Spring Blossoms ....... IndigoBlu Challenge 14

Good morning,

Happy Friday to you all ...... looking forward to the weekend?  I am, this week has flown by.

As it's the 21st of the month we have a brand new theme for you over on the IndigoBlu Challenge Blog.  This month it's .......

SPRING BLOSSOMS

Couldn't be anything else really could it ... what with all those gorgeous floral images that Kay designs.

Before I show you my inspiration piece, CONGRATULATIONS! to our winner of the last challenge .....

Entry Number 6 ........... Yvonne

A worthy winner indeed.  Check out Yvonne's winning entry here 

And also, don't forget our Top 3 ....... did you enter last months challenge?  Could you be one of them? 
Check out the new challenge post to find out.

On to this month's theme ..... there's so many gorgeous IndigoBlu flowers to choose from, where do you start?  I've gone for the latest addition to my favourite's list ..... the stunning Rose Blush ..... I love it!!!!

I'm not sure you can class roses as 'spring' flowers but I've gone with spring colours so hope that counts.

Finished card size is a nice 6x6, and I started by cutting a square of white cardstock slightly smaller than my card front.
I drew around one of my Nesties circle dies, slightly off centre (only just) and then stamped the pretty Rose Blush, using Watering Can Archival ink, in the corner of my card and across one side of the circle. You can see I also used the stamp to add a little bit of interest in the opposite corner too.
I then cut out the circle, fussy cutting around the flowers in the centre .....

On a separate square of white card, again cut slightly smaller than the first, I made a mark where the aperture would sit and then stamped the Burlap Panel, from the Sarah's Choice stamp set, across the centre so that it would show through the aperture once the card was put together. 

The colours I used for the flowers were Spun Sugar, Squeezed Lemonade and Bundled Sage.  I applied the ink directly to my craft sheet, spritzed with water then used a paint brush to colour the blooms.

A touch of glitter was added to the centre .......

and I also highlighted some of the mesh in the background of the image using a Sakura Stardust pen .... not sure if this comes across well in the photo but trust me, it's there .......

The word 'Friends' is from one of the stamps in the B.F.F. set.  I masked off most of the 'Friendship isn't a big thing ........' stamp, inked it up, removed the masking tape and stamped.
It's been cut using a nestie die and then I've stamped it a little using the Rose Blush again.

I had to do the inside too ..... well it wouldn't be one of my cards if I didn't now would it .......

Well ..... have I inspired you to give this month's challenge a go?  Not quite ..... well check out the fabulous projects from the rest of the DT.  I'm sure by the time you've finished you'll really be in the mood for Spring.

You have until 8pm on April 20th to get your entries in so plenty of time.  Have fun, Good Luck and Happy Stamping!

Thanks for popping by today ..... have a lovely weekend.

Cheerio until next time

LindyLou

xx

Summertime ........ Forever 21 Blog challenge

Happy Friday,

And it's the longest day too ....... more daylight time to spend in the old craft room - yeah!!
I've been up since stupid o'clock this morning so it really will be a lonnnnng day for me.  Just as well though, I had an early doctors appointment and I've still loads of catching up to do.  Well, I will go away on holiday I suppose!

As it's the 21st of the month it means we have a new challenge over on the Indigo Blu Blog. Before I tell you what the new theme is ....... thanks to everyone that took part last month, as always there were some amazing projects, you're such a clever bunch!  But, there can only be one winner, and  CONGRATULATIONS go to .................

Number 8 ......... Sara 

Well done Sara, your tag was gorgeous.  Enjoy your prize.

On to the new challenege.  The theme is............  

SUMMERTIME

Lets see all your cards/canvases/altered art etc. with a lovely summery feel.
What does summer mean to you?  I think of blue skies, warm breezes, long walks and barbeques with friends (had to have food and drink in there somewhere!)  The blue skies we've had this week, and the warm breeze.  Did loads of walking while we were away on holiday, but not had a barbie yet!!! Maybe this weekend.

Oh well, here's my version of summer .........

I started by stamping the gorgeous Take Flight bird onto some Indigo Blu Stamping card, then I cut the circle aperture around him.  If you saw Kay on Create & Craft last night she gave a fabulous tip for doing this using Nestabilities.
Decide where you want your aperture to be, I place my nestie and draw round it lightly using a pencil.  Cut around the part of the bird that's inside the circle.  Place your nestie back into position underneath  the cut out part of the bird, you can use some low-tack masking tape to hold it in place, then cut as normal.

I then took another piece of white card large enough to go behind the aperture, and stamped the Wild Flowers.  My summer sky was done using Distress Inks and a mask to make the sun, and the poppies I coloured with Copic Markers.

The little bird I coloured using Distress Ink Re-inkers and a water-brush, but you would use Copics/Pro-markers, water colour pencils, whatever you have in your stash really.  I stamped the little guy again cut out one of his wings and layered it over the top to add a touch of dimension .......

I also used my trusty white gel pen to add some highlights, and a spot of Glossy Accents to his eye.

I used the Wild Flowers stamp again just in the corners of the front panel to add a bit more interest, and then added a touch of Distress Ink around the edges.

The little flower scene was mat onto a piece of black card then the aperture piece was layered over the top using foam pads.

A bit of doodling around the aperture finishes the card nicely.  Hope you like it.

It's been hard thinking of summer these last few days, things have been a little on the 'festive' side around the old craft room.  Myself, and the rest of the Design Team have all had our Christmas hats on making lots of seasonal samples for Kays shows on Create & Craft/Ideal World.  Hope you all tuned in to watch the launch of the 2013 Christmas range, what do you think? Have you all got your Christmas cards and gifts planned now?
Don't forget Kay's back on our screens today too - 3pm & 8pm on Ideal World.

Well that's it from me.  I look forward to seeing all your SUMMERTIME entries on the Blog.  You've got until 8pm on July 20th to get your designs in.   There'll be another great prize up for grabs so get those stamps out.

Have a lovely weekend.  Hope it's summertime where you are.

Happy crafting!

Linda

xx