Monday 8 December 2014

The last three

Hello everyone and thank you for dropping by here at this busy time of year.

Today I am sharing my final 3 Christmas cards:

These cards were all created with the help of some wonderful Decoart products from their Media line.
I was fortunate enough to receive an enormous box from Decoart to work with, and though I have quite a collection of mixed media products from other companies, I have to say, these products are all fantastic and so easy to work with!!

Anyway, onto my cards: I started with three beer mats and covered them in a coat of Gesso. When dry I took one of my stencils and added Modelling Paste for texture.
 I seem to be obsessed with adding texture to my projects right now.. I also wanted some crackle so added some Crackle Paste with a pallet knife to the corners of two of the cards. (I forgot to take a photo of that stage).

Now one of my all time favourite products of the Media Line are the so called Antiquing Creams. They are like a very fluid acrylic paint, but never cure, so after it is dry you can wipe it off and it will only remain in the cracks of your project. If you click on the link you can view a video of how to use it, love the stuff! Below are some photos of the effect on my 3 cards. By applying a thicker or thinner coat, you can lighten or deepen the colours.



Hope you can also see the effect of the Crackle paste also.

Next I gave each of my "tiles" a quick spray with a Lindy's Stampgang spray, because I wanted a subtle hint of colour, I also added some background stamping and a thin coat of Raw Umber fluid acrylic paint for some definition around the edges, blending it in with a baby wipe. To highlight some of the raised areas I did some dry brushing with the wonderful metallic fluid acrylics, using both gold and silver for the different cards.
Here is one of them, it has a bluish Spray on it and dry brushed with metallic silver.
Finally I gave each of the tiles a coat of Triple Thick Gloss Glaze. This product does not belong to the Media Line, but is fantastic to seal a project and give it almost a ceramic look, which is what I wanted for these "tiles".

Each of them was then finished with a paper clay embellishment, a stamped sentiment and matted on a card.
 On this one I dry brushed first with some Quinacidone Gold, before adding just a bit of the metallic gold. I also added some splatters with Titanium White for a snowy effect.
 Here I still added a little rusted snowflake from my stash
On this one I used some more of the Quin Gold paint and gave it a Spritz with the Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Spray behind the leaf embellishment.

Well, that's it, hope you like my final cards, I have had great fun with them this year, but it feels good to have them done.
Thank you for visiting like always and have a great week!

37 comments:

massofhair said...

Am a HUGE fan of all DecoArt paints and finishes, they are much easier imho to work with than any others i have tried.

Fantastic tiles Astrid, thanks for the tips! :-) xxx

Maryanne said...

Beautiful, Astrid! I love all the texture. Those receiving your cards are getting beautiful pieces of art! Have a wonderful week.

Ink Art Designs said...

These are so beautiful Astrid! Lucky people who get these in the mail!!!
Dot x

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow I love your cards, again some very special artistic, and original real Astrid amazing Artworks, I love them!!!

Greetings
Maria

Valerie-Jael said...

Gorgeous cards, the recipients will just love them! Valerie

Stamps and Paper said...

Beautiful cards Astrid fabulous colours and textures

Anne

Anneke said...

These Christmas cards are amazing. Love the structure. It adds something special to the cards. I am lucky to have recieved my first christmascards. And That's your beautiful card with structure. I cannot only see it but feel it too. Thank you so much Astrid. Your card has recieved a special place in my house and hart. Love Anneke.

brenda said...

As always so creative Astrid, I want to reach out and touch those textures.

What's blogger been up to now, I can see you also have comment verification on, been on ever blog I have been on this morning, need to go check my own I think

B x

chrissie said...

Very beautiful Astrid and it is always so kind of you to show you techniques that create such beauty

Have a lovely day

Chrissie x

Maryann Laursen said...

Soooooooooooooo beautiful work here again Astrid. I absolutely love the texture, you add to all your projects and wish I had the guts to just play like this, it looks soo fabulous. All these 3 are stunning work, that anyone would love to recieve for christmas, so there´ll definitely be some hapy bunnies somewhere at christmastime, I´m sure.

