A Little Retro Grunge!!!

Hello again to everyone looking in...
Well, the Mondays keep on a coming and that means another great theme and challenge at Simon Says Stamp & Show! This week it's a chance to get really crafty, arty and playful with Handmade Backgrounds. Distress inks, paint, stamping, embossing, collage, sprays, grungy, girly or full on funky...just choose your favourite and do your stuff! It's been ages since I've made a card for the Design Team...

I thought it would also be a good idea to see if I could magic up one with some of my great new Tim stamps and yet still create a Grungy look. Sometimes you need a card but not everyone wants flutterbys and flowers. So...

Browns and blues always seem to like each others company, whether shabby chic or funky. I started by creating the main panel of colour and interest with Kraft Glassine paper and Alcohol Inks. I pounded Pool and Picket Fence Alcohol Inks onto the paper to create a random blotchy effect. Then I heat set the inks with a quick blast from my heat gun. You'll see the paper turn slightly shiny and waxy as you heat it which is fine and also necessary to "set" the inks.

Then I embossed it with the Retro Circles folder and swiped Walnut Stain Distress Ink over the surface to pick out the texture and detail. Heat set again and repeat the inky swipe if you want a darker colour. I distressed the edges and added some random stitching before layering it up and adhering it to my Kraft card base which I had stamped with Tim's Mixed Media spots

The Glassine paper will become more delicate during all these processes, so do take care not to tear it after embossing. That being said, I myself had a slight casualty with A Retro circle centre. So I decided I'd take it off completely and make a feature peep-hole of it!!! I slipped a piece of dictionary paper in behind and added an "Ideas" Trinket Pin to mark the brainwave!

I stamped Tim's Words for Thought in Sepia Archival Ink, then re-stamped some again in Coffee Archival and layered them up adding two real staples to the 'finding'. More inky edges, a bit of string and a wrap of rusty wire - and there you go - Retro Grunge! It's a fabulous theme this week with lots of room for artistic expression and discovery!

 Take a look at the wonderful display of Background Beauties over at the Design Team Blog and check out all the wonderful new goodies at the Store. You might be the one who gets to spend that $50 voucher, or be one of the Top Three chosen artists! I'm looking forward to seeing what you all cook up with this one!
Thanks for calling by and staying a while...wishing you all an inspired and sunny week.
Sarah.