Monday 20 April 2009

APRIL IN PARIS

Who remembers the songs "April in Paris" and "I love Paris in the Springtime"?

I don't know why, but there just seems to be something especially exotic and romantic about Paris... particularly at this time of year. Paris, the City of Lovers...

So here's my take on it.

THE POSTCARD:


Paris Postcard
Copyright Susie Jefferson


1stFloorFlat
& BladeRubberBlog
















  • The stamped background postoid text and the Eiffel Tower are both from Tim Holtz's I See Paris sheet.
  • The postcard is a natural, flecked, handmade paper.
  • The background was stamped in Ranger Archival ink in Sepia, and the Eiffel Tower in Brilliance Graphite Black onto white linen-effect cardstock.
  • Tear round the Eiffel Tower image and colour it Direct-To-Paper style, using Versacolour pigment inks in Old Rose & Opera Pink, with a touch of Sky Blue.
  • The image is from a photo in my private collection. If she isn't French, then she certainly looks it!
  • Both Eiffel Tower and photo are layered over torn vintage French text from an old dictionary.
  • I used a clear alphabet to stamp out April in Paris, using Ranger's Sepia archival ink again, and drew over the letters by hand with a red glitter pen. I also coloured in the lady's lipstick with the red glitter pen.
  • Her cheeks were coloured with a cottonwool bud (carefully) with the Old Rose pigment ink.
  • Finally, I drew over the lips with Ranger's Glossy Accents, to really make the lipstick "pop".
THE TAG:



Paris Tag
Copyright Susie Jefferson


1stFloorFlat
& BladeRubberBlog















  • Crumple a manilla tag then smooth it out again. Do this a couple of times.
  • Swipe the tag with Distress ink in Mahogany and spritz a couple of times with clear water, so that the ink runs.
  • Allow to dry naturally, or hurry it up with a heat gun.
  • Flatten with an iron (on Dry setting) if you hate the creases.
  • Stamp the Eiffel Tower in Ranger Archival Sepia ink and tear around the image.
  • Use a cottonwool bud to tint the tower with a touch of Old Rose Versacolour ink.
  • Scuff round the torn edges of the image with Distress ink in Black Soot.
  • Stamp the alphabet as described above and draw over the letters with Glossy Accents.
  • Tint cheeks & lips as above.
Two easy-peasy and FAST projects for when you're in a hurry. These can both be done as a production run (I made around 20 postcards for a swap I was in). I like doing the tags to give away as bookmarks (you can never have too many bookmarks) and must have made around 10 or so of these as well.

If you'd like to know more about how to hand- tint your own photographs, click on this link to my Techniques page.

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