Taheerah Atchia

Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday!

It’s time for another Runway Inspired Challenge! I am so loving creating for these!!

Here’s the *gorgeous* inspiration image for this challenge:

I love the gorgeous satin fabric with that stunning black lace overlay!!

I had one idea and one idea alone in my mind when I saw this image: paper cutting. You know, those crazy talented works of art that cut intricate images from paper? Yep, those. I wanted to be one of those crazy people. Sometimes I wish I could just get an idea out of my head and let it go, but instead I often find that the only way to ‘get it out’ is in cardstock form:

Good thing it turned out exactly as I’d envisaged it then!!! *squeals*

And it only took a whole day. No, really.

I started out by sketching my design onto an A2-sized piece of paper. It took about half an hour to draw it out exactly as I wanted, but I was eventually happy with the result.

I then added some adhesive to the back of the paper using my Teresa Collins Mega Runner. I tapped it with my hands and fingers a few times to add some oils so the adhesive would not be as tricky to get off later. I then adhered the paper to a panel of Pure White cardstock. Then began the long and drawn-out process of cutting. I’ve included some pictures taken on my phone of my progress:

Sketching.

Sketching completed, adhered to cardstock panel.

Beginning trimming out, first with scissors then moving onto craft knife.

Yet more trimming.

Done!

In total it took about 6-7 hours to trim it all out. Not even an exaggeration. I was tired, achey and with RSI by the time I’d finished. I went through two knife blades (the tip of the first one broke off and the second one started cutting jaggedly because of so much use). But finally, all complete.

Thankfully the rest of the process was much faster.

One all trimmed out, I carefully peeled off the paper then coloured the whole lace piece with a black Copic marker, sides and all (they would show if you looked at the card from the side don’t you know, so they had to be done). Then I spritzed all over with Heidi Swapp Colour Shine Mist in Black Velvet, dried carefully with my heat gun, then used spray adhesive to adhere it to my Shimmer White card base.

Then I used Copics to colour in between all the gaps. I tested colours on a scrap piece of shimmer cardstock first to make sure I got the hues I wanted – and even then had a couple of tries to get the shades exactly as I wanted!

I stamped the sentiment from WPlus9’s Quite Like You onto vellum using Versafine Onyx Black ink then adhered to my panel with Pinflair Glue Gel. Then decided the black of the lace wasn’t black enough and went over it with a Copic again. And a couple of edges weren’t sticking down so I used a pin to add some Glossy Accents in strategic positions and adhered them in place.

Phew! I felt serious satisfaction when I was done!

So anyway, now I’m all done squealing and monkey clapping with excitement and all the rest of it, you definitely want to check out what the rest of the DT have come up with!!

Our sponsor this week is Unity Stamps so be sure to enter to be in with a chance of an awesome prize!

Thanks so much for joining me today and sharing in my excitement!! I would love it if you left some love before you went on your way!

Supplies: