Friday, April 1, 2016

A Tale of Two Cards: Shabby Chic vs. CAS

Good Friday! Well not THE Good Friday, but it is a good Friday! Because... well... it's Friday! And it seems like I'm on the mend from my 5 1/2 week stint of bronchitis. The doc gave me a new round of antibiotics AND some steroids. So either I am getting better OR I am turning into the incredible hulk... one of the two!


And now - back to our regularly scheduled programming. 

I am absolutely pumped about the cards I get to show off today because I've been having so much fun playing in my craft room lately. I'm in one of those really good cardmaking zones. My mojo is BACK!


distressed_shabby_chic_stamped_card


I am stronger than I think. Oh wait... Just kidding. 
This card isn't ABOUT me! 

This card is about the new STAMPlorations challenge. We've got a killer sketch and a brand new theme and we'd LOVE it if you played along so we could award you some fun prizes! 



On the first card I followed the sketch to a capital T. Ok, Ok, the sentiment isn't exactly in the right place but creative liberties are my favorite kind of liberties. 


For this card, I did some stenciling with glossy black embossing paste over a piece of Graphic 45 newsprint. 



I used the Botanical Lush ARTplorations stencil and masked off an angle using some scrap paper. Then I tied a big, bold black bow and found a cool old vintage earring to weave in between the layers of the bow. OOoooo shiny! I finished off the look with an embossed sentiment from the SENTIMENT BUILDERS: Love set.

I'm going to link this up to Crafty Gals Corner - Anything Goes Challenge

Now for those of you who closely follow card making challenges, you're probably looking at this and saying..... HEY that looks familiar. (at least I hope so). 

One of my fave cardmaking challenges, The Card Concept, is having an blog-o-versary challenge and I instantaneously fell in LOVE with their inspiration image. 



Since it's their 2nd anniversary, I thought I'd make TWO cards showcasing different styles. My first card was clean and simple.... or Classy Elegance, I can't tell which. 

After peering at it, I thought "Self, why not do more of your signature mixed media shabby chic style, too?" And so I did:



I started this card off with a very similar base, except instead of stenciling through the stencil to create some texture, I used all the embossing paste still left on the stencil and pressed it onto the paper to create a reverse image. 

reverse_print_stenciling

Once the texture paste dried, I added some splatters (because that's the STAMPlorations theme this month - remember?!) using Distress Spray Stains. 



This was the Picket Fence splatter layer, and then I went on to add some Black Soot splatters, too. I added a wealth of flowers and a sentiment from the Fond Expressions 2 set

I'm also going to add this card to the Vintage Stamping Challenges - Lots of Layers challenge.


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Thanks for popping by! I hope you'll play along at STAMPlorations this month because I'd LOVE to see what you make.

This weekend, my brother is coming for a visit and I'll get to see two of my adorable nieces and one of my adorable nephews. I'm ready to show off my new house (even though it's a cluttery box-filled zoo right now) and give them all the grand tour! Don't worry - I'm working on my new craft room and as soon as that's finished in a couple of weeks I'll be giving YOU all a grand tour, too!

35 comments:

  1. Wow Becca!! I am absolutely swooned by these cards-specialluy the vintage one! You are soooo good at it and the cards are so elegant! :)
    Suchi xx

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  2. Such a gorgeous vintage style. Loving the detail in the second card, the splats, the stenciling and those fabulous flowers. The first card is elegant and just love the backing paper and the black glossy paste over the pretty stencil. Glad you are on the mend and thank you so much for the gorgeous and fabulous inspiration.

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  3. Both are gorgeous and your mojo is definitely in full swing! Your weekend sounds delightful and the expected craft room tour has me on pins and needles, Sweetheart! Loving these two cards and how perfectly they fit in with both of these fabulous challenges. Biggest hugs, Autumn

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  4. Your cards are WONDERFUL!! Fabulous use of paste and stencil, love your mixed media touch and the chabby chic is my favourite!
    Hope you get well soon and don't trasform yourself in the incredible Hulk! :D
    Wait to see your new mega craft room! :)

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  5. Wow Becca! Two different variations using same stencil! The shabby chic one is absolutely so gorgeous and love the elegance on first one!

