Monday 11 November 2013

Getting distressed (and messy!)....

snowflakes blizzard
Hey!

Happy Monday! C'mon, look at the bright side: with every moment you spend reading this post, you're heading closer and closer to the weekend. Yup, that's my philosophy on Mondays. Ha!

I'm here today with a card for the Uniko Studio Blog Hop. This is no ordinary hop though, it's the last one of 2013 and so Christmas may have come a little bit early as we get to give away the sets we're featuring for it, or some store credit to one lucky commenter! You should have hopped over here from the Uniko Studio blog. Be sure to start there if you haven't!

The set I'm featuring today is Stunning Snowflakes. This set does not only feature snowflakes, but some pretty sweet sentiments too. This sentiment really jumped out at me, and as soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be the sentiment for my guy's Christmas card.

I've been so very inspired by Jennifer McGuire's snowy sky technique with Distress inks after seeing Debby Hughes rock it here. So one of my crafty purchases at a craft fair on Saturday was a few Distress Inks in various shades of blue. (Check out my Twitter or Instagram for a pic of my loot from the day if you're interested!)

Well I was a little nervous. I'm not usually a messy crafter. But I can say that I LOVE this technique! I only wished I had some Perfect Pearls in the right colour to finish it off, but I added my own sparkles in the form of gems and dots of dazzle with my new Wink of Stella pen. If you've not got your hands on one of these, you need to. Seriously. Sparkles galore! :)

Embossed snowflakes in white over the top of my masked ink heart finished off the focal point. It shimmers and sparkles way more IRL.

tips and tricks
  • This design doesn't only work for someone you want to send lots of kisses to! Simply change the sentiment or masked shape to suit a different recipient.
  • Any missed white embossed areas can be easily fixed up with a white gel pen. :)
  • I'm going to confess a 'boo boo' here: I stamped the sentiment far too low and it looked terrible! The design didn't flow, the eye didn't know where to look! However, a simple bit of twine treatment helped the design to flow better. You can rescue most 'boo boos' in my book! *wink*
Ready for the fun part? I have a £10 Uniko Studio Gift Certificate to give away to one lucky commenter. If you want to be in with a chance of winning it, please leave a comment by Thursday November 14th and I'll randomly pick a winner.

Next on your hopping adventure is Amber! :)

Signature2

Products Used

47 comments:

Cindy Lovell said...

I love me some distress inks! :) Beautiful card! Love your design with the heart and snowflakes!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful card. Love how you made that blue heart with the snowflakes.

Lynn said...

Gorgeous. I love the inked heart Aimes and the sentiment is perfection.

Gillian R said...

So beautiful and elegant. Love the snowflakes within a heart

Anonymous said...

Stunning, Aimes ... the gorgeous blues, the shimmer and what a fabulous way to rescue this gorgeous card ... the twine with the little heart is such a perfect addition! Yay for boo-boo's! Anita (in France) :)

Jane said...

Always love your cards and this is no exception. I can just imagine how much it catches the light and sparkles IRL.

loulou said...

Beautiful card, fantastic colours and design. I love this beautiful sentiment.

Hanne said...

Beautiful card as always!
I'm amazed that someone as talented as you has boo-boos! You do know how to hide them well.

~amy~ said...

such thee sweet card!!!

Michelle Short said...

WOW! This is stunning Aimes - so beautiful! xx

Kimberly Rendino said...

Great rescue! I never would've known you hadn't planned it that way!

♥Gemma♥ said...

Absolutely stunning Aimes and love the masked heart and snowflakes...very effective :)
hugs and xxx
Gemma

cm said...

Stunning card! You've showcased both the stamp set and the 'new' technique beautifully! Your tip for fixing boo boos is brilliant and it certainly works, because on your card, I see only perfection! Thanks for sharing!
c

Denise Bryant said...

Beautiful card! I love the background technique you used (have to try that!) and love the tip you shared about adding the twine! It does bring the eye right to the heart! Love the pretty snowflakes!

Maureen said...

