Friday, June 5, 2015

Mixed Media Masculine



It is time for the second monthly challenge at Anything But Cute challenges and I am the hostess for this one.  I decided to call the challenge Make It Masculine and I would like you to make a mixed media card or other project for a fellow in your life. It could be for Father's Day, a birthday, an anniversary or just because you want him to know how special he is.


I decided to make this Steampunk inspired card for my husband for Father's Day and while the cards are easy enough to make, it sure is difficult finding an appropriate verse for inside the card when he is not your father and your child is grown up and married with kids of her own.  In hindsight, I think I should have made it as a surprise card for no special occasion.  I can see another card on my agenda in the not too distant future.

I started with some Recollections kraft card stock for the blank.  Then I took another piece of the same card stock to make the background panel.  I used Golden Molding Paste through a TCW stencil called Mini Time Travel to create all the clocks and numbers and once dry I sprayed it with Lindy's Stamp Gang Burnished Brass Moonshadow Mist.

The next layer is just another piece of card stock to which I added some plaster casting material (Gauze mixed with Plaster of Paris) that I found at the local art supply store.  I didn't try to smooth it out so it would have some bumps and lumps when it dried.  Once it was dry, it too got a spray of Burnished Brass.

The top layer is some paper from a Prima paper pad called Printery and I added some stenciling with a TCW stencil called Mini Harlequin and Vintage Photo DI.


To make the hot air balloon, I started by grabbing a freebie image from The Graphics Fairy, erased the basket in Photoshop and then printed the remaining image.  I cut it out and then traced the outer edge on a piece of card stock and a piece of copy paper.  I cut both of those out and then cut pieces out of the copy paper version to replicate a balloon.  This became a pattern that I placed over some Tim Holtz Grunge Paper so I could draw and then cut around all the edges.


I covered the grunge paper balloon with a layer of Gesso and then I painted it with black acrylic paint and once dry spritzed it lightly with the Burnished Brass.  To put the balloon together, I inked the card stock version with Vintage Photo DI, added some pop dots, then added the original printed balloon, which was also inked, added more pop dots and finally the grunge paper balloon.

The basket was made by weaving some twine leftover from my macrame days and wrapping it around a piece of card stock.  I attached the balloon and the basket with some pieces of wire from Artistic Wire.  A gear and some clock hands from Bead Landing were added to finish it off.

To finish off the card, I added a few more gears, a clock from Jolee's Boutique and an arrow from The Paper Studio.  The clock edge and arrow were rubbed with Renaissance wax paste from Treasure Gold to change their colour to match the gears.  The final step was some text that I made on the computer using a font called Impact Label.

Once the card was finished I stood it up to admire my handiwork and it fell flat on its face.  It turns out the plaster panel with all the other added bits and pieces made it way too front heavy so I added a verse panel inside with some of the same stenciling to stabilize it.  I would not recommend the plaster for a card but it would be great on a canvas or other altered item.

I hope you will create a mixed media project and share it with us at Anything But Cute.  All of us on the Design Team will be choosing our favourites and mine will have the opportunity to be a Guest Designer.

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp  - Make It Masculine
Card Mania - Metal Embellishment
The Kraft Journal - Father's Day

19 comments:

  1. Cec, I couldn't wait to get over here to see how you made this fabulous card! Boy, I sure am so happy I did! I love your hot air balloon, and am so pleased you did the step out to show us how you made it! You are quite the techie, using your computer to get the image and your cool sentiment. Bravo and my hat's off to you for this! but you have the hands of a surgeon to cut this balloon out--I thought it must be a die cut! I love how you layered it up and then made that sweet basket! Everything about this card is just amazing! Well done, again! big Hugs!

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  2. Oh boy Cec, this is one heck of an amazing card!! I am just loving your hot air balloon and basket!! I'm so glad you took that image from the side so we can see the amazing dimension you created! Love the gold embossing in the background, amazing bit of detail!! I had to laugh when I read the bit about your card being front heavy, a good solution for the future is to make your cards tent style that way that don't fall over. You really rocked the masculine challenge, hubby will love this one!! hugs :)

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  3. WOOOOOWWWWW!!!! I love what you did Cec!!! Your card is amazing and the hot air balloon is stunning, especially the basket!!! I love the sentiment, how on earth did you print it out in white??? I love using computer to create my sentiments, not into stamping...
    Anyways, I loooove your card, it is breathtaking!!!

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  4. Oh, woooow, Cec, I (like Sara) though the hot air baloon was a die cut! Bravo, you did a fantastic job! Your card is amazing and I am in love with that stunning baloon with the basket! Thank you so much for your close up photos and the description! Beautiful textured background and fabulous layering which made this wonderful masculine card so special!
    Hugs :)
    Branka xxx

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  5. Haha oh Cec you did make me laugh with your comment about you handiwork and the card falling, I've been there too, annoying right? :) Your card is just a testament to what pure dedication is.. like the other girls I thought your balloon was a die cut, you have so much patience but boy it certainly paid off- that balloon is brilliant!! And I'm just in love with the basket too, you are so clever, creative and resourceful!
    Hugs
    Georgie xx

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  6. So excited to finally see how you made the balloon and basket! Amazeballs!!! I just love love everything about this Fathers Day card! Your husband is sure to be thrilled and even gleeful with this creation! Maybe a tutorial is in order for using an image from the computer! That would be swell!!!!! You are so creative and talented little lady! Hugz to you muffin! ~Niki

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  7. A fantastic card for Fathers Day, love hoe you made the hot air balloon and all the details.
    Yvonne xx

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  8. This is AH-mazing! I love everything about your card, and I am so delighted that you shared it with us at The Kraft Journal. I do hope you will join us again next week.

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  9. Amazing design, love the masculine colors and embellishments.

    Hugs diane

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  10. Oh my - your balloon is TRULY SPECTACULAR Cec. LOVE LOVE LOVE it - what ULTIMATE CREATIVITY. And of course, the entire project is all FABULOUS but I am just stuck on the COMPLETELY AMAZING BALLOON. It's such a WOW. j

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  11. Fabulous card ! I just love all the texture you have incorporated into it.
    Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week !

    Jo x

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  12. awesome card! i love all the textures!! :) thank you for playing a long with us at simon says stamp wednesday challenge!!

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  13. Wow Cec, that is amazing! Just reading how you made the balloon alone had my head spinning, it is just spectacular! Your hubby is going to love it, thanks for sharing this great card and for a great challenge theme this month at ABC.

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  14. Sooooo much texture all in one place. This is a gorgeous design and perfect for a guy. I think making masculine cards are the hardest things, but you done it wonderfully!

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  15. Hi Cec, stopping in for a visit. I love this card, from the plaster and stenciled bg to the balloon. My fave thing is that awesome basket. You always do such an wonderful job.....hugs.

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  16. Gorgeous card.Thank you for sharing with us in Card Mania Challenge #69 Use a Metal Embellishment. Good Luck!.

    Hugs.
    Evie - DT member.

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  17. Very interesting work!
    Balloon matchless !!!! basket like a real!

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  18. Wonderful masculine creation! I love every detail!
    Thanks for playing at Card Mania Challenge.
    Ileanaxx

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  19. Beautiful card!
    Thanks for joining us at Card Mania Challenges and good luck !
    Marzena DT

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I love to hear what you think about my work, so please leave me a comment.

Thanks!
Cec