Quiet Birds over Distressed Backgrounds
by JJ Bolton
Good morning all! Happy July to everyone and a Happy (early) July 4th to everyone in the U.S.! Today I have two cards to share with you using one of the new sash dies called Quiet Bird Sash. These dies are unique in that they are open ended dies. Because the ends of the die do not cut, you can do some pretty cool techniques like the one I'm showing today.
For both of my cards today, I made a custom window die cut using the sash die and simple shape dies. The first step was to cut the sash die into a card panel. The next step was to take a shape die and slip it behind the sash. [ I did 2 versions of this card, one with an oval window (below) and one with a square window.] Now when you cut it, the sash will stay in place and only the window will be cut.
For inside the window die cuts, I created 2 distressed backgrounds using some Memory Box stencils (Garden Birch Trees and Texture Splatter). I started by blending 2 types of Distress Ink onto a piece of watercolor paper (don't use cardstock). Don't be stingy with the ink! Then I laid the stencil over the panel and gently wiped a baby wipe over the stencil removing the ink. The ink comes off pretty quickly and you do not have to apply a lot of pressure. Here's an in-process picture using the Birch stencil and blue and green ink...
And here's one using the Splatter stencil over yellow and coral ink...
The last step is to just apply the window cutout over the background with foam tape. I really love how the backgrounds turned out and how they look in the cutout windows. The distressed, muted backgrounds give a lot of texture and color without getting too busy.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a wonderful weekend!
Comments
Amazing piece of art :D
Two beautiful cards...thank you for all the explanations. I must try this background technique.
Wow!!!
Very pretty - great colors!
Love the way you have done these!
Oh, wow! Fabulous cards!
WoW!! These cards are fabulous! Amazing creative inspiration. Love the use of the two stencils, and the creative use of the dies. Thank you for the creative inspiration, just what I needed today.
Jacquelene L
Canada
Wow JJ !! These cards are fabulous !! These dies are brilliant, and I'm loving your backgrounds.
Lots of love from Patricia xx
Beautiful cards--I love the backgrounds and the way you used the stamps and stencils!!
Hi JJ, love the inky backgrounds and thank you for the tip on adding 'watermarks' through the stencils, will have to give this a go... thank you for the inspiration... Megan
The backgrounds are so lovely with these, and thanks for explaining the dies
JJ these are simply stunning! Beautiful cards!
piękne obie :)
Goodness these are so pretty! This technique is well suite d to so many projects. Thank you for sharing. Super pretty!
Ooooh, these are great JJ.
Ooh, lovely cards. Hurrah for the open end dies. Less fiddle when I want to do partial cuts. Love the off centre oval. Hugz
Beautiful cards, JJ~ Great design and techniques! Love the backgrounds you created too! Thank you so much~
WOW! Both are gorgeous card, JJ! Love your distressed background with stencils. The designs are fabulous, too!
Both of your cards are exciting. Thank you for sharing your techniques, especially the technique for sliding the thin die under the cut out branch that has no cut edge on the ends. I would not have thought of this technique. I really like this look!
Inspiring work here! Lovely!
OH MY WORD - these cards are stunningly gorgeous in every way!! Love the way you created these - they are magnificent!!
Very nice ... thanks for your cards explain how did !!!
Simple awesome!
Beautiful card, dies and great tutorials:)