7.27.2009

365 Cards - Day 149 - Try a Technique Tuesday!!

Greetings all, & welcome :) I'm totally psyched to have been chosen as a guest designer for today over at 365 Cards!! This entire week is Reader Appreciation Week, so be sure to join in the fun for prize opportunities and to gawk at all of the wonderful cards the Design Team & Guest Designers have created :)

What is the technique today? SPONGING! Those that know me or my work will be the first to tell you that this is a technique that I use on probably 90% of my cards... and 100% on my Halloween cards :)

Sponging tends to create depth, and REALLY finishes off certain images wonderfully. The entire background of this Halloween Flourish Tree card was created with sponging. Yep, I started with a completely white cardstock panel for this baby :) I also used regular hydra sponges, as well as manicurist pads... the sponge creates a stippled texture, while the pad creates much softer blending.

I created a reverse-mask for the moon first. Start with the lightest yellow, and keep layering color toward the center... then add darker yellows & cognac colors at the outside edge to create a rounded look to the moon.

I then stamped the weedy image along the bottom & the tree. The tree is heat-embossed to give a bit of sheen and nice raised quality. Place a piece of paper to create a horizon line and start blending green & black inks for the ground and blues & purples for the sky. I went back with darker shades of blue & purple ink and created thin lines of clouds to add an eerie touch.

Then I stamped the sentiments & bats** in black, sponged black ink around the edges, distressed them, and matted the panels. Next up, used the Scor-bug for a little texture, swiped a white ink pad around the card base edges, and topped it all off with some sheer grungy-olive ribbon.

**The bats are actually one of the butterflies from the Love & Laughter tree image... I just snipped it apart from the main image... oh how I love cling-rubber stamps... I can manipulate them so easily to fit whatever I need :)


Stamps: Flourish Trees of Hope, Love & Laughter, Edge Designs, Tag Tidbits (happy), retired GWP (Halloween)


Paper: White UltraSmooth, Basic Black, & Penolope Cardstocks

Ink: Raw Sienna, Cognac, Noir, Starry Night, Prussian Blue, Violete, French Lilac, Landscape, & Jardin Moss Palettes

Other: Transcendence Embossing Powder, hydra sponges, manicurist pads
(from Sally Beauty Supply), olive sheer ribbon

What do you think?

33 comments:

Julie said...

Oh my word - what a fantastic card - I've never seen anything like it - you are so talented. I'm a big Halloween fan so i just love checking out what you've been creating.
Take Care - Love Ju xxx

Chris said...

It's fantastic and only you could have seen those butterflies as bats - it's perfect!

CONGRATS on being the guest designer over on 365 - you rock girl!!

Patti J. said...

HEY YOU!!! What an awesome surprise!!! Holy cow! It was exciting to see your name and face 'in lights' - very deserving, I might add!

Sheesh, I was going to not play the 365 this week, but now, I'd feel terrible not playing! Guilted me into it chickie!!!

~amy~ said...

gorgeous card Barb!!!! I always love seeing your creations!

Anna said...

Barb! How cool is that?! Love the card too!

Diana said...

Congrats my friend!! as Patti J. said very deserving! your card is amazing!! Yes, I know how you love to do sponging, lol!!

Love,
Diana

Danni said...

This is gorgeous! I've never tried this but might have to after seeing your wonderful card!

Suzanne said...

Congrats! Supreme card!!

Christina said...

Congrats chick! Awesome card!

KellyRae said...

LOVE the eerie clouds and your butterfly/bats are totally fab. You're the halloweenie queenie for sure.

Rach said...

wow this is gorgeous!!!
hugs rachxx

Stacy's Paper Crafts said...

Amazing! You really know how to work those sponges :) LOVE the bats... great details all around!

Kimberly said...

This is fabulous oh great and mighty sponging queen :) That moon is perfect!!!!

Anonymous said...

Speachless, here, wow, amazing your sponging is magnificent, your card is a little piece of amazing art work!!!!!!!!

Michelle said...

Congrats! And LOVE the card - you are so awesome!! I just love what you did with the butterflies/bats!!

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

Congrats on being the guest dt!! This card is amazing!! Love the scene you created and your beautiful sponging!

Sherry Eckblad said...

This is absolutely amazing. Now I have sponged before but I never get results like this.
Thanks for doing the guest spot over at 365 Cards.

Melisa Waldorf said...

FABULOUS!!!! Your sponging is spectacular chick!!

Melisa Waldorf said...

FABULOUS!!!! Your sponging is spectacular chick!!

Anonymous said...

I love this card and your sponging is super cool!!!

Sandy said...

Beautiful is all I can say!

Debra Hensley said...

Love, love,love it! Congrats and thanks again for sharing your amazing talent!

lisa808 said...

Wow, I love it!

Jen Carter said...

I think I must say this everytime I comment on your blog, but you are so creative!! What a fabulous card with such awesome details!

Sonia said...

You are very creative.. i love this card. Look Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! Good Job!
**Sony**

Jenn Embry said...

Congrats on being chosen for a DT! Fantastic card. I love it!

Jeanie said...

LOVE IT!! Very spooky loooking!!

Jeanie said...

LOVE IT!! Very spooky loooking!!

Joan B said...

gorgeous!!!!!!

AmethystCat said...

love it!!!

Anonymous said...

Magnificant! rita w

Helen Dooley said...

Truely awesome cards!!!! My addy is ... JK.
These really are great. I liked the stamp before but I think now...

Teresa Jenkins said...

Awesome card! I am turning into a big background fan... and loved how you did yours! I am sooo giving it a try! Thanks for sharing!