Thursday, May 10, 2007

Shabby Chic...giraffe?

Hm. Not so sure that shabby chic is me. Also not sure that "giraffe" says shabby chic to me. But...a couple ideas collided - one was a card I saw with a zebra head coming out of a circle window, and the second was Julee's card layout and contest here. I've had this poor sweet giraffe from smARTworks hiding out in a priority envelope on my desk for weeks...so he finally got to come out to play. :)

Stamp credits, first of all:
Giraffe, saying, and leaf in circle background - smARTworks
Flourishes - Rhonda Farrer Flower set
Leaf - CowTown Stamps

I was given some Versamagic dewdrop pads, and I finally broke those out. I remembered a technique that was demo'd at a stamp convention where white chalk ink (Colorbox fluid chalk though) was used in a resist technique on glossy paper. Stamp image in white chalk ink, let dry, then DTP darker chalk ink over the top, and buff off the chalk finish with a cotton cloth. Well...it didn't work with the Versamagic ink. I used a cotton ball to buff off the finish, and ended up buffing off the ink...though some ink did stick to the white ink - that was sort of interesting. I couldn't throw it away of course...so the vertical strip across is my "eek" piece. I did find that the Versamagic white ink did well with Colorbox fluid chalk inks rubbed over the top. Beautiful. you can see the results in the left panel. But...maybe a tutorial for another day, k?

The Versamagic pads, by the way, are gorgeous colors, and the ink is really rich. I just got a little frustrated trying to open the darn things - the lids are so airtight that they create little vacuums, and they're hard to get a hold of and pull off. I'd end up half flinging them across the desk pulling so hard, then stick my fingers in the pad trying to rescue them. It was a messy night, let me tell you.

Thanks for visiting! Don't forget the blog cannoli...............!

10 comments:

  1. What a mess with those ink pads, but you certainly ended up with a great card! I really like the giraffe. He's so cute & just "goes" with the saying.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I actually really like your card. I think it is totally fun and unique. The colors are really smooth and earthy...goes well with the theme.

    and your lady bug card from yesterday ROCKS...so creative!

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOVE this one!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're card is absolutely terrific! Love that Giraffe and everything you did on the panels. Thanks for playing. I had no idea you had a blog, I've subscribed and will definitely be back.

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOWZER! Excellent artwork Dini! It looks like a contest winner to me.

    ReplyDelete
  6. OMG I love this card. I'm definately saving this for future reference. I know it's so different from your usual work, and I love it!! You rock at shabby chik. What an amazing card artist you are. Wow!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fabulous card! I love it! The giraffe is awesome looking on this. I think the colors turned out great!
    ~Angie

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love this card - really cool!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You totally deserved to win! Your card was so unique! I wonder how long it will take those stamps to get to Indonesia!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this card! I linked to you through a couple of blogs..and it was well worth the blog travel. Keep up the fantastic ARTwork!

    ReplyDelete