Love is caught in crystal

The February challenge for Creative Loops is hearts– perfect for a Valantine’s Day card. I decided to attempt the caught in crystal technique for the first time and although I was happy with the results there is room for improvement on my next try!

I used my Indigo Blu poppy heart stamp and Blazing Poppies stamp with Versamark Watermark Ink
on Heat Resistant Acetate and I heat embossed using WOW! Blue Pearl Embossing Powder. I then started painting from light to dark on the images. I started with the highlights on the poppy using Acrylic Pearl Liquid in Volcano Red.
I then mixed two shades of Daler Rowney acrylic redsto paint the mid and shadow areas. The lighter areas are more sparkly in real life and of course the acetate adds some shine. Although I used the mid shade behind the edges of the pearlescent areas I would have liked to achieve a more subtle blend so I’ll have to play further to see if that is possible. I used Pebeo pearlescent green and Daler Rowney Graduate Acrylics for the leaves and am happier with the blending I achieved here.

Once dried I added Pledge Klear Multi-surface waxand used Spectrum Noir Aquatints to get a blend of colours. I also added some Glamour Dust Glitter which is difficult to see in the photos. I went for shades of red but the differences were quite subtle once they all mixed and didn’t show up as well as I’d have liked. Greens or contrasting colours may have been better. I also wonder if I used too much of everything.

I crumpled up my tissue paper and splodged it on to the Pledge paint mix making sure it was saturated. I left it to dry overnight.

I attached it to the metallic blue mat using Screw Brads. I embossed the sentiments from the Phill Martin Baroque Every Day Corner range onto the mat corners. I coloured the card edges with Peeled Paint distress ink and then embossed metallic green card with my Tattered Lace Fretwork Lace embossing folder.

I would like to enter the following challenges

Creative Loops challenge– Hearts, love etc.

Creative Playground Challenge– Show us your heart

Pattie’s Creations Challenge– Love is in the air

Cuttlebig mania– I {heart} you

Stampin’ Royalty Challenge– Sparkle and shine