Today I’ve made a card for a dear friend who is contemplating shuttering his start-up. It has been his baby, and a lot of dreams and hopes are being dashed as he makes this decision, but I think he is right to close this chapter and move on to the next. I made this card for him not only to let him know that he is in my thoughts, but to remind him of the quote, “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
I created this Industrial Steampunk style card inspired by the striking Carabelle-Studio “The heart has its reasons” stamp set. I Copic colored it in the following rich secondary tones: Khaki: YG95, YT97, YG99; Golden Yellow: Y00, Y15, YR24; Teal: BG13, BG15, BG18; Burgundy: R83, R85, R89; Blues: B52, B93, B95, B97 and B99. Next I painstakingly fussy cut it out and carefully backed each part of the detailed image up on fun foam for added dimension. I also coated some parts of the image with Ranger Glossy Accents to give it some shine and interest.
For the card front, I really wanted to create a layered and textured grungy background. I rummaged through my paper scrap box and found some thick watercolor paper that I had long-ago painted with DecoArt fluid acrylics in Titanium White, Phthalo Blue, Cobalt Teal Blue, and Cerulean Blue. Just a bit of that peeks around the next layer up, which is a glossy and slightly textured patterned paper of keys and clock work hands that has been in my scrap box for years! I also found a bit of corrugated kraft card stock that I cut into a banner shape and then loosely painted with streaks using a DecoArt Media turquoise shimmer mister, dry brushed black acrylic paint and added light swaths of Martha Stewart Multi-Surface Satin Putty acrylic paint. I love the way the liquid mediums highlight the texture of the corrugated card stock and give this banner layer the look of something that has gotten painted numerous times over many years.
For some Steampunk accents, I die cut 5 gears from 100 lb black card stock using some Diemond Dies Steampunk Gears Dies. To give them a metallic shimmer, I blended on some Delicata Golden Glitz Pigment Ink to the die cut gears. I positioned them around and behind the top focal point image layer, which was the beautiful Steampunk heart image. The whole assembly was mounted on a dark forest green cardstock card base. My readers can get 10% off and free worldwide shipping on all orders of $35 or more at Diemond Dies by using the coupon code: thankskristina
For the inside card liner, I simply stamped out the faucet from the Carabelle Studio “The heart has its reasons” stamp set on the upper right side. I matted it on more of the watercolor paper with the blue and green fluid acrylic paint to echo the matting on the card front.
Then I used Microsoft Word to shape the quote into a droplet shape. I inserted a circle shape that I made white with a white outline. Then I right clicked to insert text. I used a free distressed typewriter font to type in the quote in black. Then I used the “format” tab and clicked the “text effects” choice button which opened a drop down menu that had the “transform” choice as the last option. I clicked on the various options to shape the text into a rounded circle shape that I hoped I could cut into the form of a big drop of water. I printed out the quote and hand fussy cut it out into the droplet shape. Lastly, to add a bit of color and set the shaped sentiment apart from the white liner sheet, I blended on some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass.
Disclosure: Many of the supplies I’ve used for today’s project are linked. Some may be affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog!
The following is a video share along with a Copic coloring process video:
This Steampunk Industrial card is being entered into the following challenges:
CropStop April Linky Party Challenge #38
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Dies or Punches Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Use Vellum
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
SanDee & Amelia’s Anything Goes Steampunk Industrial Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge #382
Gorgeous card! Love the steampunk look! Thank you for joining our challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends. Good luck!
Tracyx
Thank you so very much Tracy!
superbement coloré ce coeur steampunk ,
merci de jouer pour Sandee & Amelie’s à bientôt Nate
Thank you so very much Nate!
Kristina I am won over to the steampunk side with your gorgeous card! I can’t get over the beautiful elements and the cooringbon tge image looks so awesone. Beautiful work♥️
Big tight hugs to you my sweet friend!
Marvelous card. I really like the banner. Thank you so much for sharing how you created the water drop text. It is the greatest. I hope all goes well for your friend. I am glad the two of you have each other for friends.
Thank you so much! I always have fun when I am trying/learning something new and figuring out how to make that water drop text was definitely a kick! TFStopping by and leaving a sweet comment!
Omg, love the steampunk look. Awesome card.
Awww thank you so much Betty! I love this style too! 🙂
This is fab! I love your choice of colours and the design and elements work so well.
Glad you dropped it onto the front porch at 613 Avenue Create.
Hugs Sheryl DT member xx
Awww thank you so much Sheryl! I love the Steampunk style but I don’t see it used very much. Hope I can share more in this style on my blog and YT channel so more folks get exposed to it. 🙂
Love what you did with this stamp! Great contrast with the dark background, and pops of color. Love the gears around the heart. Thanks so much for sharing with us at SASPC! hugs, Maura
Thank you so much Maura! I love the Steampunk style and I had a blast creating this card. I hope my friend likes it. 🙂
Wow! Beautiful card. Wonderful steampunk image, you are so talented!
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind comment! I really enjoyed crafting this card, and I hope it is uplifting for my friend when he receives it.
Beautiful card, your heart is gorgeous ! thank you for your participation at Sandee & Amelie steampunk challenge.
Brigitte
Thank you so very much Brigitte!
So many wonderful elements on your steampunk card and I love the sentiment inside!
I’m so happy you linked this up to the Cropstop blog!
Thank you so very much Esther!
Beautiful Card ,Thanxx For Sharing With Us At Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends ..
Sherry Lynn
Dt LPOCF
Thanks so much Sherry!
What a beautiful project! I love it! Thank you so much for joining us in our ATG challenge at Through The Craft Room Door this week. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.
Judy TTCRD DT
Don’t Mess With Me, I’m Scrappy {My Blog}
Through The Craft Room Door
ttcrd.blogspot.com
Oh you are so sweet! Thanks so much Judy!
A great card!
Thank you soo much for taking part in our “anything goes with optional dies and punches” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…
Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
(DT Crafty Friends)
(DT The Sketchy Challenges)
PS: Sorry for the late comment, life had been very busy these past weeks…
Thanks so much Melanie!