Friday, May 8, 2009

MMTI 01 - My Time to Inspire 01 Challenge

Woohoo! It's another challenge from Lauren Meader And oh what challenge it was for me...for some strange reason, I have a hard time with purples. I love the colors and shades of it but making something in purple takes me a bit of processing...so there will be lots of technique on this card. Translate as, plenty 'o reading here if you've got the time)



The Inspiration Piece


And my card......

Before I launch into the hows and whats of this card, let me first direct you to the super talented and inspiring blogs from the My Time to Create design team. Leading off with the super talented and purple loving Lauren Meader! The challenge details and the Mr Linky for YOUR creation can be found on her blog. Join us! I can't wait to see what you make!
Lauren
Alicia
Dawn
MacKenzie
Maria
Kristen
Tracey
Pam
Jennifer
Odette
Lisa
Tamara

and me, Dana Gustafson! No need to click just keep reading :)

OK, so lots of stuff going on n this card but let's start with my favorite....the flowers! They were first cut with a rounded flower shape, then embossed with the SU! damask pattern, then inked with white chalk ink, crumpled up and then inched down the center of each petal for a more dimensional look. Do you need all that? No, I don't think so but the early steps did not produce what I wanted. I will next time, cut, crumple and pinch. The daisy layer on top is cut from vintage text book paper using another sizzix die and inked with Lovely lilac ink and the whole thing was topped off with a button. These flowers were inspired by the pattern on the bodice of the dress which also has a celery diamond in between each flower. I interpreted those with some hand cut leaves above. Next up was the paper ruffle. I wanted to emulate the flouncy skirt in the photo...you know the kind... they are perfect for twirling! I used more vintage book text and stamped it with a flourish from SU!, sewed a whip stitch down the length with embroidery floss, gathered the paper and trimmed the loose end with cloud Fiskar paper scissors.

The finer details come in the form of swiss dots embossing on the purple card base and the kraft cardstock. I also roughed up the edges of the chocolate carstock with a distressor from SU! Some scalloped edging from two different punches, more stitching with embroidery floss and liquid pearls with fine purple iridescent glitter finish this card off. I was quite pleased with my efforts in the dressmaking/cardmaking shop today and have conquered the purple challenge for this week! Hooray!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I am looking forward to seeing what you make with your time this weekend. And to all the mothers either reading this or in your lives....Happy Mother's Day on Sunday!

Supplies:

Cardstock: PTI, Bazzill, Georgia Pacific

Stamps: SU! Finest Flourishes

Patterned Paper: PTI and vintage book print

Dies: Sizzix flower layers #3 and Flower, Daises #2

Punches: Martha Stewert

Ink: SU!

Embossing plates: SU! and Cuttlebug

Other: Liquid pearls, fine glitter (walmart), buttons, embroidery floss (dmc), paper distressor(SU!)

26 comments:

Alicia Weiman said...

Love your flowers and the accents with the printed paper. Your card turned out great!

Lisa Kind said...

Great card, Dana! Love all the details! Funny, I didn't see the green in this dress...I thought it looked closer to Sahara Sand, so that's what I used! I think I would have liked the green better on my card! Oh well! Yours is fab!

Unknown said...

Dana - this is so pretty...love those flowers! Great job working out of your 'comfort zone' with purple!!

AKiteFlier said...

SUper fantastic card Dana - Love how you pulled it together - I like the flowers and the gathered effect. Rock on! Hugs n smiles!

Tracey said...

Great card Dana. I find purple hard to work with too, but I like it a lot. You did a great job with it.

Jen Tapler said...

This turned out great Dana!! I have to say, I'm usually more attracted to "clean and simple", but you've managed to take a card with lots of stuff going on and turn it into something just right - it's not too overdone and all of the elements seem to balance each other out so well. Love it!!!

Maria said...

Did you say you purple is a hard color for you? Girlie you rocked this! I love it! The pleats, flowers, awesome! Fantastic! I will so have to try pleats on my stuff.

Dawn Easton said...

Love your layered flowers! For someone who says they have difficulty working with purple...you rocked this inspriation piece! GREAT card! So many wonderful details!

Robbie said...

This is such a cute card. It is a refreshingly 'new' look for a card. The stitching really brings to life the challenge of the little dress. Great job!

Kristin Eberline said...

Wow! Sooo pretty, Dana! The flowers are awesome :O) Love the pleated panel also.

Tamara said...

I love this! I didn't pick out purple as a colour, but I think I was the only one :)

I love the book pages you used, I have never thought of that, but it gives your card a great boost. Fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Love the flowers, the pleated paper and the colour purple is really working for this card!

Karen said...

Your flowers came out great, Dana! I'm so glad your book is still getting a workout! I always love seeing how you manipulate it. I would have never guessed that you have trouble working with purples! And I always love how you are able to meld bling and distressed together! :>

Denise Vakili Fine Art said...

This is so cute...do you have any suggestions on how to streamline if you want to make a bunch? Love your photos, too. Always so pretty.

Elise said...

I can't even find words: and that is sayin' something! Dana, that card is OVER THE TOP! I can't believe how wonderfully influenced you were by the challenge/image, and may I say, "WTG!" to Lauren for finding such darling and inspirational challenge...Great job all around!

Handmade by Odette said...

Dana, I love flowers so much and yours just stole my heart! they look so delicately worked, you did a great job in this challenge!!
Hugs,
Odette

DoxieGirl said...

I didn't see green either - but, I love the techniques you used on your card! Fabulous!
~Kendra

Denise Vakili Fine Art said...

OH, Dana, thanks for the great tips. I really want to try this one.. But I always feel if I'm gonna put the work into it, ya might as well make a few! Nice to have a little set.

MacKenzie said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the paper ruffles!

Cat Darling said...

Wow! What a spectacular card! I love all the techniques you used!
Thanks so much for the "kitty condolences."

Kelley Eubanks said...

Very pretty card! You must have spent a lot of time on this card. So many pretty details! You are very talented!

Denise Marzec said...

I love the deep purple you picked...GORGEOUS card!

SmilynStef said...

Love the pleated text ... wonderful card.

Kate Souder said...

That is adorable! Great idea.

anya said...

So amazing! Love love LOVE that pleated paper! Fantastic :)

Joshua Jiraffe Designs said...

Gorgeous! Loved reading how it all evolved...what a great take on her challenge!