LOVE . . . My Besties style + exciting news!

I have been invited to be Guest Designer on the

My Besties Dutch Girls Blog

   

for the February challenge.

The challenge is Anything Goes with optional theme of  Love/ Valentine

Today I have used the Steampunk Bestie by Sherri Baldy.

It has been a creative adventure making this card,

using a combination of

printing a digital stamp,

electronic and manual die cutting,

masking and ink blending,

Copic marker and Gel Pen colouring,

punching and lots of fun.

My top hat shaped card stands 6" tall and 8 1/4" wide.

   

I imported the digital stamp on to my Silhouette Cameo mat, placed it on to the top hat cut file and printed it on X-Press It Blending Card then cut it out using my Cameo.
I also used the hat cut file to make a top folding card base.

I printed another copy on photocopy paper and glued it to a panel of X-Press It Mask It.  I slowly fussy cut out the image to make my very own My Besties Steampunk mask.

I carefully applied the mask over the image on the cut panel.
Then the inky fun began.  I blended Walnut Stain Distress Ink over the entire background, the mask around the image worked a treat.  Note to self - next time I need to cut the image into the outline, so that it doesn't leave any white edges around the image.

I decided that the top hat needed some more blending to give it some dimension, so I carefully applied the mask over the image again, then took some strips of Mask It to mask the middle "hat band" section of the hat and blended with Gathered Twigs.

I removed that mask then took the "negative" from the rim that comes with the cut file to mask off that section and make it ready for some more blending.  I only have a few Distress Ink mini pads and markers, so I took my Black Soot Distress Marker, scribbled it on to some scrap from the Mask It (the section that is peeled off to expose the adhesive side of mask) then loaded up my blending tool sponge.  It took quite a few times of scribbling and blending before the section was fully covered but well worth the effort, I really was impressed with the result.  I should have taken a photo before I started colouring and embellishing ... another thing to remember for next time.

I coloured most of the image with Copic markers, the metallic cogs and accents were coloured with Kaisercraft metallic gel pens, using my piercing tool to get in to all the fine points.  I used a black Copic Multi Liner to darken any smudged edges.

Glossy Accents were added to the glass of the monocle and goggles.

There are leafy strands flowing from the hat on this image but they kind of disappeared in to the dark background, so I thought that a little dimension would balance with the other side of the card.

I'm thrilled with the monocle on the octopus, the Glossy Accents make it look so real.

I added some black and dark brown to the sparkling "love", it was a little too sparkly.
The velvet heart brad was a little bright too, so I coloured it with R46 to tone it down.

The feathers were die cut from X-Press It blending card and coloured with Copic markers in the same shades as her dress.  I used a variety of punches to cut the flowers, colouring them with matching markers too.

The cogs / gears were cut using the Silhouette Cameo, some came with the Steampunk Top Hat image, the others were from a separate set (details below).  I coloured some with the metallic gel pens to add some contrast to the layers.

*** INGREDIENTS ***
Sherri Baldy My Besties - digital stamp - Steampunk Bestie IMG133
X-Press It - A4 blending card
X-Press It - Mask It (masking film)
Silhouette Design Store - Steampunk Top Hat by Suzanne Cannon - Design ID #135482 
Silhouette Design Store - 6 GEARS by Lori Whitlock - Design ID #30449
Copic markers - skin - E0000 E000 E00 E01E02
Copic markers - lips - R21 R22
Copic markers - hair - YR20 YR21 YR23 YR24 YR27
Copic markers - eyes - B21 B23 B26 B28
Copic markers - clothes - R21 R22 R24 R27 R29 R46
Copic markers - belts / straps - E19 E18
Copic markers - goggles - C0 C4
Copic markers - octopus - B21 B23 B26 B28 B29
Copic markers - behind the edge of the octopus goggles - E42 E43
Glossy Accents
Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs, Black Soot
Round Ink Blending Tool and Sponges
Kaisercraft - metallic - Gel Pens
Kaisercraft Decorative Dies – Feather Die
Paper Smooches – Feathers Dies
Ultimate Crafts – Jadene: Careless And Free Dies 
Fiskars – small Burst Lever Punch
Fiskars - small Flower Lever Punch
Fiskars - Flowers Border Punch
Sizzix – “love” - Regal Stand Ups Framelits byStephanie Barnard

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Sending a big Thank You to Dorothy and the My Besties Dutch Girls for having me as their Guest Designer.

I hope that you have been inspired and create a My Besties project for their challenge.

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I am going to enter my card in the following challenges (alphabetical order):

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CCC Digi Creations
Challenge #66 - Add A Heart

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Color It!  Create It!  Show It Off!
February Challenge – Anything Goes

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Come and Get It Challenges
Valentine's Day Cards

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My Besties Aussies Challenge Blog
Challenge #2 – Hearts + Red

I have added a velvet heart and there are several hearts in the image

   

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My Besties Brazil
Challenge #19 – Flowers, Die Cuts and My Besties

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 My Besties France
Challenge #60 – Anything Goes

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My Besties International Challenge Blog

February Challenge – Valentines / Reds and Pinks

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My Besties Spain

Challenge #9 – Anything Goes + Option “UsePostage Stamps Of Your Country”

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QKR Stampede

Challenge #229 – Valentine Cards

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Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #109 – Anything Goes + Option “Use TheColour Red”

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Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog
Simon Says: Young At Heart

   

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Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog
Simon Says: The Color Of Love
   
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Through The Craft Room Door
TTCRD Challenge January 31

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