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9/11/2013

Purple Hyacinths

Good Morning. Did you see or hear me doing the Happy Dance? Yesterday we worked on window cleaning for a while. Original plan was to do 6 or 7 more of the windows, and finish up today. When we got the goal number finished yesterday, I still had a little bit of energy left, so convinced my Helper to let's go ahead and finish the remaining ones, so that we could tick this chore finished. He wasn't terribly enthusiastic about my idea; his recliner was calling to him. But we perservered, and Voila, all done. Except for the outside of 2 windows that are in the computer room, that faces the back deck. Because of some built-in things in the pc room, it's awkward to tilt these windows in to get at the outside portion, so we're going to remove the screens & wash these the old fashioned way.

Here's another card with a Dylusions background. I diluted several colors with just water & a small amount of the spray; then in another bottle I used some of the spray, added some of the White Linen spray, filled the bottle with water. I'm liking the way I can have new colors. I do label the new bottles at the time I mix up these so I don't forget just what colors I used. So far I've not tried mixing in any of the black spray to get darker shades, but I really like the look of the added white. Just have to remember to shake this white additive very well. The original White Linen has one of the 'mixer balls' in it, which of course - won't be in the newly mixed colors.


- background created using dilution sprays with white, in Pure Sunshine, Dry Martini, Postbox Red and some Calypso Teal. This was done on Canson #90 paper, and I think it gives a sort of 'canvas' look to the background. Before it dried, I pressed another piece of just plain white card stock over the wet piece, so there is a second background waiting for use.

- image is a $2 AC Moore clearance find. Stamped with Memento Cottage Ivy on the dried Dylusion background; petals colored with various shades of BV copics. This is the first time I've tried using the copics over the Dylusions and I used a sort of dot  motion to get some color in the petals of the hyacinth. Watercolor paper will suck in the copic ink quite a bit too. Didn't seem to affect the nibs however..but I was very careful to just 'touch' the paper. Used a Signe gel pen to get some highlights.

After matting, this looked rather plain, so I added a Die-namics leaf flourish, first in the purple - which looked too bright. Decided to offset with a darker green leaf under the purple, liked this better. I'll add a small sentiment in the top right corner.

Thanks for joining me today, and I'm off to try to pay some return visits to all the kind commenters who have been visiting me lately. Have a wonderful day.

16 comments:

  1. Whew!!!!!!!!!!! I know you are breathing a sigh of relief with all that work accomplished. That is always a fabulous feeling. Now, you can spend a lot of time crafting.

    You achieved some wonderful colors here and the leaf flourish is a lovely added addition.

    Now, I'm off to clean the craft room soon as it didn't get cleaned the last two times I made a card and that's really bad.

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  2. This stamp was a lucky find! Love the diecut flourish and the sprayed background! Good for you getting those windows clean.

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  3. Really a unique and lovely background for this beautiful image. I love all the purple colors you used. So pretty!!!
    Glad you got all the window washing chore done - and a chore it really is I know!
    Lynn

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  4. Lovely card Mary. Well done on getting the windows finished - spring cleaning sure lasts a long time these days lol x Susan x

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  5. I'm so glad you finished up with your cleaning, I feel like I can take a rest now! lol Loving your card! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina ♥

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  6. Great image and flourish with a fabulous background. Happy you got your windows done. Now you can enjoy looking through clean windows AND crafting.

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  7. The leaf die-cut finishes that pretty card off perfectly, and I really like the purple flowers

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  8. Beautiful card Mary, i like the Hyacinths and the fabulous background.
    kevin xx

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  9. Love the way the hyacinths turned out...sort of a subtle look and very effective.
    I rarely use my sprays. y room is carpeted and I am always worrying that i will get the overspray on the carpet or...
    Silly I know...so the few things I have sprayed, I have taken outside! lol

    You are a windoe cleaning queen. I just figured out what you meant by tilt in...so you could clean the windows without standing outside in the hot, hot, sun!
    Well. no windows were washed at mine today...DH is still tearing up plants in the garden...took out another 6 x 40 feet of perennials and will be changing it to lawn when he is done digging and building the new stacked rock wall... I was the golfer and potter of the dug up plants!

    Tomorrow is a few windows while he is golfing and then a good wash to finish off the front porch...I am really wanting to drag the Fall decorations out!

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  10. Very pretty flower & flourish, great background with the diluted inks. I love the White Linen Dylusions. Enjoy the rest of your week, Shirleyx

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  11. Mary this is such a beauty!!!! :)

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  12. Gorgeous card Mary, love the inky bg. The flourish is the perfect finishing touch. Glad you've got your cleaning done, it's the start of Spring here and I really should do the same, and tackle the cupboards that are spilling over! Cathy x

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  13. I sure am enjoying seeing how you use these Dylusions inks Mary! You can make the best backgrounds with them and your copics! Love the hyacinths too, I think I can smell them too! lol I love that flourish too, makes the whole card just pop! So happy that you got your windows all done! Now I need to get mine done, it seems that laundry and pies are keeping me way to busy. lol Hugs to you Momma Mary!!

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  14. You have created a really beautiful background for your flowers. I must have a go at this technique. Just need a few more hours and days in the week to accomplish everything I would like to do!!!! Hugs Mrs a.

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  15. Hi Mary. Congrats on checking another big task off your cleaning list!!! So good that you could convince the Helper to keep going ... sounds like you have better luck than me :)

    Lovely card ... the sprayed background is so gorgeous. Have not tried anything like your sprays, so might need to look into investing in some more toys for my art studio :) Thanks for enabling me!! :) Loll xx

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