BC111 Color Challenge - Lemon Tree Very Pretty...

Lemon Flower Very Sweet, But the fruit of the poor lemon is impossible to eat. Peter, Paul and Mary.

This week the Blogger Challenge Group was given a Color Challenge: Crushed Curry or (Yellow), Old Olive, Soft Suede (or Brown) and Neutrals as needed. For some strange reason an idea popped into my head to use an image that I had in my stash of colored images for this challenge. The problem was once I found it I realized that the colors were all wrong for the challenge so I decided to stamp another image and color it to meet the challenge requirements. I chose the Lemon image from Sun Ripened II (retired) which again I have to say I love this set and it's companion set and never plan to get rid of them.

Once I had decided on my image I paired it up with a Mojo Monday sketch from my files (I save them all) and from there I got started on my card. I decided to Water Color my image which is something I rarely do because I feel my technique isn't always the best. In this case though I am well pleased with the results. Yes the Lemon was watercolored with the Crushed Curry ink. If you spread it out on paper first before coloring your image you will get a nice yellow color to it. The leaves are Old Olive and Crushed Curry and the stem is the Soft Suede.

Out of all the new "In-Colors" this year, Soft Suede is my "least" favorite but I think that the touches I added of this color went really well with the other two colors. I highlighted parts of the flowers with a White PrismaColor Pencil and lightly dusted the lemon and the yellow portions of the flowers with Gold Aztec Pearl-Ex Powder for some subtle shimmer. Hopefully you can see a little of it in the close-up photo.

I used a piece of the retired Haiku (love that DP) and layered it to the Crushed Curry and Old Olive card base. I mounted my image on Soft Suede and Crushed Curry. The sentiment is from (The Greeting Farm - McSplendid Farm stamp set). I used friendship because after a little research I discovered that is some pagan religions the lemon symbolized, Friendship which I thought was lovely.

My ribbon is a piece of 5/8" White Satin ribbon that I dyed using a Soft Suede reinker. I added a Filgree Brad and a Fire Rhinestone Brad to complete the card.

So now it's your turn to visit the other Blogger Challenge members blogs and leave them some "comment lovin" - You can do so by clicking on the Blogger Challenge Icon on my sidebar.

Have a truly wonderful weekend.

BC65 - Create, Inspire and Be Yourself

HAPPY FRIDAY! - For our Blogger's Challenge this week we were assigned,  "Watercoloring".  Now as many of you know that technique is not exactly one I excel in.  I have tried watercolor pencils, crayons, working with reinkers and an Aqua painter and let's just face it,  I'm "Challenged" when it comes to watercoloring.  I have the worst time working with an Aqua Painter and always get way to much water out of the darn thing no matter how much I try not to. 

So for today's challenge I took the "easy" way out (At least for me) by using Watercolor Crayons and coloring directly on the stamp and misting with water.  Since I was out of Watercolor paper (except for a cheap brand that really stinks) I decided to go with Whisper White card stock instead.  I still think it came out pretty decent even if it didn't bleed as much as it would have on watercolor paper.

My stamp is from (Penny Black - Carnation) Carnations happen to be one of my all time favorite flowers so I had to have this particular image.  I colored it with Regal Rose, Rose Red, Old Olive and Garden Green crayons and then lightly misted the stamp a few times before stamping it on the card stock.  Then I stamped my sentiment (Hero Arts - Treasure the Moments) in Palette Noir Black ink.  I added 3 Dew Drops (Island blossoms) and some Rose Red Grosgrain ribbon and a Prima Flower with a Rose Red Brad. 

The background paper reminds me of a "watercolor wash" even though it's pre-printed it still has that effect. It's from http://www.-cut-it-up.com/   I added a strip down the side of Regal Rose & Rose Red.  I used my crimper on the Regal Rose (does anyone use a crimper still?  Well obviously I did but I mean is that really out of style now?) The focal piece was mounted with foam mounting tape.

This is another card being sent to a fellow stamper that inspires me.  She's known as Debbie Olson of Thinking Inking.  I love her cards so much.  She has a real elegant style of stamping so I hope she enjoys this card.

That's it for today.  Be sure to check out all the other wonderful watercolor creations by clicking on the Bloggers Challenge Icon.  You won't be disappointed.