The Card Concept #171 - Cast Your Cares Tulip

 

 

Hi Friends!

It’s time for the #171 {Spring Garden} Challenge at The Card Concept!

I was inspired by the colors and flowers in our photo as well as the Spring Theme to create a Clean and Layered/Mixed Media card!  I enjoy the cooler weather of spring, and here in Maryland, the last few days have had temperatures in the 50’s & 60’s- my kind of spring weather for sure! 

I also wanted to share with those of you who follow my blog, I have not been posting as frequently as I would like.  My hubby, Dave has been battling five different cancers over the last 20 years and the most recent cancer was just diagnosed on Monday, March 7^th.  After exhibiting increasingly rapid dementia type symptoms (over the course of about a week), it was discovered that he had a primary brain tumor the size of a lemon in his left frontal lobe.

Dave had brain surgery on Wednesday, March 9^th and they were not able to remove all of the tumor (due to blood vessels that were intertwined within the mass).  He is being transported (hopefully today) from Johns Hopkins to a rehab center near my home and my prayers are that he would get stronger physically, so I can bring him home to be with me.

We know that the Lord has the perfect plan for us, and while I may wish to keep my hubby here with me on this earth, if the Lord decides to take him home to heaven, I know that it would be far better for Dave.  Unfortunately, Dave will never regain his short-term and some of his long-term memory (or possibly the ability to speak) again.

One of our favorite verses is
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”   Philippians 1:21 (NKJV)

Thanks for the chance to share a bit with my followers- I feel like we are family even though we may never have a chance to meet here on earth :-)

Also, many of you know that I enjoy participating with online challenges and will be linking this card to one of my favorite challenge sites, Retro Rubber Blog Challenge #178 “Anything Goes”.  

The Retro Rubber Blog Challenge requires that you use a stamp that is at least one year old (one of my goals as well).  The sentiment on this image from Stamp Simply is many years old as well as the main Power Poppy digital floral image.  FYI- I had this image printed and hand colored in my stash since 2019 (when my hubby had his bladder/prostate removal surgery), 

Thankfully, this image was perfect for both challenges! If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept , I hope you will take a moment to do so! Gorgeous designs from the rest of my sisters on The Card Concept Design Team, plus stop by the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog and check out their talented Design Team as well!

Other than the time it took to hand color/watercolor this image, the card took very little time to create!

To create this card:

Using a editing software (I used the retired Stampin’’ Up! My Digital Studio), download the digital Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher image from Power Poppy by Marcella, resize and print onto white cardstock.

Hand color the image with watercolor pencils and water-based markers.  I used a water soluble graphic pencil as well for the shadow area (or you could use a black watercolor pencil).  Once you are satisfied with the colors, die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.

De-static the lower right hand area for the panel with an embossing powder tool.  Ink the verse sentiment from the Fear Not clear stamp set  (Stamp Simply) with Versafine Black Onyx ink, stamp onto the prepared area, apply embossing powder and heat set with a heat tool.  I just love the fonts used in the Stamp Simply Fear Not stamp set, don't you?  Plus this verse is also one of our favorites! 

Layer the main focal image panel onto black cardstock and trim close to the edge.

Layer a piece of designer paper (approx. 4” x 5 ¼”) onto a 4 ¼” x 5 ½” piece of black cardstock and mount onto a white card base.

Adhere the main focal image panel to the card front.

Use a clear glitter marker to add shimmer to the tulips and you are done!

So easy and flat for mailing!

Stamp Sets: Fear Not (Stamp Simply), Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher digi image (Power Poppy by Marcella)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine Black Onyx, various Watercolor Pencils- Derwent™, Stampin Up!, Water-based Markers (Stampin’ Up!), Water Soluble Graphite Pencil; Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Marker

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black; Stampin ‘ Up! designer paper (retired and from my stash)

Accessories/Tools: Big Shot™,  Stitched Rectangle A2 STAX Dies (My Favorite Things). Embossing Powder Tool, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool

Thanks again for taking the time to visit! I hope you will have the time, create a card based on our #171 {Spring Garden} inspiration photo and join us!

TCC136 Bright Blooms

Hi Friends!

Welcome to The Card Concept #136 {Bright Florals} Challenge! 

I love the texture of the tiled background as well as all of the beautiful, bright blossoms and I was inspired to create a fairly clean Mixed Media card! 

I am also participating with the Simon Says Monday "Going Around in Circles" Challenge along with the Word Art Wednesday #440-#441 "Anything Goes" Challenge and the Retro Rubber Challenge Blog #135 Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge (top across Watercolor-Circles- Die Cut and diagonal Watercolor-Embossing- Bright Colors). 


I used the retired SU! set, Choose Happiness which is several years old as well as the older digi set, Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher (this is at least two years old).  

To create this card:

Print out the Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher (Power Poppy by Marcella) onto white cardstock.  Color the image using watercolor pencils, water-based markers and water soluble graphite pencils.

Die cut the image with a stitched circle die and using distress oxide ink, lightly stencil the background.

