Hero

Hi Friends!

Today I am sharing this Mixed Media card in honor of Memorial Day on the Artistic Outpost (AO) blog using Grunge Elements from the Artistic Outpost Spring Release along with Hero and Ephemera Backgrounds (also Artistic Outpost stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs).

Final version (see below for more details :-))

Monday, May 30th is Memorial Day here in the United States and while we may have picnics and get-togethers this weekend, I pray that we will be thinking of the sacrifice that was made by the brave men and women who lost their lives defending our country and the freedom that we enjoy because of their sacrifice.  May we never forget all of our heroes...

I incorporated the Pals Paper Arts PPA302 Sketch Challenge for the layout as well as the Splitcoaststampers’ MIX137 “It’s A Grand Old Flag” Challenge (Stars and Stripes) and the Simon Says Wednesday "Anything Goes" Challenge. 

I actually have two designs of this card to share- my husband thought the background was a bit too busy in the first design and since it was already put together, I had to do some creative “fixing” to achieve the final version.  

He said that he liked the second card design better and I told him, "Great, because it’s too late now" – lol!

To create the background of this card:

On a 5” square piece of Whisper White cardstock, stamp the Telegram image from Ephemera Backgrounds (AO) using Dapper Denim Classic Ink and create a mask to cover the image.

First version (before distressing the background and adding stars)

Ink the Ledger image from Ephemera Backgrounds (AO) with Cherry Cobbler Classic Ink and stamp over the masked Telegram image.

Lift the mask, ink the Postcard image (also from Ephemera Backgrounds (AO) using Dapper Denim Ink and stamp directly over the ledger image.

Allow the ink to dry (or use a Heat Tool to speed up the process) and with a sponge applicator, apply Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink over the entire panel.

Add Grunge Elements(AO) images using Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Ink and distress the edges with the Distressing Tool.  FYI- at this point, I layered the card with the rest of the elements for version #1.

Another view of the second version :-)

To complete the background for version #2- Tone down the brightness of the stamping in the background using a paint brush with Gesso®, allow the Gesso® to dry and ink the Grunge Elements (AO) with Ranger® Tim Holtz® Vintage Photo Distress Ink (stamping randomly over some of the images).

Mount the background panel onto a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock, trim and mount onto the Extra Thick Whisper White card base.

To create the rest of the card:

Directly color onto the Hero (AO) image with Stampin’ Write Markers- Dapper Denim for the stars,  Cherry Cobbler for the stripes and Basic Gray for the service man,  “huff” to moisten the ink and stamp onto a piece of Whisper White cardstock.

Sponge Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink over the image to “antique” the paper and stamp the grid image from Grunge Elements (AO) using Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye  Distress Ink as well.

Trim the focal image panel and mount onto Dapper Denim cardstock, trim and add a bit of Gesso® (set aside to dry).

Cut a strip of the Patriotic Collection 6x6 Paper (ODBD) and use the Big Shot™ with the Cuttlebug™ Stars Embossing Folder to emboss the panel.

Mount the embossed strip onto a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock and lightly sand the embossing.

Adhere the strip to the background panel and add the focal image using dimensional foam.

Stamp the sentiment from Hero (AO) using Dapper Denim Classic Ink onto Whisper White cardstock, cut the sentiment out with Rectangle Dies (ODBD) and mount onto a piece of Dapper Denim cardstock cut with the Double Stitched Rectangle Dies (ODBD).

Sponge Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye Distress Ink over the image to “antique” the paper, stamp the grid image from Grunge Elements (AO) using Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye  Distress Ink and add a bit of Gesso® as well  (just as in the focal image finishing). 

Cut a strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock (I actually crimped this strip with the Crimper Tool but you cannot tell since I added stars to the second version), add the strip to the background as per the sketch and mount the sentiment with dimensional foam.

To create the stars:

Die cut two stars from the same piece of Patriotic Collection 6x6 Paper (ODBD) using the ODBD Sparkling Stars Dies, insert the stars into the Stars Embossing Folder (lining the die cuts with the stars in the EF), emboss with the Big Shot™ and mount onto Dapper Denim cardstock.

For the third star, ink the star and stripe area on the large flag image from Hero (AO) with Stampin’ Write Markers- Dapper Denim and Cherry Cobbler, “huff” to moisten the ink and stamp onto Whisper White cardstock.  Die cut with ODBD Sparkling Stars Dies and mount onto Dapper Denim cardstock.

Carefully fussy-cut around each star and add Antique Brass brads to the center of the two embossed stars.

Mount the stars onto the card front with dimensional foam to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Hero, Ephemera Backgrounds, Grunge Elements (Artistic Outpost)

Ink/Mediums: Cherry Cobbler and Dapper Denim Classic Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Cherry Cobbler, Dapper Denim, Basic Gray;  Ranger® Tim Holtz® Tea Dye and Vintage Photo Distress Ink;  Gesso®

Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Dapper Denim; Patriotic Collection 6x6 Paper (ODBD)

Accessories: Big Shot™, Our Daily Bread Designs Dies- Double Stitched Rectangle Dies, RectangleDies, Sparkling Stars Dies; Stars Embossing Folder (CB), Distressing Tool, Sponge Applicator, Antique Brass Brads, Sanding Block, Dimensional Foam

OK, so which one do you like better?  Version #1 (no stars and darker background) or version #2 with the added stars and muted background?  Inquiring minds need to know- lol!!

Thanks again for visiting- hugs and I hope all of you have a safe Memorial weekend!