Friday 1 January 2021

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, I can't quite believe it is 2021 already, let's hope this year brings happier days. 

I am excited to be hosting my first challenge on the CAS Mix Up challenge blog. This month it is mixed media and I want you to include splatters on your card along with at least one other mixed media element from the list in the side bar on the blog.

We welcome Elaine of craft-e-place as our guest designer this month so do please take a moment to pay her a visit, you won't be disappointed as her cards are always stunning.



I love splatters but am not very good at doing them, so I thought it would be good to get some practice and improve my confidence with them.  I have used stamping, heat embossing, and ink blending as well as splatters on this card. No die cutting, which makes a change for me.


I actually made this card 3 times because something went wrong each time. I was pleased with the design so I persevered and at third attempt I got a card I was happy with.



I started by printing the sentiment (created on my computer) onto the panel. Winter is not a good time for me and January is the worst so the sentiment gives it a positive spin for me. Next I stamped the tree (a free gift from Simply Cards & Papercraft magazine Issue 208) in Momento London fog ink and then masked the edges and blended distress ink down the centre. After removing the masking tape I went over the tree branches on the white section with a black fineliner pen before putting the panel back in my misti and stamping with versamark and heat embossing with clear embossing powder. Then I replaced the masking tape and used a white Derwent paint pen to add my splatters.  Once I was happy, and I had let them dry, I used a white gel pen to add snow to some of the nooks and crannies in the tree and on the ground. On my final attempt I tried using a white corrector pen and found that it gives a better whiteness to the image so used it for the snow on the ground.  The fresh green leaves of spring were stamped in Catherine Pooler Lime Rickey.


To finish off I mounted it on some black paper and then onto a pale grey/blue card base.

What do you think? I hope you like it and that I may have inspired you to join us over at CAS Mix Up this month. I am looking forward to seeing you in the gallery and paying you a visit.

But wait a minute, I have another card to share today that uses heat embossed splatters. I first saw this technique used by Jennifer McGuire over a year ago, it is a great technique that I used on Christmas cards. Her explanation of the splatter technique starts at minute 11 in the video, just in case you are impatient or short of time.



As you can see I made several using silver gold and red embossing powder. The red was an extra fine powder and it didn't work quite as well as the silver and gold. It is a very easy and effective technique as you just use splatters of water which the embossing powder then sticks to. You just need patience when heating it as the water has to evaporate before the powder melts. Be careful not to scorch the card, which I am afraid I did on one of them.

I am really looking forward to visiting everyone in the gallery this month - see you there.

What do you think of my new look blog? It is curtesy of the wonderful Loll, she is so talented. 
Thank you Loll.

 Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today, I really appreciate it. 
xx

29 comments:

Loll said...

Gorgeous winter card Hilary! LOVE your design and all the special details you've added to the card. So happy you persevered, because this is an AMAZING work of art! And love the gorgeous ornament cards with the heat embossed water splatters --- have not tried that before so thank you! And thanks for such a fun challenge to start the New Year! xx

Viv said...

A fab winter card Hilary - and the ornament card was wonderful! A great challenge to start the New Year my friend. xx

Leslie Miller said...

Your tree card is pretty darn amazing, Hilary! Seeing it up close and reading your description... WOW! I absolutely love how you made winter down the center and spring on the edges. Brilliant! I love the ornament cards, too, and really must try the heat embossed splatters. Thanks!

conil said...

May I just say WOW!. Your Winter card makes me shiver just looking at it. The colors look just like my back yard, frosty and cold. And that snow is spatter perfection. Also impressed by the custom sentiment. And the leafing tree is looking forward to Spring as much as I am. Such a lovely, hopeful card.

Bonnie said...

Winter does not stand a chance when you are creating for the spring to come. What font did you use. It is just whimsical enough but legible. Congrats on a great challenge. Will get us all splattering.

Bonnie said...

I have been enjoying your card in the admin blog and I'm so glad to see your description of the process! I love the two season tree with the beautiful snowy winter look and the soft spring green leaves! Lovely splatters, my friend, and a technique I can use more practice with!

Bonnie said...

Want to add that I LOVE your new header! Loll is so talented!

Cathy said...

Gorgeous wintery card Hilary, so much texture on that lovely tree, what a great freebie it was! Your ornament cards are so pretty too, will check out the video! Cathy x

Christine Alexander said...

