't know what to use them for. Now I do! Thanks for playing along with us at Frilly and Funkie!

Sharon Wheet said...

WOW! a girl after my own heart! I love it! I too, hate to throw away things that could still be used! and I LOVE the tid bits of gold leafing on buttons. It gives them such an old elegant look. Great idea, and executed beautifully. But I have to admit, my heart skipped a beat with those paper towel flowers. Such a clever idea, and they look so beautiful!
I have embraced the use of digital and paper myself, and I agree. I like some things digital, and most things not. But I love how you combined them both.
Great card, and congrats on the win! Beautiful work.