Aussie notecard swap March

Aussie notecard swap time and the March theme was Steampunk. So gathered all my steampunk appropriate bits and pieces and the Tim Holtz district warehouse stamps..   Distressed edges lots of walnut stain and started scrunching paper soaked with water for the first layer. I had already stamped a world map on it, so it bled and went all just how I wanted it too, streaky and old looking.. Stamped some card stock with a different map stamp and then the wonderful steampunk 3 men with the hats went over the top of that in brown ink. Its handy having a hubby with lots of washers, so tied one of those on with some string over a punched out gear.  More stamping, distressing and machine sewing around all of the edges.. Added a gear from the Tim Holtz Ideology collection and a metal key from K & C company. Added some brads and a paper clip so just a bit more metal. 
So that was a lot of fun.

I am going to enter this in the following challenges
Flonz craft Anything goes
Simon Says stamp blog Monday challenge Journey

Have a great day
Sandy :)

Aussie notecard swap..

This year I am in an Aussie notecard swap, the first swap for January the theme is 'Hello birdie'.  I thought as I am doing more things with paint now that I would try to paint a card so I gathered 3 pieces of watercolour card stock, thinking yep I will practice this to see how it goes. Well to my surprise all 3 turned out so I ended up with 3 cards.. I sent one off to my swap partner for this month Judith thinking I wonder what she will think? As this is all still feels very new to me but I so enjoy painting these little birds. (I just received an email saying she loved that I took my card making to a new level with my own art work.)  I had done them on a ATC and in my art journal but for some reason had never thought to make them into a card.
The background is done with a baby wipe. I then used the mini well rounded stencil 6x6 by The Crafters workshop. I love this stencil I have used it heaps since I bought it.   I painted the bird with Gesso, then again in yellow.. Went around the outside with a charcoal pencil and blended.. Drew the legs beak and wing on with a sharpie.. Then glued on a small button for the wing. Finished it off with the 'just for you' from Stampin up.  This was really fun to do and know I will make more of these hmm maybe a blue bird or an owl next time.. 

I am going to enter this in the 
Southern girls challenge New.. 
Well this is new for me to paint my cards so think that qualifies..

Have a great day
Sandy :)