Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Cindy's blues blew me away.

 

Last night, I was surfing the net looking for nothing in particular, but, as always, hoping for some inspiration, when I came upon this drop-dead-gorgeous card over at the Flourishes website. I was immediately taken with the gorgeous blues she used in her stunning design. So, I CASEd it. Unabashedly and unashamedly. And my card still doesn't even come close to the exquisiteness of Cindy's card. But, I wanted to make this a smaller card so I could include it in the set of notecards I'm making for my SIL, and space was limited. I tried adding a few more embellishments, but every time I did it went over the top. So, while I couldn't get any closer to Cindy's card, I thought I'd stop while I was ahead. 

Aw, who am I kidding? I don't think I could ever make a card as stunning as Cindy's. It really is that amazing.

I did add a new technique to this card--stitching--and was, FINALLY, satisfied with it. I've tried to stitch on cards before, always by hand because I don't have a sewing machine, and I've never been happy with them. A few times I've just thrown the thing across the room! 

I explain how I was able to get the stitching right at the bottom of this post. It's a fairly long paragraph, so I wanted to make it possible for you to skip it if you chose. But, the fact that the card is still on this side of the room ought to tell you I figured out something! :)

Recipe:

The Paper Company papers from Joann, in blues. (I don't recall the actual name of the collection.)
Striped paper I designed
Digital flower stamp 
Spellbinders Nestabilities Oval and scalloped Oval
Cuttlebug Textile Texture embossing folder
Sizzix branch with leaves die
McGills Petite Petals punch
EK Success border punch
Copics
Seam binding ribbon died in a sage green and crumpled up.
Stick pins I made. (I just noticed one of them had fallen off! Yikes!)

Challenges:

Freshly Brewed Challenges--three of anything
Simon Says Stamp--anything goes
Creative Craft Challenges--pretty blossoms
Flourishes--embossing (I'm embarrassed to enter this since I so unashamedly copied Cindy's card, but what the hell!)
Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges--die cut and texture

How I did the stitching: First, I cut an oval from my Nestabilities, traced it, then scanned the image into my computer. I then traced the scanned oval in my Digital Scrapbook Artist program using the drawing pen. Next, I changed the line to dashes, changed the line's color to a very light gray, and then printed it out. I cut the oval from my die, then poked a hole in each dash, stitched it up, and voila! It actually doesn't look half bad. It took me almost all day to get the oval just right, as I had to tweak its height and width many times, and even then, it's not perfect. But it is very close.

15 comments:

  1. Oh you are making me *blush*!! Thank-you for your kinds words, you are so SWEET!!~ Your card is GORGEOUS, I LOVE it!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. OMGosh, this is sooo Beautiful! You did a Fabulous job using Cindy's card as your nspiration! Wowzers. Love all the gorgeous details! Just really a Pretty Pretty Card! 8-)

    Hugs
    Shannon

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a beautiful card!! Love everything about it!! Thanks for sharing it with us at The Pixie Cottage this week.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your blue card is so beautiful!! I love the card design and the mix of those papers! Wonderful coloring too. Thank you for playing along the FTTC with us.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That is a stunning card you've created!!! Absolutely beautiful in blue! Thanks for joining us at Freshly Brewed Challenges.

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your card is so pretty! I love all the shades of blue.


    Thank you for posting my blog candy in your side bar. Good luck in the draw!

    ReplyDelete
  7. That is just beautiful. Thanks for joining us at Amber's Crafts and Stuff's Embossing challenge, hope you see you back soon. Hugs lin

    ReplyDelete
  8. Very,very pretty! Love how you wrapped it in ribbon. Thanks for sharing with us at The Pixie Cottage! Hope to see you again next week. Hugs, Karen

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, this is GORGEOUS! Your colors and the die cuts look so pretty, and your ribbon finishes it off perfectly!
    Thanks for playing along at The Pixie Cottage this week!
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a gorgeous card! I love this shade of blue and those flowers.

    Great use of threes!!!
    Thanks for playing along with us at Freshly Brewed Challenges!

    Heather D
    www.freshbreweddesigns.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. fab card, love the colour of the flowers.

    Thanks for joining us over at CCC, good luck.

    Elke XX

    ReplyDelete
  12. totally cute card, lovely color combo and flowers...
    thanks for playing at THE PIXIE COTTAGE
    hugs
    sadia

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey there, thank you for sharing your fabulous card with the DT from Simon Says Stamp and Show. Hugs Terry xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. A beauty for sure. Love all the blue and the embossing is perfect! Thank you so much for joining us at the FTTC! Hugs ~S~

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful blue card with a delightful array of embossing and die cuts. Thanks for sharing with us at jac-inks challenges, and I think your card is just perfect.

    ReplyDelete