Wandering Watercolour Wonder

Hi makers! Today's ICAD was born out of a session in using yet-to-be used products purchased months ago and trying out a combination watercolouring experimentation all with challenge parameters in mind. Keeping up with my participation in  Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge & ICAD2020, I once again incorporated them both. Wanting a vintage theme with watercolours to play along with A Vintage Journey's Watercolour Wonders proved to be an interesting challenge. I have done the shabby thing with my 'Find Joy' ICAD so trying something simply vintage had me thinking of Tim Holtz products. This reminded me that I had yet to use the new Tim's products that I had ordered from Simon Says Stamp in March due to the nuttiness that became online teaching. I had ordered the Botanical Collage Tissue Paper and the World Traveler stamp set. As I looked at each product, an idea began to form.

I started with an index card that had been used to clean up an excess of Broken China Distress Spray Stain from my craft mat during some previous crafting session. I try not to waste medium, so whenever possible, I transfer excess either on to index cards (knowing that I will use then each year during Daisy Yellow's 60 Day ICAD) or on an art journal page. I had used the 'drag through and then pat it down' technique letting it dry a bit before patting it in some more until all the ink was sopped up into the card. The Broken China blue would provide a sky background feel for the botanical elements to come.

Next, I stamped the World Traveler definition text along the right side border to match up the border distress pattern in the stamp design using Jet Black Archival ink and a stamp positioning tool. After wetting the area around my desired images on the botanical tissue image areas with a water brush, they were easy to tear away from the whole piece. I used Tim Holtz Collage Medium to adhere them to the card and then used clear gesso over top so to provide tooth for watercolouring to come. Once that was dry, I coloured the berries with Seedless Preserves and the leaves with Peeled Paint by smooching ink onto my craft mat and then using a waterbrush to add the colour. I added some splatters of each colour and then set it a side to dry. While it was drying, I fussy cut out the robin from Tim Holtz patterned paper. After hitting the card with a heat tool just to ensure the watercolour was dry, I used the collage medium to adhere the bird rightside down to image transfer it. Once it was thoroughly dry, I spritzed the bir back with water and began rubbing the paper away. Once the image transfer was revealed, I felt it was too translucent and that even with adding watercolour, it would not pop enough. Then, I remembered that I was intrigued by Kathy Raccossin watercolouring with Distress Oxides and thought that might work. And it did! It turned out that painting with Oxides has a gauche like coverage. Only thing I found was that the painting looked too flat and I am limited in Oxide colours so I took out my Inktense watercolour pencilcrayons and added outlining and details with them which really worked. I am so pleased with how the bird turned out.

While it was drying, I stamped the 'NOT ALL WHO WONDER ARE LOST' in Archival ink and then heat embossed it with clear emboss powder. Deciding it was too long, I cut the quote apart. Once the bird was dry, I distress blended the border edges of the card with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink, knowing that Opaque Crackle Paste takes on the distress colour that it is placed over. And, it didn't disappoint, as I stenciled the crackle paste on with the Blossoms stencil in three areas creating a visual triangle and then scraped on more with a palette knife to edge the entire card. Once it at over night and did its crackle thing, I adhered the quote to complete it.

Supplies: index card (Staples), Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Spray Stain, Tim Holtz Peeled Paint, Seedless Preserves & Brushed Corduroy Distress Inks, Tim Holtz Antique Linen, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain & Fired Brick Distress Oxide Ink, Distress Collage Medium, Jet Black Archival ink, Opaque Crackle Paste (Ranger), Tim Holtz World Traveler stamp set & Blossoms Stencil (Stampers Anonymous), Tim Holtz Idea-ology Botanical Tissue Paper & patterned paper (Advantus), Tan, Baked Earth, Bark & Chilli Red Inktense watercolour pencil crayons (Derwent), Clear emboss powder (Simon Says Stamp), Clear gesso (Liquitex)

I think it has an old style illustration feel to it. I am really pleased with how it all turned out plus I learnt some new ways in which to use the Distress Oxides so all in all a successful crafting experience.


TTFN,

Inspired by Scraps

Hello Crafty Friends! When I was rummaging through my scraps to make the ‘find Joy’ ICAD, I came across this Tim Holtz large tissue butterfly and thought it was perfect for a 4” by 6” index card. Along with that I had a leftover ‘be kind’ stamped onto muslin for the last card that I found was too big and too bold for that one but thought it was just right sizing wise when paired with the big butterfly. 

