Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Valentine Card Crop - Take 2 with Mixed Media



I maaaay have mentioned in my last post, that I was one of three people on an 8-foot table at the Crafty Crop I attended this weekend. I also had the proud title of "new girl" and was very conscious about how much sprawl I could manage before I was kicked out or put on the black list! 

So the majority of my cards were clean-ish (because for me, clean is a relative term that means anything that doesn't get my hands [or my face, hair, or clothing] full of ink and texture paste). 

One such example of the clean is this adorable Moosey from the Lawn Fawn Arctic Critters set:


It's so funny because the moose doesn't even have a mouth but you can tell he's smiling. I framed him out and added a little baker's twine and then dry embossed the background before inking it up with my brayer. 

I'm sending this adorable guy off to cavort around in the following challenges: 
Lawnscaping Challenge - Clean and Simple 
Just Us Girls Challenge - Word Week Love

                    http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2015/02/lawnscaping-challenge-99-clean-and.html    http://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2015/02/its-word-week-at-jugs.html 


 But the problem is, the more I tried to control my sprawl, the more I began to crave the feel of texture paste against my skin. - Ok. I'm being dramatic here. :D I finally did break down, though, and completely cleared off my workspace before destroying it with mixed media. Hehehe. 

In fact, I purchased some Distress Spray Stains and gleefully pulled them out of my bag. The store owner, Autumn, visibly went pale and made me cover up my section of the table with a plastic cloth first - even though I had my Ranger nonstick mat. Probably a wise choice on her part. 

The first card I made definitely was worthy of that plastic tablecloth's glare.



I sprayed and I sprayed and I sprayed that background with Distress Spray Stains and Heidi Swap glitter spray in red and gold. Then I used a stencil and some Wendy Vecchi Crackling embossing paste  to create these gorgeous textural hearts. I really like to use my heat tool on this paste, instead of letting it air dry 1) because I'm an impatient buffoon and 2) because the embossing paste will start to bubble and raise in areas AND crack. Gorgeous! I then spritzed that with more gold spray, added a doily and a heart and

Voila!


By this point, most of my newfound crafty Cropmates were staring at my mess with abject horror. Although a couple of them were intrigued and asked about the paste, so I felt pretty chuffed when I got to show some of them how to use a stencil for the first time. 

This card is going over to frolic in the following challenges:
Make Art Monthly Challenge - Hearts
Craft Stamper Take it, Make it challenge - Stencilling
Mixed Media Card Challenge - Love (with the Option of buttons)            
 
                                  Take It, Make It Challenge                                               

And then I got even messier. 

This was my final card and was made in the 11th hour (literally) of the crop. 

Because it was my first time using spray stains, I wanted to try a bunch of things out. I used this Premium Burlap paper from DCWV and spritzed the heck out of it with Distress Spray Stain in Antique Bronze and Barn Door Red. 
 

I attempted to use a stencil and Picket Fence Spray Stain to create some hearts:



FAIL! I think the burlap was already too textured and absorbent for anything to work, but cool things usually happen from failures anyways when it comes to mixed media. 


I cut the burlap in the shape of a heart and used Wendy Vecchi white embossing paste and a stencil to create some additional texture on top of the card. I also added a key embellishment and a little kraft tag. 

I continued the embossed stencil over a piece of patterned designer paper in the background and distressed the edges.



This card is going over to the following challenges:

PINspirational challenge: Inspiration image
Frilly and Funkie challenge: Be my Valentwine
Craft Stamper Take it, Make it challenge
Make Art Challenge - Hearts 

                      Take It, Make It Challenge   
                        https://www.pinterest.com/pin/141581982011498579/

Since I was pretty sure I couldn't top this card, and I wanted to quickly hide my mess away, I stopped. All-in-all the crop was extremely productive and I'm very grateful to have made some new friends!

I'm also grateful for YOU my bloggy friends for reading to the end of this post. You deserve an award. Thanks for stopping by! I love hearing from you - you make my day!!


 

39 comments:

  1. Both are super! Love the background on that CAS card and of course the cute little moose and sentiment. The second is so beautiful. The distress spray stain really gave those hearts a pretty look. Two great cards.
    Lynn

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  2. This made me lol Becca...I have a vision of you armed and dangerous with your sprays! A trio of gorgeousness here though, love what you've made. Carol x

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  3. OMG what a fun day you had and the results are all .... well I am loving them all. Makes me want to get just a little bit messy again. Would loved to have been there to see you create them and of course the other new friends faces. Horror of horror what is this Lady doing? I bet they all loved the end results like me. So glad you shared this post with us at Just us Girls and thank you for joining in our challenge this week.

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  4. Honestly, I can't tell you which I like better. Suffice it to say "BOOYAH" you've hit a home run (yes, I love Baseball).
    You're right about that moose...smiling without a mouth must be moose magic. Love all the texture you produced on the last two cards and you've inspired me to get my paste out and make a couple of Valentines. Thanx!

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  5. Honestly, I can't tell you which I like better. Suffice it to say "BOOYAH" you've hit a home run (yes, I love Baseball).
    You're right about that moose...smiling without a mouth must be moose magic. Love all the texture you produced on the last two cards and you've inspired me to get my paste out and make a couple of Valentines. Thanx!

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  6. Love how you rescued the burlap, Becca! I like how you've done the hexagon stencilling on the background paper and the heart. Thanks for joining us at Take It, Make It!

