I'm travelling into a new way of working, a new country, a new language, and a new hobby which I'm passionate about. Come with me for some of the journey...

Friday 6 September 2013

Leftovers...

Hello everyone...  Thank you so much for all your lovely comments on the tagbook from Tim Holtz's workshop, and the projects made with Anna Dabrowska (Finnabair).  Your words are so much appreciated, and it's been such a joy to read them.

I'm here today to share another project using the new Artistic Outpost releases Chalkboard Wisdom and Chalk It Up.  

Since I didn't manage to get all my creations made before the deadline (postal problems), I have the advantage of having been able to make this one with some leftovers from Anna's class - as well as with some inspiration from some of her techniques.

And don't fall over in shock, but it's a card!


I grabbed some 6 x6 kraft cards the last time I was in The Range, thinking that it was about time I tackled this stupid 'cardophobia' of mine.  The kraft appealed, obviously, and I hoped the square shape would mean I could pretend it was just a canvas to play on...







I arranged some torn strips of book page, as well as some of the packaging left from all the goodies we got to play with at the weekend, and some of the Prima resist canvas strips, also leftover from the projects we made.













Where I've departed from the Finnabair look is in leaving it all "naked" - rather than spritzing and spraying it to within an inch of its life! 

Given the sentiment I planned to use, I wanted to keep things simple and natural.








I grabbed the sentiment - one of my chalkboard experiments from my playing session last week, and added that to the mix.  (For anyone who missed that post, you can find out how I created my chalkboard look here.)

The sentiment is from Chalkboard Wisdom, and I added the frame from Chalk It Up.












The idea of twirling some thread around for extra texture and interest is straight from Anna's journalling pages... 











I love the random look of it.

















So that's all very well, but - deep breath everybody - it's time to get messy...













The final task was to let fly with the gesso - tapping and twirling it off a wooden barbecue skewer... 














... random again... 











...and pretty messy too!












So there you go - a card, and I don't hate it... that's definitely progress!


If we've managed to tempt you into these new sets, or if you've been using any other Artistic Outpost stamps on your projects, you can enter them in the September Referral Programme over at AO, and be in with a chance to win the prize draw at the end of the month.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.
Calvin Trillin


47 comments:

pearshapedcrafting said...

Leftovers never looked so good! The gesso garnish is just the icing on the cake! Hugs, Chrisx

Silvia(Barnie) said...

A fabulous card with wonderful layers.

House of Bears said...

We thought that was Gesso, what a wonderful card, we love it all, especially the Gesso added randomly, and the thread and book pages. You definitely need to make cards more often in our opinion.

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...love this Alison, great textures and rawness, right up my street, great stamp too...Mel:)xx

Dorthe said...

Alison,
I totally love your card !!
The gesso used like this and the random landing of it, is wonderful- I also think your leaving it "naked" without colours is gorgeous!- I have to try using it in a piece ,as sloppy and accidentally like this !! wonderfully done !!
xo, Dorthe

Helen said...

I think the card looks great - love the use of leftovers... why don't you like making cards if they turn out like this?!! Have a good weekend.

Gerrie Johnnic said...

Wow, how very cool this is. Can't wait to see your class projects, going there next......and I can only dream about what your next posts will be like. Wowzer, Tim and Cinnabar....drool

Sophie said...

Das sieht so fantastisch aus, so elegant und doch so shabby...
Eine wundervolle Arbeit mit ganz viel Liebe zum Detail.
CHAPEAU!

Liebe Grüße von Sophie xx

Danke für deine lieben Kommentare, die machen mich sehr glücklich :-)

sam21ski said...

Fabulous way to use up your leftovers

Sam xx

Deborah said...

Love the messy gesso against the kraft. I used to *hate* making cards and now I do them a lot - and enjoy it. So you never know, this could be your first small step into the world of cardmaking! :-)

Julie Lee said...

I love the effect of the gesso and the thread! I have to get up early tomorrow and make a card for my brother-in-law because I've been putting it off and his birthday is upon us! Now you've inspired me with this bold and beautiful card! Julie Ann x

Brenda Brown said...

Yay fabulous use of the leftovers and such an artsy way to use them, definitely Finnabair influenced. Love it.
hugs {brenda} x0x

Meggymay said...

Fantastic card, looking forward to seeing more of your cards. This one is awesome, wonderful textures and colour combo.
Yvonne

Redanne said...

Love the Finnabair influence in your card, the string looks amazing like that and I do like the randomness of the gesso - very shabby, very chic! Hugs, Anne x

Kate Yetter said...

Love love love your card. It is very natural, simple and artsy. Very cool with all that flicked gesso and torn paper.
Kate

Unknown said...

What a fab card!! Love the layering of textures, really cool!!

Kelly said...

I love your words on this post, a card and you just had to swirl gesso in the air all over it! lol I love it, you did great and I thought it was a canvas at first. Love the chalkboard, I will go over there next as you 'card' inspired me. You are one step closer to be a artistic card maker, see get your own line going and we will be following you to the ends of the earth to meet you in person. Really! Love your style, Thanks for visiting my blog today, I appreciate allllll the efforts you poor girl.
Have a great weekend, Tomorrow is the Bezel tutorial so get your resin ready!
Hugs Kelly

Mary Elizabeth said...