Mount the circle onto a die-cut black circle. Apply shimmer with a clear shimmer pen to the petals and a green shimmer pen to the leaves.

On a piece of watercolor paper, use turquoise watercolor powder along with distress oxide inks and distress stains to add color to the background.  Dry with a heat tool and emboss with a  3D Tin Tile embossing folder.

Add additional color with distress stain, dry with the heat tool and once you are satisfied with the color, apply pearl texture paste to add shimmer.  Distress the edges with a distressing tool and mount onto a piece of black cardstock.

Adhere the background panel to a white card base, add the focal image with dimensional foam and add the embossed sentiment to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher (digi image-Power Poppy by Marcella), Choose Happiness (retired Stampin’ Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Black Printer Ink, Versafine™ Onyx Black, Derwent™ Watercolor Pencils and Water-Soluble Graphite Pencil, Stampin’ Write Markers-Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi; Brushos® Turquoise Watercolor Powder, Tim Holtz™ - Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide, Picket Fence and Peacock Feathers Distress Stain; Faber-Castell® Texture Luxe™ Pearl Texture Paste, Wink of Stella™ Clear and Green Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black; Watercolor

Tools/Accessories: Gemini, Jr™, My Favorite Things Stitched Circle STAX Dies, Sizzix™ Circles Dies; 3D Tin Tile Embossing Folder, Memory Box™ Distressed Tula Stencil, Stencil Brush, Embossing Buddy®, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, AquaPainter™

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by!  I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our {Bright Florals} photo and link up to our gallery at The Card Concept- we would love to see what inspired you! The challenge is open until June 8^th at noon EST.

TCC93 Happy Mother's Day

Hi Friends!

Woohoo! It’s time for the new #93 {Floral Centerpiece} Challenge at The Card Concept!

I love this beautiful bouquet of flowers and was inspired by the different color blossoms as well as the gorgeous green in the background to create a Shabby Chic Mixed Media card.

I decided to use the digital Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher from Power Poppy and the soon-to-be retired sentiment from SU! Teeny Tiny Wishes. 

I love to participate in online challenges and will also be linking this card to the Simon Says Work It Wednesday April 2018 “Mother’s Day” Challenge, the Retro Rubber #86 “Beautiful Flowers” Challenge (this digital image is several years old and I believe this is the first card I have actually created with it) and the Word Art Wednesday #334-#335 “Anything Goes” Challenge.

Just a reminder that The Card Concept is a bi-weekly challenge that has an inspiration photo along with a suggestion of design styles that you can choose from to create your card- Clean and Simple, Clean and Graphic, Clean and Layered, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, Classy and Elegant and Mixed Media (or you can combine several styles for your own style).

If you have not had a chance to visit us at The Card Concept or visit the other challenge sites yet, I hope you will find time to do so- gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using a design software (I used the retired Stampin’ Up! My Digital Studio™), position the Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher digital image onto your screen, enlarge if desired and print out onto a piece of vanilla cardstock. Watercolor the image with distress inks and markers.  Create a line area for the table using a Pigma Micron™ 005 Black Pen. 

2). Die cut the image with a stitched circle die, mount onto another circle of brown cardstock (also die cut with the same stitched circle die). 

3). Use a stencil brush with peeled paint distress ink to stencil the background around the flowers.

4). Die cut a piece of patterned paper with a stitched rectangle die, mount onto another rectangle die cut from espresso cardstock. Mount onto the white card front, add the ivory crochet lace and green grosgrain ribbon (wrapping the ribbon ends around to the inside of the card).  Cover the ends of the ribbon on the back of the card front with a piece of soft yellow cardstock.

5). Use a clear glitter pen to add shimmer to all of the tulips and an extra fine white paint pen to add a few dots to the flower stamens.

6). Stamp the sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with archival black ink onto a piece of vanilla cardstock, heat set with a heat tool and stencil a bit of the peeled paint distress ink over the sentiment.  Create the banner points, mount onto espresso cardstock and add to the card front with dimensional foam.

7). Add a few pearls to the sentiment as well as the top left-hand corner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher (Digital image from Power Poppy), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!)

Ink/Mediums: Printer Ink- Black, Versafine™ Onyx Black, Tim Holtz® Distress Ink- Fossilized Amber, Shaded Lilac, Peeled Paint, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Hickory Smoke; Distress Markers- Seedless Preserves, Mowed Lawn; Spectrum Noir™Clear Glitter Pen, Pigma Micron™ 005 Black Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, retired Designer Series Paper (all Stampin’ Up!)

Tools/Accessories:  Big Shot™, My Favorite Things™ Dies- A2 Stitched Rectangles STAX Set 1 & 2, Stitched Circle STAX; Clarity™ Stencil Brush, Heat Tool, 5/8” Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Ivory Crochet Lace, retired My Digital Studio™, Pearls

I am so thankful that you took the time to visit me today! I hope I have inspired you to create your own card based on our Floral Centerpiece photo and share with us at The Card Concept- we would love to see your artwork in our gallery!!