Today's card is in keeping with February's 'romantic' theme and incorporates words, texture, stenciling, paste and lots more and so fits well with a number of my favourite challenges.
This is another of my cards where I put lots of work into underlying layers and then went and covered them up!
Papers: Mixture of french book text and Prima papers that have been variously stitched, torn and aged using several DIs and Prima chalk inks. Lace has been added to fill in torn gaps and the papers were also splattered with gold calligraphy ink.
Stenciling: Papers and heart stencilled using Wendi Vecchi texture paste. Stencils from Heidi Swapp (Hearts) and The Crafters Workshop (Art Is).
Frame and heart: Both were treated to Kroma Crackle medium for leathery crackle effect. Used DIs and pearlescent sprays to colour and topped with Treasure Gold for the frame and gold stamped script on the heart. Both cut from Tim Holtz grungepaper with Sizzix Bigz dies.
Lovebirds: Using multi matte medium I glued some burlap and some cotton cloth to grungepaper. When dry I diecut the 'fabric' birds using Sizzix Bigz die. Frantaged both with Stampendous 'Aged Ivory' though it doesn't show too well on the burlap. Also stamped gold script on the cotton bird. Rubbed gilding paste on both wings. Ran Prima chalk ink around their rims for definition. Mounted each onto some muslin with gave them perches of pleated ribbon / tulle.
Other embellishments: The 'Je t'aime' is from 7 Gypsies 'French Enamels' that I have dabbed with DIs and sealed. Ribbon, pearls, pins and flowers from stash. Finally a little Snow-tex has been dabbed on the flowers.
Thank-you for all the lovely comments and visits that you make - I truly appreciate each and every one.
Nicola x
I wish to enter card to the following challenges:
Inspiration Journal - Show It With Words
Simon Says Stamp Monday - Paste
Frilly and Funkie - Stencils and Texture
Craft for the Craic - Heart
Simon Says Wednesday - Anything Goes with Pearls
City Crafter Challenge - Do You Speak English?
Stamping Fantasies 5th Blogaverary Celebration - Favourite Item - mine is the Sizzix 'Caged Bird' die
We Love Vintage - Use favourite mold/pons (die/punch) - mine is Sizzix Bird die
It's All About The Vintage & Beauty - Use Lace
Nicola ... this is so terribly romantic. From the tattered, vintage background papers and fibers to the gorgeous heart and frame with pearls, this project is just lovely. My favorite is that burlap bird ... stunning and so clever with the pearl eye!!! Love all of the embellishments on this piece, my friend. Gorgeous make. Hugs to you -- Mary Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteFabulous creation! Lovely card!! Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!
ReplyDeleteI saw your card on the Frilly and Funkie site and I just had to comment on how beautiful it is. I love all your layers and how they all become one cohesive piece of art. It's just beautiuful.
ReplyDeleteWow Nicola. What a magnificent creation. I love vintage anything , but sadly its not shared by everyone. I love this totally. Enjoy your Day. Hugs Rita xxx
ReplyDeleteWow Nicola! This is incredible! Love all the textures and beautiful birds!
ReplyDeleteWow.. another gorgeous creation, Nicola. All the embellishments and details are amazing. Totally stunning! Love it. :)
ReplyDeleteoh wow your card is totally gorgeous, I thought it was a canvas at first, so much work has gone into this. Annette x
ReplyDeletehttp://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks for joining us at It's all about the Vintage
ReplyDeleteElma
Totally gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYes, those birds are very cute!
ReplyDeleteI love the layers on your card and the crackles :-)
Thank you for joining us @ WLVC
Jacomijn
Hi Nicola,
ReplyDeleteI never fail to be amazed by your lovely artwork, you have an ability to take so many different elements and turn them into something stunning. I can't begin to imagine how long it takes you but it's certainly a feast for the eyes.
We have the caged bird in common, I love mine as well, although thinking about it sadly neglected of late.
Thank you so much for joining in my blog celebration with your lovely creation.
B x
This is so gorgeous Nicola I love it. Big hugs Elizabeth xxx
ReplyDeleteOh wow Nicola, I just adore this shabby/vintage card, it incorporates so many wonderful techniques and elements and is layered up beautifully xx
ReplyDeleteThis is stunning, Nicola!! There are layers and texture galore here. I adore your sweet birds. I had to laugh when you mentioned building underlying layers then covering them up. Happens to me all the time:-)) Thank you so much for participating in the challenge at the Frilly and Funkie blog!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Nancy
Beautiful card Nicola, with an array of wonderful textures and layers. Lovely detailed work. Good Luck with all your challenges.
ReplyDeleteJulie x
Fabulous card! Thank you for joining Its all about the vintage and beauty challenge.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicola, your background work was not wasted at all because hints of it show through beautifully on your absolutely stunning card! I love the way you do vintage, in fact you are the mistress of vintage shabby chic. Your card is fantastic, I hope you win lots of those challenges... Hugs, Anne x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card. Love all the textures and elements.
ReplyDeleteA positive triumph of textures!
ReplyDeleteAnyone would wish to reach out and feel the mix of textures beneath their fingertips.
That frame is stunning. I haven't used Kroma as I was lead to believe it created large crackles, that doesn't appear to be the case at all, love the effect you achieved.
Nicola - your poor Postman when he has to deliver all the goodies from you winning all the challenges you have entered.
Wishes
Lynne
Nicola, all of these layers are so beautiful! What a total vintage beauty and I love that burlap birdie! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteO my.....I love your card. So much to see and so many details. Thanx for joining us at WLVC and we love to see you back.
