Saturday 7 June 2014

Liesbeth's Ladies of Letters Leporella!

Hello and a warm welcome to Magpieheaven, where after a stormy start we've had a sunny day. The evening sunshine is really streaming into the room as I write this! Last week was a hectic time for me, as my students approached the day of their 'A' level exam on Friday. Over on the PaperArtsy blog the Designers were providing some amazing inspiration and I was worried that I just would not have the time to play, especially as I'd also had my friend's daughter to stay from Brussels. Liesbeth's Leporella book really appealed to me! The covers were gorgeous and the images inside so eye-catching; but I knew I would not have the time to create something so detailed. I did need to make a birthday card, though, so in between tuition sessions I got out my Smoothy card and my Distress inks and created an accordion card. If you would like to see how Liesbeth made her delightful little book over at PaperArtsy take a look here. This is my interpretation of Liesbeth's lovely project. it was an ideal project because I do tend to put off making cards, but this was more like creating a quickie book!
 I decided to keep things simple, as this was going to have to fit into an envelope. Liesbeth's covers are really gorgeous and I intend to re-visit her technique for these some time in the future, but I decided to fold a sheet of A4 card accordion style and use Lynne Perrella images throughout. I took for my theme the topic of corresponding so I mixed and matched my Lynne Perrella stamps from different sets, but they all shared a 'letter writing' theme - these are what I call 'Lynne's Ladies of Letters'. Because I was snatching time between tutorials, I have not posted step by step pictures, but I used Liesbeth's technique of misting Distress Inks and then swiping panels of card through them. I also lightened areas by dropping water from a brush onto them. I would love to have used Liesbeth's technique with bleach, but I don't have any Stazon ink and I didn't want to ruin my images stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. I improvised by using Posca white pen to lighten areas.  I made masks for my stamped images and I used a Prima Flourish stencil for my background.
I experimented with different colour combos and chose those which I thought worked best. For my cover Vintage Photo, Shabby Shutters and Evergreen Bough with Bundled Sage ink refill scribbled at the edge of the craft mat worked the best.
Inside my card I used a blend of Fired Brick, Broken China, Peacock Feathers and Shabby Shutters and some Chipped Sapphire ink refill.
I was not pleased with all my experiments, some had sections of the panel that worked and others that were a bit splodgy and not conducive to really clean stamped images. I didn't want to waste these, so I punched little Martha Stewart butterflies from them and used some as embellishments. I believe the friend I have created this card for is especially fond of this Blake quote. It's written in such a beautiful script that I think it fits perfectly with these 'Ladies of Letters'! I used a Rebekah Meir doily stencil and some script from LP028 in the background. I really loved the effect of the blended inks on the butterfly wings.

I ran some seam-binding through the misted inks on my craft sheet and used this to tie the card like a little book.
I used some Chatsworth paper, which carries through the writing theme for my backing.
I left a couple of panels blank to write my birthday message and aged the book by distressing the edges with a Prima tool and then sponging with Walnut Stain distress and Soot. Thank you so much for dropping by Magpieheaven today and thank you, Liesbeth for such inspiration. I should like to link my card to PaperArtsy's Challenge this week. Thinking about ladies who write reminded me of Virginia Woolf. In 'A Room of One's Own' she says:
“So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say. ” 
― Virginia WoolfA Room of One's Own

I think that could be extended to creating generally. Whatever you create in the coming weeks I hope it will give you pleasure and make you happy, and that it will be something you created because you wished to - no more and no less!

30 comments:

  1. Oh wow, what a work of art!! Anyone would be delighted to receive such a birthday card! See you tomorrow.

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  2. Beautiful, a work of art x

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  3. First I love reading your blog and next I LOVE your card. What a fantastic idea xxx

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  4. Gorgeous card, love the fab techinics xxx

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  5. The beautiful colours and exquisite stamping draw me in and of course the way you created a card which on first appearance looks to be a book - divine!
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  6. This is stunning Julie Ann, wonderful stamping & colours! xxx

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  7. Another stunning work of art Julie Ann!

    Donna.x

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  8. Stunning Julie Ann, love all the colours, very pretty:-) xxx

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  9. SO beautiful! The backgrounds look amazing.

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  10. A great leporello with fabulous details. Wonderful color scheme.

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  11. Brilliantly designed and put together, love this Julie Ann xx

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  12. OH so beautiful work Julie Ann!! Very colorful and stunning LP's stamped. Especially the Ring Doily stenciled I love. Have a great time on sunday!! xx

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  13. Oooh wow, your book is SO BEAUTIFUL Julie Ann !! Love it !!

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  14. Gorgeous colour scheme I do love your book. Elizabeth xxx

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  15. such a beautiful, beautiful card Julie Ann! I'm taking note of those colour combos as I wouldn't think to add in fired brick but it looks amazing

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  16. Wow, what a fabulous card! So much work (and it really is a book in the end). Amazing!

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  17. Hello my sweet friend, yup knew you were going to blow me away, I agree Liesbeth's Leporella was AMAZING, anf who would want a card when they received one of your gorgeous books, each page is stunning the backgrounds are gorgeous, love the stenciling, your stamping is beautiful, I love how the different colors of ink come through and those sweet butterflies all around, I keep going back to look and look, its really exquisite, every side, the seam binding goes perfectly, your friend will treasure this, your work just makes this world a more beautiful place, thanks for sharing, hope you have a wonderful week.. ((( BIG HUGS )))..

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  18. "Keep things simple" made me laugh out loud!! Looking at the incredible attention to detail in the stamping, the glorious colours, and the beautiful stencilling, this looks anything but simple! Gorgeous, gorgeous card - so great how many working surfaces you gave yourself with the accordion structure. And I love those butterflies dancing from page to page - a delight!
    Alison xx

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  19. Wow this is incredible, really beautiful. A total work of art.

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  20. Your 'simple' is simply amazing - and now I see you have won(along with my friend Sarah) so you can get choosing some time soon!!! Absolutely adore the colours you have used and those fab backgrounds! LP forever!!!!!Chrisxx

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  21. So gorgeous Julie Ann!!! Every bit of detail as well as the paper used on the back- it matches up perfectly!I am sure your friend will adore this card!

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  22. Beautiful and inspiring sentiments about creativity dear Julie Ann ♥
    Your card is an absolute delight finished perfectly with your lovely dyed ribbons!
    Clearly you know how to have fun and extra nice for your lucky friend to receive such a thing of beauty!
    oxo

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  23. It's amazing , Julie Ann. The background catch your eyes and the stamped images are a perfect match.
    It's been a pleasure meeting you at the Extravaganza!

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  24. This is fabulous Julie Ann with stunning backgrounds, colours and stamping. I could say great minds think alike because although I started a Leporella last week, I only managed to get the covers done and was so disappointed but de ided I was going to complete it anyway. Then this evening, while thinking about a card I have to make I decided to make mine a birthday card /come gift. If mine turns out half as wonderful as yours I shall be so pleased.

    hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  25. This is absolutely exquisite, Julie Ann! Sorry I don't know what happened to last week, it seemed to vanish somewhere, but now at least you have another Lynne Perrella set after your win!

    Lucy x

    Lucy x

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  26. Oh wow wow wow absolutely gorgeous stunning card book, I agree her make that week was truly awesome and I love how you have taken inspiration to make this fabulous creation. I definitely want to go back and try. I love the deep colours you used and the stencilling and stamping is amazing. I hope that all your pupils did well on their A levels. Hugs :-) Kezzy xxx

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