Wonderful winter scene with the new leaves peeking out the edge transitioning slowly from winter to spring.
Great challenge with the splatters, and that will be a challenge for me not to get blobs but splatters :)
Happy New Year.

aussie aNNie said...

Beautiful cards and your splatters are amazing..xx

GerJanne said...

Hi Hilary,
your card is just amazing! I love the tree, the leaves at both sides, wonderful.
Hope january still will be a good month this time. For 2021 I wish you healthness and a world full of hugs in real....
I will take a look at Jennifer. She is great!
And maybe I can join you in this challenge..

GerJanne said...

p.s. I love the new look of your blog!

nancy littrell said...

OMG...Hilary...I am Loving your Clean, Crisp new Blog look by Loll:-) Loll helped me design my blog two almost 5 years ago! Yes, she is so talented and generous with her time. You, my friend are very talented too. I LOVE your very creative and clever splatter card design. You used so many mixed media products to create your beautiful Winter tree and I absolutely Love your new spring leaves coming out on the tips of a few branches. TFS all your creative steps and hosting this awesome challenge. I have had so much fun creating cards for your challenge, my friend. We are all starting the New Year out on such a positive creative note:-)

I was excited to see your Christmas cards and description as I was a lucky receiver of one of your beauties and now I know how it was created. Your splatters and heat embossing added so much texture and detail to the design. Thank you again for hosting and wishing you a very creative Happy Healthy New Year, my friend. Love and Hugs..Nancy

Ashwini Rao said...

Loving how you've created your first card! It looks simply amazing!! I love the white highlights for the snow too - gorgeous effects. Yeah, fine ep are difficult - I have a black one and its always difficult to work with it! But I love the embossed splatter cards!

I Card Everyone said...

Happy New Year, Hilary! A gorgeous design, and challenge to start 2021!
Wowzers, is this a gorgeous card - so glad you persevered, as this design is so worth your efforts!
Lovely Christmas cards, and new blog-look, too!
=]

Julia Aston said...

Such beautiful cards here Hilary! That tree is interpreted so wonderfully with the snowy center and green leaves on the outside edges - what a creative design! Your ornament cards are so festive in the reds and gold! xx

Nancy said...

An amazing card that caught my eye over at CAS Mix it Up. WOW! I so enjoyed your entire post and cards and your blog looks great too! Loll is very talented! Happy New Year.

Jo said...

Love the layout of this winter/spring theme. Such a extra special design that you've created and this colour combo is soft and perfect. Happy New Year dear Hilary xx

My Paper Epiphany said...

Your card is so beautiful and unique! Love it! Thanks for the fun theme:)

Pat said...

A great winter tree Hilary and love the snowy splatters over the pretty coloured ink blended masked background. A beautiful card! x

papierelle said...

Wow! Wow! Wow!!! Your card with the tree is absolutly stunning. I not only love your design, but also the message of the card! I#m in love with this card!!!

Darnell said...

Love the new blog look, Hilary! Lolly is a whiz at this! And I love your choice of theme this month at CAS Mix Up and your sensational card! I truly looked at it for a long time, marveling at each beautiful detail! It tells the story of your sediment perfectly. I'm so glad you presevered! And thank you for the further inspiration with your next awesome card designs and the tip about JM's video for making easy schplatters. Happy New Year Hugs, Darnell

Karen Dunbrook said...

what a beautiful card.
Happy New Year!
:) Karen

Linda said...

Happy New Year Hilary!
I love how you've done your winter tree. The background looks amazing, love the splatters, and the touch of colour on the leaves looks fab xx

Susan Joyce said...

Happy New Year Hilary! Wow! your Tree card is a work of Art, needs to be framed. Love all the design elements you used for this fantastic card.

Mac Mable said...

So glad you persevered Hilary as your card is amazing and so very pretty. Loving the extra four cards too and thank you for he link for the technique x.

Greta said...

Your blog looks wonderful, Hilary! I absolutely love the masked card--one of my favorite designs, but yours has so many additional details--stunning! Totally worth your efforts! The ornament cards are lovely, too!

Dotty Jo said...

Beautiful cards, Hilary! Jo x

maria f. said...

I'm mesmerized by your snow showers on your lovely winter tree. Beautifully done.