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1/06/2018

Sending Hugs Flowers

Good afternoon and welcome. Surely hope that if it's brutally cold and unpleasant weather where you might be, that you can stay inside where it's cozy & warm. We have lovely sunshine, but it's a brisk 35F outside. It was 13F at 3:30am this morning. We're thankful we are not getting the same bitter cold & snow that our northern states are having, and I expect a lot of my European buddies are also having to contend with some very wintery weather. Brrrrr!

Remember this card  and my first attempt which was not good at all? I had tried for no-lines with a light brown to stamp the image; then colored with pastel shades, based on google-ing Christmas Rose, and it was really a washout. Meant to take photos to share, but that didn't happen. While looking around Youtube I found some other looks that I liked, so re-did the peach-y pastel tones I'd used, and today's card is the result. Changed to a darker blue background (alas the photo doesn't really show how really dark this background is. It shows off the dark peachy tones of this card's flowers).

 
Wplus9 Christmas Rose: original failed effort was used for the background layer. Sponged Oxide Blues, adding more darkness at each corner. Photo is not capturing this, but it looks quite nice. Colored over the smaller flowers with Yellow and YR copics, and darkened the leaves quite a lot as well. Stamped a 2nd image to get the largest flower to cut out, pop up. Fussy cut the large flower from the bottom layer as it's covered with the popup one, and used portions of it to place under the popped up flower (make sense?).  It did create quite a lot of depth, and I was finally pleased with how this looked. All the time I kept telling myself "It's just paper, you _can_ throw it away!" Don't you just hate to let something of this sort defeat you? I do! Finally used a copper Kaisercraft metallic marker to add the dots on the petals.
The blue background had water droplets sprinkled over it- which I forget to do most of the time - and then once all was put together, used a spritz of gold mica spray very lightly. The only thing I thought about changing at the last, was to add some seed beads for the centers. I've not been very successful at getting good results with those...plus they scatter everywhere as I try. Additionally this has to go through the mail, so for once I left well enough alone!! A Martha Stewart tag (VOS) was stamped with the sentiment.
 
Back later this evening with the Christmas Card Club post. Trying to start the new year off right.
 
Stay warm, thanks for visiting, and God Bless. Hugs too.
 
 

 

25 comments:

  1. Hello Mary, I love your pretty card, it's a gorgeous floral image and beautifully coloured, super colouring too.
    Good to hear that your weather isn't extreme, there's some awfully cold places just to, keep cosy, Kate x

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  2. I'm playing catching up with my blog visiting, sorry I've been AWOL for a while.

    Not too cold in our part of the UK, still a bit damp and dismal, but not too bad for January.

    I've just scrolled back through your last couple of posted, I especially love the quilt cards. Another gorgeous card on this post, Mary, I love the colours of the flowers.

    Hope 2018 will be a good year for you and your family. xx

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  3. This is gorgeous Mary. Love the background must get myself some of those oxides. Never throw any thing away as you never know when it will come in handy, I have rejuvenated cards made ages ago with a tweek here and there.
    Good news here my great grand daughter arrived safely on Jan 4th so beautiful.
    Luv Margaret

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  4. This is so stunning!! The flowers just pop against the beautiful background!! I love the colors!! We were a brisk -10 this morning without the windchill. It's soooo cold!! But at least we don't have the massive snow. Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  5. A gorgeous card Mary, such a pretty stamp and beautiful colours - the peachy orange looks so pretty against the blue.
    It is quite cold here but nothing compared to what you are having!
    Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
    x

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  6. You have salvaged this card perfectly. The result is a beautiful card. I do like the colours you have used on the flowers. It is getting very cold here in the UK and some areas have been told to expect -15 degrees tonight. Not a pleasant thought. Hope you are fairing better. Hugs Mrs A.

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  7. Great work, Mary!! These flowers really pop from that lovely background!! You have done so ell to give it another chance!! The leaves look fabulous and beads are perfect embellishments!!
    Not too cold here in Italy, only clouds and rain, but then the sun shines again and have a hot weather!
    Hugs!

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  8. Such a pretty card Mary, great save. We're expecting a heat wave today so I'll be in the pool and then retreating to the air conditioning! I'll send some warm sunshine your way! Cathy x

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  9. Quite cold here too but not as bad as you and very wet too-puddles all over the garden but ducks enjoying it!!!Great save on the card and the flowers are beautiful
    Carol x

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  10. This is beautiful, Mary! Love the soft, delicate colors you used. Someone will sure be tickled to get this in the mail! Been cold here too. We got UP to about 17 degrees today. Supposed to have an inch of ice on the ground by this time tomorrow...ugh! Hope you're well! All is well here, just uber busy! Hugs...!

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  11. Mary, I love the depth of colour on your flowers and the orange tones work perfectly with the blues. Love the card :)

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  12. The pretty blue background goes superbly with the beautifully coloured flowers Mary, and the paler ones recede into the background which is perfect. I know what you mean about not wanting to give up on something as I am exactly the same, and you have made this one work well. x

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  13. Your 2nd attempt is just lovely and the colors are dreamy! I like the orange and blue together with that pop of green in the leaves. Just gorgeous and I can use a little warmth for the time being. Flowers always make me feel warm, so thanks :) Have a great weekend!

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  14. Another beautiful no-line watercoloured card Mary. So happy that you were able to save your original and turn it into this beauty! Blue and orange are one of the best colour combinations of complimentary colours! Those flowers are gorgeous with all the special touches you've added. xx

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  15. Hi Mary, Loving the card. I always think orange and blue go together well.

    Hope you are having a nice weekend. Sue

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  16. Such a beautiful colour combination. Those flowers are fabulous x

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  17. These peachy Christmas roses are so pretty, Mary! I love how the darker blue background sets them off!

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  18. It's an eyecatching design, the blue background makes the orange pop and look extra bright.

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  19. Brrrr hope you are keeping warm. I love the colours so beautiful, well recovered.
    Faith
    x

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  20. Wow on your coloring on this! What a great save to pop up the florals over the ones you were not happy with. Love these colors- so refreshing after our dismal winter here. This is just beautiful, Mary!

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  21. This is absolutely my cup of tea, love this gorgeousness.
    Hugs Veerle xx

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  22. Your coloring is both delicate and vibrant, Mary. I love the look of no line coloring, but have never tried it. You made a fabulous save.

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  23. Love the colours on this, especially the contrast between the richer orange at the front and the more muted at the back.

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