Magnolia Rhapsody

Today was a perfect garden day.  It was cool - around 65 degrees, and breezy.  I like it cooler when I do the heavy garden work, so I don't get too hot.  I put in some new perennials, and added more annuals to my flower beds.  I also planted some cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, and some herbs.  I do love my time in the garden!

For my card, I decided to keep it in the garden....

I used Penny Black stamps Magnolia Rhapsody 40-535, and  Special Thoughts 30-338.  I also used a Penny Black script stamp and swirl stamp for my background.

I used Arteza real brush pens to color my magnolia.  Using my Misti, I added color to one blossom at at time, stamping it, then moved to the next.  When dry, I went back with darker shades, adding them individually to each flower.  Then I repeated this technique with the leaves and the branches.  I added the lightest color, then went back in with the shading colors.  

Cloe-up

Next, I masked the edges of the card to create a panel around the image.  I used Tim Holtz distress inks, and sponged them on.  Then I added the script and swirl stamps to the background.  I love peeling off the mask to reveal the finished panel.  It always feels like a little bit of magic!

For the 'Friend,' I inked only the one word from the verse in the special thoughts set.  I stamped it onto the same watercolor paper, using my Misti so that I could stamp it numerous times to get a clear image on the textured base.  I fussy-cut it, then added it to my card with foam tape.  

Some twine and Pretty Pink Posh clear droplets finish my card tonight. 

I hope you will join us in the Penny Black Saturday Challenge.  The theme is Anything Goes (optional - your favorite Penny Black stamp).  You have until June 1st to enter your card.  Who knows, you just may win a $20 gift certificate to our generous sponsor, 

Be sure to check out my fellow design team members' cards.  I look forward to seeing you on the Penny Black Saturday Challenge blog.

I am adding my card to these challenges:

The Color Throwdown - Blue and green

 
Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything goes 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I appreciate you spending time on my blog, and your lovely comments.

Blessings,

Embossed Magnolia Card With ColorBox Inks

Last night, all cozy and snuggled in my bed, I had a thought.  An epiphany, really.  I had been watching You Tube videos, and noticed that there is a resurgence of interest in ColorBox pigment inks.  People are using them to paint with, create backgrounds with, even stamp with.  I wanted to get out of bed and start playing with my pigment inks, but was just too tired.  So, after church today, I saw this Penny Black stamp on my desk, and thought I would see if I could do what I had envisioned last night in my epiphany. 

Since pigment inks are perfecty for embossing, I knew I wanted to emboss, but wasn't sure how it would look with this stamp.  So, I played, a lot.  After a few practice pieces, I decided to go for it and make a card.

I created the background onto a piece of pink card stock by brushing some distress ink abandoned coral and worn lipstick onto the pink panel, concentrating color at the bottom, and fading it as I moved up the card.  I used my Clarity brush to apply the ink.

Next, using the same colors of distress ink, I stamped the Penny Black Letter Background 1999L and Swirl Border 1969B intermittently onto the panel.  I dried this with my heat tool before moving on to the next step.

For the image, I used the Penny Black stamp The Unfolding 40-450.  I love, love, love this stamp!  I placed the stamp and panel into my Misty, and inked the petals with ColorBox cat's eye shaped pigment inks in coral, pink, rose coral, chianti, and merlot.  I inked the entire petals with the lighter colors, directly from the ink pads.  I wiped off the areas where I wanted the deeper colors with a Q-tip, and used the edge of the ink pad to apply the darker colors to the areas I wanted it darker.  I brushed some of the deeper color further into the petal, using very light pressure, to create a blended look.  I did the same for the stems and leaves, using moss green, olive, and chestnut inks.  I was going for a watercolor look, but using only pigment inks directly onto the stamp.

Since pigment ink does not dry quickly, I had time to create my scene and get all the stamping done before embossing.  Then I embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I wish you could see this in real life....the embossed shine and dimension really creates a dramatic look.  I had some pieces from my practice session, so I fussy-cut one of the flowers and buds and attached it at the top right of the panel with foam tape.

I added some spatters by adding water to some of the pigment inks that I had rubbed onto my craft mat, and flicked it off a paint brush, and added the stamens with a fine tip Sharpie marker. 

Here is a close-up so you can see the shine from the embossing, which really does not show up in the picture....

The color is a little more true in this picture than the first one.

 And a quick look at the inside.....

  Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Love, anniversary, wedding

Penny Black At Allsorts - Photo inspiration
 

Allsorts Challenge - Birthday - Happy 8th birthday to the Allsorts Challenge blog!  Congratulations!

The Flower Challenge  - Case a design team card (I chose Tae Eun's card and changed the flowers and colors)






Thanks so much for visiting today.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend, and are rested and ready to tackle the new week.  

Blessings,

lynda