So this is my first RETIFORM card in YEARS! It took me a LONG time to finish ~ I started it months ago and wrapped it up months later. {smiles} I knew there wasn't a hurry so it got set on the back-burner for quite some time.
I wanted to use this set (when I started this card it was football season) and make a card with our school colors which are Texas Orange and Black! YUM! I decided to add in some gray because it goes with everything right!
I hadn't intended on stamping in every box around my image but I forgot what I was doing and before I knew it ~ almost every inch of this card had 'KICK OFF' stamped on it somewhere. Oh well. I don't think it's terribly awful!
I really like adding layers on top of the RETIFORM. I don't know why but I need a more distinct focal point. So I added one and applied it to my card with pop dots.
Here are the inks I used ~ Tangelo, Potters Clay, London Fog and Tuxedo Black Memento Inks. I also used these foam make-up sponges to get a smoother finish.
So ~ I TOTALLY forgot I had already made a RETIFORM card and prepared this blog post ... and it was only like 2 days ago I did this! Oh my! LOL!
So ~ I thought I needed to get a RETIFORM card made because I hadn't crossed if off my list yet. I have 2 more cards that I was going to feature but you can't see the RETIFORM in them so I'm posting them later. Here is the card I created and following is how I got to this point!
So ~ time to get started. I wanted my card to look as good as this one by Heather Scott. So I placed it on an easel in front of my workspace. My inspiration piece:
Then I decided to try something I've NEVER done before. I pulled out my cardstock and looked at palette's that I wanted to work with. Then I looked for ink to match.
I cleaned up my work area and surrounded myself with the supplies I was using. I opened up my Inspiration Book so that my main stamp set was in front of me. WOW! Look at me go!
I gathered up some scratch paper, ripped it up and put some glue marker on the back of it to try and hold it in place while I worked.
I am using these makeup sponges because all of my hydra sponges are designated for other colors and I don't have any others on hand.
My paper slipped off so I stopped and called the pink good!
Yep. It's about now that I realize I've done it wrong. Oh well. As tempted as I am to start over I'm not going to. I can make this work!
Notice on Heather's card that she has TWO really crisp lines for the ripped cardstock. I don't. Saddums.
I wanted to show you which adhesive I use for this tiny frame. I LOVE this Tombow Mono Glue! LOVE IT!
I used Copic Markers R11 and R20 to color in my bird. And then added more color and stamping.
NOTE: The flat tone of my bird. Look specifically at its eye ...
I later took a brown marker and started to add some dimension myself.
I think this card may have looked better had I left off the 'hope perches in my soul' HOWEVER that was one of the parts I just COULDN'T leave off! This girls soul needs HOPE perched in it!
So here's my card next to the masterpiece. You notice I placed my watermark signature under the masterpiece! Ok ~ it really did look best there. It is funny though!
Heather's card is certainly more striking and one of the reasons is because of her color palette. She is working with two strong colors and next to each other they are BAM! PERFECT colors for her card and her images. The entire package Heather selected works well together!
I choose two colors that to me read more feminine, soft, delicate and worked sweetly with the images I had chosen. These are all details that set the tone for the final result.
Guess what ... I didn't use ... Glossy Accents ... even though Heather did!
Here you can really see the brown I added to the image.
I also decided to emboss on a couple of layers because the card seemed so one dimensional to me. Now it's busier than I'll get out! LOL!
This is a technique that just requires you to go for it! If you just can't seem to get started then find a card you like that is done with this technique and recreate it using your own palette and images.
Additional Supplies for Hope card: Pixie Dust and Spanish Olive VersaMagic Ink, Transcendence Emboss Powder, Nesties Dies, brown marker
Happy Paper Crafting!
Mischelle
.... now let's go make another card!
Love your cards... and your tutorial! The pink and green together are so pretty! Great time for a football card too!
Posted by: Teresa Jenkins | Sunday, February 06, 2011 at 11:56 AM
Wow! I just LOVE your Hope Perches card. So beautiful. Love the color combo and all the layers...and the ribbon treatment is...YUMMO!!!
