Adventure Awaits - ICAD

Hi everyone,

This year's ICAD challenge is almost over and today's index card is already no. 60 out of 61. Of course, I had to do one more with some VLVS stamps that I want to share with you today. It's a simple one and you could easily recreate this design for a card. So I'm giving you a quick overview about how I made this.

I started with collaging old book page fragments for my background. I added a layer of gesso as well as some Distress Paints so it does not appear too busy.
I chose the world map for my background, but wanted it to kind of fade into the background. Therefore, I did some second generation stamping, which means that I stamped the image onto a scrap paper and then onto my card without reinking the stamp. This way you can get a lighter impression.
To finish the background I used a blending tool to ink the egdes in brown.

For the focal points I used another trick: My background had some texture from the book pages, but there were some fine details in the stamps I wanted to use. So instead of stamping them directly onto the card, I used a napkin (one of the white layers when you seperate the napkin). I like using pigment ink for this technique because the impression is a bit better and even with a stamping platform I'm not able to stamp the image twice.
After leaving the napkin to dry for a minute or two, I tore the images (a slightly wet brush helps) and glued them to the card with matte medium. Make sure you don't use this technique on a water-reacvtive background.

Just added the quote that I stamped onto another piece of a book page and that's it for my card.

Stamps used:

Men In Balloon Basket (19002)
Paris Skyline (10995)
Map of the World (19340)
Adventure Awaits (19009)

Other material:
- Index card 3 x 5 inch
- old book/ledger paper
- Archival Ink (Potting soil, Blue violet)
- Versafine Ink (Onyx black)
- Distress Paint (Stormy sky, Broken China, Tumbled glass)
- napkin (white or plane layer from seperating printed napkins)
- matte gel medium (not a heavy one)


See you soon!

Mail Art from the Great Unknown

Hello Crafty Friends! 

Happy Mail Art Monday
and Columbus Day if you are here in the USA.

Now, Time for some explorer themed mail art... (with a hint of steam punk)

Stamps Used:

numbers set

the great unknown

Waybill/invoice

steampunk balloon

men in balloon basket

punchinella/sequin waste

I started by using an A2 envelope. I stamped my 2 foreground stamps and traced my mini playing card (address label block).  

Next I created a "cloud" background with scarp paper and ink in weathered wood, hickory smoke,  and broken china distress ink. 

Next, I used my waybill/ledger stamp to add random texture and detail to the background with cornflower blue archival ink.

I also stamped my numbers randomly in watering can archival ink.  Across the top, I also added a bit of texture with my punchinella stamp. (below you can see a close up of some detail for the numbers, ledger, and texture)... you can also see I added a few flecks of black stain, and glitter spray.... I also added white dots with a white gel pen. 

Below you can see the whole picture, I added color detail, and bits of washi tape, and glitter. 

More detail...

And even more details... 

I hope you have all enjoyed this explorer themed envelope.