Jan 1, 2017

Wishing you a Special 2017!

Hello Dies R Us Friends and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Darlene with you today and I'd like to wish you all a very Special 2017 filled with love, laughter and lots of crafting time!  Today I have a card to share that I've created using up some of those left overs that were on my work table from years end creations ... and a new release die to share too!
I LOVE playing with my die cuts!  You can make a card quick, easy & beautiful just by using your dies ... but sometimes I like to get inky and create a background to really help make my die cuts POP!  Like I've done today!

The dies I've used today are:

 Yvonne Creations - Holly Jolly - Nesting Frame
 Yvonne Creations - Holly Jolly Nesting Frame #10067
The inside circle was left from another project ... worked perfectly here to showcase the Penny Black 'The Sweetest Sound' #51-206 birds which were also die cut for another project but not used.  This set is out of stock at the moment but you could use so many other beautiful bird dies that are available in the store ... for instance,
  Penny Black - Dies - Perched
 Penny Black - Perched #51-031

 And be sure to check out the December release for Tutti Designs ... so many fabulous word die sets to choose from!  Today I couldn't decide between AMAZING and SPECIAL ... obviously Special won out!
 
I don't usually go into such detail but it's a New Year and I thought I'd share the technique I used on today's card with you also.   Recently a friend introduced me to a technique that's been around for awhile now but I had never tried.  It's called the Northern Lights technique (imagine that) and so I looked it up on youtube and gave it a whirl.

Here's a quick look at what you'll need & do:

Using sponge daubers, sponge your various colors across a panel of white card stock as seen above.

Next you'll go around the outside edge with a dark blue ink (I've used SU Not Quite Navy).  Then just around the outer edge using black ink.
To give the illusion of a night sky.




To create your 'mountains' you need to tear a scrap of card stock (as seen below), lay it over your northern light inked sky and sponge the entire bottom of your card with the same dark blue ink.  Lastly you'll just do the edge with black to give you a distinct mountain range. 

VIOLA!
Now comes the fun of getting creative with your die cuts to finish your scene!
 Remember, each an every day of the month there's a new inspiration sample shared on the blog by this fabulous design team.  Please be sure to pop in regularly.

And, don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below. 
click below for:

 
Thanks so much for stopping by today!

7 comments:

  1. LOVE your background, isn't that gorgeous!?!? Those are the sweetest song birds ever! Happy New Year, my sweet friend! xo~

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  2. Such a beautiful card, Darlene. I need to try that background technique. Thanks for starting the new year with wonderful inspiration.

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  3. Such a fantastic card to start the year off with, You know I am going to have to give that background technique a try :) I love how you have used your left over dies to make a fabulous card!!

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  4. Fabulous card Darlene, with an amazing background and a great way to use up the left overs! Super tutorial too!
    Happy New year to you.

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  5. Oh wow Darlene, this is stunning! Your background colors are amazing and it reminds me of the Northern Lights. What a beautiful card you've created and so wonderful that you're using what's left on your desk. I love it when that happens. Happy New Year to you!!

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  6. This is amazing, loving the colors in the background. Must use this technique. Awesome inspiration to start off the New Year.
    Hugs

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  7. amazingly beautiful background! I love this card! great job!

    Alicia

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