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Gorgeous makes Astrid!
Greetings, Alie

Brenda Brown said...

Fantastic cards my friend and what wonderful designs. Love how you have used the new products, how lovely to have new things to play with xx

Inky and Quirky Designs said...

Beautiful texturized cards Astrid,wonderful creations. Decoart products are fantastic and a good price too which is very important of course :)

Big hugs
Donna xxx

Dianne said...

Hello Miss Astrid, wow I'm obsessed with these beer mat cards, you have showcased these products to perfection, these are so inspiring, I can't wait to try these next year, thanks for sharing hope you have a wonderful week, missed you, ((( BIG HUGS )))..

Mona Pendleton said...

Gorgeous cards Astrid! Happy Holidays!

Pamellia said...

These are just gorgeous Astrid! I love these products you are showing us, my wish list just got bigger again! Question about your clay embellishments...did you mold them yourself or purchase them? big hugs :)

Candy C said...

Astrid...these are exquisite! I LOVE Decorart products and Andy Skinner's techniques. You have done such a gorgeous job with these three beautiful embellishments you've created from clay. I am always amazed at how you create. Your sense of color and antiquing always captures me. These finished cards are so beautiful and anyone who receives them will be thrilled. <3 Candy

Dorthe said...

Your tiles are gorgeous, dear Astrid,- what a shine from the metalic acryl colours, and I love the added sweet leaves , -such most beautiful cards.
Hugs from me.
Dorthe,xx

Redanne said...

Oh Astrid, these are just like minature works of art, they are exquisite!

I too, received a wonderful big box of goodies, will have to watch lots of videos over the Christmas period to learn how to use them - as well as this wonderful post! Hugs, Anne xx

Nikki Acton said...

I adore this series of cards. I have some antiquing cream, most get it out and play! Nikki xx

Ros Crawford said...

So very lovely!!

Lys said...

Three beautiful cards ! I love this work on textures, thanks for sharing the making of.
Lys.

Corrie Herriman said...

I can see those Decoart products landed in safe hands, you made such beautiful cards with them.
Corrie x

Debbie said...

Absolutely beautiful!!!

Meggymay said...

Fabulous cards, love the textures, will have to look out for that antiquing cream.
Yvonne

Jackie PN said...

Gorgeous Astrid!! I an=m a fan of DecoArt also!
love those leaf embellishments you used! perfect touches!
Merry Christmas my friend- enjoy your visit! xoxo

froebelsternchen said...

Oh gosh!
I love this trio!

Claudia N. said...

Lovely work with the DecoArt products, Astrid!

I see you have fallen in love with the Crackle Media too ;)

Hugs,
Claudia x

Words and Pictures said...

These are completely gorgeous - I'm a big fan of the Media Line - so much fun to play with, and your shimmery crackles are stunning!
Alison xx

Julia Aston said...

I thought these were ceramic tiles Astrid - what a beautiful depth and design you have created on these coasters!!

mamablitger said...

Oh dear Astrid... As always your art inspires me and so many other as I can see from the amount of comments.
I can only repeat what all other said : fabulous, gorgeous, stunning !!!
Love your techniques, your great way to explain about them and that you often use a lot of texture and clay embellishment.
Did you buy the leave mold recently ? It' s very decorative.
Thanks again for sharing your lovely art.
Hugs from Monica.. Spain

Unknown said...

Totally gorgeous! xx

Julie Lee said...

These cards are just fabulous! I love the little paper clay embellishments. There is something so original and special about them. xxx

WendyK said...

These are wonderful, love all the textures and colours.

Silvia(Barnie) said...

Breathtaking, these are three wonderful cards with great texture.

Margaret Mifsud said...

Oh Wow!! These are just awesome Astrid!! Love the subtle colour and the texture on each of these. Fab techniques and simple yet gorgeous designs!! Beautiful!! ox

Anonymous said...

When I see your cards it makes me hold my head in my hands at the cards I have made this year because your creations are beyond beautiful.
So rich in texture and so elegant.
WOW.
Wishes
Lynne

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