Sunday 23 November 2014

Northern Lights


Funnily enough, I have never seen the Northern lights, although I'm from Finland. They are primarily visible in Northern Finland, and I have only spent short holidays up there, and been unlucky in never happening upon them.

I have seen the lovely Northern Lights technique here and there in the Blogosphere though. Most recently I found this amazing card from Heidi over at Running With Scissors Stamper, one of the DT for The Friday Mashup. In the same post there is a link to this tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. Just google "northern lights" and you will find the most amazing inspiration photos. Seriously, the colours are just unbelievable! I was particularly inspired by the below photo from the National Geographic web site, which acknowledges it as "Photograph by Alaska Stock Images". 


I haven't been trying out this technique as it looked quite difficult, and I thought I wouldn't get it right. But I was so inspired by Heidi's card that I thought I would just give it a little test, so I got my Distress inks out for a play. Mostly it resulted in disaster after disaster, my fingers were black and I was losing my patience. But then somehow I managed to produce two panels which weren't completely horrible. I thought after putting all that effort in, I might as well make them into cards although they are far from perfect.

These cards were inspired mainly by the card I referenced above, and two challenges: The Friday Mashup where the theme is "It's all about weather" and Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge where the theme is "To the moon and back" or use something from space or the universe. 

For my first card I used the sketch over at My Favourite Things. I die cut the letters for Merry from one of the failed attempts at the northern lights, so at least the failed attempts didn't go completely to waist. I used the deer from the Stampin' Up White Christmas stamp set. I'm also entering the card at Clear it Out where anything goes, and Winter Wonderland where the theme is to Add a Sentiment.
I also made a second card using the current Freshly Made Sketch and the Lawn Fawn Critters from the Arctic die along with a DSP from Stampin' Up called Sweet Sorbet. I'm also entering this card over at Crafts for Eternity where the theme is "Furry Friends".


Card: Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm white card, coloured 240 gsm kraft card black, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Joy to the Woods, Stampin' Up White Christmas
Ink: Tsukineko Versamark, Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Black Soot, Chipped Sapphire, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers, Pine Needles, Seedless Preserves, Worn Lipstick
DSP: Stampin' Up Sweet Sorbet
Other: Lawn Fawn dies Critters in the Arctic, Stitched Hillside Borders, Cole's ABC, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, Ranger Ice Stickles Crystal Ice, Tim Holtz Idea-ology Paper String, White Gel Pen

11 comments:

Anna-Karin said...

Fabulous background with the northern lights and a perfect backdrop to the deer. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!!

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

FABULOUS technique! I'm loving those Northern Lights! Hazel x

Lynn's Place said...

Great take on our challenge here @ CIO Challenge blog...stop by and play with us again <((><

Linda Callahan said...

Wow I think your Northern Lights are gorgeous! Thanks for joining us at FMS!

Jen Brum said...

Beautiful card! Love those Northern Lights. Such a beautiful technique! Thanks for joining us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

chanya13 said...

Beautiful !!! Love colours. Thanks for joining us at Clear It Out!!! I hope you get to join us again for our next challenge. Agnieszka DT

michele said...

Gorgeous card! Thanks for joining us at Crafts 4 Eternity this week hugs x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Northern Lights

Lisa said...

Great job with the technique! I live in Alaska and am lucky to see the aurora quite often and your cards definitely capture the beauty of colors dancing across the night sky.

Thanks for joining us at The Friday Mashup!

Simply Sara Stampin' said...

I think your norther lights card turned out great, and I love your "Merry" down the side. :) Very fun card! Thanks for joining us at the Friday Mashup.
Sara

Cindy Brumbaugh said...

Oh, this is an eye-catcher! So beautifully done and laid out! TFS with the Friday Mashup this week:)