

Colouring Creativity Faith and Photography
And I put together a quick card with the new set Eastern Blooms that hadn't seen ink yet.
I stamped the main branch of flowers with Chocolate Chip to mimic the photo on the wall. I added extra flowers in Sahara Sand and Baja Breeze and pierced some of the chocolate chip flowers. I wanted to get the feel of the geometric bedspread so I added the DP in Urban Garden and also stamped the flowers on the Sahara Sand layer in a geometric pattern. Some pretty ribbon, a felt flower and piercing. To give the feel of another layer on the sentiment (from Fresh Cuts), I ran the Sahara oval through the CC ink pad. At night it's so much harder for me to get a good picture so I took one from each side.
Here's a closeup:
Alright...sore back again, time for a new position not sitting at the computer!
Thanks for stopping by!
Recipe: Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Fresh Cuts Ink: Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze Paper: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Urban Garden DSP Accessories: Oval Punches, Felt Flower, Vintage Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch, CC Ribbon, Baja Breeze DS Wide Grosgrain
In January when the amazing JulieHRR asked me to be on the Dirty Dozen I was overjoyed. It was like the floodgates opened and two other great Swap teams also contacted me about joining their very amazing groups, that are a real honor to be a part of. I knew I couldn't juggle it all, so I had to say - thank you but no. The tough part is that you have to keep being chosen for the Dirty Dozen team a secret for a month before your reveal...so I couldn't even honestly explain why!
So after my DD term was over, I went back to one of those teams and said, remember way back when you asked me to join the swap group? Do you still have room? Well, these sweet girls had saved a spot for me. So, I'm a new Great Swaps Girl. Such fabulous women! Here's a link to the Great Swaps Girls blog too.
Here's a swap I did for the new Catalogue. It's always nerve wracking for me when I do a swap with a group...especially like this one, for the first time, I second guess myself all the time thinking....is this good enough???? So hopefully it was :)
I really think that Bella's Bloom is one of the under appreciated sets of the new catalogue. Not only is it inexpensive but very versatile and classy and it goes really well with Bella Rose paper. But here I paired it with my favourite Urban Garden in rich shades of Kiwi Kiss and Not Quite Navy and White for some crisp contrast.
I inked up the flower in Not Quite Navy SW Marker and Old Olive on the horizontal (the shade is a deeper tone of Kiwi Kiss so it works here). Then I added the sentiment and it just fits inside our new large oval punch. I added a little piercing on the sentiment and then started layering the paper and scallops and ribbon. On some swaps I used White Taffeta ribbon, but ran out about half way through so I used the Kiwi Kiss Satin ribbon just on the green side (because that Vanilla side really would not work here). And I really love the rich look it gives. I did a lot of sponging on each layer that you can never really see unless its in front of you, but it gives the paper edges rich color. I added the simple floral circle in a 1/2 inch circle punch with brads as accent.
Here's some other RED we've been enjoying this weekend.
This rose is from one of my graduated girls, she wanted to give it to me to encourage me. She is the most thoughtful and rare young woman. And she's getting married to one of our graduated guys in less that a month...our first youth kids to get married. This rose is one of the most perfect ones I've ever seen and it opened so beautifully!
And here are are Strawberries from our backyard. I picked them last night and honestly the kids and I ate the whole bowl within a few minutes! The are SO sweet. They are everbearing so they don't ever get really large....but oh the yummy taste!
Be sure to check out all the other Dirty Girls/Alumni submissions HERE or by searching the Keyword: DCNL908 at SCS. Thanks for stopping by!
Recipe: Stamps: Winter Post Ink: VersaMark, Riding Hood Red Paper: Whisper White Accessories: Riding Hood Red Striped Grosgrain, Piercer, Scoring Blade, Irridescent Ice EP
So here is what I came up with. I love the combination of soft brown, bright greens and the bluey hues, with the gold added. So I pulled out Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze DP from the new Winter Mini Christmas Paper and some Kraft.
The Sketch is from Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge, which I haven't been able to do in FOREVER...and it's a cool sketch too (as always).
Card size is 4.25 x 4.25. I basically pieced it all together based on the sketch deciding how I wanted the colors to look, then added the stamping. That's the nice thing about a set like this...lots of versitility. A little scalloping...some overstamping...and little sponging, some gold brads, some really pretty Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon and new Snow Flurries Felt Snowflake. A very different but unique Christmas card.
Stay tuned, I'll be back tomorrow morning with our Dirty Dozen monthly challenge.
