This old heart of mine

I was so excited when I was asked to host at Take A Word this week, that I immediately started the concept drawing (such a child).  I hope you get some inspiration from the piece.

Heart in my art

Starting out with 300gsm water colour paper and using a fan brush I applied light strokes of white gesso.  Once dried I made three very weak washes using distress ink re-inkers in Milled Lavender, Tattered Rose and Old Paper. I applied a tiny bit of Old Paper, and then much more of the lavender and rose.  (The gesso acts as a resist).  Once dry, I applied some glass bead medium in patches over the gesso.  While the medium was drying, I cut a heart from rusty metal (it's real metal and real rust) and, cut the heart in two.  Using a Crop-A-Dile I punched the holes and applied large grommets.
Next came some 'industrial' stamping with Black StayzOn, the stamps are all circuit boards and warning signs.  Then I laced the two sections of the heart with some soft apricot ribbon finished with a bow.

 Several more layers of the weak distress wash, each one dried before applying the next, then a drop of  undiluted re-inker over the beads.  Next came some stamping with swirls using London Fog Archival Ink and then Golden Iridescent Bronze was dry brushed over the beads.
The words were printed on my computer and edged with Tattered Rose and the small hearts were painted with Golden Iridescent Bronze and punched with a small heart punch.
Finally, I dusted the edge of the whole piece with Pumice Stone distress ink.
Thanks so much for looking and your comments.

Tickled by a feather

A few days ago I was looking through my stamps and saw the "Feather" set from Hero arts that I've never used.  I took it out and left it on the edge of my craft table.  Today while I was cleaning up my craft mat, I decided I would make a card with it.
The reason I gave up card making was because I would agonise about the design for hours, but today felt different and it was - the card was made in 10 minutes, and it's clean and simple!!

Very Clean and Simple Card

I stamped the feather in Versamark ink on Neenah white card stock and then dusted with bonding powder.  Starting with a hot heat gun I very quickly heated the bonding powder until it just changed shade (too long and the adhesive properties diminish).
I applied some Jones Tones foil in a peacock type colour range which has also been in my stash for years.  Rubbed over the top gently with the bone folder and pulled the backing away, voila!

Metallic shine from the foil

I mounted it on more Neenah white card stock that I coloured around the edges with Worn Lipstick distress inks.  The sentiment is from Indigo Blue Travel plate stamped in Archival Ink Deep Purple.
Adding some lilac polka dot ribbon to the mount card, I made a false bow on the front.

Take a peek inside

To finish it off inside I added a row of pen nib stamps from Indigo Blue in Magenta Hue.

I don't think I will ever have a need for this card so I will donate it to the Heart Foundation Card Drive.