Sunday, July 5, 2015

Starry, Starry Celebration


It's time for a new challenge from AAA Cards. Our theme for Game 43 is STARS, and this inspiration photo is such a lovely one to get your creative juices flowing.  As we are celebrating Independence Day here in the US this weekend, I have been in a red, white, and blue mode all week in my creating.

My take on the STARS theme is very much inspired by the Fourth of July holiday, and by all of the luscious stencil and/or paste creations from our last challenge. Our players really outdid themselves! Thanks to all who played our challenge.

For AAA Game 43, I used a smooshed panel left over from another project earlier in the week. I put it together with all of the other inspiration and came up with my creation:


I love this watercolor panel done with smooshed distress inks. Then in the paste mode, I colored white embossing paste with SU Real Red ink and applied to Tim Holtz's Speckles stencil. I wanted a pop of red on the muted background, but when I was finished with it I wondered if it would bring blood spatters to mind when viewed by others...  I think it looks great but I hope it does not look gory and crime scene-esque to you - LOL!!!

Moving on,  my star die cut is from another project earlier this week as well.  I popped it up, and finished the card off with Paper Smooches "celebrate" word die cut from silver glitter paper, and added some enamel stars.

I am also linking my card to:

This week's Seize The Birthday Challenge: Anything Goes Birthday with an optional twist of red, white and blue.

Curtain Call's Month-long Challenge with a theme of "Celebrate".

Addicted to CAS Challenge with a PATRIOTIC theme.

Thank you so much for stopping in today.  Your comments make bring joy to my day. 

14 comments:

Sazzle Dazzle said...

Fabulous smooshing Stephanie and brilliant sparkles and stars.
Love your fun card and thanks for linking up at ATCAS too. Sarah x

Jane said...

Gorgeous grungy panel and well done you for using up all those leftover bits - not that anyone would be able to tell, yur card is so amazing!

Anita in France said...

What a fabulous smooshed panel, Stephanie ... and what brilliant shimmer and shine in the sentiment over the bold star ... so celebratory! Thanks so much for your visit and sweet words! Anita :)

Linda Beeson said...

I love your great little background piece. I need to try coloring embossing paste.

Betty Wright said...

Great detailing and use of the smooshing technique! Love the added sparkle accenting! Thanks so much for playing along with us at the Curtain Call!

Joyce said...

Beautful card. Your inked background is perfect, and love your big star.

Colleen said...

Thank you for joining us at Seize the Birthday and going with the red, white and blue topping! You nailed it and it is all fabulous! Love the smooshing, the extra white, your stars, everything! Thanks again for sharing!

Kara Lynne said...

I love the red paste on top of the smooshed background. I did NOT think, "blood" when I saw it. I thought, "wow, that's a great way to get some bright color and texture onto a smooshed background!" Your little stars and glittery sentiment accent it so well!

Deepti said...

That panel is so very stunning :)

cm said...

Smooshing-and-starry splendid, Stephanie! (Look at me, being all alliterative!). Such an eye-catching panel, and the glittery die cut is such a special touch! Pretty++++
Hugs~c

Ksenija @Sweet Kobylkin said...

Stephanie, amazing panel, looks so simple, but so many different techniques used to create it. The whole layout is so well balanced. Thanks for sharing with us. -Sweet Kobylkin, ATCAS

Barb Ghig said...

I love all the details in your panel...Gorgeous work, Stephanie! Thanks so much for playing along with us this week at Addicted to CAS!

Glenda J said...

This is terrific! Love all the stars and the terrific watercolour panel.

anja curvers said...

Wow that watercolor panel is awesome, great card. Thanks for joining us over at ATCAS.