Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Nicecrane Designs Sponsor Spotlight

Welcome to this month's 'Sponsor Spotlight'.

Our sponsor this month is Nicecrane Designs

Nicecrane Designs

Our Creative Corner are so excited to be working with Nicecrane Designs, who supply the most fantastic range of reasonably priced digital images to suit every taste.


I went very retro with this card and chose to work with three of the Valentines collections;

Be My Valentine CS - Click Image to Close

Romantic Valentine Collection 1 - Click Image to Close

Romantic Valentine Collection 2 - Click Image to Close

I love the seasonal collage papers that are part of the Idea-ology range and realised that by combining my own choice of images from these digital collections I could create my own bespoke background. If you haven't tried something like this before it is pretty easy. You can resize the images and insert them next to each other on a blank page.


Just like those bespoke papers, I wanted a more vintage feel. By brushing Antique Linen Distress Stain to the background, drying it thoroughly, sanding it lightly and applying Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edges the separate images blended beautifully.


If you are going to layer elements onto a background it is always a good idea to trace around the main shape so you can work out where to place everything underneath it. This also helps if, as in this case, you want to apply stencilling and spritzing with inks and paints. I used white to do both and add some contrast to the background/foreground.


I was careful to choose card colours that coordinated with the main colours in the background images. It's one of my 'design principles' - complicated background, simple foreground. The heart was coloured with Red Geranium Archival Ink before being covered in clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint and a thin layer of Matte Multi-Medium.


It always makes a difference to add Walnut Stain Distress Ink to the edge of every element, taking away that harsh white colour. The ink also helped to highlight the embossed areas. And with a sentiment added, matting the background gave the card a frame.


I really hope you enjoyed this Sponsor Spotlight. There will be two more this month featuring Nicecrane Designs, hosted by Astrid and Laura.

And don't forget to join us for this month's 'A three colour challenge'. You could be picked as one of our Top 3, or even become our Top Talent with the opportunity to showcase your work here at Our Creative Corner. One of our lucky entrants will even be picked at random to receive a wonderful prize, kindly donated by Nicecrane Designs.

Take care of yourselves, Jenny xxx

18 comments:

  1. Another of your stunning creations.
    I LOVE the effect you have achieved.
    Hugs

    Patricia xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love how you created this vintage look background Jenny, love how it turned out (nicer than the original paper stash I think...) The card is beautifully put together, love it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. A brilliant design Jenny and fabulous bespoke background xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. The way you created that background is wonderful Jenny, it really does look like vintage paper and the heart is beautiful. Clever you... Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous! I adore the fact that you used the images to create your own unique background - and the vintage feel of it is stunning! lots of love Laura xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  6. I do love how you made it look like an old piece of paper for your background. Great idea. The whole card is beautiful. Like your colors on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I do love how you made it look like an old piece of paper for your background. Great idea. The whole card is beautiful. Like your colors on this one.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the vintage look of this card. The walnut stain edges and the spatter of white adds so much to the beautiful collaged background.

    ReplyDelete
  9. A fabulous card, perfect for Valentine's day.

    ReplyDelete
  10. It's brilliant, Jenny - I love how you created your own background paper with all those fabulous vintage images... great card!
    Alison x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fab card Jenny - love how you worked the Nicecrane images for that background - it looks wonderful. Nicola x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice. Very warm, friendly card. Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow Jenny. This looks fabulous. I love Nicecrane too, but I never would have thought of doing this. Your beautiful heart is stunning too. Hugs Rita xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. So very pretty Jenny! Love the beautiful Vintage images and how you featured them!

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is so cool, Jenny, the way you compiled the images in to a sheet and used it as your background - very clever. I also love that red cracked heart. A lovely vintage make!

    Hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  16. I so love how you've used the images to create your own bespoke background - just gorgeous!! You make such beautiful vintage creations which I love.
    Juliaxxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. OMG Jenny,,,,,,what a amazing creation,,,,,,,,,I am falling in love with your Retro Valentine Card,,,,waht a gorgeus background,,,,,my friend,and all over your cracked heart is so clever, so unique,,,,,,,,Thanks a million for sharing Jenny.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jenny...GORGEOUS! Love the Nicecrane images. Your retro-ish Valentine card is simply gorgeous. <3 Candy

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting Our Creative Corner! We will publish your comment as soon as possible.... Hope you come back to see us soon xxx