Friday 4 March 2016

Testing... Testing.... Yuk

"As you like it" challenge blog asked for favourite occasion (hiding in my craftroom has any holiday) which is my excuse to have a play and create a card for my Mum. 
Mothering Sunday is one of my favourite card making occasions because I no longer have my mum with me so it's a lovely chance to spend some time making something for her and remembering what a truly amazing mum she was.
...and I decided again that this has to be a "just add glue" card. ....why oh why do I make it so difficult  for myself, particularly as Less is More wants to see wire.....I have a lovely tub of craft wire ...lots of pretty colours and useful jigs to shape it on.....but I hate to be defeated and I think all these challenges have to be do-able without buying anything extra.

I have a bit of an advantage as my husband is an electrician so he has lots of scrap cable which he can strip the insulation off to reveal lovely shiny trendy copper wire....problem number one .....he presented me with some rather thick wire .....didn't want to be ungrateful but really wasn't that easy to work with. Still with some borrowed pliers and cutters I managed to form the word mum!
From an old magazine (I find this paper makes it easier to blend ink over)

 I made a quick flower stencil and using my daubers and pen ink I stencilled a flower....punched some holes to attach the word and voila!!!
YUK! 
I hated it.....
        .......the wire was far too clumpy for the stencilled image.....so horrible.
Oh well ....try again.....and running short of time I grabbed some of my trial bits of inky and bleached papers from last week......and yes you have found me out.... I hadn't cleared my desk up!! Generally I just keep working along until I run out of work space ;-)
To alter the wire I tried painting it (paint was also still out)...lovely and white ....well that was until it was dry and it vegan to turn verdigris ...I liked it but it wasn't what I intended so I distressed it with some sand paper and this time attached it with silicon hidden with some buttons. I slipped a little felt leftover heart that I made for a young friend's wedding (we had the best hen party, crafting her wedding, making felt flower bouquets and decorations and eating cake and lots of yummy stuff.... And if you are reading this Stacey ...happy first anniversary).
Ok this one a bit better ....but didn't love it....time for one more try...
As I was beginning to hate the wire as it was.... I decided to disguise it......by wrapping it in twine ....could I choose anything hairier or trickier to work with (yes it was just laying on my messy worktop) ...,.working with the rustic theme I made a quick tissue paper flower with button centre and dry brushed the background with a little green paint. I was worried that the wire could no longer be seen (less is more) so it was back into the shed for some picture hanging wire, but as I couldnt find it, I had to settle for some gardening wire for some extra detail.

Well this one I like better and will certainly try and experiment with the covered wire again. 
 But for now that has to be it.......


7 comments:

Esther said...

Oh my goodness, firstly I am in AWE of your approach to this challenge. How tenacious and creative! Secondly I think all your cards looked great - but the twine covered wire definitely steals the day with its wonderful texture. Full marks for innovation! Your mum would certainly have been proud of you and would have loved receiving this amazing card x

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

10 out of 10 for perseverance! And such an innovative way to use the wire on the last card. All 3 look so different and each one is very lovely. What a wonderful way to remember your mum too.
Thank you for joining us.
Sharon xx
Less is More

Chrissie said...

Wow you really went to town here... I tried making words with wire and ended up throwing everything in the bin... it's really tricky!
Well done you!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Anne said...

Gosh you really worked at this one! I found wire very hard to work with. Sure I can add it but it seemed to detract not add to the card. Interesting and inspirational to watch your wire journey.
I think your covered wire is a brilliant idea and each card looks god in its own way.

Sarah said...

Improvisation is what you call that!! I think each and every one of these is brilliant and very welcome at AYLI this time!! Good Luck!! Sarah :0)

AlisonC said...

Well you nailed it in the end, well done for not throwing it all in the bin.I do like the inky one too though. And I'm interested in the tip about magazine paper, of course it is thin and shiny, I'd never thought to try it but I will now. Maybe you'll be able to get your hands on some copper wire next time. x

Rainey's Craft Room said...

A lovely post and three fab cards. The covered wire looks great. Thanks for sharing them with us at AYLI this week.
Lorraine

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