I started by stamping the Kaisercraft Flutter Moroccan design on the index card. Next, I adhered the tissue butterfly with multi-medium matte and then clear gessoed over top of it. Once that was dry, I carefully applied Clear Rock Candy Distress crackle paint around the butterfly image covering the entire index card. Once that had set up and done its crackle thing, I then painted over top of it using Finnabair’s Tiger Orange liquid acrylic adding water as I went allowing it to seep into the cracks. Next, I used the Finnabair metallic Mermaid Teal watered-down with water to paint the lighter parts of the butterfly and then splattered the whole card with some.

Once all was dry, I used a black Stabillo All pencil to outline the butterfly and add detail. Then, I used a brush and water to activate the All pencil. Using DecoFoil adhesive pen, I put some on my craft mat and then used a toothpick to apply it to the very thin design lines of the Moroccan pattern in some places. Then, I used the adhesive pen along the edge of the card and applied the gold foil there too. Next, I distressed the edges by running a scissor blade along them and added splatters of Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz. Lastly, I adhered the pre-stamped Simon Says Stamp Big Words ‘be KIND’ and called it done.

Supplies: Big Words stamp set (Simon Says Stamp), Flutter stamp (KaiserCraft), Tim Holtz Tissue Paper (Advantus), Clear Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, Multi Medium Matte, Jet Black and Black Soot Archival ink (Ranger), Finnabair Tiger Orange Liquid Acrylic and Mermaid Teal Metallique acrylic (Prima), clear gesso (Liquitex), Decofoil gold foil and adhesive pen (Thermoweb), black All pencil (Stabillo), Gold Sheer Shimmer Spritz (Imagine Crafts), muslin (Misc.)

I have to laugh at myself because I went from delicate and shabby to bold and grungy. I really am an eclectic maker. I just like it all!

Once again I am joining in ICAD2020, Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge, and SSS Flickr Challenge #154 Crazy for Coloring.


TTFN,

Find Joy

Hello Fellow Creatives! Today, I have a watercoloured mixed media index card towards my quest of participating in Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge, World Watercolour Month, and ICAD2020. The vintage style for this one was inspired by A Vintage Journey's Watercolour Wonders Challenge and my inspiration for stamp choices comes from the SSS Flickr Challenge #153 Crazy for Coloring.

I started by using up scrap bits from creations that I had in my scraps bin on my table... vintage book page text, beige tissue paper, Tim Holtz tissue paper, stamped off bits from cleaning stamps, and vintage style patterned papers. After collaging them with Multi Medium Matte, I scraped on white gesso. Once dry, I covered the entire card with clear gesso so that it would have some tooth for the watercolours. Once that was dry, I used a flower from the SSS Spring Flowers set and stamped it with Jet Black archival ink. Next, I inked up only a portion of the stamp to create the smaller flower and then decided the first bloom needed to be bigger so added an inked up portion to it too.

Instead of masking off the flowers, I decided to add in the leaves and stems but using a watercolor ink. At first I tried my go-to no-line Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink but due to the background colour, that didn't work so I used one of the leaf springs stamps and inked it with Tim Holtz Peeled Paint. Next, I used water and a paint brush to move and remove the part that I didn't want; providing some colour to the back of the image. While that was drying, I began to paint the flowers and then the leaves and stems with Mijello Mission Gold watercolour paints. Once the paint had dried, I used a black Micron pen to doodle with the lines on the flowers and added lines for the leaves and stems. I splattered around the flower with green paint and then with Copic Opaque white after it had dried. Next, I arranged and stamped the sentiment using the SSS Big Words stamp set with Black Soot Archival ink and then finished the card off by sewing around the edges and adding white highlight to the sentiment with a Signo White pen.

Supplies: Spring Flowers and Big Words stamps (Simon Says Stamp), Mission Gold watercolours (Mijello), Jet Black and Black Soot Archival ink,  Multi Medium Matte, Shabby Shutters Distress Ink (Ranger), white and clear gesso (Liquitex), Pigma Micron (Sakura), Uniball Signo White pen (Mitsubishi Pencil Co.), Opaque White Ink (Copic), embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'Ne), Tim Holtz Tissue (Advantus), index card (Staples), book text, patterned paper and beige tissue paper (Misc.)

