Now I have to start by apologizing! I designed this stamp for the doodlers, the tanglers, the adventurers. I'm not any of those! But I decided to give it the old college try and here is what happened.... (This stamp is called JOY- Fill 'er Up and is similar to our Thanks - Fill 'er Up T stamp.)
The idea was to gild the inside of the letters. Of course gilding is notoriously hard to photograph, so there is nothing like setting yourself up to fail! Ultimately, I opted for painting in the gold and used Schminke Tro-Col Pale Gold gouache.
After stamping and thermal embossing, the first thing I did was spatter the gold onto the project. Oh, well. Let's do it again! And again! And now it's a technique and essential element to the project. And if you believe that I have a bridge to sell you.
The Tro-Col is easy to use, just mix it with a little water and spread it with a brush. It flattens to a smooth surface and any indiscretions made by painting the embossed lines may be removed afterward with a brush dampened with fresh water. As for the spatters, well they helped disguise the other flaw - wayward embossing powder. (Note to self: Wipe paper with dryer sheet before sprinkling embossing powder)
This project definitely needed some colour, so I popped in some red with a Tombow marker.
My first experiment with this project was using gold composition leaf. It has potential, but I need to do some more work. I'm used to using real gold leaf and can predict it better, but I know it's easier for crafters to get the composition leaf. It does behave differently. Here are my results. It looks better the more I drink. Kidding, I'm virtually a teetotaler. (And yes, I had to look up the spelling of teetotaler.)
What do you like better? I'm torn!
So that's about it for my project (the supplies are listed below). I hope you enjoy this blog hop and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and holiday season!
Just a reminder that all Quietfire rubber stamps are 25% off their regular price during the hop.
Here is the blog hop schedule because we don't want you to miss an opportunity to win! Go to each of the blogs and leave a nice comment on their Winter Wonderland Blog Hop posts. You have until midnight Friday, December 19th to comment. Good luck!
Monday: Diana
Arches 140lb HP Watercolour paper
Schminke Tro-Col Pale Gold gouache
Coloured cardstock for card base
Foam adhesives for dimension
Very pretty. love the gold!
ReplyDeleteI love them both...but I think I'd go with the icy snow. Love the fill er up idea and you can use so many things to do that! Amazing cards!
ReplyDeleteFABULOUS stamp & cards Suzanne!!!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is the 1st one, with the warm red and gold - LOVE IT - I quite enjoy the splatters too!!!
THANK YOU for sharing your CREATIVE ADVENTURE and INSPIRATION :)
I really do LOVE the design of these cards, the ELEGANT layers are perfect for BIG sentiments, apart from learning how to work with the glorious golden products, I need to learn more about die cutting too :)
I enjoyed the fun and adventurous sprit of this card. I can see myself attempting to make this card for my granddaughter, Joy who is fun and adventurous ... Just like this great card.
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are beautiful Suzanne! Love the gold you used and the splatters! Beautiful framing too!
ReplyDeleteThis is just beautiful!
ReplyDeleteomg. you made me laugh so. at first I didn't see anything, then poof a closer pic ... it was like you knew we couldn't find it otherwise. I like that you were so honest about the problems you had. it makes my do overs not nearly so original.. personally I like it on the blue better. but my fav color is blue so... either way it's great fun.
ReplyDeleteFunny blog post! I think I like the icy snow version.
ReplyDeleteI like both cards equally. Some people prefer blue for Christmas and other are more traditional red. It just depends who you are giving the card to. Lovely though!
ReplyDeleteSuzanne, I LOVE BOTH of these funky Christmas joy cards! I LOVE the Joy using the gold leaf, just beautiful! Blessings to you!
ReplyDeletevery nice examples. Like the one on the red better than on the blue. Have a great day
ReplyDeleteAs a gilding addict I can picture what you were going for! I love both of these cards. The blue is more serene and the red is for the bolder recipient!! Both have a special quality!! TFS!
ReplyDeleteOh my what a GORGEOUS stamp!!!!! Your cards are sublime! I love them!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the font of this stamp both cards are pretty but I prefer the blue and white one .Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI love the red. The layers and the die cut are so pretty. The gold looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe blue card is kind of washed-out after seeing the red.
thanks for sharing a wonderful card.
These are super great cards Suzanne. Love the "gold" in the JOY.
ReplyDeleteI love them both, but think the blue looked a little more elegant. Love how you hid the embossing issue by using splatters, the gold is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI like the red and gold because it's bold! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your trials and triumphs in making these pretty cards.
I wouldn't like to choose a favourite, they're both lovely, and how nice to know things don't always go to plan for other too ;)
ReplyDeleteBoth are jaw dropping gorgeous!!! But, I must say that I like the red...it is my favorite color. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards, Suzanne!
Beautiful cards! Love that JOY stamp. ... had not seen it before! I am partial to the red card! My favorite color for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteI love both cards. But if I had to choose, the red just screams HOLIDAY and is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI like the bright pops of color with the gold!
ReplyDeleteI vote for the red, it makes everything pop..and I really love this card, the gold is pretty and it is a beautiful card.
ReplyDeleteI love choices and seeing BTS! I think I like the blue- it's refreshing!
ReplyDeleteI'll take my gold however I can get it!
Oh yes, great card!
Lovely and bold , really like the red .x
ReplyDeleteWhich do I like better? Send them both to me, I need a closer look. haha!
ReplyDeleteBoth are gorgeous.
Too funny! I have to admit though, I cannibalized one to make the other! I ran out of time!
