In the Mood for Color
Good day, fellow crafters. I am in the mood for color today and that color is RED. To humans Red is color that commands immediate attention, it is why we use it to signify danger but we have also associated it with a deep association with potent emotions, most notably love. Throughout history, red has been revered as the color that epitomizes passion, desire, and romance. Its very presence has the remarkable ability to elicit profound sentiments and ignite a fervent sense of warmth and intensity. Additionally, red is frequently used to denote power, courage, and assertiveness. In certain contexts, red can connote dominance, passion-driven pursuits, and the ability to make a strong impact which are all statements I want to make with this card. I hope you enjoy it.
To create the background I began with some light red cardstock, the exact hue you can see in the leaves of the completed image above, Altenew’s Ranunculus Bouquet 3D embossing folder and Altenew’s pigment ink in the color of Enchanted Gold. Firstly, I lightly misted the back of the red cardstock—a technique I always employ when working with embossing folders to prevent any tearing mishaps. This gentle infusion of moisture eases the paper fibers, allowing them to bend instead of breaking under pressure. Next I momentarily set the cardstock aside and then inked the raised portion of the embossing folder with the gold pigment ink. This method allows the pigment ink to be pushed into all of the groves when the paper is run through the embossing machine. I gently placed the red card stock into the embossing folder, moist side down, and then carefully closed the folder and ran it through the embossing machine. I run it through at least twice to ensure nice crisp lines and definition of my embossed image.
The next step in the process for this background was to choose a darker shade of red ink and by using my brayer tool cover the background. Since the gold is now inside the raised portion the red covers the card easily. So as to provide highlights I did not worry about completely covering the card, which turned out to be a very good decision. The last step for the background was then to trim it to final dimension and adhere it to an appropriate sized double mat of metallic gold and black cardstock and then to a pre-cut A2 vanilla colored card base.
In my search for the ideal sentiment, I dove into my collection of Altenew supplies, determined to find the perfect expression of love. After careful consideration, I discovered the “Love You" stamp within the Dearest Friend stamp set. To ensure that this sentiment would truly make an impact, I used black cardstock for a bold contrast and stamped the sentiment with clear embossing ink. I then sprinkled the inked sentiment with extra fine gold embossing powder, and heat set the embossing powder. To provide some extra dimension I utilized some pop dot to raise the sentiment off the card.
This card serves as a visual expression of passion, warmth, and the profound connection of love. It is a testament to the ability of colors, materials, and sentiments to evoke powerful emotions and create meaningful connections.