You can check out the A Vintage Journey's Watercolour Wonders DT creations by heading to their blog here and all the other amazing colouring, watercolour and ICADs by using the hashtags #thedailymarker30day, #WorldWatercolorMonth, #dyicad2020 on social media or SSSFlickrchallenge#153 in Flickr.

TTFN,

Colourific Creation

Howdy crafty friends! Today, I am sharing am ICAD creation inspired by Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog's Play with Paint challenge featuring Dina Wakley products, July Ranger/Dina Wakley #ShowUsYourMEdia Grateful for Color challenge and Kathy Raccosin's Coloring Challenge.

I pulled out my gellli plate for this and created backgrounds on a variety of 4x6" index cards and several 8.5x11" paper too. I used Dina Wakley Heavy body Acrylics in Turquoise, Peacock, Sky, Lime, Tangerine, Magenta, White. I used the Mini Favourites stencil, Text and Scribbles stamp, bubble wrap, and a small spray lid.

I chose one of the more colourful ones as it fit the theme and then an idea formulated from there based on the Dina Wakley stamps that I have. I stamped the flower from the Abstract Blooms 3 times with Black Soot Archival ink and then filled them in with Black Stabillo All pencil and a water brush. Once it was dry, I splattered it with watered-down black paint. Once it was dry, I white heat emboss stamped the paint, bloom and grow script words from the set in the middle of each flower. Next, I added polka dots to the leaves with a White Sharpie marker and then some white splatters with it too. Once that was dry, I sewed around the outside area two times.

As you see, I now have a ready supply of Dina product inspired gelli prints for future use so don't be surprised if a few more ICAD's get made from these over the rest of the month.

TTFN,

Cattywampus

Oh my goodness, how fun is that word?! Say it with me... catty-wampus![ kat-ee-wom-puh s, kat-uh- ] LOL! Love it!

I had never heard of the word until Sara Emily posted it as a challenge on The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog. Sarah quoted it as meaning..."appearing off center, diagonal from, crooked or not level, appearing askew, tilted or lopsided". She mentioned that it is something she hears around her home area in the Southern States.

It made me think of kitty-corner or catty-corner. I had the urge to look it up discern the origin... waywordradio.org had this, "We do know the word has been around for more than a century and is spelled many different ways, such as catawampus and caddywampus. It may derive from the Scots word wampish, meaning to “wriggle,” “twist,” or “swerve.”

This definition example from yourdictionary.com made me laugh because of the true to life picture it created in  my mind... "An example of something cattywampus are the positions of the items on the top of a coffee table after a two year old has been playing with them and moving them around."

Oh words are so much fun! Anyhow, I digress... on to the task at hand, sharing my Cattywampus creation!

I created an ICAD with my mind on using up one of my little bitty bobs baggies that I had curated a while back. Using multi medium matte, I collaged the index card with a dictionary page from the 'C' section where cattywampus would have been if it wasn't a simple affordable home dictionary from 1977 that I found for crafting use. Then, I applied scrapings of white gesso and once dry a little touch of clear gesso knowing that I was going to add watercolour on top. On my craft mat, I scribbled a good amount of Chocolate gelato and mixed it with glass bead glitter gel. I stenciled with it through the Crafter's Workshop Mini Damask stencil. I use the excess on another sized index card and what was left of the dictionary page. Once the gel was dry, I scrapped a bit of gesso to add some white bits to the damask. Once that was dry, I added on Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist with the nozzle tube end around the damask areas. Then, spritzed it with water and angled the card to get the colour to run. After it set up a bit, using the nozzle tube again, I added some splatters. While that was drying, I scraped some gesso onto the play word, edged it with a brown sharpie and distress inked it a bit. 

Next, I glued down the cheese cloth, lace, and old athletic tape all a bit cattywampus. I added the Create transparency and secured it with a mini brad and a few drops of Glossy Accents behind the 'A', 'T', and 'E'. I used a scrap bit of uneven dyed muslin to mat the corrugated play word and added the die cut butterfly slightly a skewed. Lastly, I added a second mini brad and a meandering brown craft wire for the final cattywampus touch.