Duchess to the rescue! Kisses make all boo boos better, or at least white or sparkly pens! This is sure to be a hit for your guy :) I love reading about the flow of your card...and how you made it even more stunning! ox

Sazzle Dazzle said...

OMG such an exciting blog hop and love your philosophy re Mondays - Hmmm they're the trickiest day of the week! Your card is beautiful Aimes and love how you've made it heart shaped to enhance the sentiment. I'm umming and errrring about distress inks as not sure I'm keen on the mess either but I must take the plunge! x

Neets B said...

Don't you just love blue and white for Christmas cards. Your creation is gorgeous, those snowflakes are stunning xx

Sarah Gough said...

This is so beautiful, i need one of those pens!

Miriam Prantner said...

This is so pretty! I love the blue and the distress splatter and that sweet little red heart!

Carole said...

Simply beautiful and very clever. I think putting the heart design together with that sentiment is genius! - love it.

Sabrina said...

WOW!!! Your card is so beautiful!!!

Nicki S said...

This is STUNNING Aimes! I absolutely LOVE the heart shape you created, and the snowflakes and sparkles and just too pretty ;)

Sarah G said...

Gorgeous masked heart - it works wonderfully with that sweet sentiment! I do love this stamp set!

Nonni said...

So cute! I love the sponged sky, what a great idea to emboss white snowflakes on top of it. The twine looks great too.

KellyRae said...

Gorgeous card, Amy. I love that pop of red. This would be a marvelous card for the Operation Write Home effort. It's too late to send Christmas cards but winter love cards are still being accepted. The sentiment is PERFECT!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card design!!

Iris said...

Pretty card - love the blue heart and the bling.
isoscia at aol dot com

Meredith said...

Great project! Thanks for the chance to win.

Unknown said...

I have a passion for snowflakes - and this is the most wonderful card! Thank you for sharing it. Here's another stamp set from Uniko that I NEED!
Carmen

Unknown said...

I have a passion for snowflakes - and this is the most wonderful card! Thank you for sharing it. Here's another stamp set from Uniko that I NEED!
Carmen

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

This is so sweet! I love it!

Indy's Designs said...

What a pretty card!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card. Great colour choice. Thanks.

canadian_liner said...

This is a lovely idea for a winter love-you card. Can't see any boo-boos!

Susie Sugar said...

I love your card what a great way to use that heart die and it looks fabulous as does that gorgeous sentiment
Hugs Susie xx

Carole said...

Such a lovely card, will definitely copy this idea thanks x

wendy said...

I am going to have to try this technique. Love it!

Anonymous said...

So pretty and serene! And that sentiment is beautiful! Thanks for the opportunity!

shirley-bee said...

Beautiful card, Aimes! Love the masked snowflake heart - and the rescue!

Jean Bullock said...

Love this and the sentiment is cool. Great fix with the twine. Looks great.

Taheerah said...

I haven't seen you break out that hearts die in ages Aimes. I was kinda missing it! ;D

Gorgeous card girlie - perfect ink blending, and the twine and mini heart really set things off perfectly - I would never have guessed you were trying to fix an 'oops'!!

Dawn Louise said...

Certainly stunning card really love it pretty yet fresh and gorgeous

My Paper Epiphany said...

Gorgeous - you got inky and messy and still made a CAS card! I love the whole effect and the sentiment!

Janis said...

This is just soooo beautiful!! Love your sparkly additions. That starry sky technique is amazing. I still haven't tried it yet.

How lovely of you to offer us a chance at the gift voucher. You did not require us to follow in order to be eligible (which I VERY much appreciate) but in addition to already following you by email for some time, I am now a brand-new follower of yours by Google Friend, too. Yippee!!!
<3 J

Indy's Designs said...

Such a beautiful card! Great "boo-boo" fix!
Hugs, Debbie!

Mac Mable said...

Love the colours and the techniques you have used. I do so enjoy dipping into your blog for inspiration, you are one clever lady x

Keep It Sweet and Simple said...

Wow! Beautiful card. And how serendipitous that you stamped the sentiment so low - your bow is perfect.
Caroline xxx

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