Feb 19, 2019

Learning Through Inspiration: Natasha Valkovskaya (Day 2)

This is part of a series of improving my cardmaking by studying other designer's cards. You can find out more about this series here.
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Today I'm focusing on a card by Natasha that I saw on her Instagram feed. It's another beauty!! Thank you again Natasha for permitting me to post your cards on my blog.

NATASHA'S CARD


WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CARD

  • Everything
  • Natasha used an acrylic block to color the top part of the card and the flowers. This creates the light open feeling that I love.
  • Black + White + One bright color = A Winner
  • The flowers are placed in a way that move your eye around the sentiment. 
MY CARD




WHAT I LEARNED
  • Still love the look created by using an acrylic block, but haven't quite mastered it. But I can mimic it by using the (no longer available) Ranger Distress Stains to color paper. It doesn't produce the same look, but I like it. Just lightly rub the dauber bottle across the paper. 
  • If I had to do it again, and I will, I'd stamp a flower off the edge. That would help with the "flow" of the images. Placing these images was difficult. I moved them around quite a bit.
  • Using the Modern Graphics dotted paper designed by Julie Ebersole adds to the interest of this card. I was surprised that this patterned paper could handle some Distress Stain. Love it!
  • I had been browsing floral sets, feeling like I had "none." Turns out I have more than none floral sets! 
My supplies: Altenew Bamboo Rose stamp set; Modern Graphics paper; Versafine Onyx ink; Mermaid Lagoon Ranger Distress Stain; detail scissors; foam tape.

MOOD WHEN DONE: Happy! 

I'll be taking a break from this Learning Through Inspiration series and will be posting other cards, but I'll be returning to it in a bit. Very gratified by the response to the series. I read every comment and am putting together a blog post just on the comments I've received here on the blog, as well as on Instagram, Facebook, and privately.

Thanks!

9 comments:

Janet said...

I have really been enjoying your "learning through inspiration" series. It encouraged me to try the watercoloring via acrylic block. I actually loved it. I have created 3 backgrounds so far and will turn them into cards next. I played around with some shimmer sprays which to me were trickier than the stamping with the block. I can't seem to get a nice amount of speckles - comes out too heavy on the spray or not enough. I think I will have to try flicking with a brush instead. Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Julie Ebersole said...

I have a drawer full of Distress Stains--I'm SO sad they were discontinued. I loved them and they're one of the few Distress products I actually used--and used A LOT. I don't think I can part with them. And now I wanna pull them out and try this. LOL!

judkajudi said...

I love your inspiration series, but I hope you also will just let your muse take over! You are very talented and there are many who look to you for inspiration! Hugs.

Susan Raihala said...

Love your inspiration series! It's very helpful to read and see how others get inspiration.

Jeanne H said...

I really, really like your card!!

Leslie Miller said...

Love the look of the Distress stain. You created your own look. I'm so intrigued by your struggle-plagued experience with the blocks that I think I need to try it. I've used inks on blocks to make smooshy backgrounds, but have never tried a border. I like your style, Joan. Always have.

Carol (HB) said...

I've learned so much through your series and so enjoy the beautiful cards you've made! Thank you!

Sabrina said...

I really like the way the flowers echo the blue strip at the top. I'm not good at monochrome cards myself, but I'll certainly be remembering this.

I used to struggle a lot with acrylic block backgrounds - using distress inks. I've found it far, far easier with the DOX.But for an even lighter look, I think smooshing ink on thin acetate and then applying the acetate to the paper works well and gives control.

Unknown said...

You know your projects stand out of the herd. There is something special about them. It seems to me all of them are really brilliant! cooperative learning