Powered by Blogger.

The Foil Paper Throwdown

When Laurie was here a few weeks ago, we went on a little shopping excursion and discovered a bunch of new paper pads. One was called Floral Dreams by K & Company, but there was only one left in the store. Being the selfless person I am (LOL) I let Laurie have it. The pad has some beautiful papers in aquas and plums. However, there were a couple that left us scratching our heads as to why they were included in the collection. They just didn't seem to go with the feel of the rest of the papers. Well, being the sweet little thing she is, :) Laurie felt she just "had" to share the wealth, so she left me a sheet of one of the ugliest papers I've seen and issued a throwdown for me to do something with it.

I don't back away from a challenge lightly so I spent a day or so thinking about what I could do to make the paper passable. See it's not just that it's a bright purple foil paper (that completely clashes with the beautiful plums in the rest of the pad), but the entire design is printed just a bit offset, so it kind of makes me a little queasy just looking at it. Click the photo to see it a little bigger. See what I mean? That's not fuzzy photography, that's just how the paper looks!

After deciding it wouldn't really count if I just used a little scrap or the back of the paper, I realized I'd have to do some altering. So I first crumpled the whole piece in a ball to try to break the hold of the purple foil a little. Next I pulled out some Broken China and Antique Linen distress ink pads and rubbed some color on to distract from all that purple. Next I painted the entire surface with some Rock Candy Crackle Paint and let it dry to give a really distressed look. A paper distresser around the edges and a couple curled corners and my paper was finally passable.

I knew exactly which stamp I wanted to use, since this was one of Laurie's favorite from the last release. It's the Nehemiah 8:10 Plain Jane. I stamped the verse in Concord Grape distress ink, then punched the edges with an EK SUCCESS border punch. To distress things a bit, I inked the edges with Antique Linen and applied a small coat of the Rock Candy Crackle Paint to just the edges of the panel. I cut a few QuicKutz flourish dies out of the treated foil paper to layer around the stamped panel, then just added some lace trim, vintage buttons and a few primas to finish off the look.

Okay, so there you have it. My first and last purple foil card. I'm still waiting to see Laurie's throwdown card. I know she'll make something absolutely gorgeous and I'll be thinking, "WHY didn't I think of that?!"

22 comments

Jackie Pedro said...

Two words: SHUT UP....'nuf said....

Jackie Pedro said...

Seriously.....this is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, Julee!!!

Gloria said...

Lovely card and so clever to do all you did!!!

Unknown said...

just amazing!
I can't believe it was that paper ;)
makes me want to go and buy foil paper lol

Michelle Woerner said...

Well, you sure showed that piece of paper!! This turned out fabulous! Hugs,

Meredith said...

Fantastic!! How inspiring to re-purpose a piece of ugly paper!

Julia M said...

beautiful!.....who would have known that purple foil paper could turn into something gorgeous.

Unknown said...

Well I think you fixed it good Julee, that is a gorgeous card...now I have to go buy the ugly paper just so's I can copy it!! LOL

Ravengirl said...

Not only passable, but....let's say passed with flying colors!

Penny Wessenauer (d0npen) said...

stunning!! What a wonderful fix for a pretty ugly piece of paper! LOL!! Fantastic card!!

Whimsey said...

Jackie Pedro's comments have me ROFLOL!!! I agree with her!

Lana said...

In my opinion this is absolutely stunning!!!!!!!!!!!

Marisa said...

Fabulous transition of paper. Great card!!

Wanda Cullen said...

This is an unbelievable transformation!! You're right...that paper was pretty ugly originally, but, WOW, did you ever turn it into something gorgeous! Love your flowers and distressing details!

scrappingnana said...

I think it turned out beautiful. TFS

Unknown said...

ummm...WOW, lady! this turned out jaw-dropping gorgeous! you are a total rockstar!

Anonymous said...

Looks awesome! I'm sure you could turn anything into a beautiful work of art! I love all your cards :)

Charmaine (CharmWarm) said...

HOw fun that you and Laurie got together! Your card is just GORGEOUS! Oh my word! You sure don't make it look the ugliest piece of patterned paper in the world! LOL

Miss Vink said...

GORGEOUSSSSSSS...it's bring the whimsical feeling, love it!

Beverley said...

simply gorgeous...thanks for sharing...have a stampin' good day.


stampin' HUGZ
Beverley

Heidi said...

Julee- this is OMG..... you made a magnificent card out of that wallpaper paper........LOL! I honestly think I have seen that on someone's walls in the 70's.

Deborah Young said...

Surely that's not the same paper! Wowzers!