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Thursday 5 February 2015

... How to art....?


If you remember, please let me know, I have forgotten. I need a Valentines card. I really, nearly, I mean it was in my hand, bought a card for DH last week at the grocery shop. January has been a helluva month - EU law compliance, tax month, the WMS sale, school visits, (my middle chick is moving to big school this year) but I baulked at the idea of paying an actual 5 pound note for a mass produced card, I mean I have every craft tool under the sun, I have cardstock by the acre, what the hell was I thinking? (btw for your information, NO handmade Christmas cards escaped Casa Brennan this year, not one.)

I don't know if it was embarrassment that kicked in, I can't claim that it was artistic pride, but I couldn't do it. I have to make DH a card.

Thing is, I sometimes forget how to art. Six years ago I'd a stamped myself a bit of patterned paper, cut out a label shape, slid a bit of ribbon across the centre, popped a sentiment on the label and stuck it right smack dab in the centre. Job done.

Card making has evolved a little since then and there's a move towards what I like to call 'Art cards' folks all over the planet are watercolouring, zentanglng, hand lettering, foiling - it looks fabulous and I'll be right out to join you, soon as I finish my homework. In the meantime, here's a little number it only took me 3 days to put together....  in between Tax returns and other glamorous admin tasks..... bet you envy me...

So for my 6.5 by 4.5 inch card, I used the Zig Zag Bacgrounder - I swiped a teal coloured ink pad rather randomly across it and then spritzed with green inky water, I smoothed some watercolour paper down on that and peeled it off to reveal a suitably arty background. I used the My Heart dies to cut the heart shapes and coloured two of them with watercolours. The smaller heart at the top was also stamped with a knitted texture from Faux Fun and the middle heart was clear embossed with a stamp from My Heart Stamp set before being watercoloured. I added some vellum into the bottom heart, and mounted all over some sequins that I just glued on randomly. The wooden word was from a pack of wooden words I found at a 'The Works' store last week. Their budget crafting items are quite good sometimes. The wee shiny gold heart at the top was die cut from a larger sequin using the heart grommet die from Folding tags die set.

17 comments:

  1. While I do love the look of the 'art' cards and completely respect the artists that create them, they just aren't me. I can't zentangle, or watercolor, or hand letter. But I sure do love a few well-placed fussy cut elements with an abundance of distress ink, so I think I'll keep that up. Its what makes me happy, ya know? ;)

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  2. If all we had to do was what makes us happy it would be a much more wonderful world! Damn chores! When making a card becomes a worry and a chore itself what is the point? Do what you love and others will love it also. Beautiful card for the DH. Congrats Claire.

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  3. I love your card, Claire and I am sure your "sweetie" will too. Art cards are not me either. We have to be true to ourselves, afterall.

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  4. Most guys don't care about 'artsy' cards. The old style would have suites him fine I'm sure. No matter the technique I use, I always get 'that's nice' so don't stress about it next time. Go for CAS when you can't come up with what you think of as art. That being said, it turned out very cool!

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  5. Your card is awesome-love the art going on here :). I feel your pride...it was hard to buy Christmas cards but I had to this year-it was just that kind of season. He'll love it~

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  6. Love your card! Your blog really made me laugh! I can so relate to the why would I spend $$ on a card when I have all this STUFF to make one though!! LOL!

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  7. A beautiful design Claire! love that background, the splatter and fun shaker piece!

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  8. Really lovely card! I love the dreamy watercolori-ness of it and all the texture! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

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  9. Brilliant background (must try this technique) and hearts are gorgeous - each one a work of heart !!! Don't stress about it though. The simplest of handmade cards is much better than anything shop bought !!!

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  10. It's a fabulous card Claire. I love that watercolour background and the hearts are beautifully assembled. Love the white space that helps create a clean, artsy finish. I just love it.

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  11. Looks 'artsy' to me. Wow on the bg, and in love with the yellowy painted hearts. So much movement with the sequins... kinetic art?

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  12. Beautiful card Claire: and I'm so non-artsy that I'm not sure if your card is "Artsy" or not! :-) And yep, I used store bought Christmas cards this year too! Time keeps going faster and faster!! And no, I don't envy your time spent doing tax forms: I do the bookkeeping for DH's business, so I can REALLY feel for you!!! big hugs to you, your friend in Healdsburg

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  13. Well, considering you've forgotton how to art, you did a fabulous job! No lessons required :)

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  14. Lovely card girly after all the angst but let's face it - is he going to notice the difference???? You have a lot on your plate, don't make it too hard for yourself!

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  15. Great card an great post!
    I do know how long these cards take to make....there's the thinking time..for me that can be long while I drag all sorts of ideas through my mind..(generally in bed when I should be going to sleep) ...then actually getting down to putting some of the ideas into practice...augh.....all my folks want something different for the same person, every year.....and I have to remember what I did for that person last year...stressful really but I can't sit and do nothing, not my nature.
    Keep them coming in between the admin stuff.....one of the downsides of having your own business is having your own accounts etc to do....we love to see your cards.

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  16. Wow, I love the card. I love the story behind it too.

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