Friday, July 17, 2009

Challenges

This week's Bloggers' Challenge is "A Stitch in Time." Here are some cards I finished this week. I enjoy stitching...by hand, by machine, and I enjoy adding beads to my cards too.

This one is machine stitched, based on the "Card Trick" quilt block pattern, using Daisy D's papers.




This one, for a dear friend's birthday today, is hand stitched and beaded, using the same basic "easel" card design, a 3-d rose, and some old Anna Griffin papers.




Now for something completely different for me!

The current TGIF challenge is "Piece from Heaven;" "Our Creative Corner" wants three different embellishments (I used Crystal Lacquer, ribbon, and pearls); "Saturday's Workout" challenge technique is to use Perfect Pearls with Distress Inks (I used several Distress Inks with Ranger "Perfect Gold" Perfect Pearls on the angel' wings on my tag); and the "So Artful" challenge is Angel's tears.

So for this card, I created the backgrounds by pouncing Broken China Distress Ink on my craft sheet, spritzing with water, then dipping the cardstock into that. Then I heat dried, and stamped the Crafty Individuals angels with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, which I then painted with a little gold Perfect Pearls powder, just on the wings and the gate (It's really difficult to get a good picture of the glimmer, sorry). Then I overstamped with a Stampendous Crackle stamp using Shabby Shutters Distress Ink, and outlined the tag with Peeled Paint Distress Ink. I put one tiny drop of 3-d Crystal Lacquer beneath the eye of the angel facing heavenwards (although you can't see THAT in my photo either, sorry! I loaned my good Canon camera to my son this weekend, and I'm using another one which doesn't take good close-up pictures at all). Then I stamped the Quietfire sentiment over a separate piece of Broken China prepared cardstock, then stamped and gold embossed these beautiful Crafty Individuals flourishes on the left side and the bottom right corner. I was trying to create a "cloud/heavenly" feel with the Broken China ink. I added an organza bow and Kaisercraft pearls, then outlined the blue and green panels with Krylon 18 Kt Gold Leafing Ink. I find distressing exceptionally challenging, so this card really forced me to work well outside my comfort zone.


Thanks so much for visiting today. I hope you enjoy an artsy, creative weekend!

23 comments:

Lisa Somerville said...

Beautiful cards, love your stitching! Thanks for playing along with the Bloggers Challenge this week!

thimbles bobbins paper and ink said...

I always say the same thing when I visit your blog. My jaw drops and OH MY GOSH! Deborah, these are beautiful both! WOW! The details on both are incredible. The first quilted card is just my very favorite! It is so lovely. I love the quilt pattern and the beautiful paper's (fabric) you've chosen.

WOWZA, my friend. Your cards are a pleasure to view!

Anne said...

Hi, Deborah! Your hand-stitched pop-up cards are amazing! Soooo pretty! :-)

Sandy said...

Wow Deb your cards are fantastic. Wonderful designs and stamps. Love them all.

Thanks Deb for your piece of heaven to TGiF and your PP to SaWo.

Martina said...

This is delightful.
Fantastic artwork. I love it.

June said...

All your cards are gorgeous. Thanks for joining soartful this week your card is exquisite.
Hugs June x

http://truutske.blogspot.com said...

Deborah...I love all your beautiful cards but the quilted cards are brilliant!!

Jester said...

This is gorgeous and so clever to meet three challenges at once!

manus said...

Wonderful, breathtaking cards!! I'm speechless!!

~*~Magpie's Nest said...

lovely creations!

indybev said...

A beautiful piece. Love the addition of the tiny pearls.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous artworks

Suzanne C said...

Wow! 3 beautiful cards all in one post! I have to say I just love the quilted one.. Mostly because I don't sew and I love how you mixed in the embossed squares with the PP because that really reminds me of the antique quilts I have seen.

stamp and scrape said...

Such a beautiful angel card. Love the stiching too.
Ros

Paula J Atkinson said...

Beautiful piece. That is one of my favourite Crafty Indivuduals images.

Isabelle Norris said...

those are stunning . Particularly like the last one
hugs,
isaxx

Godelieve said...

Beautiful and stylish as always Deborah!

Taluula said...

Oh wow this is a stunning card. Love that stitching.

Flipsi said...

ists so beautiful!

Jacqueline said...

I love the third card - well I would wouldn't I - beautifully created!

LivArtNow said...

Beautiful card!!

Debbie said...

Can you tell me how you create the 'easel' card? I've googled it but I couldn't find anything like it.

TIA
Debbie

Jenny Gropp said...

Wonderful cards! So much detail and work, they are all fab!