Recipe: Stamps: Winter Post Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Close to Cocoa, Kraft, Ski Slope DSP Accessories: Gold Brads, Dimensionals, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Snow Flurries Felt Snowflakes (small), Piercer, Sponge
- Staining a new fence before the fall rain (which looks SO good now)
- Cleaning some of my flower beds, planting poppies and 60 tulips...can't wait to see you in spring!
- Trying to finish swaps (note to self - do not choose to do a watercolor image for next swap...1/2 hour minimum watercoloring x15 swaps + construction time = too much to do!....but I look forward to showing them to you next week)
- Making some decisions about our fall ministry with our youth groups
- Juggling kids and school and homework and piano lessons and blah blah blah
- Trying to take care of me
- And maybe needing a little break from stamping. Anyone else ever feel that way? It's my greatest creative love...but sometimes you just need to take a step back and breathe. So thanks for your patience.
Well, here's my combination sketch challenge card and color challenge card for today. I really love how it came together...and it actually was a very quick card to make. What I love most about it is that it's very eye catching and has warmth and shimmer all rolled up together with the combination of really warm colors and also the silver embossing.
The sketch called for smaller pieces patched together in essence. So I went for my patterned paper (new Riding Hood Red DP) and old Artichoke Prints. Once cut to the right sizes I added embossed sections on the green with the stamps from the set or the wheel. When I see this set, I think crisp embossing.
Just color on color stamping on the red sections so it isn't too overpowering and the main image is embossed on Whisper White and lightly watercolored with reinkers. New felt snowflakes combined with Filigree brads for a pretty accent. I really love it.
Recipe: Stamps: Scandanavian Season and Wheel; Ink: VersaMark, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke; Paper: Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray, Always Artichoke Prints, Riding Hood Red DSP, Whisper White; Accessories: Silver EP, Felt Snowflakes, Filigree Brads, Reinkers, Aqua Painter, Riding Hood Red Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Rectangle Punch, 1/16 punch
Here is a closeup where you can see more of the ribbon detailing and the gold shimmer. Lost more detail on this one, and more time invested...it's for those really special occasions. Thanks for looking today!
Recipes: Sample One - Grandmother's House: Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Inspired by Nature, Canvas Bk Paper: Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray, Vellum, Whisper White, Ginger Blossom DP Ink: Riding Hood Red, Basic Gray, White Craft Accessories: Silver Brads, Large Oval Punch, Word Window Punch, Riding Hood Red Wide Striped Grosgrain, Dimensionals, Piercer
Sample Two - Golden Autumn: Stamps: With Gratitude, Weathered, Sincere Salutations Ink: Bravo Burgundy Craft, VersaMark Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Kraft, Chocolate Chip Accessories: Gold Brads, Taffeta Ribbon, Grosgrain Ribbon, Embossing Powder, Oval Punches, Circle Punches, Bleach
This lovely blue card is for my daughter. I have a new journal and Teen devotion book for her for when she gets home today and I want her to grow and enjoy these next three years, even when they will mean tough times, or tough adjustments. She's a blessing and I'm so proud of her.
The flowers are watercolored on watercolor paper and cut out. Each layer is sponged and the blossom saying is stamped behind the flowers. The bee is cut out and popped up. Ribbon is colored with a SW Marker. I hardly ever use blues like this but you can never go wrong with a blue monochromatic.
Recipe: Stamps: Bloomin Beautiful Ink: Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Ballet Blue Paper: Old SU DP, Bashful Blue, Brocade Blue, Watercolor paper Accessories: Blue Brads, Dimensionals, Sponge, Taffeta Ribbon, Blue Striped Ribbon, SW Markers, Aqua Painter
Sample Two: A Beautiful Life
This sample has a very organic botanical feel to me. I love the look of different greens together. It's totally how our Maker created it. So here is a blend of Mellow Moss, Old Olive and Always Artichoke.
Lots of overstamping here on the DP, and layering of stamps and color on the main image. The dragonflies are stamped popped up and glitter added. I freehand cut around the main circle and added lots of piercing for pretty accent. *beautiful* is handwritten.
Stamps: Enjoy Life Organic Grace Ink: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Old Olive Paper: Always Artichoke, Old Olive DSP, Mellow Moss Accessories: Circle Punches, Piercer, Dimensionals, Glitter, 2 way Glue Pen, Brads, SW Marker
I also added a little scalloping on the edge of the red layer of the large oval punched piece to distinguish it from the white and to give it a little pop. Pretty layered ribbons and rhinestone brads for some pizzazz.
Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Coffee With Friends, SU Polka dot Background Ink: White Craft, Basic Black Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black Accessories: Organdy Ribbon, Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Gingham Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Ticket Corner Punch, Fire Rhinestone Ribbons, Dimensionals, White Gel Pen, SW Marker, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits.