Monday, October 3, 2011

Hello and Happy Monday!

I don't normally work on Mondays anymore, but my fellow, floral employee is on vacation this week, so I was at work all day and really missed my creative time! Before leaving this morning, I took a quick look at the new contest over at the Hero Arts blog. Love that it's Holiday cards, but love even more that there are three fabulous sketches to use!


I had some ideas swirling around in my head all day and when I got home I went right to work - umm - I should say "play!"

I really love one of the sketches and knew I wanted to use it. Last night I saw a gorgeous card on Joy's blog, here. She used distress stains on canvas and I wanted to use that technique along with this sketch. Here's what I came up with, after lots of inking, thinking, waiting, staring, walking away, thinking some more. . . .seriously, it should not have taken as long as it did!



There is quite a bit going on here. To create the pattern on the canvas panel at the bottom, I white embossed the Hero Arts, Branch and Flourish Tree, several times, then used distress stains for a resist look. I also sprayed it heavily with perfect pearl water. I created the shimmer on the small, white panel by swiping it with a pearl colored Paint Dabber. The third panel of the sketch was stamped with the friend definition, from the Dictionary Greetings, clear set. The loopy scallops were a gift from Marcy. . .thank you again, Marcy! I stamped the sentiment on some pretty blue ribbon, given to me by Rosemary. She also sent the felt flowers. . .thank you, Rosie, I love them both!

I think that covers it all. Here's a close-up so you can see the shimmer and texture of the canvas, and the fun swipes from the paint dabber.



Thanks for stopping by today! I'm looking forward to having Wednesday off work this week because we are having theee most gorgeous weather right now. 75 to 80 degrees, beautiful, sunny, blue skies and all that, along with the changing of the leaves, is just amazing! Suppose to be this way until the end of the week. Hope it's sunny where you are too! :)

14 comments:

Scrumplescrunch said...

I think your card is a wonderful collage Barb,the loopy border breaks up the busy bottom to your clear defined shiny top half, I love how you have added some tactile quality with your felt flowers too.
Smiles:)

Dawn T said...

Awesome Barb. The shimmery goodness shines through. Every thing is just perfectly done.... and such a pretty colour combo

Donna B. said...

Gorgeous card Barb!! Love how you did that bottom panel. I don't emboss too much, but I'm going to have to try this. Also love that effect with the paint dauber, I'm going to have to get a pearl one!

joy said...

Really pretty, Barb. A lot of thought and "play" went into this one!

Nancy said...

Oh this turned out so gorgeous, Barb! Love all the texture and sparkle!

Lin said...

Lovin' your blue period, girlfriend! This is fabulous! Well worth the time it took to come together!

Rosemary said...

beautiful card, barb! thanks for the sweet comment on my flourishes card, my friend!

maryse n. said...

Beautiful card Barb! I especially like the canvas part, so pretty.

Maureen Morton said...

Barb, the textures and contrasts on this lovely card are so wonderful! Such softness, too. I have never tired canvas - it is on my list now.

Tiffany Ervin said...

Love all the luster and shine on this card, the perfect pearls makes it really special! Love the double scalloped border edge!

Elizabeth Allan said...

Barb this card just oozes with gorgeous color and sparkle. Thanks for sharing the close-up picture. It really captured all the depth and color of your fabulous technique.

Suzanne C said...

Another beautiful blue card. You are rocking the sketches!

CanadianScraps43 said...

Ho my, a lot of work indeed. So love all the techniques uesd here and the end result is oustanding. That canvas is drop dead gorgoues. How can you do all that! I don't even know where to begin with canvas. Hhmm! Now Ms. Barbie, I think you may have given me a challenge here! Lol. Thanks so much.

Nancy S said...

How very clever to use all those stamps on the bottom of your card! And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who spends waay to long on her cards...