Tuesday, April 21, 2009

My Favourites

Anyone else slightly over-committed this week? I'm feeling it for sure. I am throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law and my niece this weekend and still have to finish the banner with her name, the diaper cake, plus clean my house, help make the food (though my mom is doing a lot of that) and still be a mom, wife...human being! There are many moments where I have to choose to sit back and be still - even if something doesn't get done.
Alright...on to the cards....

Today, I wanted to show you some of things that are my favourites...favourite techniques...styles....stamps...any guesses?

Basically Friends

Today's color challenge (my favourite challenge :) )...was Pink Pirouette, Rose Red and Basic Gray...a really nice contrast between soft and deep colors.

My favourite parts here...cutting and popping up images, sponging, overstamping on designer paper, beautiful embellishements, a little coloring and off center alignment on the card :) (what does that say about me?! lol).


The bird and some of the flowers are popped up. My Rose Red ink pad was really juicy today and I must have gotten some of ink on my fingers (don't you hate that!) and it smudged on the oval panel, so I had to add some creative embellishing with the flowers to cover it up....you can just see it in this closeup. Haven't you heard that saying "mistakes are opportunities for embellishment!"

Mom's Flower Garden

Well this card was supposed to be done yesterday for our 20th of the Month Dirty Girl/Dirty Girl Alumni challenge, but there was just no way I could have accomplished it. Our challenge was to put together our new and old favourites to create for our mom or dad or someone significant to us who lives out a special role like that. The other challenge was that the creation not fulfill any design team committment - it was just for fun!


Well, these are Flourishes stamps, but they are my favourite for this technique...and it was just for fun. I've been thinking for a long time about combining a number of Flourishes Florals in one card like a flower garden. My mom loves flowers, and she has a piece of art in her sewing room with these colors that I've long admired and knew at some point I'd incorporate into a creation.


My favourites here? Well, you're not surprised - it's watercoloring :) my bestest medium, my most favouritist (I'm talking like my 5 year old here). But really, there's nothing that gives me more joy artistically. I also love masking, I love my NEW Sizzix Texturz plates (can you believe I didn't add texture to anything until I got my Big Shot?), I also love sponging to give the paper depth, and I love cutting images to give it the out of the box look. All favourites of mine. Oh yeah...and piercing...a happy card is a pierced card!

Thanks for dropping by today...let me know some of your favourites too!

Recipes:
Basically Friends: Stamps: SU - Friends 24-7, Friendly Wheel; Ink: Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red; Paper: Rose REd, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Bella Birds DSP, Walk in the Park DSP; Accessories: Coluzzle, Organza Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge, SW Markers, Piercer, Scalloped Oval Punch, Cordoroy Brads

Mom's Flower Garden: Flourishes - Violets, Poppy Patch and Siberian Iris; Ink: Black Stazon, MEllow Moss, Sahara Sand; Paper: Watercolor, Mellow Moss, Sahara Sand, old Bravo Burgundy SU DSP; Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Mellow Moss Ribbon, SW Markers, Aqua Painter, Word Window Punch, Sponge, Piercer, Black Brads

17 comments:

Denise Marzec said...

Both are beautiful cards, but I'm LOVIN' that second card with the combination of different Flourishes stamps. Your coloring BLOWS MY MIND!

Danni said...

These are both stunning and absolutely gorgeous! Wow!

Beth said...

These are both so gorgeous!!! Your watercolouring is amazing - very inspiring! I nominated your blog for an award today, drop by my blog for the details :) {You sound very busy so if you don't get to it no worries} :) Thanks for sharing all your beautiful creations Christine!
Beth

Donna Baker said...

WOW! gorgeous cards, I also love to watercolor-you've got skills!!

Stacy Morgan said...

Both are just beautiful Christine! Your coloring is always oustanding! Sounds like your week is busy too. EEK... Try to enjoy all the busniness! Hugs..

Cindy Haffner said...

Oh wow, this is so rich and gorgeous.

LeAnne said...

Beautiful combo of cards! I love the ribbon on the second one--why did I never see that in the catalog! Added to my order!
LeAnne

Jerri Kay said...

Oh my gosh, somebody pick me up off the floor, and close my mouth as well! Oh my, Christine, stunning, absolutely stunning! That floral design is knocking my socks off!

Anonymous said...

Your Mom card is soooo beautiful that if I received it, I'd frame it and hang it on my wall so I could look at it every day! Well done. Good luck with all your shower stuff!

Renée said...

These are both stunning cards, Christine! I love how soft the first feels, and the colour of the second is just WOW!

Julie Koerber said...

GASP! This is soooo beautiful and... I LOVE the fact that you combined these beautiful flowers! OH MY! I have to sit down. HAHA!

Stay sane lady! I'll be thinking about you! Just remember to breathe!

HUGS!

Linda Beeson said...

Oh wow! These cards are amazing mostly because of those fabulous colors! I so love the flowers and your coloring.

Lori Craig said...

oh my goodness...these are gorgeous! stunning.. love the poppies. :)

Lesley said...

Hi Christine,

Both cards are amazing. Love your colouring. I think that Here for You stamp set is so pretty, it is on my list!

Lesley :)

Dawn B. said...

These are amazing. I love the floral one. Such depth.. I really like the layers on the first one. I hope that your week goes by smoothly. I am sure you will have a great party. I would love to see pictures of what you created for the shower. Have a super weekend.

Dee Jackson said...

WOW!! Your coloring is amazing!! I love the mix of FLLC you used. Wow just gorgeous!!

Leslie Miller said...

Wow! What absolutely gorgeous cards, Christine -- both of them! You have a lot of favorites...I know...it's hard to pick just one. I really love your Flourishes card with all thos beautiful botanicals. Hmmmm...I think we have many of the same favorites! Wonderful colors on your Mom's card. She'll love it!!