TCC128 LOVE

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #128 {Be Mine, Valentine} Challenge!

What a fun inspiration photo! I love all of the colors as well as the theme of Valentine’s Day!  Originally I was going to create a Clean and Graphic card, but since I wanted to use this vintage LOVE stamp, I decided to design a Shabby and Vintage/Mixed Media card.

In addition to the retired Love Is A Great Thing (Stampin’ Up!) (and in my effort to continue to ink up stamps I already own) I also used images from several other Stampin’ Up! retired sets, Botanicals, Timeless Textures and Tiny Tags. 

I used the Splitcoaststampers SC52 Sketch for the layout and am also linking to the Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (diagonal love-embossing-die cuts), the Tuesday Throwdown #450 “Create Your Own Background” Challenge and the Stamping Sensations “Feminine” Challenge.

The splattered background of this card was created using an acetate envelope technique (I used clear packaging from a stamp set).  Slice open one end of the envelope, open and tap a bit of Real Red Classic Ink onto one side of the envelope, lightly spritz with water, close the envelope and “smoosh” the ink together through the acetate.  Open the envelope, lightly press the white cardstock into the ink and continue with the process until you are happy with the results.

Use Frost White paint diluted with water to add a bit of sheen and tone down the panel.  Ink the script image from Botanicals with black ink and randomly stamp over the background.

Add a bit of platinum embellishment mousse in certain areas and stamp the small splatter stamp from Texture Tiles with silver metallic ink.

Die cut a stitched rectangle from the center of the background panel (for the center focal image panel) and set aside.

Cut the remaining background panel to approx.. 4” x 5 ¼”, adhere to a piece of white cardstock, trim again, mount onto black cardstock, trim and mount onto a white card base.

Ink the Love Is A Great Thing image with Versafine™ Onyx Black Ink, stamp onto white cardstock, apply Clear Embossing Powder and heat set with a heat tool.  

Color the image with water-based markers, watercolor pencils, silver metallic marker and frost white shimmer paint.  Add white highlights with an extra fine white paint pen.

Mount the focal image onto black cardstock, trim close to the edge and add a strip of lace.

Stamp the sentiments from Tiny Tags with black ink, punch out with the Jewelry Tag Punch, add a hole for hanging and thread through the silver cord.  Wrap around the central panel and add the silver cord bow. 

Mount the entire center panel onto the card front, die cut a few flourishes from white cardstock and add to the corners.  Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to the die cuts as well as the letters and finish off the card with a few rhinestones.

Stamp Sets:  Love Is A Great Thing, Botanicals, Timeless Textures, Tiny Tags (all retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black,  Real Red Classic Ink, Encore™ Silver Ultimate Metallic Ink, Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils- Real Red, Old Olive, Arteza ™ Trimarkers- Poppy Red, Watermelon, Bright Pink; Silver Metallic Marker, Nuvo™ Pure Platinum Embellishment Mousse, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Wink of Stella™ Clear Glitter Pen, White Paint Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX A2 Set 1 Dies, Flourish Corner Dies, Embossing Buddy®, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 3/8” White Crochet Lace, Silver Cord, Jewelry Tag Punch, Rhinestones, Acetate Envelope

Thanks again for taking the time to visit!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Be Mine, Valentine} photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see what inspired you! The challenge is open until Monday, February 17^th  at noon EST.