this card uses *two* stamps...but i'm pretty sure you'll only see one of them until i tell you. ok, so obviously the chipboard letters feature the fabulous antique brocade background "cling" stamp...but what else?? well, i've actually also done quite a bit of distressing using a script merry christmas from the holiday sayings set of clear stamps. granted, the look is subtle...especially since i've added rub-ons and so forth over top; but i really like the effect of stamping the words lots and lots of times...just around the edges of the green panel...with various amounts of a dark brown ranger distress ink on the stamp. i think it goes really well with the vintage-vibe ledger paper, also!
(rubber stamps & pearl bling: hero arts; patterned paper: creative imaginations, basic grey; tag: fancy pants; chipboard letters: amm; rub-ons: we-r-memory keepers, k&co; dimesional holly sticker & ribbon: michaels; inks: color box, ranger; and now i'm going to interrupt my usual crafty waffling to bring you a tutorial of sorts. (GASP!) yes, i know, i am not big on the step-by-step instructions... (i tend to think anything *I* could figure out will already be well known to the rest of the world; and generally i am right about that!) ...but this comes at the suggestion of lovely husband jeff, because even though he WATCHED ME alter these chipboard letters, when he saw the finished card he was still completely convinced that i'd swapped out my original product choice of bright white letters. so allow me to "show my work" so to speak (i'm using scrap bits of the letter centers for this just to demonstrate):
the ingredients: letters, brocade stamp, various inks
the method: stamp letters with brocade, using distress ink; allow to dry for a couple of minutes.
the edging: use colorbox charcoal chalk ink... (which is a very very dark brown rather than the deep grey one might've expected when buying it!) ...to apply a nice thick coat around the edges and sides of the chipboard.
the distressing: with a VERY light touch, press the flat surface of various shades of chalk ink gently and randomly to the face of the letters, beginning with goldenrod & celery (for shading) and ending with charcoal for an all-over tan effect.
the results: ta-daaaaa! :)
from glaring white to vintage brown...in about five minutes!
Gorgeous card and I love the tutorial!!!
ReplyDeletegorgeous card and fabulous tutorial!!
ReplyDeleteTx for the tut...your letters are fab! Love the vintage Christmas card :)
ReplyDeleteFab card and a fun tut! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWOW!!! Not only a gorgeous card but a tutorial as well :) Thanks for sharing...because you might think that we all *know* this stuff, but I hadn't thought of stamping and then distressing. So, not only did I get to see a stunner of a card, I learned something too :) ♥
ReplyDeleteHeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey! June stole my word! I was gonna say, "Nice toot" LOL that's bad, huh?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to need to try anti-distressing my glossy BROWN stickers. Oh, that should be interesting ....
gorgeous card..thanks for the tut..who would have thunk those letters started off bright white?
ReplyDeleteOh, I really really really like this card! I also think that your tutorial was great and very helpful! Your blog and your projects make me think more creatively when I look at the stuff on the table and think - hmm..., now what was I thinking before?
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for this tutorial ~ Please PLEASE do some more to help a real newcomer to this world!!! x
ReplyDelete