Kerry
Posted by: Kerry Urbatch | Sunday, February 06, 2011 at 08:06 AM
awesome - they're all great - I love the torn paper idea for the ink layers. Am definitely going to have to try that. beautiful cards!
Posted by: Seleise | Saturday, February 05, 2011 at 11:48 PM
{love} the cards...and {love} the step-by-step directions!
Posted by: Holly Mays | Saturday, February 05, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Great masculine card. We don't see very many of those and it turned out great. Your bird card is beautiful.
Posted by: Sharon G | Saturday, February 05, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Absolutely gorgeous cards Mischelle. You are such an inspiration.
Posted by: Rita Holmes | Saturday, February 05, 2011 at 09:52 AM
Wowie. You are da BOMB! Love your step-by-steps. Love both your cards--just beautiful!
Posted by: Yuki | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 10:33 PM
I really like the color combination on the bird card! All of them are just wonderfully done!
Posted by: Laurie Unger | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 09:08 PM
You always take my breath away! I don't know which one I like better...you got the colors wrong on the football one though..lol! You certainly have this technique mastered.
Posted by: Christine Pennington | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 09:08 PM
Mischelle, I LOVE the bird card! Cuteness comes and goes, but beauty like this uplifts my heart! Of all the cards I've seen you make, this and your True Beauty butterfly card are my very favorites. If I ever have a large enough party, THIS is the set I will get! Beautiful artistry, Mischelle!
Posted by: Beth Parker | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Wow!!! What FABULOUS cards!
I love love love your Hope Perches card you rocked this technique!!!
Posted by: Kim Sears | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 01:22 PM
WOW Mischelle! Your cards look how my 4 attemps looked in my head! I wish I could bring the ideas out of my head as well as you did. YOU ROCK RETIFORM!
Posted by: Risa Alvarez | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 01:12 PM
I love the colors that you used! Both of your cards are just beautiful!
Posted by: Angela Kelley | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 10:01 AM
The ladies before me expressed it so well. It is amazing to see how you are able to pull everything together. I love these cards, they make me want to try this technique again. I had issues coming up with a card but push through.
Posted by: Maria Van Stratton | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 08:52 AM
Oh, you are amazing! I want to stamp like you when I grow up!!! LOL! I love both of your cards. The football one is strong and masculine and STRIKING. And the bird one is vintage and soft and GORGEOUS. Thanks for sharing your thought process!!
Posted by: Tricia T | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Wow! Mischelle you have blown me away with these cards! Awesome! I never thought of doing the retiform just as the background and then having a primary image on the top. I love it! Thanks for that fantastic idea. I really love the bird card. The coloring on the yellow jacket makes him look so real. I love that set from the past!
Posted by: Paula-Kay Bourland | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 08:13 AM
What more can I say... I totally agree with everyone! Great cards and love how you explained your processes!
Posted by: Carol N | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Love s Mischelle ... I like your palette of colors and selection of images. It all goes together so well and has so much detail. I think it is one of the best retriform I have sen. Beautiful
Posted by: rita kegg | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 07:03 AM
WOW!!! I love all of these cards and the color palettes that you used .. just FABULOUS! The instructions and showing us how you did all of the effects is great too!
Posted by: Chelsea | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 06:22 AM
Oh My Goodness. These cards are breathtaking. Amazing Mischelle! You have out done yourself once again.
Posted by: Debra Miller | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 05:54 AM
I'm with Trudy! That bird card is one of my favorite ALL TIME EVER cards...I love how you layered beneath the scallop circle and all of the individual stamps you used added such detail. sigh...gorgeous.
Posted by: Chris Franco | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 05:17 AM
What fabulous card!!! My favorite is the bird card...SO BEAUTIFUL!!!! I used to think I didn't like this technique, but I may have to reconsider
Posted by: Trudy O | Friday, February 04, 2011 at 05:13 AM