Feeling the Mood...

Hello again and welcome to Monday! Yes, a new week - it's here again... I'm also glad to say it's time for a great new theme over at Simon Says Stamp & Show! This week we are mad about texture. Yes, all that wonderful touchy, feely stuff... No need to get too emotional, even if it is Monday morning, as we're putting it all into our creations.

l had to think for a while but I soon found inspiration in the piles of packaging and cardboard that dwell under my desk. I'm a big fan of corrugated cardboard, shabby layers and vintage tones so they all came together on my card...

l really love this girl's gaze... the gorgeous gal from Artistic Outpost's Think and Wonder set. This is a fabulous image and can be used on so many projects as her mood is so alluring!

I stamped the girl onto a smooth area of cardboard BEFORE I did all the distressing stuff. Then l built up my layers using the card which I ripped, distressed and aged with gesso and Walnut Distress Ink. I used two layers and placed the 'lines' of the card at right angles to each other for contrast. I also added some random stamping of script here and there on the flatter areas.

 I placed a layer of gauze in between the two cardboard layers - sneakily obtained from the first aid kit! I rubbed in lots of gesso, let it dry to get a really great piece of textured, home-made fabric! Brown and white just seem to like being together... I also used bound string and touches of Viva Gold along the edges to accent the vintage look and add a bit of colour.

Here you can see the layers in close-up as well as two old, shabby rolled flowers I made out of book pages. Just draw a big spiral (like a snail shell) on paper, cut, roll up - and there you go! I stamped the think and wonder words onto a scrap book page, mounting it on card for extra thickness which you need on such a card.

My days of hoarding Design Paper are long gone and I grabbed a piece of Tim's Kraft Resist Paper Stash to create my card base. I added a little Distress Ink and machine stitching before I attached the card front with four eyelets. I finished off with a vertical wrap of gold thread which helps to balance out the eye-line. All sounds a bit like posh designer talk but I think contrasting and opposing lines add a lot of interest to a piece.

Well, inky or designer talk, I think that's enough waffle for today. Do take a look at the great pieces from my team mates over at the Simon Says Stamp & Show Blog and be sure to play along too. I'm sure this great $50 voucher would do us all the world of good... Thanks for the visit.

Enjoy your week and until whenever...!
Sarah.