"FREESTYLE FRIDAYS"

Last week, with her "Freestyle Fridays" blog post, Julie presented a mission for me to complete a 4" x 9" card featuring the Faux Mother of Pearl technique using Stampin' Up!'s Frost White shimmer paint.  After two attempts with which I wasn't pleased, I decided to stamp and color the image first and then proceed with the technique, and this worked much better for me.  Having the image under the shimmer paint actually lends an aged effect, similar to cracked glass.  Maybe I discovered a Twisted Faux Mother of Pearl technique!  Anyway . . . I used an A2 size of glossy card stock, stamped the image with black StazOn ink, and then colored it with a blender pen and Stampin' Pastels.  In a paint palette, I poured a nickle-sized "dollop" of Frost White shimmer paint and then used a crumpled piece of Saran Wrap to dip into the paint and lightly dab (randomly) onto the card stock.  When the paint was dry (lickety-split), I used a sponge to apply Early Espresso ink and then gently tissued off the excess ink.  I used the Scallop Framed Oval die to cut the finished piece, along with a cut of Early Espresso card stock so the scallop frame would be a different color.  For the layered labels, I used one of the "Lots of Tags" Sizzlits dies and one of the labels on the "Matchbox" die.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include:  "Newsprint" designer paper, Vintage Wallpaper and Square Lattice embossing folders, glimmer brads, Eyelet Border punch, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, and Rose Red card stock, "Clearly for You" and "Tiny Tags" stamp sets, Vanilla taffeta ribbon, and shimmer mist created from a mix of water and Champagne Mist shimmer paint.