Supplies: index card (Staples), glass bead glitter gel, Chocolate gelato (Faber-Castell), Vintage Pink Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Mini Damask stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Multi Medium Matte, Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress ink (Ranger), White and Clear Gesso (Liquitex), NoName cheesecloth (Loblaw's), circa 1977 dictionary page (Webster's Dictionary), brown marker (Sharpie), athletic tape, lace, Create transparency, corrugated Play word, die cut butterfly, craft wire (Misc.)

I had so much fun making this ICAD, that I decided to use up some other scrap bits and the pieces that I had used the leftover glass bead glitter glue on to make two ATCs for trading.

On this one, I added cheesecloth, spritzed kraft cardstock and old athletic tape and sewing it with a zig zag stitch with embroidery thread. I used a fussy cut Prima Apricot and Honey butterfly and pink craft wire for embellishments. The Magenta Make Time to Play was stamped with Black Soot Archival ink.

On this one, I first stamped the background with Finnabair Messy Writing stamp with Jet Black Archival ink. I added tan tissue, the spritzed kraft cardstock and lace. I fussy cut another Prima butterfly but it was too pale against the background so I watercoloured it with Bubblegum and Guava pink gelatos and added highlights and shading details with a Staedtler brown and white pencil  crayons and then outlined it all with a Stardust Gelly Roll pen for some sparkle.

Again, I added the pink wire and this time the Create title is a Tim Holtz rub on.

If you are interested in trading one of these ATCs, just let me know in the comments below.


TTFN,

A Good Reminder

Now that I have started my vacation time, being mindful is what I need right now as I attempt to unwind. Today's index card for ICAD2020 is a reminder that the first step is to... just breathe. That slow deep breath does wonders to calm a tense body and spinning mind.

Creating helps me be mindful. I am a slow crafter. I like to take my time as I create. I find the process relaxing and a sense of joy and fulfillment when I create something that didn't exist until I created it. 

For this mixed media index card, my colour medium as I join in Kathy Raccosin's the Daily Marker 30 Day Color Challenge is both watercolour and acrylic. As to the colours, I was inspired by the rich emerald gem tones of the Mixed Media Place's June Moodboard. When I saw the colours it reminded me of a pretty baby wipe that I had saved after creating an ICAD with those colours from a previous year. When you think of watercolouring, upcyling a baby wipe used in cleaning up watercolour splattering likely doesn't come to mind but I thought that it would make a great base for what I had in mind and keep me on track for World Watercolour Month. Think of the background like a watercolour abstract painting. The watercolours came from the lots of splatters using Prima Watercolour Confections from the Classics and Tropicals sets when I created this previous background.

To start, the index card base was stamped with a Prima background stamp, blended with a blend of Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink along distressing the edges and then edging it with Distress Ink. After adhering the baby wipe with Matte Multimedium Gell and letting it dry, I used a Brown Stabilo All watercolour pencil dipped in water to draw my leaf sprig. Once that was dry, I took it to my sewing machine and used embroidery thread to outline the sprig. Next, I switched up the thread to a more common standard weight brown multipurpose thread and stitched around the outside adding in some zigzag stitches for rule of 3 and framing interest.

Once back at my craft table, I stamped the Finnabair Messy Writing onto it with Coffee Archival Ink. Initially I thought I would be done at that point, but looking at it, I felt the leaves needed to stand out more so I painted the lower part with Finnabair Mermaid Teal Metallique paint and dabbing it off as I went to lighten and blend it. Next, I painted the top portions as highlighted areas with water-downed Finnabair Gesso. Again, dabbing off as I went to lighten and blend. I completed the painting part by added some tiny splatters of the gesso. Lastly, I distress inked the sentiment strip before adhering it with some cut pieces of cereal box board to pop it up for a little added dimension.

Here's a look at the ICAD again:

Supplies: Index card (Staples), IOD Text background stamp, Finnabair Messy Script stamp, Finnabair Mermaid Teal Metallique paint, gesso, Finnabair Sentiment sticker (Prima), Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress ink, Coffee Archival ink, Multi Medium Matte (Ranger), Brown All pencil (Stabilo), brown embroidery thread (Aurifil Mako'Ne), brown thread and baby wipe (misc.)

