This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

Friday 22 June 2018

Creative Card Making with Alison

Hello all!  I'm here to share a card with you, as part of the new timetable here at A Vintage Journey.  Regulars at Words and Pictures will know I really don't do cards.  There have been maybe five of them in the whole six years of Words and Pictures' existence.  (By the way, come and celebrate with my 6th Birthday Blog Candy if you'd like to.)  So this was a proper challenge as far as I was concerned, but by keeping it very simple I managed to get there.


As luck would have it, I needed a card to act as a voucher for my brother's birthday back in April - one that would link to the old-fashioned lightbulbs he likes, and let him know he could go shopping for some.


I really don't like making cards, but I had a lightbulb moment and decided to employ one of the many inky Oxidey background tags which I have lying around.  The tag itself was a combination of inks and Oxides, smooshed in the wrinkle-free distress technique.  I think there's some watery Picket Fence Distress Spray in there too.


I stamped Tim Holtz's wonderful vintage lightbulbs from the Inventor 2 plate in Jet Black Archival and clear-embossed them.


I love to emboss a stamped image.  Not only do you get the lovely shimmer in the light (perfect for a lightbulb)...


... but you also get a touch of texture and dimension.  I inked around the edges for a nice vintage look.


I had a pack of kraft cards with envelopes.  Pre-folded cards always seem like they might get me moving on the card front, so I pick them up when I see them on offer, but mostly the packets just sit around.  (And now that I've discovered I can make books with them, I'm guessing there won't be any left for card-making!)  But for this occasion they were the perfect solution.  I snipped the top off my tag and re-inked the new edge.  Minus the tag hole, the standard #8 tag fitted perfectly onto the 6x6 card.


I used my little Hero Arts alphabet to stamp the text, and cut it out and inked it before glueing it in place.  And of course there's plenty of white spatter... beams of light darting around the space.


It's not my best piece of artwork ever, but it did the job, and with a pre-inky tag it was also so quick to make.  And given that I was able to pretend it wasn't really a card but just an altered tag, it was even a pretty painless process!


I hope this might inspire the non-card-makers amongst you to start adapting your tags, and if you add in some stencilling you can come and join in with Astrid's brilliant Stencil It challenge this month too.  We hope to see you there!

Alison xx

20 comments:

  1. Love those colours Alison, blues and browns are always a winner for me. Fascinating shape of those light bulbs which look super embossed. The white spatters really bring this card together. Thank you for sharing.
    Creative wishes Tracey xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great idea for the card Alison

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am sure your brother will love is birthday card Alison x The embossing really adds to the stamped lightbulbs and great to use up tags x TFS and hugs Annie xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. That was a great lightbulb moment Alison and so perfect for someone who loves old bulbs! The embossing really does bring those bulbs to life and your signature blues and browns in the background are beautiful! Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alison, so very wonderful a card for your brother, loving the old bulbs - it look gorgeous on the blue tag with the distress inks, and your embossed lightbulbs - fantastic with the shine- and the blue on top of the craft paper, and your splashes .
    Dorthe , xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a fabulous card - wonderful made! I am sure your brother will LOVE this card!

    Hugs, Susi

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a great design for your lightbulb loving brother Alison! Beautiful background for the wonderful lightbulb stamp! xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. Well glad you had that light bulb moment and the tag cut at the top worked just perfectly here. Bet your brother will love it, and what an interesting hobby to have, (collecting old bulbs I mean). Well done on the card!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What's in a name... just call it a page and then decide if you need it to become a card! This one is lovely, lucky brother!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fabulous card! Alison . Love the blues and white with the kraft and the idea that the white splatters are beams of light darting all around. The simplicity of the design is so appealing . Thanks for sharing x

    ReplyDelete
  11. You might not like making them, but we love seeing them! Nikki x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Awesome card and totally customized for your brother!

    ReplyDelete
  13. A great 'light bulb' moment and a fabulous card! Ssshhh! I have often had to chop down tags to make a quick card!! I am guessing that your brother loved it!! Chrisx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Totally stunning card, such an amazing beautiful background!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is absolutely fabulous Alison and even if you don't like cardmaking you did an awesome job with this one. Such lovely techniques to give a grungy effect and I'm sure your brother loved you lightbulb moment.
    Fliss xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great card-making tutorial, Alison, with fabulous results! I am really loving that stamp, and it looks even better over your trademark inky background! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  17. A brilliant idea! I'm not much of a cardmaker myself but I do like making tags and this is a great way to adapt them!

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a wonderful idea. I love this sentiment 'lightbulb moment' for this card! --Mary Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  19. Alison, what gorgeous color and contrast you've created on this beautiful card. I just love your ink work and the hint of embossing. What a great use of this awesome stamp (on my wish list!) Hugs, Autumn

    ReplyDelete