It’s March and we’re taking a trip out of the Geared Up Garage. Yes, the Artisan Design Team are showcasing this Classic Garage Suite, complete with mini tool embellishments.
Welcome to this month’s Artisan Design Team Blog Hop, where this month we are turning our hand to the Garage. Geared Up Garage is a fabulous masculine suite that offers mini tools to cogs and oil cans.
Many find masculine cards difficult to create, but I think it’s because we like all things pretty. This month we Artisan’s are creating with the Geared Up Garage suite to share with you.
Manuela’s cards and pop of colour are fantastic, so if you’ve not seen them, you’ll want to hop on around until you do.
At first I really didn’t know where to start and cut a layer of this Grey pattered paper. I starred at it and became quite frustrated that nothing was coming to me. Frustration caused me to screw up the paper and bingo … this almost rock looking effect was created.
Taking a strip of silver foil and Staz On Ink, I randomly stamped oil smudges and oil cans all over it, before creating the Black Ice Technique.
Black Ice Technique
Carefully dragging the ink from the edges over the silver foil, I created gentle stripes across the strip. I then used Versamark to fully ink up this panel, that I heat embossed with clear Embossing Powder. I was left with a real metal looking panel that screamed masculinity.
Loving the shape of this sentiment, I just had to make use of it. Packing a punch with Crushed Curry, I heat embossed the sentiment with White Embossing Powder. I loved the rock and metal masculine effect that I’d created here.
I also used the Black Ice Technique on this ‘Happy Father’s Day’ badge. To create a gentle curve for this badge, I used a Bone Folder and adhered it in place using two stacked Dimensional Foam Pads.
With hubby having a classic motorbike in the garage himself, I knew I had to create at least one card using a bike. The bike on this second card appears on one of the Designer Series Papers, so was cut out using paper snips. Each year he tends to head off on an annual biking trip with his friends, so the addition of the map, seemed only right and fitting.
Hopefully this blog hop will inspire you to get creative with this set and to perhaps try some of these techniques. Next up we have the talented Narelle Farrugia, who I know has something quite special to share.
WoW Mikaela! So awesome!
You also have the matching man with a super cool motorbike!
ha ha ha ha … Bless you Sylwia, I do … You’re right and a wonderful man at that x
You really created wonderful cards, dear Mikaela.. love the grey background!
aww Thank you so much Manuela, you are so kind x
totally brilliant! I love the black ice TECHNIQUE, one I shall have to try out!! these are the perfect showcase of this suite xo
Thank you so much Emma. Oh yes, you must give it a try xx
Wow Mikaela, that Black Ice Technique is genius, I am so going to have to give that one a go. Love that you included that pic of your hubby and his bike, he completely coordinates with this suite (haha)
Coordinating products and a coordinating husband … I’ll have to tell him that one xx
Fabulous projects Mikaela! THat black Ice technique is amazing. I really must give that a go. The scrunching of the DSP is a great idea too. Thanks for sharing! Rochelle xo
Scrunching out of frustration had it’s rewards after all x
Super Projects! Love the story behind your creations, too. I have never used the black ice technique and will have to give it a try–it really looks like you used a metal pice on your cards.
Thank you Sara, I’m so pleased you like. You must give that technique a try. Shout if you need advice x
Wow, I like the ‘dirty’ look of your cards and the use of transparent embossing powder! It makes me want to try! The set is superb, congratulations Mikaela!
Thank you Aurélie, dirty just like a garage. Oh yes, the Black Ice Technique was a fun one and perfect for that faux metal look. I’m so pleased you like x
Fantastic cards mikaela, love the techniques too x
Thank you so much Angela, I’m so pleased that you like xx