CAS(E) This Sketch 285 Meets Fusion

My card today, which combines the sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch with the inspiration at Fusion was a doozy for me!  Many years ago I tried my hand at a galaxy technique which made a fun background that looked like a long view into space.  I forgot how I did it so I resorted to Google to help me out!

I found a video from Jennifer McGuire using Distress Oxide inks that seemed pretty easy.  So I embarked on my galaxy adventure using her technique.  Lessons learned include using WAY less PearlEx in my spritz bottle and probably going a bit easier on the Black Soot ink so that some of the colorful ink underneath shows up. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you play along with our sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch.  But I hope you also play along with us at Fusion.  There you can use the sketch, the inspiration, or both for your card!

Supplies
Stamps:  All About You (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Solar White (Neenah); Black Licorice (My Favorite Things); Pretty Amethyst (Fun Stampers Journey); Distress Watercolor (Tim Holtz); Vellum (Graphix)
Ink:  Nocturne (Versafine Clair); Wilted Violet, Fossilized Amber, Picked Raspberry, Peacock Feathers, Black Soot (Distress Oxide)
Accessories:  You Trio die (My Favorite Things); Picket Fence Distress Paint (Tim Holtz); Silver PearlEx

colourQ 264

Hello there!  Today is the reveal of a new color palette at colourQ and it just so happens that the colors, inspired by this table runner, are perfect if you are in the mood for a Halloween card or, as in my case, you would like to try something new.

The challenge this week at Friday Mashup is to try something that I'd never heard of called the Galaxy Technique.  You basically create a card where the background looks like some of the views you've probably seen from the Hubble space telescope.  They've got a couple of links to video tutorials on the challenge post - one using watercolors and one using Distress Paints.  And both are very cool.

This is actually the second version I attempted using this technique.  The first one I made was using watercolor paints and since me and watercoloring are barely on speaking terms you can only imagine the hot mess that followed.  For my second attempt I wanted to try something more like the Distress Paint version even though I didn't have any paint, Distress or otherwise.

I started out by tapping some Distress Ink on my craft sheet in the orange, green and purple colors.  I misted them with water then smooshed my cardstock in the mess I created.  Then I took some black dye ink and tried the same thing.  The black didn't look so good.  (Note to self, put black Distress Ink on my wish list).  Not to be deterred I dried the cardstock with my heat tool then set about sponging black ink all over it.  The darker areas you see are actually the smudgy effect of using the black dye ink misted with water so even though I thought it looked terrible when I first did it, I ended up liking how it gave my little corner of the universe some depth.

I added some little splatter stars by dipping a brush in some shimmer paint and tapping it against my finger so that it would leave splatters all over the place.  I heat embossed, in white, some bigger stars and something I like to think of as a comet tail to finish off the look.

I'm quite pleased with how it came out except for the part where I messed up and used Wisteria Wonder ink and Vintage Violet cardstock.  You've already stuck with me this long so I won't bore you with THAT story, I'll just thank you for stopping by.

ETA:  I'm also submitting this card over at City Crafter Challenge Blog where the challenge is to add a piece of sky.  Thank's LeAnne for letting me know about that!

The colourQ gang have again made some outstanding cards using these colors so please pop on over there to check them out.  We always love to see you in the gallery!

Supplies:

Stamps:  So 80s (WPlus 9); Mini Stamp Brilliant, Mini Stamp Right Now (Heidi Swapp)

Paper:  Vintage Violet, Whisper White (SU); White (Spectrum Noir)

Ink:  Crushed Olive, Spiced Marmalade, Dusty Concord (Distress Ink); Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black (SU); Versamark

Accessories:  white embossing powder