LOL! It's a good day when you make a card that you don't hate. Right there with you! (You notice I don't do many cards). I love the look!!! I agree that the sentiment really needed the natural background.

Thanks for your comments on my latest blog entry. I worried over sharing something like my illness. I appreciate the support. Enjoy your weekend as well.

-- Mary Elizabeth

Nan G said...

Oooo love the string and the flops of gesso on your 'mini canvas'! wink wink :) Now I have to sit down....no inked edges! :0 A fab make, Alison, really, all kidding aside!

sara j said...

hi again....i had to comment about crafting with a group. It is an odd sensation; it always seems to me I can choose to be social, or to craft, but not both. Although I have limited experience of the "group" attempt, it might be different if you had some sort of relationship before - aka blogland - but then spending hours and hours with folks can't help but be different that visiting from afar. Just wanted to appreciate your comment.
And good job with the card....love the sentiment. Have a great weekend!

barbarayaya62 said...

wonderful layers! Alison great card! Your work is always full of feeling and emotion! BArbarayaya

chrissie said...

Fantastic use of the 'spares' Alison.

Fascinating quote today----I always enjoy the words bit of your posts :)

Have a great weekend

Love Chrissie xx

Von said...

Fabulous use of left overs Alison :)and love the way you have kept it neutral :)
Von ♥

Anna-Karin said...

Super cool card Alison! Love the fun background and the great sentiment.

jasann said...

Love your card and I often use the leftovers, In my case I seem to have heaps but I don't know why, I seem to use them on cards and scrapbook pages and I have lovely paper pads, but decided I should use up all the scraps, I don't know if they will ever be used up!!!

Kezzy said...

Wow wow wow I love the card, I love the natural colours and the messy look, truly inspirational, I might have to have a go at a card, I'm just the same but because I struggle doing them I end up buying cards for birthdays how bad is that lol:-) Kezzy xxx

Shirley said...

Way to go with the leftovers Alison. Gorgeous card and the sentiment is fabulously true.

Crafty hugs from Shirl x x

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

What a beautiful leftovers card!You combined all details and the quote fits perfect together.
Have a nice weekend,
hugs Anja

cathylynn said...

This is a card that I would treasure! Love the textures and layers. This stamp is also fabulous! You always create gorgeousness!
Hugs, Cathy-Lynn

craftimamma said...

Love it Alison. The thread and dribbled gesso finish it off beautifully.

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Dianne said...

WHAT???? A card you say :O). Well I have to say this is my kind of card, it's fabulous and your so funny, I wasn't crazy for making card either but when I found a way to make them my style I love it, and I bet with doing them in a Butterfly way, you'll be making more. I love the simple and natural, look, it's all you sweety,loooove the bits of thread all over, then the flying with the gesso , BRILLIANT, I looooove that glorious mess, I love, love , love it. Thanks for sharing this fabulous card, your brilliant at these, hope to see more of them, hope you have a wonderful weekend..

toni said...

Great textures, love the use of the thread and the thick gesso. Great for you to be so inspired by your recent workshop experiences. The word stamp is great, very profound ! Have a lovely weekend Alison X

Anita Houston The Artful Maven said...

You are a fab card maker! I love all the layers, but those threads everywhere really make this card for me! Love the materials you used!

Iris said...

The sentiment says it all.

Sandy said...

Amen Sister! Such an unusual make for you but your design is well suited for the sentiment. As for your sentiment, we would be wise to remember these words but sometimes it is harder than it looks!
Sandy

May said...

Fabulous card, Love the sentiment Alison...Wonderful layers..Hugs May x x x

Dianne said...

I really like this and love the sentiment.

Dianne.

annes paperfun said...

Wow!! this is just gorgeous...
LOVE it!!!
♥♥♥
hugs, Anne

Jenny Marples said...

Ha ha!! So you CAN do cards! Love the randomness of that background which is the perfect foil to the sentiment. Hugs, Jenny x

Anonymous said...

Alison, you and me both as I also love leftovers - so much can be done with leftovers.
Another wonderful sample using your latest stamps with the Kraft as a perfect background.
Wishes
Lynne

Astrid Maclean said...

Well this certainly is a bit different for you but great use of left overs! Love the sentiment, so true and I can see the Ania influence for sure! Great card!

Cocofolies said...

Not my fave project from you Alison (but also, why are your projects ALL and ALWAYS so gorgeous and awesome LOL!!!!), but that remains a beautiful card anyway of course. And good to see a card also today ! Enjoy your rest of weekend, Coco xx

Hettie said...

This is gorgeous Alison. And you have used Snippets! Yeay!
Hugs
xx

Mrs.B said...

This card is just perfect for that sentiment. Looks like you have put words into action on this!
Avril xx

Chrissy said...

What a great card Alison..now if I did that, it would look like a leftovers...but when you do it, you do it with style..fabulous.

luv CHRISSYxx

scrappymo! said...

What a wonderful, grungy, gessoed up card! The gesso just finishes it off so wonderfully!

Bonnie Irvine said...

This has some of my favourite elements combined in an awesome and fresh way. Love the kraft, the book pages ans the canvas as well as the splodges of gesso and strings. All of it combined with the chalkboard effect make for a very striking card. I took a class with Anna in July and still smile as I see her influence creeping into my work when I least expect it. So cool!