Thursday 23 March 2023

Seize The Birthday #258

Today is the 4th Thursday of the month so time for a new challenge over at Seize the Birthday where I am delighted to be the surprise party guest for March and April.

Today the optional topping is things in a garden.



I always love flowers so they are my things in a garden.


I saw this technique demonstrated by Sandy MacIver last month and I just had to give it a go with my favourite embossing folder. I just love the look, but it is a process that needs a little patience.


You start with a piece of white watercolour paper that you randomly cover in watercolour. Once it is dry you ink the flat side of a 3d embossing folder and emboss the panel. This adds some ink to the embossed image that helps add detail and texture. After that you fill the background with black ink using a black marker. I used a combination of a fine liner pen and a fine point marker because my gaps were quite small - it took a while!


Once it is all black you use versamark swiped gently over the top and heat emboss it is gold. I don't think the pictures really do it justice, it is much brighter in real life. I finished the card off with a happy birthday die cut from shiny gold card and a black card shadow.

I enjoyed doing this so much that I made 3 more. What do you think?

Card 2

Card 3

Card 4

I am also sharing card 1 at:
Cardz4galz #195 - spring flowers
Time Out Challenges #234 - inspired by words


Supplies:
Cardstock: White water colour card; black card base; black paper
Ink: Dr Ph Martin's concentrated water colour
Embossing Folders: Spellbinders flower frenzy E3D-048; Sizzix 3-D textured impressions 664527; Darice paisley
Dies: Tonic Studios word dies

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

40 comments:

JulieP said...

Oh my goodness! What a labor of love these were. Gorgeous! Thanks so much for joining us on the blog with this lovely set of cards.

Hansi Brittain said...

Your cards are all striking! The black background makes the colors and the gold gilding pop! I know which technique I am going to have to try next. Thank you for the inspiration.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Well, surely there is a lot of work behind these cards, but the results are well worth the efforts!! You have been very accurate and love the effect of the vibrant colours with the black and gold, just gorgeous!! Mu favourites are the first and the second one, but all them look very striking!
Hugs

Cat Craig said...

I;ve never seen this technique..at lease as I remember. Stunning cards Hilary.

GerJanne said...

Oh wow! I love this technic! I saw another one who is also beautiful. Adn I hope to try bothe technics. I love the first one the most. It's outstanding!

GerJanne said...

oh... it's technique (I thought that's French ;-))

brenda said...

All so effective Hilary and such detail achieved. I really should give me embossing folders more attention.

B x

I Card Everyone said...

I think I can totally understand how this might become quite addictive, Hilary! They are all three amazing! I'm so happy you had these delicate sentiment dies - who would want to cover any of this gorgeousness up?
=]

Brenda in IN said...

These are stunning. The black makes those colors pop and the gold is so elegant. You have lots of patience!

crafty-stamper said...

WOW absolutely stunning cards love the embossing folders and great technique-how much patience for filing in the background with the black!
Carol x

ElizStewart said...

Hilary... FABULOUS! I am so glad you shared the technique... but your patience is to be commended. All three cards are beautiful. Thank you so much for joining and sharing at TIME OUT!

Barbara said...

This is certainly a complicated technique, but you seem to have mastered it very well. I love the look of the black background with your garden of flowers. I need to watch the video. It must have been a labor of love for you to finish all of these.

Artocopia said...

Fabulous cards! Thank you for sharing the technique. It seems like a lot of work, but the gorgeous outcome is absolutely worth it!

Carole said...

Oooooooh these are stunning. What a wonderful effect but boy you must have lots of patience, but you obviously enjoyed doing them ad a very satisfying outcome. xx

Linda said...

Hillary, these are such gorgeous backgrounds. Thank you so much for being our guest this month. Beautiful cards.

Bonnie said...

What a fun technique with fantastic results, Hilary! I love how the black background makes those colors pop and the addition of the gold makes them so elegant!

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, my word! I love these cards so much. Another technique for the must try list. Even I would find this time consuming and require great patience, but the results are stunning. The finishing touch of gold is a grand finale. So beautiful, Hilary!

kiwimeskreations said...

