Painted Easter

We're kicking off a week of Easter cards at Card A Day Blog and I've been playing with paint!

I admit, I love all things Tim, but with the wedding fast approaching, I'm really trying to rein in my craft spend.  So, while I keep seeing these wonderful blogland posts on the new Distress Paints, I just can't bring myself to purchase them when I have a whole rack of acrylic paints languishing in the studio!  And though I'm sure DPs are magical, I thought I'd see what I could do with those abandoned ordinary, non-Tim paints...

The Details:

• That's right, I'm starting with the details before even showing you the end result...I'm building drama!  LOL!  Plus, I actually remembered to get the camera out while in the process of creating, not just at the end.
• I've seen a lot of stamping and background work with DPs, so I decided that was a perfect way to start my paint experimentation.  I made my card base from spring moss stock, then added some "swoops" of yellow ochre using a make-up sponge (I love using make-up sponges for paint because they do a great job and are cheap enough that I just toss 'em when I'm done). 

• Next layer was a postcard background stamped in buttermilk.  I also lightly swiped the edges and corners with buttermilk.

• Paint gives the image such dimension and texture...I love it!

• Final paint layer was some rouge fly-speckling using a toothbrush.  The more water you add to your paint, the larger the speckles will be.  Always test on a scrap before flicking onto your project.

• Something I haven't seen DPs used for (yet) is coloring ribbon.  I didn't have the right shade of ribbon to match my card, so I decided to dye my own using yellow ochre acrylic paint and water.  It turned out lovely!    At first, it's really matte and heavy looking with the paint pigment.

• But then, when you squeeze it in a paper towel, the distressed look comes through and you get highs and lows of color.  It has a softer, more chalk-pastel finish than when using ink pigment.  Perfect for spring...reminds me of the finish on an eggshell.

• I had this perfect Easter image from K&Co. with a not-so Easter-y sentiment.  "You're invited"?  Seems like an odd choice on their part, but I can fix it!

• I punched a photo label from cream cardstock and stamped "Easter" in Crushed Olive DI.  After tattering the edges with a Tim Holtz paper distresser, I used the same make-up sponge to add color to the edges.  It's subtle because I didn't re-apply any paint to the sponge, I just used what was already on it.  I then mounted the finished label over the unwanted sentiment using foam tape for dimension.

Okay, I think I've taunted you enough!  Here's the finished card.  I used just a touch of patterned paper behind the bunny and flowers image.  I'm really pleased with the background and am sure I'll continue my paint experiments.

Challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: Easter Eggstravaganza
Crafty Ribbons Challenge: Anything Goes With Ribbon
The Order of the Opus Gluei: Challenge #152 - Spring has Sprung
Card Caravan Challenge: Fur or Feather
The Squirrel and the Fox: Challenge #39 - Autumn or Spring
Allsorts Challenges: Week #197 - Springtime
Crafty Calender: March Challenge - "Easter Egg-stravaganza!"
One Stop Challenge: #219 - Spring

Supplies:
Cardstock:	Papertrey Ink ‘Spring Moss’; Stampin’ Up! ‘Naturals Ivory’
Patterned Paper:	Authentique ‘Blissful’ 6x6
Stamps:	SU! ‘All Year Cheer’; Unity Ippity ‘Thoughts from the Past’
Inks:	Acrylic paint Americana ‘Yellow Ochre’, ‘Buttermilk’, Delta Ceramcoat ‘Rouge’; Distress Ink ‘Crushed Olive’
Embellishments:	K&Co diecut ‘SW Spring Blossom Seed’; Hug Snug seam binding ‘Ivory’
Tools:	Scallop edge scissors; Stamp-a-ma-jig; EK Success punch ‘Photo Labels’; 3M foam tape; mister; heat tool; Tim Holtz paper distresser; make-up sponge; toothbrush