The Last Day - The final countdown........

Well, this is it gang, just a few hours to go.  I'm a tad nervous - silly isn't it.  It feels much a long time since I've been on the TV, it's almost like starting back at the beg inning.  Gulp.  Needless to say, I've glue and ink all over my fingers, I still need to do my ironing, and I'm not sure where my nail file is....so business as usual then :)   I would hate you to think I'd changed and got myself all organised in the last 6 months.

The last challenge (for now, but I have enjoyed them, so I'm sure I'll chuck a few in here and there).  The winner this week was Patricia Howarth. Congratulations Patricia, if you email me with your address I will get your card sent out for you (eventually, I'm a little behind with my posting).  My email address is: leoniepujol@hotmail.co.uk.

Patricia challenged me to use:
vellum or parchment
Gilding Flakes
Distress Pens.

After a little while, I'm afraid I had to give up the search for my distress pens - so I replaced them with distress inks.  To be honest, I probably would have used the pens in the same way, as some ink can be too wet on vellum causing it to stretch and bubble.

Okay, here's what I did:

I found some nice old vellum which I've had for ages, and love!!

I used a script stamp, and my Glitter and Glue adhesive from Cosmic Shimmer, which I added to the stamp.  I stamped onto the vellum you may just be able to see faint writing on the vellum left by the glue

I then applied my gilding flakes

Remove the excess flakes with a brush, and look how stunning they shine

I ripped the vellum at an angle

I then used a lovely stampendous stamp, and embossed it with gold embossing powder, onto another piece of decorative vellum

I used my distress ink directly onto my craft sheet

Using an old, dry babywipe wrapped round a paper stump, I worked the ink into the stamped image.  Do this at the back of the stamped image for a subtle coloured finish

When you turn it over, the colour will be nice and soft, and you will get the shine from the embossing

I placed it onto my gilded vellum, and love the way the gilding can be seen through the stamped image, however, I feel the flowers need to stand out a little

In order to do this, I stamped the image again, but this time onto a piece of cream card, and cut out the main little flowers

When you place the image behind the vellum, it does accentuate the flowers - I like this technique as it's just pinpointing a specific image

I worked out where my flowers where going to be in order to then stamp onto the card, and cover with the gilding flakes

Sticking the vellum down is always tricky, so I put the glue directly onto the card

and then rubbed it into the card

This is a perfect way to stick the vellum down without seeing loads of glue.  I positioned the flowers precisely where I needed them

I then added my flowers on top.  Again, the glue can be tricky, but I added it just around the edge under the embossing.  I mat and layered everything....

And as usual, fell out with it!  So, I trimmed everything down, and popped it on some black card, which I think makes it stand out much better

The final piece, you can see how the gold shows beautifully through the vellum

Nice isn't it.

That's it!  The final blog post.  The next one will be finally letting you know where I'm going to turn up!!  

I hope you will join me tomorrow :)  

39 Days to go.....we're in the 30's!!!!!

OMG....we're now in the 30's.  No wonder I can't sleep!!  Anyhow, thank you all for your brilliant suggestions.  I love this game, there were so many people who joined in as well. Thank you.  I use a random number generator to choose the "winner".  And, as I said in my previous post, it was Donna. Thank you Donna :) This will have to be a two part post, as I need drying time....so here goes the first section.

So, if you saw my last post you know what I have to work with, and this was the starting point:

I decided I wanted to use the milk carton to create depth to my project.  Initially I intended on using some Tim Holtz trees, so cut the front of the carton out to the correct height of the largest tree.  It was really easy to cut with a craft knife actually.  I made sure the join on the carton sat at the back 

I cut off the top of the carton.  Removed the plastic poorer, and cut a little bit out of the side flaps so I could fit a wire into the top when I popped it back in the top of my carton.  I stuck it down with strong double sided tape

I then popped my lights in and some card, to see what it would look like

It's funny, you know that random peg, that just seems to have appeared in your craft room....well, now I found a use for it - and even remembered where it was!!

I made a base out of cardboard, which I placed in the bottom of the box

And then started cutting hills from white card, and added the smaller tree

And then....found my Graphic 45 book and changed my mind!!  Aaaagh.  I do this all the time.  Cut out a page for the back and side of the box, and then fussy cut Dorothy.  There are so many elements in this pad which I can use.  So now I'm having a dilemma, and don't know what to do. What do you prefer?

Whilst I make my mind up, I have decided I want to use the paper to give me texture.  So I used Mod Podge to apply the newspaper.  I applied a layer of glue

Then scrunched up the newspaper, and popped it on with the glue.  I made sure there was plenty of wrinkles, tears and bumps

It almost looks like material.  It doesn't matter what it looks like, as I will be painting this.

Now, I need it to dry....and make up my mind what the next step will be :)

Blog challenge!!

Okay, yesterday's challenge winner is Donna, who said:

"My challenge items would be milk carton, word confetti and newspaper"

Haha. Now, funnily enough I emptied our strawberry milk carton this morning, so I'll use that, got newspaper, and I'll make some word confetti....lets see what happens :) 

I'll be back.