Here is the Mixed Media Place moodboard. Oh, so pretty!

I am also playing along with:

Mix It Up Challenge - #39 Anything Goes + Open Technique

Creative Artiste Mixed Media Challenge - #62

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #119

TTFN,

Mindset Matters - ICAD

Hello Crafty Peeps! I didn't think that I would get to start making an index card for ICAD2020 until I was finished school later this week as my life has been consumed with online learning but with having finished my last lesson planning for this week and faced with sweltering heat and patches of rain today, I thought to heck with it, I want to create. And so I did. So here is my creation inspired by Simon Says Stamps Monday Sprays and Splashes Challenge.

I have a ready stash of gessoed index cards so I started with that as the base and then scribbled on some Cheddar with a Dina Wakley Scribble Stick and activated it with a water brush. Then I sprayed it with water and let it run and also splatter it. Once that was dry, I did the same with a Peacock Scribble Stick but to a less extent so it was more of an accent colour. Once that was dry, I drew the branch in with a Stabilo All pencil and cut and collaged leaves from Dina Wakley printed tissue drawing around them also with the black pencil. Then I activated it with a brush and water smudging the lines and added design colour details to the centre of the branch.

Supplies: index card (Staples), Dina Wakley Cheddar and Peacock Scribble Sticks, Scribbly Small Birdies stamp, Collage Paper, Collage Words, Washi Tape, Mini Favourites stencil, Tim Holtz Black Soot Archival ink, Multi Medium Matte (Ranger), gesso (Liquitex), Black  All pencil (Stabilo), thread and dictionary page (Misc.)

While that was drying, I stamped the bird with Black Archival ink on a piece of dictionary paper and fussy cut it out. I added some left over bits of Dina Wakley washi tape to add balance and to cover where I had pressed too firmly with the Scribble Sticks and had left some scribble lines that hadn't dissolved. In trying out the bird placement, I decided it needed some more textural interests so I sewed the branch and leaves outline leaving lots of loose thread to create a nest for the bird and added gesso through a Mini Elements stencil to the background. Now that I was happy with that, I adhered the bird. Lastly, I cut and collaged the Dina collage words quote and splattered it with some of the black Stibilo scribbled on a mat with water to complete it.

One ICAD down, many more to come. :)

Be sure to check out the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge DT's Sprays and Splashes inspirational takes on the challenge along with all the participants' creative eye candy here.


TTFN,

Explore - Mixed Media ICAD

Today's creation has me keeping up my participation in Daisy Yellow's ICAD 2019 and World Watercolor Month by incorporating both in it. This 4 x 6" mixed media ICAD was inspired by the Our Mixed Media Moods June moodboard and Creative Embellishments July Color Challenge with a Twist - Clouds or Waves (I went with waves). I included the graphics at the end of the post.

I went with a fairly literal interpretation of the inspiration boards choosing elements directly from the images. My colour medium of choice for this project was Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks and Heavy Body Acrylic paint.

I chose a piece of Studio Light Denim Saturdays pattern paper just for this project as it went with the grey boards from the centre bottom of the moodboard. It reminds me of an aged cedar dock. I cut it to the 4x6" size and adhered it to the index card with Multi Medium Matte and then did a layer of the gel on the front also. Once it was dry, I covered the card with clear gesso, creating a texture with a brush to start the look of waves. Once dry, I then took a piece of white oil pastel and drew on waves. Next, I scribbled the Dina Wakley Scrbble sticks onto the craft mat and then used the water brush to blend and paint with the colours. Once I had the base colour, I then used a smooshing technique by picking up colour of the mat with the index card. This gives a splashy motled effect. After it was dry, I buffed directly over and following the the pastel lines to bring back the whiteness and contrast of the wave lines. I darkened the edges first with Night acrylic paint but found it was a tad on the purple side against the wave's colour so added Marine to bring up the blue tone.

Next, I turned my attention to the cardboard piece. The base of this was pre-made while I was making my Live Gently Upon This Earth ATC (You can see it here). Thus, the cardboard already had the dictionary page adhered to it and it was covered with gesso and left over Clear Rock Candy Crackle paint. I just needed to give it colour which I did using the Marine Scribble Stick and a waterbrush. While it was drying, I used my finger to add some Texture Paste to the Creative Embellishments Nautical Compass chipboard and then sponged on the Night acrylic paint to it and the N. I chose solely the N as Canada is the north, cottaging is north, and north is where I most spend time by a lake. Once they were dry, I adhered them to the cardboard piece.

