Friday, August 6, 2010

Completely out of my comfort zone.....

A few weeks ago I had one of my residents in to see her family physician and I noticed a painting on the wall in the waiting room. It was a distressed/tea stained background and had a red hydrangea on it. I thought it would make a really pretty card but this distressing is not something I do, so I needed to work up to it. LO

I used all SU supplies starting with a Whisper white card base then layers of Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cobbler. The hydrangea image was stamped in Soft Suede classic ink which I then masked and stamped over it with the En Francais back ground stamp in Soft Suede that had been stamped off once. Next I used my blender pen and the Cherry Cobbler Ink to color the flower and then Old Olive for the leaves and flower centers.
It's very pretty in real life.
The whole thing was distressed by using a circular motion with a sponge and Soft Suede ink followed by Chocolate Chip to add depth.
All the layers were sponged as well with Chocolate Chip.
Adding Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon and the sentiment(from the same stamp set) stamped onto whisper white, punched out with a small oval punch and a large Chocolate Chip oval punch, then distressed with Chocolate Chip again, this was placed onto a Cherry Cobbler scalloped circle punch and 2 antique brads were added.


This card is the first one I finished but I found it very dark, I really liked it but the painting was more on the yellow side so I needed to try again.

My next attempt is done basically the same but the colors I used this time are More Mustard for the distressing and the En Francais background. Chocolate Chip for the Hydrangea and Real Red for the color along with Old Olive for the leaves and flower centers.I used the Real Red satin ribbon and some new Vintage brads for decorations. The sentiment comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes and the punches used are word window, modern label and small oval with a couple more antique brads to finish.


Which is your favorite?
My husband and I are leaning towards the second one as we don't usually go for the dark or vintage looks at all but I have to say I am pleased with them both.

I think the only thing I may do different is to maybe emboss the stamped hydrangea because I find that the ink had a very slight muddy look from the blending.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!

Sharri

26 comments:

  1. Shari - I vote for the second one too! I love your coloring of the flower on it!

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  2. The first one gets my vote...amazing!!! I love the "old world" flavor.

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  3. Definately the first one---it just seem so rich and more realistic. Both are great, but the first one just reached and grabbed me....and I was glad to be grabbed!!

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  4. Ooohhh!!! Now I don't know!! I like that you exposed more of the leaf on the 2nd one and I like the ribbon color better....why did you have to do such dog-gone beautiful cards and ask us to choose!!! You're amazing!!! Your blog definately goes on my "Bookmarks" list!

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  5. Beautiful job on both.. Both have an entirely diff look.. really pretty!

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  6. I love the first one--very elegant!

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  7. I love them both! I think you have made a very good job distressing. It´s fun, isn´t it?

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  8. Very nice card.... Where is coverdale. I use the leave in Grand-Fall NB but now i m in the states.

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  9. Thank you everyone for the nice comments! Frenchie, Upper Coverdale is not far from Moncton about 10mins drive.

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  10. I love them both! I really love the vintage look in all cards. You did a beautiful job with blending, so life like! I'm finding the hydranea hard to color (my eyes are not getting any better)and have been taking the easy way out--just stamp it.

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  11. Love the 1st one. I'm for dark and vintage.

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  12. These are totally stunning! Wonderful job! I'm partial to the brown sponging, but I love them both. Thank you so much for playing along with Stamping411!

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  13. These are both so gorgeous, but I guess if I HAD to pick just one I'd pick the first one. Oh, by the way, I think you can say you "do" distressed now :)

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  14. Not one but two beauty's . I love them equally. Great job!!

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  15. I love them both, but the punches in the second one catches my eye! Thanks for playing!

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  16. I am voting for the first one....lovin' the brown mixed in!!!

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  17. I like the first one best. I like the old vintage feel to it.............

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  18. I love the vintage feel of the first one - it is darker - but it works. Both are stunning and turned out great. Thanks for sharing both.

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  19. I think both are awesome! The first one looks real rich...and the second is more like daylight! I think you did great on your distressing ;D

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  20. If this is out of your "comfort zone", you need to move or change tha particular zone! Both are beautiful but I lean toward the darker distressing.
    Sharon L

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  21. I vote for the first one. I like the darker distressing-giving it a more authentic old look and feel. Great job for someone out of their comfort zone.

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  22. They are both gorgeous, but I LOVE those antique brads! Nice job!

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  23. Both are awesome but I really like the first one!! Love that vintage look!! Thanks for playing along with us this week!!

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  24. Love your art work. Thanks for sharing! God bless!

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  25. When I scrolled to the first one my first thought was "perfection!". Then I scrolled down and saw the second one, it's georgous too. Although I like the lighter one, I still maintain that the first one is perfection :~)

    I'm going to follow you while I'm here.

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  26. Like them both but my favorite would be the first one. I love the vintage look although I have never personally tried it. I must might have to now that I have seen this one. It really is beautiful. I love this stamp set. Would love to grow Hydrangeas but here in Houston it is just too hot for them in my yard :(

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