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  6. These are GORGEOUS, Becca! Love that texture on the first and those fabulous flowers and splats on the second make my heart go pitter patter.

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  7. I love both of these - I love vintage and Shabby Chic is just so fun!

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  8. 2 beauties, Becca! For me, there's just something about a text background! Love both of these, but the 2nd one has me swooning!

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  9. Man I don't know how you do it girl! Awesome designs, obviously the new crafty digs are working with your mojo!

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  10. Geez, girl. Think those steroids are really exercising your creative side because these two card are AWESOME! You really must be feeling better to knock out these masterpieces. WOW!

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  11. Your mojo is definitely back, both cards are gorgeous stunners! Have a great weekend with your family.

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  12. You are not the HULK until you turn green:) Glad to here you are feeling better. Your cards are STUNNING!!
    So glad to see your collage beauty in the TCC gallery! Oh, and the LOVE on newsprint is a show stopper! Now, how to choose between the two as a favorite is my dilemma:)

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  13. Glad you are finally on the mend. Your card are super sophisticated! i think of Paris and chic Audrey Hepburn. Love them!

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  14. Wow girl...these are both AH-MAZING! Your sense of style is second to none, Becca! Hope the new drugs do their thing and you finally get better!

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  15. Wow 2 amazing cards. Love both of them Becca. Glad your feeling a bit better x

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  16. Well, if you feel the urge to hulk out...go ahead!! Sure hope you feel better soon sweetie :) Your cards are gorgeous, but then again, they always are!! Enjoy your visit with you brother and the littles!!

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  17. I'll say your mojo is back! 2 incredibly beautiful cards, Becca! Both are elegant which I just love!

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  18. Yes!!! You got mojo!!! Your cards are just gorgeous!!!!! Loving the pretty flowers! Thanks for joining us at the Card Concept!!!

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  19. Ahhh.... Just gorgeous. Black on that newsprint background is incredible. Loved both the cards.

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  20. Sorry to hear you have not been well, but glad you are now on the mend. Love both these cards especially the second one.
    Mary

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  21. What an amazing chabby chic card Becca! So very glad you're feeling better and have your mojo back!

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  22. Well its Saturday Today and you have not turned into HUlk !! Right ?? Then you are getting better n Stronger as your card says..:D Loved both of them..first one is very Classy n Elegant and second one Gorgeous vintage !

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  23. Very card you've made like the texture in it feel better soon

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  24. Becca, this is super sweet shabby chic, CAS and vintage-ish card! Love love love everything on it :)

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  25. You are certainly in the zone, Becca, these cards are fab. I especially love that gorgeous black satin ribbon. so classy. :)

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  26. Both of these are beautiful Becca. Sorry to hear that you have been so unwell - bronchitis is a nasty so and so, have had it and it can be hard to kick it so I hope the meds kick it's butt! I hope that's not a swear word in USA?! You have given me an awesome tip and idea - I've mono printed the ink on a stencil before with ink on it and will be doing it with the embossing paste now: thank you for the fab tip huni Karen xx

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  27. Both are gorgeous!!! Sorry to hear you're not feeling well! Hope you get better soon!
    Thank you for joining us at The Card Concept!
    Lilian
    The Leaf Studio

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  28. Beautiful job, Bexcavation! Thanks for joining us at Crafty Gals Corner! Jeanie, DT

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  29. WOW, these cards are both so beautiful, Becca!!! Love all the black and the newsprint bgs you used!!! Lovely bows and great flowers, too!!! Fabulous!!!
    Hugz

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  30. oh my... both are gorgeous.. the stenciling on top of the newsprint... awesome!

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  31. Stunning cards! Both are seriously gorgeous! ;-) Hope you are feeling better soon and that your new meds really do the trick! ;-) Love the way you do your postings too...I always find something to giggle about! xx

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  32. You cards are fabulous! I adore the sheet music flowers and the gorgeous stenciling!

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  33. Congrats, Becca! I knew this was a winner!

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  34. WOW, Becca, talk about mojo marvelous here with these two gorgeous cards! Again, your rich details make for outstanding eye-candy...so much to gaze at and admire! How wonderful that you had some time with family; bet they loved your new house. And new crafty space...exciting!
    Hugs~c

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