ReplyDeleteHugs Plony
This is just so gorgeous! Those little birds are my favourites too! Love what you've done with fabric on this lovely romantic card. Julie Ann xxx
ReplyDeletethis is such a gorgeous vintage cards with so many layers and i like the crackle and colors.
ReplyDeletethanks for join us at WLVC
greetings from Anneke
What a lovely piece - the birds are so cute and you've added so much dimension and texture for added interest! Thanks for joining us for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card Nicola, what fabulous textures.
ReplyDeleteHugs diane
PINNING!!! The birds are exquisite! LOVE all the frill and layers! Vintage chic for sure!
ReplyDeleteWow, Nicola, this card is amazing! I'm drooling over the delicious rusty textures and colours and the love birds are so sweet! I love this die too and should really use it much more often - as it truly deserves that :). Have a fabulous weekend! xxx
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely!! Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!
ReplyDeleteWOW, fabulous card once again, you're really the Queen of sweet and delicate vintage cards for me Nicola. Have a lovely week-end, Coco xx
ReplyDeleteOh, my word - another outstandingly beautiful confection from you, Nicola! Brilliant textures and distressing on all those shabbied layers, and the little fabric birds are utterly enchanting... Gorgeous, gorgeous and one more - gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAlison xx
Nicola....your vintage work always just blows me away! This shabby card is truly lovely. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such A sweet comment about A Vintage Journey. I am so excited about this opportunity. Hugs, Candy
ReplyDeleteAn absolute feast for the eyes Nicola! So many gorgeous details and I love how you build the layers and textures. Thankyou for joining us this month at Craft for the Craic and hope we see you again next month.
ReplyDeleteGeraldine
CFTC DT
Hi Nicola, this is absolutely gorgeous, and it's obvious that you have put so much work into, even if you have covered up some of the layers. Beautiful details as always.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend.
Avril xx
Beautiful card!! :-) Thanks for joining us over at Craft for the Craic!! :-) Michelle xx
ReplyDeleteCFTC DT
Stunning creation Nicola! There are always so many beautiful details to see in your creations, wonderful eye candies. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Katie
Another lovely piece. I would love to see you create something :)
ReplyDeleteI havent been doing much work this past couple of months so I need to get me hat on and get working, lol. And catch up on my fav blogs.
Keep up the beautiful work.
Moira xx
this is a verry pretty crad, the deitails so nice.
ReplyDeletethank for joinning it´s all aboutr the vintage
lg meggi
Nicola this is utterly beautiful!! I like your comment about putting in the work on the background and then covering it up - sounds familiar!
ReplyDeleteThe combination of a grungy, rusty look and those oh so feminine elements works perfectly for me. Love those tiny birds!
Thanks for your support for my work - it really means a lot.
Juliaxx Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Beautiful - love all the dimensions and layers :) Thanks for joining us for our first challenge over at Craft for the Craic.
ReplyDeleteEithne :)
Wow fabulous card Nicola! I like layers and texture! Hugs from Slovenia
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful, thanks for sharing with us at CCCB!
ReplyDeleteWowwww! This is absolutely GORGEOUS! All of your intricate details and FABULOUS touch of vintageness is STUNNING! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a lovely comment!
Big Hugs,
Elise
Wow Nicola, your card, there's so much to see ! Fantastic design and I love the texture you've created. Made me smile when I saw you'd done most of the work on the underlying layers then covered them up, I can really associate with that !
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
Sue C
x
WOW...Nicola... Gorgeous vintage card, Love all the fabulous elements & colours...the texture & layers is amazing...Love it... Hugs May x x x
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely stunning Nicola, this piece has a real rustic charm to it. I love how you have combined the birds and the heart and added wonderful depth and texture to your design. The composition is stunning. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Tracy x x
ReplyDeleteAn absolutely fantastic design, Nicola! Love how everything is put together, the combination of textures and the vintage, worn look are such fab details!
ReplyDeleteYour card is so beautifull, thanks for sharing with WLVC.'Hugs Liesbeth
ReplyDeleteso stunning nicola.i love the sweet birds and the texture and colours are fantastic ;D
ReplyDeletexx coops xx
Beautiful confection ! So many gorgeous elements !
ReplyDeleteI am smitten! What a gorgeous card! love love love it!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card!! Love all of the texture!! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!
hugs...
Melissa
Beautiful!! Thanks so much for playing this week at CCCB :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!! My favorite...the double textures of those birds...INCREDIBLE!!
ReplyDeleteI really like how you transformed those layers of embellishments! Lovely work.
ReplyDeleteIt's so romantic, I love it!!
ReplyDeleteStunning Vintage card love the colours and all the wonderful embellishments
ReplyDeletePatricia
Thank you for your kind visit to my blog, Nicola,-
ReplyDeleteI love your amazing card, with all the layers and beautiful soft colours !!
Dorthe- xo
Oh my goodness Nicola. This is superb! I love the way you've combined the paper layers with the stencilling and embellies. Thank you so much for joining us at Frilly and Funkie with this. Jenny x
ReplyDeleteCongratulation on making the top 3 on the Craft for the Craic February challenge, Sylvie Craft for the Craic DT
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, Nicola! I just love the distressed vintage feel you have accomplished. So many yummy elements and embellishments. So happy to have you playing long with us over at Frilly and Funkie!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Linda
This is an absolutely gorgeous email! Just scrummy, gorgeous textures and layers ,just yummy! Hugs trace. X
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to be late to the party for this one Nicola. Everything you make is incredible and you should know by now that your talents are highly regarded by so many of us. This is another gem of a project, full of texture and incredible design. Huge hugs to you. Jenny x
ReplyDelete