Slings and Arrows

I rarely find myself with a make that might fit more than one challenge, but the stars aligned this time so here I go with a journal page!    I am aiming at Paper Artsy's Hearts Challenge, Emerald Creek Dares Valentine's is NOT in the Air challenge , and Anything But Cute's Ring out the Old, Bring in the New challenge.

The hearts will be obvious, the no-Valentine's bit I hope also (as we are  allowed to speak of love, just not in a Valentine's style).  The new - well, a We R  Memories Gemstone embossing folder, and new Lindy's Stamp Gang Queen Sheba Silver embossing powder.  Oh yes, and a new Faber Castell calligraphy pen in sepia....

You'll see the old as we go along, lol!






I started with a piece of Bristol card, and swiped a good bit of Ground Expresso Distress Paint over it, spritzing with water, and moving around with my fingers before it dried and became permanent.  I went over a few areas again with the same technique, to get a nice mottled effect - not because I knew what would happen, but just in case it would matter.



Next, I used a stencil I've had for a long time but never used, to put some ancient script on this background.  I used PaperArtsy French Roast with a makeup sponge....making sure to dab off a bit before applying to the stencil.

Then I took some Lumiere gold and silver paints, and covered a piece of card, again with a makeup sponge, and sponging a bit of silver over the gold.  I then embossed a piece of this prepared cardstock  with the We R Memories Gemstone embossing folder.  This is part of a set - I used the more angular one. I got this paint idea from the internet, but cannot now locate who inspired me....if anyone knows, please let advise so I can give credit where due!  I then sprayed with a Tattered Angels glimmer spray in Kraft, which dulled it down just a smidge....

Next, I cut two lovely flourishes from the same paper using a wafer die - I cannot identify it although it has the detail of a Memory Box die.

I took a piece of plain cardstock, cut a narrow freehand heart, and tried out the calligraphy pen.  

Feeling ok with this, I then cut the heart from the Lumiere-painted cardstock, and lettered it.  However, I actually ended up liking the back of the piece better, because it was messier - so I applied some more paint using the left-overs from the sponge I had used for the back, and re-wrote the Rumi quote.





I got the (excuse the pun) brilliant idea to spritz on some Heidi Swapp gold spray to this heart.... and of course did not clear off the work table, so it got on my background - yikes!  I quickly sprayed some water on the background and smooshed it around with my fingers.... and actually like what happened.  The letters look carved - nice!

I decided to cut a nice, round heart from the gemstone-embossed piece as a counterpoint to my heart with the quote. You can see the two identical flourishes here as well - one has yet to be cleaned of all the little cutting bits...

 So now I just put everything on the background as I liked.... and I decided I needed to put a bit of a silver border on my heart with the quote... using the almost sheer Queen Sheba's Silver EP from Lindy's Stamp Gang.  It is lovely!

And now everything can come together....

Thank you for stopping by, and if you've time, please do leave a comment  - I read them all with great appreciation for your thoughts, and for you!  xxx Lynn