Friday, March 21, 2014

LOTV - Annabel's in Town!...


Happy Friday, everyone! Lili of the Valley is introducing seven adorable new stamps featuring little Annabel, a very active little girl whose pigtails are always flying. :) The stamps will be available for purchase from the website at midday on Monday, March 24th.

Annabel's being featured in today's blog hop, and as the LOTV hops often have, there are prizes hidden among our participating blogs for *two* lucky commenters, who will each win the complete set of the 7 new Annabel stamps by random drawing of all the comments. So be sure to leave a comment on each participating blog to increase your chances of winning one of the two prizes!

Here's the linked list of the blogs participating to make it easy for you to find them all...

Kathy (you're here!)
Lou


As you may know by now, my focus on the team is use of the gorgeous LOTV papers, and the sentiment and background stamps. So how do I make a card incorporating the fun spirit of Annabel without using her image? I decided, since Annabel is such a busy girl, and apparently not partial to lacy and frilly things, I'd make up a card that was "busy" with techniques and minimize the "frilly" details that I'm so fond of.  :)




The background patterned paper is from LOTV's Pressed in Time paper pad...the large heart in the center is covered with paper from the Beach Bliss pad. Then I added several LOTV background stamp images to the piece. The clock in the lower left corner, and the postmark and text in the lower right corner, are from LOTV's Grunge Elements stamp set. The wonderful corner stamp in the upper right is from LOTV's Grunge Corners stamp set. The sentiment from the Handwritten Phrases set was stamped onto a tattered banner diecut.

After the stamping, I gesso'd the center of the piece, using the gesso itself to "glue" pieces of cheesecloth on both sides. The next step was to spritz some Broken China Distress Ink diluted with distilled water over the center of the gesso'd area, including the cheesecloth, and while it was still wet, I tilted the piece back and forth to make the ink run, and give a watercolor effect. I used a Tim Holtz Splatters stencil and some Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink to give the look of "cup" marks on the piece.

After some "messy" stenciling with dark gray modeling paste and a chickenwire template (to get the "messy" look, I didn't tape the stencil down, letting some of the paste seep under some of the edges...Annabel's not big into perfectly neat...heehee) I sprinkled some Shabby Blue Frantage embossing powder randomly around the card and heat embossed it.

A canvas flower with a button center, a seam binding bow, and a small stamen cluster, were added over the heart in the center of the card front...




Here's a closeup of the grunge corner stamp that shows most of the techniques all in one photo...the gesso, splatter stencil, modeling paste chickenwire stencil, Frantage embossing powder, distressed edges, and machine stitching...





The final handmade accent is a small air-dry clay corner element, painted with acrylic paints in coordinating colors...


Supplies:
Patterned papers:   LOTV Pressed in Time and Beach Bliss paper pads
Stamps:   LOTV Set 66 Grunge Elements (clock, postmark, text);  Set 21 Grunge Corners; and Set 25 Handwritten Phrases
Dies:   Tim Holtz Tattered Banners;   Sizzix Flowers Branches & Leaves;   Xyron ShapeZ/Heart
Stencils:   Tim Holtz Splatters;   Crafters Workshop Chickenwire Reversed
Canvas flower:   Prima          Stamen cluster:   Wild Orchid Crafts          Clay corner:   Martha Stewart air dry clay and mold
Miscellaneous:   Hug Snug seam binding,  cheesecloth,  gesso,  Distress Inks,  Frantage embossing powder



Remember that we don't know who the "lucky blogs" belong to, so the more blogs you leave a comment on, the better your chances of winning a set of Annabel stamps in the random drawings. And don't forget to stop by the Ideas to Inspire blog on Monday morning to see if you're one of the lucky winners!

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. Enjoy the hop, and good luck to you!





129 comments:

  1. Gorgeous card Kathy!!! You hit it even with out any image and only with paper pads and stamps..Loved the air clay corner element a lot..

    Anjali..
    Handmade With Paper

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  2. So many beautiful techniques to look at and such amazing colours. You are such a talented team. Love this card.
    Hugs Karen x

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  3. A great card hun, I love all the inky layers! xxx

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  4. Fabulous card and wonderful colours!
    Hugs Jude x

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  5. gorgeous card - really right up my street - wonderful xx

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  6. love..love..love it...it's a great card...really stunning...:)

    Have a nice day
    Crafty hugs from me

    Roselany

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  7. You really did an awesome job, even without an imagestamp you managed to make a masterpiece here, it´s gorgeous Kathy.

