This is what she had to say about her challenge:
Share your crackled projects – whether your crackle is stamped, painted, texture paste or any other kind of crackle. To be a winner or Pinworthy mention your project must be in a vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial or steampunk style.
Well, I chose to continue with my mission of getting my Christmas cards done in good time. I also wanted to show that using crackle does not always have to mean making complex 3D projects. So, below a few steps as to how I got to my finished card:
I started with a piece of very strong card. Added a coat of clear gesso to seal it and then applied texture past through a fairly open stencil. This one is one of Tim's Layering stencils
Next I started to add colour with acrylic paints, in various blue and buff tones, using both a brush and a baby wipe to blend.
Here you can perhaps see a bit better how the paints settled into the crackle textures.
Because I wanted my favourite vintage look, I added brown tones around the out side with the help of a coffee coloured gelato. I also added some white paint splatters for a snowy effect.
The raised bits were further highlighted with Treasure Gold gilding paste and I also stencilled a word (again from a Tim stencil), highlighting that also when the texture paste had dried.
Next I stamped my focal image, a Stampendous stamp that I recently received, though it is quite an old one. I stamped it in dark blue archival and then blended faded jeans and brushed corduroy distress inks around it. Then all that was left was to put it all together.
I matted and layered with white in between, so it would not get too dark.
Here you can hopefully see what is still visible of the original crackle, I just hoped to give it all a bit of a wintry, sparkling feel....
And here finally is the finished card, another one to add to my box.....
Make sure to hop over to A Vintage Journey if you have not been there yet, to see all the amazing projects my teamies have created and read all the details of the challenge. And of course we all hope you will get out your crackle and play along!
Thanks for your visit here today and happy creating!!
36 comments:
Simply gorgeous card Astrid! You do the vintage theme so well and, as always, the textures and colours are superb!! Also love the way you coloured the focal stamp .. absolutely brilliant!! You just reminded me that I have to get 'cracking' (a little pun! LOL!) on my Christmas cards too .. not long to go now!! hugs xx
Gorgeous, Astrid!! You've such a talent for the blues, and also for composition and dimension!! Absolutely beautiful!! xxx Lynn
Beautiful card Astrid - love how you used the crackle in a "simple" way.
Hugs, S@ndy
Another gorgeous christmascard here Astrid. I love the blue color, you´ve used for it, and the cracle looks fabulous on it too and gives it such a wonderful vintage feel to it. Beautiful work here as always hun.
Wonderful card, so many details, really gorgeous. Hugs, Valerie
As always, a lovely creation Astrid and love your treatment of that lovely stamp.
B x
So much to see on this card and all very beautiful Astrid.
Love Chrissie xx
That is my favourite Christmas image Astrid, it may be an older stamp but it is really beautiful. I love your crackled stencilled background with the blue and brown tones and the mats and layers really brings that image to life! Hugs, Anne xx
Astrid, this is a lovely Christmas greeting and I love your crackled, stenciled background! Your style is unmistakable, and I am in awe of how you can make something look so beautifully aged! (that's a good thing, and I wish I could age so gracefully!) The image looks gorgeous as you have prepared it, and a perfect compliment to that lovely snowy background. Hugs!
Gorgeous! That is one of my favorite stamps and the fact that you did the background in that beautiful blue crackle is wow.
Gorgeous card, it looks fantastic in the cool blues and with the lovely textures. The stamped image is beautiful. Take care, Shirleyxx
Such a gorgeous one-of-a-kind Christmas card - the image is so lovely stamped and colored in the blue tones. Love your crackled holly too.
Hugs,
Linda
Love this card of yours - it makes me feel so festive with all its blue and brown and snowy shades. Thanks for sharing, it's beautiful!
Tamara / herzkoeniginspapertales.com
Fantastic card, Astrid!
So very beautiful Astrid, what a sweet stamp, so taking me back in time,- and wonderful stamped in the blue tone. I love the crackled greenery too, and your whole card , speaks so much of a cozy Christmas. It is gorgeous, dear.
Dorthe, Xox
Oh my that's magnificent Astrid!!! The background is another of your classics, so beautifully blended and boy does it add that extra something for the postcard on top. Love it xx
Fabulous card Astrid ! I would agree with Jenny that the background is one of your classics and is just the perfect foil for that lovely stamp (which ...... I have just ordered myself!). Thanks for such fabulous inspiration. Jennie x
this is so yummy astrid - and thanks so very much for the process pics - brilliant! Hugs rachel x
Lovely Astrid, I really love the crackled Holly leaves, lovely touch and the background is gorgeous, perfect for your focal Image. Beautiful card. Tracy x
Its a gorgeous crackle background, for your beautiful card. I loved the colour shades as well.
Its a super stamp, which I will also using this year.
Yvonne xx
What a GORGEOUSLY YUMMY background Astrid - rich, vibrant, stunning. And what a BEAUTIFULLY ELEGANT card. Xj.
That is so gorgeous Astrid, love how you used the holly stencil for your border and the crackle texture is amazing. Beautiful deep rich colours and your focal image is so lovely! Thanks so much for sharing it, Deb xo
A fabulous card Astrid, love the background crackle and touches of shimmer. Love the image, one of my favorites.
Avril xx
A wonderful example of crackle paste used in a different way. Love the effect you achieved and the overall look of your card. The image draws the eye - I can imagine a family snuggled inside the cottage with a glass of mulled wine and a good book. Beautiful work. Thanks for the inspiration.
I knew right off which project was yours over on the VJ blog. LOVE your blue cosmic background...just wonderful and so wintery yummy! Gorgeous and old world look too. Beautiful make!
Another beautiful Christmas card Astrid x love the colour palette and textures created. The stamp is stunning
Fabulous xx
Gorgeous holiday card Astrid. I love the crackled holly design in the background, as this is one of my favourite holiday stamps! Beautiful!
What a gorgeous card! I'm always amazed how you create your background and texture!!
Fabulous! Astrid The background is to die for - all those lush shades of blues and brown with the speckle of white and gorgeous crackled holly. Your postcard image is the perfect accompaniment.
Really really lovely .
hugs x
Absolutely gorgeous card Astrid!! xx
That crackled holly is fabulous, and I love the frosty look of the whole thing. So clever, as always, how you use the framing dark colour tones to draw the eye inwards to the focal image - that cottage always makes me happy when I see it. I bought the stamp, but haven't ever inked it up - shame on me!
Alison x
This is fabulous Astrid! I love how the holly leaves looks as though they have frost on them! I have always regretted not buying that cottage stamp! You have made it look so beautiful here! Hugs, Chrisx
Beautiful card Astrid and your background suits your stamped image in a lovely way.
Julie x
What gorgeous coloring on your stenciled holly background Astrid! I just love that image in the blue and your wonderful highlighting of it! Julia xx
Love the chilly deep blues on your background Astrid. Love this stamp too every year - something warm and comforting about it, it's timeless. Nicola x
This card is absolutely beautiful, i love every bit of it. Someone is a going to be a very lucky recipient.
Vicki
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