Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Hero Arts October Contest


I know, can you believe it, it's already that time of the year!  Wow, time, it's an elusive thing!  We need to use it wisely!

The new monthly contest  has been posted over at Hero Arts and this time we got some sketches to play with if we wanted.

I will most likely try all three, eventually, but for today I went with the square card and decided to play with hearts and a water colour effect.

Paper: cardstock (PTI Rustic cream); watercolour paper
Ink: Distress Stains; Faber-Castell (Pitt Big Brush Pens); Memento; Antique Linen DI
Stamps: Hero Arts (Large Fabric Design - CG244; CL342 - sentiment)
Other: Rustic twine (PTI); dimensional tape; heart punch (Fiskars); corner rounder

This card started off wanting to be a Christmas theme card, hence the red and green colour scheme.  But then I wanted to use hearts and realised I was veering away from Christmas.  And then I thought, well, maybe veering away from a traditional Christmas looking card, but if you added the sentiment on the inside that said "Sending you love this Christmas" it could still work.  So, that's my theory and I am sticking with it!

I basically stamped the Large Fabric Design once using the red and pink distress stains and a second time using the 3 different shades of green Pitt Big Brush Pens I happen to have. The heart with the sentiment is actually a second layer mounted with foam tape onto another heart after I tied some twine around the card.  And the entire front piece is mounted with some foam tape onto the card base after I inked the edges up a little with Antique Linen.  Of course I rounded all the corners too, staying within the sketch.

Just a personal share about how proud I am of my almost 6 year old daughter, she read her first book to me last night from cover to cover, on her own!  I cannot tell you how proud I am of this little HUMOUNGOUS fact!  Really, I know that I was not able to read yet at her age , there was no way they were teaching us that in school in THOSE days!  If only a camera could have caught my total delight as I watched her read to me! You are the love of my life Natasha!

Wishing you an awesome day!

15 comments:

Marion said...

Ohh love this Brenda...I think we have been on a similar wavelength! Love your card and that sweet sentiment!

Lisa said...

This is so pretty with the water colored hearts :) I think it could totaly be a xmas card! Can't wait to see this IRL!
So proud of Natasha - she's getting the hang of it!!!

Barb said...

Aww, there's nothing better than watching your children achieve something so wonderful! Way to go Natasha! :)

Love this beautiful take on the sketch, my friend! Gorgeous watercolor effect on your hearts!

Rosemary said...

love this "non-traditional" christmas card, brenda!

Emily Leiphart said...

Brenda, this is gorgeous! I love the inked patterns on the hearts. Great take on the sketch. This should be a winner!

Aw, I love that story about Natasha reading her first story all by herself. Love it!

Tiffany Ervin said...

Oh wow!! Absolutely gorgeous! Love the watery effect on the hearts, they look like those delicious taffy colored candies you see during the 4th of July parades! :) Love it!

Elizabeth Allan said...

Brenda I wouldn't change a thing or color about your Christmas card. The watercolor effect is stunning! So happy to hear about your proud daughter moment!

Scrumplescrunch said...

You have made a gorgeous Christmas card Brenda. Hearts symbolises love, and we spread the love at this special time of year so you are not veering away from the theme you are reminding people that it is a special time to share with your loved ones. I think it would be perfect for ones Hubby, Mum or Daughter.
Smiles:)

Alice said...

gorgeous card, Brenda! love love the watercolor effect. fabulous work as always!

Dawn T said...

Gorgeous card Brenda. And well done to your daughter. They seem to learn so quickly these days.

Judy1223 said...

Brenda, I really REALLY like this nontraditional Christmas card...the hearts are so pretty!

And way to go, Natasha! Not too long ago I was amazed when my 6-year-old son asked me if HE could read the book we chose befoe bed, and he read it to me perfectly... cover to cover. I was, like you, AMAZED! What a great feeling, one I'm sure we will both treasure!

alexandra s.m. said...

I love your take Brenda!
These precious hearts look like pieces of candy!!

TFS~

Cathy Fongjoyo said...

gorgeous and very creative ! love all those hearts and the colours of stamps pattern on each of them. fabulous take on sketch, Brenda ! love this card

Courtney K said...

this card is so pretty! love the red and green color combo with a neutral background.

Trinh said...

This is gorgeous, Brenda! I love the colors and all the parts of the fabric design. And how awesome to hear your daughter read an entire book for the first time! We're still working on it with Elisia, slowly but surely.