Next, I created the the blueberries. Blueberries grow along the rocky shore areas at the cottage in Muskoka so I went with a handrawn watercoloured sprig of them. I have to say that I am quite proud of myself for how the sprig turned out. I watercolour layered the leaves starting with a wash of Evergreen, giving them a blueish colour with Marine and Night, and then darking them with Brown. The branches went through the same layering but I included the addition of Black as the final layer. The berries were painted with two layers of Marine and once I was happy with each one, I added a tich of black to darken the released spent flower area. Once they were dry, I fussy cut them. Then, I was ready to assemble the project.

To assemble the piece, I wrapped the cardboard with navy wire (for the bottom right image on the OMMM moodboard) and then used gel medium to adhere it off centre, more to the left, on the index card base. Then, I tucked in the blueberry sprig and glued it with with the gel. Next, I stamped the CTMH Explore (from their Adventure stamp set) onto a piece of transparency with Black StazOn ink. After trimming it down, I tried it out on the cardboard but it was getting lost as that area was rather dark so I backed it with a small piece of gessoed and Marine coloured dictionary paper prior to adhering it to the cardboard. 

I included some detailed close ups of the top and bottom sections.

With this one, you can better see the crackle paste on the dictionary text areas as well as the texture on the compass rose.

With this one, you can better see the splattery splotches of colour on the index card background, the wire, and the Explore transparency.


Here's a last look at the entire finished ICAD.

Supplies: index card and transparency (Staples), patterned paper (StudioLight), Marine, Night, Evergreen, Brown and Black Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks, Night and Marine Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint, Multi Medium Matte gel, Tim Holtz Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Texture Paste (Ranger), Nautical Compass chipboard (Creative Embellishments), clear and white gesso (Liquitex), XL watercolour paper (Canson), Explore stamp (CTMH), Black StazOn (Tsukineko), white oil pastel and wire (Dollarama), cardboard and dictionary page (misc.)

I hope I have inspired you to give one of the many different techniques that I used a try. As mentioned at the top of the post, here are the mood board and color board that were my inspiration for this project. You can read more about each challenge and see their inspirational creations by clicking on the images below.

   

As today's creation is a mixed media piece, I am also joining in over at Bleeding Art July Anything Goes Challenge.

TTFN,

U Embrace the Weirdness ICAD

Inspired by the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge of Make Your Own Background and Dina Wakley Media Tribe's July On the Lighter Side challenge, I pulled out my Dina Wakley paints for today's colouring for Kathy Raccosin's Daily Marker 30 Day challenge and added to a 4 x 6 index card that I had started with some leftover paint from a previous project.

I always keep a stack of index cards handy just for this purpose, when I have little bits of remaining product like pastes or paint so as to not go to waste. It makes for some interesting starting points. I already had the bubble wrap stamping in Turquoise, finger swipes of Blackberry Violet, sprayer bottle cap rings in Magenta and little touches of fruit mesh stamping in Lime. As the beginnings of the background were really bright and I wanted to upcycle a previously used baby wipe that was loaded with Dina paints in similar blue-green colours, I added gesso to push the Turquoise back. Then, I brushed on some small marks in Blackberry over the swiped area but decided they looked a bit too leopardy so I added some tiny black Xs over each before adding splatters in Black and Turquoise to bring some cohesion. 

Next, I tore the butterfly from the Dina Collage papers and adhered it in a reversed position with multi medium matte to the old paint stained baby wipe such the the "U" was in a better direction to with the sentiment. While it was drying, I doodled some circles and then added asemic writing all around to ground my butterfly focal point. Then, I fussy cut the butterfly out, deepened the colours as the turquoise and black were a bit too opaque with through the tissue. Once adhered, I gel mediumed the Dina Wakley collage words in place, inked the edges and then decided to take the card to the sewing machine for some finishing stitching.

Starting from scratch and making your own backgrounds is fun and often intuitive as you sometimes just don't know where it will end up. Be sure to stop by Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge blog here for more background inspiration from their DT and challenge participants.

TTFN,