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  8. Gorgeous and beautiful card Kathy just love the colour's and fabulous design
    Hugs Dianne xx :)

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  9. oh wow! that is just gorgeous. I love all the little parts of stamping and the leafy fronds too.
    hugs Lou xx

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  10. Perfect Annabel feeling, beautiful card Kathy. x

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  11. very nice card , Lovely flower.
    hugs rian

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  12. Very different, not using an image, but very pretty

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  13. Oh yes! this is the spirit of Annabel. Great work.
    Hugs Elfi

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  14. Wow I love all the new stamps, Annabel is adorable. Fingers crossed.
    hugs Anke

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  15. This is fab absolutely love it
    Sharon

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  16. Wow good job! It feels very alive and moving :)

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  17. Wow Kathy! Your card has lots of beautiful details that I can admire for hours. Stunning!

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  18. Mmm I love all your little details on the card. wauw so nice done and not overwhelming! Such a cute handmade clay corner mmm great.
    I don't miss annabel on your card, her spirit is there!
    thanks for the chance
    hugs from belgium
    isabelle

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  19. What a fantastic interpretation! And I think you're right, it captures her spirit beautifully. Stunning card Kathy. x

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  20. another gorgeously stunning card.

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  21. Wow, stunning card, I love how you build up your backgrounds, nice tomboy colours, yet still very LOTV pretty. Fern x

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  22. Stunning! So many gorgeous details, Kathy, that it's impossible to take in in one look! Amazing! xx

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  23. I think this is very stylish, so pretty. xxxx

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  24. Love this card it's so pretty
    Jackie x

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  25. WOW! This is stunning. I love the colours, gorgeous textures and wonderful detailing too. The style of sentiment works so well with your fabulous design.
    Thank you for the inspiration.
    Sue xx

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  26. A fantastic card with so many beautiful details!
    Rebecca.

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  27. Wow Kathy I just love your card.Beautiful texture too.Gorgeous.Hugs Debbie x

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  28. Kathy this is great! Love it, the textures and colours are beautiful. Lyns xx

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  29. Gorgeous colours and textures - thought I'd gone to the wrong site as no Annabel but love what you've done instead. x

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  30. Gorgeous colours and layout. Marlene

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  31. Oh WoW! Your card is a real eyecatcher!! Love all the details and techniques you used, it's gorgeous and very inspiring!
    Bye,

    Marjolein

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  32. Gorgeous card!

    Maria Tavares
    fiosdealfazema@gmail.com

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  33. Gorgeous card. Fantastic collaging of the stamps and layering of embellishments. So much lovely texture. Love the colours too.

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  34. These papers are gorgeous, your layering is fantastic! TFS!

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  35. Stunning, great details and definately in Annabels spirit. Off hopping, Jane x

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  36. Beautiful card, pretty colours and lovely layout!

    Sharon x

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  37. I love your Annabel-less card! It's beautiful!

    Hugs
    Brenda

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  38. Love your card, such beautiful papers.

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  39. Always good to see your very different cards Kath. Lovely papers and your card is lovely x

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  40. Gorgous card and a wonderful interpretation of Annabel xx

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  41. This is an honest to goodness....work of art!! WOW!!♥

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  42. Love your card, thanks for sharing and a chance to win the Annabel stamps.

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  43. Kathy, this is beautiful with so much detail! Love the colour scheme x

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  44. Fabulous idea... So creative... Love it!

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  45. Beautiful card, love the background

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  46. This is a wonderful collage card, and I love the blue cheesecloth and the chicken wire stencil. The lovely canvas flower with the button centre and the seam binding bow are lovely finishing elements. x

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  47. A lovely card - fabulous - Linda x

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  48. Pretty card and love all the elements. Hugs, Carol S.xx

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  49. This is beautiful - I love all the texture and dimension and the embellishments especially the flower.
    isoscia at aol dot com

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  50. really nice card, lots of different textures and elements. Well done~

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  51. Wow I am always stunned by your creativity, fabulous

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  52. Gorgeous card Kathy! Lovely embellishments and not too girly :) Debra x

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  53. Ops...now I was wondering where the cute little gir is on your card ;) But then I read what you wrote and I am impressed by your non cute card, as I am really not good in it! Very stylish!
    Martina

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  54. Wot no Annabel!!! Probably off bungie jumping or climbing a cliff. A lovely card. Love all the colours and textures.