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  7. LOOOOVE that wendy vecchi paste. GOTTA get my hands on it....& I am Just. Like. You. No patience. Things 'need' to be hurried up heat dried, in my book! And I ADORE that bubbled up look you get!!!! You GOT, I should say. And I'm a big fan of burlap/hessian hearts, too. GORG cards. And a Fun Read. PS: Glad you got to show masking off....those ladies will thank you forever;)

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  8. Such a gorgeous selection of cards Becca. That moose is definitely smiling, I love the fun sentiment. The textures and colours on all of your cards are wonderful.
    I am pleased that you had a good time and made some lovely new friends.
    Sue xx

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  9. Wow, all 3 are gorgeous! You are so creative, Becca! I love the techniques you use! I want to be more adventurous with the techniques like you are!

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  10. LOVE your beautiful cards! Isn't it fun to play with spray inks - so satisfying! I used a heat gun on some texture paste yesterday - I just love the bubble and cracking effect. Thanks for sharing your beautiful creations at the MMCC!

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  11. Your cards are mixed media masterpieces!! I love all of the inky, texture pasty, distress stainy beauty of these!! They look amazing!! I'm glad you had a great time at the crop!! It sounds like so much fun!! Have a great evening :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  12. Love all the cards and the textures. These sprays look cool to work with. I am messy and my fingers often have colour on them. The ladies would be scared of me to. Did I tell you once I sneezed when i had my glitter open? Yup all over! I was the glitter queen, Liberace would have been proud

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  13. I really enjoyed looking through and reading your post Becca! Super job on both of your cards! I had to laugh...the moose does look as if he is smiling! The background on your second card is WOW!!!!! Thanks for playing along with us at Just Us Girls I so enjoy seeing your entries!

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  14. ohhhh great cards and love the color on the burlap!!! such a clever idea!!!

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  15. Wow, I love those crackling hearts - too cool!

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  16. Wonderful cards, Becca! I especially love the last one!

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  17. Oh my word...I love the burlap heart...so pretty.

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  18. More fabulous creations, Becca! I'm sure the other ladies were very intrigued by your "mess", even if they didn't join in!!

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  19. All your cards are darling! Love the burlap and aren't the sprays AWESOME! Thanks for playing along with the Frilly and Funkie Valen- Twine Challenge.

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  20. Wow Becca, I am loving your card for Frilly and Funkie! The stencilling is amazing and the burlap heart with the twine bow is just brilliant! Love your colours, so shabby and wonderful!

    Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Valen-Twine' challenge! Hugs, Pamellia DT :)

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  21. That was so fun to read! I felt like I was there, watching this from across the table! I love the camaraderie of crop nights, but never feel like I brought the right things with me. I think you brought it all! I love that moose, and oh, the crackle effect that you got from the paste is fantastic!

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  22. Those gals will never be the same, I laughed out loud when you said the store owner paled when you pulled out your sprays! Beautiful cards, love the texture and colours (and that little moose is pretty darn cute too!)

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  23. Oh wow, I adore how that Valentines card has come together! The stencilled burlap heart is a triumph. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  24. Oh, spunky, clever Becca - KUDOS to you for making some, heart-stoppingly, mind-blowingly beautiful cards!! I live the texture, dimension and character each of these amazing beauties has!!! They are works of HEART!!! You are amazing!!! I am in awe!! Have a most beautiful day!!!

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  25. Looks like you had a very fun and messy day! Thank you for joining us in the Mixed Media Card challenge with your lovely stenciled heart card!

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  26. Great card! Thanks for joining us at the Take It Make It Challenge.

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  27. Wow Becca! I am so impressed, your cards are amazing, I am so in love with the last one

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  28. wow!! great cards!!! LOOOOOVE all of the distressing and different techniques you used!! that moose card is just darling!! and i love the little blush! thank you for playing along with the Lawnscaping Challenge! :D

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  29. wow woow woooww
    you made much more love card
    ok for the #1 its with cuute Image and great colored
    second card love that doily and the heart image so adorable
    the third one wooowww using that Images from Pinspirational you are so great at mixed media Becca
    this is the winner on my eyes...
    jump to your next post I am sorry I was not blogging too much dear..hope to see you back on my Blog LOL

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  30. Oh, Becca, these are all totally FABULOUS!!! I love the moose :) Aww. And oh the textures on the last two - so fun to embrace the 'fail' and make it work, and you sooooo did!

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  31. Fab projects Becca ! Love them all and I have also become your latest blog follower.

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  32. Wow...simply stunning cards.....all 3 are just gorgeous!

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  33. Beautiful Cards Becca, They are all fantastic. Thanks for joining us at {PIN}spirational Challenge.

    Hugs
    Naz DT xxx

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  34. You have really been busy and you have made beautiful cards, Becca!!! Love your mixed media work on the 2nd and 3rd cards The first card is so cute!!!

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  35. What fun cards. I love all the experimenting you are doing with the mists and texture pastes. I LOVE misting, myself, and have an old card board box that I use to put my projects in when I mist them. That way I don't make a mess!! Looks like you had a blast at your crop!!

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  36. Fabulous cards ..... love the stenciling! Thanks for joining in with the TIMI challenge ..... good luck! Linda xx

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  37. Love that second mixed media beaut, Becca. Thanks for joining us this month at the MMCC.

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  38. Becca, not only are your cards adorable, lovely, and downright grungy in places, you have a wonderful sense of humor! I really enjoyed reading your post! Thank you for the sweet comment over on my blog, too!:):) Keep sprawling! I understand!

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  39. Ahhhh, how sweet!!!! Thanks so much for participating in our {PIN}SPIRATIONAL challenge!! Hope to see you again for our next challenge!!
    ~DEANNE~
    A Little Bit O' Paper

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