DeleteThank you for sharing the different techniques/materials used.
ReplyDeleteBoth are great but I like the red. Gilding looks great.
ReplyDeleteFun cards! I do
ReplyDeletelike the second
card better.
Carla from Utah
I really like both cards! The red and gold looks a little more like Christmas but just because of the colors. I love the solf aqua of the second and could be for any occasion. Thx for sharing your creativity.
ReplyDelete"JOY - Fill er up" definitely has a certain playfulness about it, it would be wonderful with retro colors. Love your cards.
ReplyDeleteVery much like the blue and gold. Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteYou made your cards as if you were me Suzanne LOL Anything that could go wrong does!
ReplyDeleteWhen I clicked onto your Blog and saw the red, black and gold I was amazed at the clarity of the colours. Bang! They were in my face and I loved it and the simplicity of it. Symbolized the Season immensely! At the end when you showed us the blue version I really liked it too. I am a sucker for pastel colours. But for Christmas I think the red is awesome.
Have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all the best in the New Year.......
Stunning and elegant cards. Like them both, they are so well done and I love the addition of the gold "spatters". they are wonderful and your tutorial shows us what you can do whenever anything happens. They are wonderful cards.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty cards! I love the gold!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful card! This is a card I would love to receive in the mail. Can you imagine opening the envelope to this card?
ReplyDeleteLOVE the red and gold with black, simple but very cool!
ReplyDeleteI like the embossing better than the foil. Oh, wait, I think I like the foil better. No, no, oh, I don't know WHICH one is better.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a really elegant stamp - and I think I like the red card the best - very striking.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! You can do so much with this stamp! Will definitely be on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous card! I love the combination of gold and red, and the open letters filled with gold look fantastic. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletePretty cards! I like the red card better!!! Interesting techniques!!! Have to keep them in mind!!
ReplyDeleteI love the blue one, love the gold glitter in joy, and the beautiful mat.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun card! Love that gold gilding and the whimsical font! The splatters add wonderful added texture too! I have to say that my favorite version is the blue but the red is also really pretty!
ReplyDeleteBoth cards have some wonderful design points to them, so I think you did great! Especially love the "touch" of red in the swirls.
ReplyDeleteMy inner crow, that is attracted to all things shiny and sparkly, is in raptures over your cards!!! I love both of them so much that I truly can't choose one over the other. I can't take my eyes off that gold!! Sooooooo gorgeous!!!
ReplyDelete<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
Very awesome Suzanne. Love the filler-ups. Very pretty and festive with the gold. I wish you and your family and the whole gang at Quietfire a Happy Holidays!! enjoy!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty and unique! Love love!
ReplyDeleteLike the first the best, it looks very Asian to me and I love the look. The one with the blue emphasizes the feeling of winter. Both are very lovely.
ReplyDeleteDorthy
Suzanne- your are a hoot! I'd have to look up teetotaler, too! Both are beautiful! But I've been enjoying that lovely shade of blue in wrapping paper this season so I'm going with that but the other is the colors of my alma mater so that's pretty too, and so classic. I'm off today so I have a change to catch up on all of the hop. What a fun start to my day!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
I do like both cards. I have never used gouache before. I guess I will have to try it.
ReplyDeleteThe gilding on this is stunning! What beautiful cards!
ReplyDeleteI like both colours! I'm glad I'm not the only one who makes mistakes and has to start over. Love the final product!
ReplyDeleteBoth of these are beautiful I love the gilding, so stunning.
ReplyDeleteLove both cards but I think the gold and red just pops more. That Joy stamp would become a Favourite for sure
ReplyDeleteYou didn't fail - I love simple cards and this one shines
ReplyDeleteLove this lettering! Beautiful cards!
ReplyDeleteLove the simplicity of both cards. Sorry, I can't choose just one.
ReplyDeleteNow you know, there are no mistakes, only things that make our art grow into something different that we imagined! Personally, I think the blue/black combo sets off the stamp better...that's just me. I like it a lot! Thanks, Suzanne!
ReplyDeleteLove the cards Suzanne! But I gotta' choose the red!
ReplyDeleteAwesome project!! love it, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletesimplicity sentiments and cards are divine!
ReplyDeletecool idea and so inspiring
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring-- I really like the extra detail of gold in each corner. I think I like the blue better --but it is a toss up as to which one.
ReplyDeleteThat dryer sheet hint is a great one!!! Beautiful work as always madame. Linda Tanaka
ReplyDeleteI love the red & black! What impact! Dryer sheets are fine but the details of the splatters make this a winner! Thank you for your wonderful designs and words. You make a difference in my world of crafting. TFS.
ReplyDeleteI like the markings on the gold leaf, but you can put marks into painted gold. I have done that in classes with both Harvest Crittenden and Heather Victoria Held. Gilding itself is fussier than I usually want to do.
ReplyDeleteYou used a stamp that I must have in my collection. Beautifully decorated.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha-funny post. I think I like the red and gold best (I'm too traditional I guess-need to be more adventurous)
ReplyDeleteI like them both! I would tailor it to the person who's getting it.
ReplyDeleteGreat cards.
ReplyDeleteWell, both cards are amazing, but being that I like blue more than red, I'm leaning a little towards the blue one. Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteGreat cards. Love the wacky Joy stamp and need to order it. Made a beautiful card
ReplyDeleteI love both cards equaly....both absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards love the gold in them hugs Nikki
ReplyDelete