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  55. Wow... absolutely inspiring! I love all the pretty elements, and the gorgeous colors. Hugs.

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  56. A lovely interpretation of Annabel. Gorgeous card xxx

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  57. I always love your cards. This one os so beautiful, too.
    Hugs,
    Guida

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  58. Your card is truely inspirational in showcasing what Annabel is about, you've done her proud, love the layout, colour combo and a beautiful masterpiece, love it hugs xx

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  59. A beautiful card and such a lot of different techniques involved.
    Mary

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  60. Your card is absolutely gorgeous, Kathy! Wonderful design!

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  61. Hi Kathy, I love your card, the choice of papers and colours. You have done a wonderful job without the use of an image, as you always do.
    Chris xx

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  62. you did an awesome job.... beautiful card and I love the flower...Annabel would love it :)

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  63. So much work and detail has gone into this card, just shows what can be achieved with such nice products.

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  64. wow, wonderful card, love, patty

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  65. So different from what's gone before. Love the uniqueness of the card.

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  66. As a big fan of shabby chic style I love this - I too have a weakness for papers. Love this card, very touchy feely about it.

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  67. Lovely and so different to all the other cards in the blog hop. Love how you have so many areas of interest in your card! x

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  68. This is great. Absolutely wonderful. I have some of these stamps and have never used them as I didn't know what to do with them (?)
    Most inspiring! Thank you.

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  69. I love the variety of techniques you have used on this card, it has inspired me to have a go. Thanks for sharing.

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  70. a stunning card I love this so pretty ... hugs sarah xx

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  71. A beautiful card. Love the embellishments.
    Lesley

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  72. I love all your card! They are so gorgeous!

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  73. Love your outside the box take on the stamps, inspires me to do something different!

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  74. Gorgeous card with these beautiful papers perfect for shabby chic designs.

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  75. Beautiful card, I just love your work! I fail at making image-less cards, they somehow never end up looking anything like this beauty! :P Fab colours and perfect layout and embellishments :)

    Tanya xx

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  76. Your card is beautiful Kathy, I love all the detail and pretty flower.

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  77. Wow, it's stunning! Annabel would sure love it... :)

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  78. This project is a work of art!!! Love the different techniques incorporated in one and the details with lovely elements makes this one a keeper for anyone. Love it even without the frills and laces.

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  79. Love the grunge look, you have made it look fabulous :)

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  80. Just gorgeous......so much detail...xx

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  81. This is just gorgeous Kathy. I love the pretty papers and all the way you have put it all together.
    Have a good weekend
    Lorraine x

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  82. Love it. I really need to play more xxx

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  83. I love this style of card. Thank you for sharing such a lovely card. xxx

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  84. Lovely colours and details, a really pretty card :o) Hugs, Lisa x

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  85. Beautiful papers and I love the different techniques used x

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  86. Your beautifully arangement really make this card special.
    Love all Details
    CU hellerlittle

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  87. Very original interpretation of the new character 'Annabel'! Greetings from Belgium, Annelies

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  88. Amazing card what a great idea gorgeous colours Love and Happy Crafting Carole x

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  89. fab and different as usual always refreshing and beautiful thanks for sharing

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  90. i love all the different techniques on your card - the papers are fab

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  91. Wow, what a gorgeous colourful card :)

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  92. I think Annabel is a very busy girl too... Can picture her and her puppy as a whirlwind of ponytails, paw prints, dirt and giggles!! Love this card, a busy card for a busy girl!

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  93. This is a wonderful card and I am sure Annabel would agree!

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  94. Wow - it must have taken you ages to make this beautiful card!

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  95. Annabel is really a cute new character for Lili. they never run out.

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  96. Very nice card! So different from the rest of the hop!

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  97. So sweet card. I`m must little shopping next week!

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  98. Loving this Kathy, just gorgeous !! TFS!!!
    hugs x

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  99. Eine wunderschöne Karte...vielen Dank für die tolle Inspiration!

    LIebe Grüße,
    Yvonne

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  100. This is wonderful. I love all the techniques that you used. And the papers. What a great job.

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  101. I am inspired by the use of so many techniques on your lovely card.

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  102. This is a surprise ... no Annabel and yet playful. Love the mixed media and cheesecloth things !
    xx Annie

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  103. Lovely card and gorgeous design! x

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  104. Such a clever idea, love the card xx

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Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment - I appreciate it!