Cowboy Up!!

I will attempt to not just ramble on this evening since I can barely keep my eyes open.

Today's card is one of my all time favorites (for today anyway)..... I created this card for the Viva La Verve Week 2. If it weren't for creating that little lasso, this would have been a super fast card to create. At least for me that is. There are a couple techniques that I used and would like to share.

First the brads were so shiny and didn't seem to go with my theme so I sanded them. The Big star up at the top became a matte, brushed aluminum texture, creating a more distressed and less Christmasy look. The Star brads at the bottom are so cool when they are sanded. They become a copper color, but the star in the center stays silver.

The rope started life on the tag of a new garment. (Anyone else save all of those?) I added a photo so that you can see that it was twisted and a creamy color. To dye it, I added several drops of Chocolate Chip ink into a shallow container. At first I added water but was not getting the dark color that I wanted so I ended up using just straight ink. I used the paintbrush to apply the ink but also ended up just sticking my finger into the dye in order to get the ink to fully saturate the fibers. Being the impatient person that I am, I wrapped my Lasso around the paint brush and blow dried it on a hot setting. In an attempt to make it more realistic, I untwisted it and then braided it, tying off the ends.

Hint: If you don't have dye or want a more country look, use black coffee.

All of the edges of this card have been inked and distressed. The background that the Cowboy is stamped on was first stamped with one of PTI's Stars background stamps using Versa Mark ink.

Tonight at 10pm EST is the Monthly stamp release for PTI!!!!!!!!

That's it for me today, thank you for stopping by and Ya'll come back ya here!!
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Stampin'Up, PaperTrey Ink, Cosmo Criket