Wednesday, April 21, 2010

April Showers



My goodness, it's Wednesday already! This week is going by in a woosssssh! I'm here today to share my Creative Inspirations DT card with you. We have a sketch to challenge you this week. I really loved the sketch - too bad I covered up all the nice layout features with my embellishments. Why did I spend so much time dry embossing and then clear heat embossing that black panel, and then sewing it down with a fancy stitch? All you can see is a little corner and edge peeking out. I am going to use this sketch again and hopefully will restrain myself next time. What do you think - can I do it?

The Details (there are lots of dets this time as I worked on this silly thing all day on Tuesday): The wonderful vintage calendar is from a site called Clearly Vintage which has an abundance of free vintage images. I downloaded all 12 months and hope to do a card a month with them. I printed it onto Very Vanilla CS and sponged it with Creamy Caramel.

The DP is digital from Designer Digitals, again printed on my home computer. Last week, a reader left me a question about ink usage when printing DP. It's really not too user unfriendly. I put a color cartridge into my printer in November and didn't change it again until March. Nowadays I don't do too much color printing other than card making so most of that was to print DP. I am not displeased with that amount of ink usage - especially for the instant gratification I get when I can alter and print my own paper, matching it up with other elements I am using.

The DP was also sponged with Creamy Caramel and distressed. The circle panel was stamped with the SU Script BG stamp in Vintage Photo and sponged also with Creamy Caramel. The black panel was dry embossed with the CB Victoria EF and then brayered with Versamark and clear embossed. I made up my own sentiment "There can be no rainbow without drops of rain", printed it and then dry embossed it with the CB Organic border EF, sponged it with Creamy Caramel, punched it with a MS border punch and sewed it down. Bow is crinkled seam binding, flourish is a die cut from a BossKut die with Creamy Caramel paper and sponged with the same ink.

The flower is hand made using a Spellbinders Flower Petals die. My inspiration came from this post. You have to see the amazing flowers and really beautiful card Grace Nywening made. Using Very Vanilla CS, I cut four each of three sizes of flowers and stamped both sides with a Tim Holtz floral flourish stamp in Vintage Photo. Then I sponged all edges with Creamy Caramel and snipped each petal from the edge to almost the center. Then I squirted each die cut with Tattered Angels glimmer mist to saturate them, shaped each individual layer and let them dry. Then I stacked them together, gluing each layer. Finally I am happy with a flower that I made! I thought it was the perfect finishing touch.

So, I spent way longer than I should have messing around with this little masterpiece. Hope you like it! I sincerely appreciate the time you take to leave me a comment.

Please check out the wonderful sketch and fab prize this week at the Creative Inspirations Wednesday Challenge blog. Actually, it's two prizes: super yummy ribbons from Crafty Ribbons AND the opportunity to be our guest designer for the month of May!!! The other DT members have some wonderful work for your inspiration! Hop on over, get inspired and make a challenge card for this week's sketch challenge!

Hugs and blessings,

Challenges:
Caardvark's - Monochromatic
Quixotic Challenges - Make a Splash
My Time to Craft - Quick Quotes
All That Scraps - Sewing on your project


17 comments:

Juls said...

wow this is just unbeliavably gorgeous!! I love it sooo much!!! gorgeous image, love the sepia tones and the fab swirl!! stunning creation! Hugs Juls

marsha said...

This is stunning! WOW I totally love this Linda - the flower is just awesome and such beautiful vintage colors.

Hugs, Marsha

p.s. how about a flower tutorial?

Sherry Cheever said...

Wow this is really cool! I love the monochromatic colors and all the different textures. There is so much eye candy here!

Tasha said...

This vintage beauty is gorgeous! Such a wonderful design
love tasha xx

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous Linda ! I really love the image and the detail is stunning. It may have taken you all day but it was worth it ! Sue C x

Annika said...

Linda, this card was totally worth all the time you spent on it! I love the flower and stitching and papaers and I want to know how you tie those GORGEOUS bows! I NEED to know it! lol
TFS
Hugs
Annika

coldwaters2 said...

Oh wow this is totally awesome I love vintage and this is truly wonderful especially with the flower this is so creative.

Hugs
Lorraine x

Sabrina said...

I think that you may have chosen one of the harder colors to create a successful monochromatic scheme with. My hats off to you; it is beautiful.

Amy C said...

This card is BREATHTAKING!! I love looking at it and I keep scrolling back to it for more. I really love the textures, distressing, stitching, and....oh, I just love it all. Thanks for joining us at Caardvarks!!

Grace said...

Ooooh Linda... your flower is GORGEOUS!!! You really did an amazing job!!! I love your shabby chic style!!! Love the Monochromatic colors!!! What a cute calendar! I'll have to check that site out!!! Thanks for the inspiration and the reference to my card too!

Lesley said...

Beautiful card, I love the vintage style. Thanks for taking part in the MTTC challenge this week xx

Els said...

Gorgeous card, Linda! I love the colors and all the little details.

Anonymous said...

Love this! Beautiful vintage creation!
Thanks for playing along w/us in the All That Scraps Weekly Wednesday challenge this week. Enjoyed visiting your blog!
Pam Going Postal

Amy said...

Gorgeous card! And your stitching is unbelievable, stunning! Thanks for joinging us at the ATS challenge this week!

Linda Beeson said...

Wow, is your card wonderful! SOOO many amazing details.

SemSee said...

This is just breath-takingly gorgeous! WOW! Thanks for playing along with our 'Make a Splash' challenge at Quixotic Challenges! Hugs, Sem x

Simone said...

That´s just stunning! I love these colours and the image!!!
Simone

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