Lucy's Inspiration Photo #2

I'm back with another card to share. This is for one of my loveliest friends who is celebrating her birthday this weekend.

It really has been a creative week, right? Totally loving it - though this card took a fair bit of time coming together last night. I had created two different card bases before I finished up the third, which you see before you now. The others were too busy or too big and the image kept getting lost and I wanted this gorgeous artwork to take the focus. It's an image called "Gifted" and is my first of many of Leanne Ellis's images that I'll be using in the days/weeks/months ahead.

Some serious enabling happened this week via a lovely crafty friend. She showcased some of the amazing art/stamps from Leanne on her blog this week (take a peek - it's some seriously great stuff) and I just had to investigate further. I originally only looked at Leanne's Etsy store and couldn't help purchasing a couple of digi's. But I couldn't leave it at that and have now added some rubber stamps (via Funky Kits/Sugar Nellie) and they are currently winging there way here from the UK. Fly fast my lovelies.

I printed this image four times onto some watercolour paper using my Epson R290. Took me a bit of effort to do as I hadn't set my printer up since moving my craft stuff early in 2011. And I had a mad dash to the stationery store to get a couple of new inks before any action happened. Anyway, all good to go. I'm glad I printed off so many copies as I used up all of them!!

I originally started colouring with Distress Inks and an aquabrush but discovered that the Epson ink runs when you use water! I've previously only ever coloured digi's with my Copics - so that ruined the first image. Lesson learnt though.

And, since I'm still a little rusty with my Copics and because I printed the image quite small I chose to colour some of the elements separately and then pieced it all together. All is coloured with Copics except the greenish tinge to the background - this is Iced Spruce distress ink. And there is a fairly good dose of subtle Spica glitteryness added too.

I cut the image with a Label 10 Spellbinders die and then used the same sized die to cut out the matt. The matt is a sheet of lighter green embossed paper from the KaiserCraft Sweet Nothings pad and I darkened it with more Iced Spruce. Both then placed onto a Soft Stone card base with two different sized dimensionals.

Card is finished off with some Washi/Tissue tape that I've had in my stash for ever!! I've about a dozen different rolls of this stuff and this is the first time I'm using it. Expect to see much more of it as its awesome!! Some string and an altered button and pearl, a couple of rhineys and I was done.

Hope the birthday girl loves it - I'll know soon enough. Am off to a favourite cafe for dinner tonight to celebrate.

Hope your weekend is full of lovely things.

Michey xxx

CARD DETAILS:
Image: Leanne Ellis 'Captured'
Cardstock/Paper: PTI Soft Stone; Watercolour paper, KaiserCraft Sweet Nothings 6 x 6
Ink: Distress Ink Iced Spruce
Copics:
  Hair - E13, E15, R17
  Skin - E00
  Top - YR00, YR18, YR30
  Skirt & Inner of Frame - N0, N4
  Frame (outer oval) - E42, E44
Spicas: Clear, Silver, Mint
Others: KaiserCraft gems & pearl; Spellbinder Label 10 die; Washi/Tissue Tape from stationery store; String (Spotlight); Random orange button from stash - darkened with Copic E44; Glue Dots and dimensionals