Friday, November 7, 2008

Flourishes Friday - Promise of Lilacs

I was just talking with my mom about our flowers, the perennials and trees that need to be fertilized and watered in before winter. We've had a really dry summer and fall and I know they are thirsty. There's something beautiful about the thought of spring in the midst of fall isn't there?

I was designing some Christmas cards yesterday for a Charity Stamp a Stack I'll be doing in a couple of weeks and I wanted to use purple. This is not a color I commonly use...I'm not sure why because when I do I'm usually so happy with the result! Well, I took that same color combination and used it here today in this very rich promise of spring Lilac card.


I stamped the Lilac set with Stazon on Very Vanilla. This was just to give me a guideline for where I wanted to position my lilacs and where I wanted the sponging to go. Then I sponged Old Olive all around the black stamped Lilacs to give it a lovely glow, and added Eggplant on the two edges.

Next I stamped the Lilacs two more times on watercolor paper and watercolored with my Stampin' Write markers. I used one of the watercolored lilacs as my *cut out* piece, and one as my *dimension* piece. I trimmed out the entire lilac on from the cut out piece and adhered it right to my sponged piece over the stamped image. Then I cut out parts of the dimension piece (some blooms and a leaf) and added those with dimensionals to the main image. (much like paper tole I imagine). It really has a gorgeous effect. Here you can see the 2 or 3 layers in the different parts.



One thing I really like about clear stamps is that you can create a pattern yourself. I used the grasshopper and the leaf stamps on my acrylic block together to create a pattern for stamping the Olive piece and sponged it.

The sentiment is stamped on Vanilla and lightly watercolored and accented with the SW Marker.
Sigh...it's so rich! I love this creation!


Be sure to visit the other Flourishes girls to see what their Fabulous Flourishes Friday creations are!

You can visit Julie's Friday roundup of the Friends of Flourishes Blog Team over at the Flourishes Newsletter, and also visit these Friends of Floruishes team-members. They are great creative ladies: Becca Fekken, Betty Wright, and Cindy Haffner

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes: Lilac Ink: Black Stazon, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive Paper: Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Brocade Background DSP, Watercolor, Very Vanilla Accessories: SW Markers, Sponge, Dimensionals, Gold Brads, Scallop Edge Punch, Piercer, Olive Organdy Ribbon

7 comments:

Cindy Lawrence said...

Wow! Christine, this is GORGEOUS!!! I hardly ever use purples either, and I have no idea why. This came out fabulous...love all the shading and wonderful details! Fabulous first Flourishes Friday project, girlfriend! :)

Anonymous said...

Christine, your card is jaw dropping!! Welcome to Friends of Flourishes Blog Team. I am so gonna enjoy working with you and getting to know you!! What a great way to get started with such a smashing card!!
--Hugs, Becca

Anonymous said...

Christine, this is just stunning! I love the rich intense color's you've chosen, a fabulous design! The dimension in the Lilacs and leaves is spectacular, I know all that cutout took quite a while, and it shows, it's just spectacular. . . sigh . . . I love your watercolors!

Betty Wright said...

Gorgeous, Christine!!!!! Your rich coloring and shading is perfection!!!! Love the layout and all you special details!!!!! Great work,Christine!!!!

Cindy Haffner said...

Wow girl this is to die for, soo prettty, Welcome to the team.

Anonymous said...

This card is simply gorgeous. I love how you cut out and layered the lilacs - I so want this set now! TFS.

Laura (scrapnextras) said...

Simply stunning! Love all the dimension and your colouring is amazing!