Prepared for launch

    Today is launch day for The Male Room. Our first challenge is 'Anything Goes' as long as it's masculine. You have two weeks to make and link your creation so please join us if you can.
    I have another steam engine card for you today. I love them, they're almost alive, a bit like a mechanical dragon......hot, fire breathing, powerful beasts.
    The stamp is from a Creative Expressions set - Vintage Illusion stamped with Perfect Medium and then coloured with mica powders in copper and gold. The image is cut out with a Spellbinder die Labels 21.
    The background was silver mirri card, it has been embossed with a Spellbinder Embossabilities folder Industrial. Then covered with brown acrylic paint, some of which has been rubbed off again to leave the silver plate looking dirty.
    The cogs are from a Tim Holtz Sizzix die Cogs, they have been cut in greyboard, painted brown and then covered with Distress Embossing powder - Vintage Photo. This is then rubbed so that some comes off (don't worry , it's supposed too) and then inked with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. All this makes them look very rusty and worn.

    Each cog and each corner has a silvery pearl stuck on to look like rivets.
    The ticket has been stamped and embossed in gold and mounted on foam pads. The base card was white but it has been edged with Brilliance Pearlescent Ink - Rust. Rather than use pearl card, which is mostly covered up, I often use the pearlescent inks to colour the white card, then I can keep my fancy card for die cutting.
    I hope this sparks some inspiration for you, see you over at The Male Room.