Friday, September 2, 2011

C'mon Honey, Cowgirl Up!

Here is the card I made for this week's "Anything Goes" challenge on the CardMaker Magazine Card Swap Forum. The theme was to use newsprint. As is usually the case, the card did not end up as I had originally planned. I guess I should stop thinking of them as plans and start thinking of them as starting points.

The newsprint is from an article about bull riding that was in our monthly rural electric cooperative newspaper. This led me to a western theme. Since the boot image is really the only western theme stamp I have, I decided to see if I could find a vintage cowboy image online and I thought the phrase "cowboy up" would be a good sentiment. While I did find some cowboy images, I really liked the one of the cow"girl" that I decided to use. Obviously, I had to change the sentiment, but that's just the way life works out for me most of the time.

I stamped and distressed the newsprint to give it some interest. I also inked the edges of the card and the photo. The sentiment is computer generated. I embellished with jute twine, a copper heart charm and embossed metal photo corners, which I made myself.

To make the photo corners, I cut the top and bottom off an aluminum soda can, then cut it open lengthwise to make a sheet. I stuck it inside an embossing folder and ran it through my Big Kick so that the silver side was embossed. Then I colored it with alcohol inks. I cut small squares with a Nestabilities die, then punched two of the corners into a scroll shape. I cut the squares in half into two triangles to finish them. I was very happy with the way they turned out and now I'm trying to think of what else I can make with soda cans. Sure beats going out and buying metal sheets at the craft store. You do have to be careful with embossing. Because the metal is thin, the grooves can be weak and the metal might break if you bend them in those areas.

Thanks for checking out my card!

Supplies
Paper and Cardstock: Scraps from my stash and newsprint
Stamps: Old Boot (Stamabilities); swirl (Hampton Art)
Vintage cowgirl image (public domain image downloaded from the Internet)
Font: Honey Script (downloaded from daFont.com)
Ink: Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink (Ranger); Rust, Terra Cotta and Pitch Black Adirondak alcohol inks (Ranger)
Nestabilities square die (Spellbinders); Corner punch (EK Success); Victorian embossing folder (Cuttlebug); jute twine; copper heart charm

4 comments:

Teresa Arsenault said...

Wow! Am I ever glad I hopped over to your blog to see the details, Judy. That is incredibly creative how you made your photo corners. I nearly remarked on them on the Card Swap site because they are especially beautiful.

I am a new blog follower now. I hope you will visit me at Tickell Expressions. I am running a contest right now that you may be interested in.

Blessings,
Teresa

Susan said...

Awesome card Judy! I love those photo corners. I used a soda can to make a conch belt buckle in the same way you made the photo corners. Searched all over HL for a conch belt buckle (they use to carry them) and couldn't find one. The card I was making at the time really screamed out that I needed one so I made my own. A soda can was perfect for it! I will totally have to try making my own photo corners. I'll have to raid my neighbors recycle can though....we have been totally soda free for two years now. Love this card. It's amazing!

terrie said...

Such a creative mind..doesn't it feel good when we can recycle and not have to run to the store to make something as wonderful as your corner embellishment...
well done

Janice W. said...

Oh Judy! I have missed you and am so glad you are back! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a nice comment and for letting me know you are back. I have always loved your work and look forward to seeing your creations again! I can put you back on my blog list. YAY!