This pair of not-quite-ATCs are created on some very cheap cash envelopes. You can usually pick up packs of 200 or so in a pound shop. That means that, as long as you keep the top flap open and operational, you can use them for gift vouchers or cash gifts with a little bit of artwork attached.
There's lots of embossing powder involved here - both for the quotes themselves, but also on the background stamping, which is clear-embossed for that fabulous light-catching quality.
They started very simply with some gesso scraped onto the envelopes pretty randomly. Rather than the 3.5 x 2.5 inch ATC standard, they're actually 4 x 2 and three quarter inches, if you don't count the flap.
Then I added Fresco paints in shades of night blue... Blueberry, Midnight, Twilight and Sky. There may have been a bit of Purple Rain involved too.
I added the paint in watery washes and spritzed with more water to let it move on the surface, and finished by splattering with whatever was leftover on the craft mat.
Seth Apter's fabulous minis make wonderful "orbits" or rings like the rings around Saturn... the perfect framing for the dimensional white stars.
The minis are stamped in Cobalt Archival and then clear-embossed, as I said. This means they have that now-you-see-it, now-you-don't quality which always makes me happy.
The stars are moulded using one of the Finnabair/Prima silicone moulds and some paper clay. Then, so that they would match the quotes in gleaming whiteness, I pressed them down into the squidgy embossing ink pad, and embossed them with Wow Bright White.
And yes, that's what I used for the words too. As always, I stamped in Archival ink, so that you get a sharper stamping edge than with (squidgy) embossing pads.
This is really important when you're embossing fine-detail stamps like these words, if you want to be able to read them clearly in the end. Given one of the quotes is by Vincent van Gogh, I really had to call the pair, "Starry, starry night"!
The white thread adds movement and interest, almost making the stars into shooting stars leaving trails across the sky.
And I really like the kraft framing you get from the cash envelopes as the substrate.
So there you go... a couple of mixed media ATC envelopes celebrating the stars and how we endure even the darkest nights. Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope your weekend will be wonderful, and I'll see you again soon.
When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
I'd like to enter this at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme this week is Shoot for the Stars
29 comments:
I love your starry night envelopes Alison. I shall be borrowing that idea.
Have a great weekend,
Alison xx
Another post that has given me itchy fingers Alison, and I have the stamps.
Thankyou for the tip about stamping with Archival.......you would think that after 12 years of retirement and crafting that I would have worked this out.
Love the combination of the purple and blues set off with the textures of the stars and threads.
Right, can’t hang about, need to write the tip into my “book” and have a play. Xx
Gorgeous blues... I like these envelopes, maybe I could create a mini-album with them. Food for thoughts!!! Have a great weekend Alison!
The gift envelopes are lovely, great idea. And the song, 'Starry, starry night' is going round in my head and will probably stay with me all day! Have a great weekend, hugs, Valerie
I love your starry night ATC gift envelopes Alison.
Hugs,
Ann xx
Fabulous starry starry nights envelopes...xx
Love these little envelopes, one of my favourites with your new stamps
Love
X
Brilliant ideas! Fun base(s), fun stars, and fun words. Love all the detail you gave on why and how you did things. These are fun and would be super fun to get!!! Hugz
These are fantastic. I love the blue celestial theme on these. I also added a link to your post, to the "How To" section on my blog, so I can find it again.
Awesome tag, love all the texture.
Personally, I think the envelopes could be the gift. They are beautiful. I love how you created them, the movement with the thread, and the tip about using archival ink instead of VersaMark. Everything came together SO well. I love, love, love them.
Fabulous themed ATC cash envelopes, which are unique and adorable too x. Perfect mix of night colours, the quotes are wonderful and the movement of the white thread is perfect x.
Beautiful starry night envelopes Alison, love the added dimension with the stars and thread and the quotes are lovely..
Luv CHRISSYxx
These envelopes are amazing. The blue is gorgeous and the stars and threads are great details. Beautiful work Alison. And I'm waiting for your new stamps to arrive in the mail. Smile. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs-Erika
Fabulous idea and composition, absolutely love your starry night envelopes... Both quotes from Van Gogh and Victor Hugo are wonderful, and they are perfectly highlighted here.
Happy Sunday Alison, enjoy your day and the nature around or your creative time.
Corinne xx
A fabulous project and as always your colour combination looks beautiful, your new stamp issue is on my wish list already.
Yvonne xx
what a wonderful way to give out ATC's, I always love your colour combos- Blue and Kraft go so well together and a great way use your quotes.
The envelopes are such a great size to keep ATCs and gift cards. I love the gorgeous white stars against the beautiful blues in the background and the little Seth rings really do lift the stars. The quotes, of course, look wonderful too! Anne x
Alison no-one does blues like you do, these are beautiful, and perfect for holding ATC's. Take care and have a very happy week, Sue xx
This is so beautiful Alison. I love the shades of blue together with the kraft, and of course all that embossing. Such a wonderful quote.
Thank you for the tip about the Archival ink - I will take that on board. Why I did not know that before now I will never know. Still never too late to learn.
Love your little envelopes and the blue shade you achieved with all those different blue paints. Interesting to hear how you achieved the colouring. Must admit PPA are one of my favourite paints, well most likely my favourite, they are certainly my "go to" paints.
Love the stars, the cotton thread and Seth's little rings really do contribute to the overall loveliness of these.
Obviously the stars of the show are your quotes. Goes without saying.
hugs, Neet xx
Awesome!
Wow, lots of prep work for this and yet they appear so loose and organic. Nice. Have to add from your post before this one (let your life lightly dance) - the tender little PLANT Shoots stayed in my memory, I forgot to say how delicately pretty they are. XOX
Wow! Starry night is a favourite picture of mine and I love the link to these fabulous envelopes 💙💙💙
Sally xx
Well these will make me dream of Starry Nights! It's a year since we visited Arles and this will remind me of the river scene even though it was in the early evening! Hugs, Chrisx
Gorgeous project Alison and those little stars are a perfect finish, love them. Happy crafting, Angela xxx
What beautiful start night envelopes! The quotes are perfect and wow, I love the colour palette and the blue with the white stars - gorgeous 😁. Happy and creative wishes! Hugs, Jo x
What a lovely idea. It is amazing how you can turn such dull mundane objects into things of beauty and they are a perfect scale for your stamps. You have used absolutely beautiful colours those blues into purples, I can see why the pepper embossing powder is a favorite. I love the Van Gogh quote and it looks perfect on these. Thanks so much for all you share. (and your visits) x
They are beautiful envelopes dear Alison , so gorgeous blues , and I can only imagine how brilliant the shin e is from the clear embossing , such a wonderful gift envelope idea. xoxo
Post a Comment