What a fabulous technique and some absolutely stunning results Hilary. Thank for sharing where you found the tutorial. This is the sort of thing I love trying - you have inspired me
Blessings
Maxine

Linby said...

They are all spectacular. I was ready to give it a go until it got to the part where you fill in with the black. However, the technique I've done before with blackout and embossing. I am wondering if you sprinkle embossing powder on the ink and then rub over with a black in pad and wipe of the excess - could that work with this? Maybe the intricate embossing would hold too much black ink?

Anyway - they are fabulous.

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Wow! What fabulous cards Hilary. A wonderful technique that gives gorgeous results, I love the colours you have used in all of them.
Lorraine

Claudia's kaartjes said...

Wat heb jij een mooie kaart gemaakt, zeg. Echt tof!!! Leuk dat je meedoet met onze challenge bij Cardz 4 Galz
Awesome card Thanks for playing at Cardz 4 Galz
grtjs Claudia

DT Cardz 4 Galz
Je kan mij nu ook vinden op You tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlT4Rs1DfAZU_GLcM7Kx1g
https://claudiaskaartjes.blogspot.com/
http://creativesketchygirls.blogspot.be
http://girlzrebelchallenge.blogspot.com
https://girlzcreativecrafts.blogspot.com
https://girlzcreativechristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/
https://girlzmakesguyzcards.blogspot.com/

Vicki Dutcher said...

Whoa! You rocked this technique! All these cards are just stunning!

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is such an effective creation, a lot of work it sounds and you did it more than once. A beautiful outcome to that hard work.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxxx

Nancy said...

WOW, Hilary! You must have had a ball creating all of these cards. The EF from Spellbinders is one of my favorites too! You certainly have the knack for this technique as well. Well done!

pinky said...

Wow Hilary you have the patience of an angel to do these and boy they are stunning!!

Maria said...

Wow!! Your cards are absolutely gorgeous!! Love all the beautiful color against the black background!!

papierelle said...

Wow, your card is stunning!! And the cards look so classy thanks to this technique.

JoAnn said...

Wow, these are amazing. You really enjoyed this technique as I know it took some time for each card. Thank you for sharing all these beauties.

shirley-bee said...

These are stunning, Hilary! I’ve yet to try this technique (putting it off) but the results look wonderful!

Nancy said...

Oh! Those backgrounds are delicious! Thanks for playing along with us at Time Out!

Greta said...

Oh my goodness--can't imagine doing the black background, but what gorgeous cards! Maybe I'll try it for a little strip to put on a card--haha!

Ashwini Rao said...

That's a fine technique, but you've made them cards really shine! Amazing effects with these embossing folders, oh so awesome, i don't know which one I like the most! Thank you so much for this awesome inspiration for Seize the Birthday!!

Glenda J said...

These are absolutely stunning!!! So gorgeous - what a cool technique and you rocked it. So happy to have you joining us.

Julia Aston said...

Wow - that IS a LOT of work Hilary - but they are truly gorgeous! The mix of colors is beautiful against the black! thanks for details on how you made them! Julia xx

Cathy said...

These cards look amazing Hilary! You must have loads of patience and a juicy black marker! So worth it though as they are gorgeous, great to have you as our guest for a while, Cathy x

aussie aNNie said...

Looks really classic and beautiful! Love the colours ♥

Anonymous said...

Hilary you teally out did yourself with this technique and they are all gorgeous! Thank you for being such an inspiring guest at STB!

Billie A said...

Oh my gosh.. Your cards are stunning. Beautiful.. I love them.. I love watching Sandy and her awesome card ideas. You did an awesome job.. So glad you shared over at Cardz 4 Galz. and Happy little stamper wc.

Dotty Jo said...

What a stunner, Hilary - I love your card! Big congrats on being the Surprise Party Guest too, Jo x

nancy littrell said...

OMG....Four stunning cards using your 3D EB Folder watercoloring technique, Hilary..I definitely want to try your technique. TFS your cards and detailed description, my friend..Love and Hugs...see..you have inspired me again:-) Nancy