Friday, June 18, 2010

Inspired....

Have you ever seen something so beautiful in nature and have known that no picture or image could even do it justice? Well, I thought that, until I saw Marcella Hawley's art. I just love her take on flowers and can almost smell their sweet scent each time I stamp with them! Sounds corny, I know. But it's TRUE!

So, when Marcella sent me some photos of trumpetvine recently from her neighbor's garden, I knew what inspired her to draw the Humming Along set and... well.. I just had to grab that stamp set and a bunch of my Copics!


I have to admit that I made a mistake in some of the coloring -- those buds I colored green instead of the color of the flower.. OOPS! Darn, I guess I'll just have to color it a few dozen more times just so I can get it "right!" ;-)

I have to admit, for my creation below, I tried a new technique that I saw when I stumbled upon one card maker's website. I'd never heard of the drop shadow technique -- but boy did I want to try it after seeing Mary Giemza's work! She does stunning things. Check out the card she made HERE with Flourishes' Poppy Patch -- wow!

I knew when I tried this technique I would need to practice. And, honestly, this was my first and only attempt. I need to work on my background color a bit. I originally wanted it to be more subtle, but I know now that I could have beefed up the background a tad. After coloring up the image, I stamped the flower a second time and then using foam tape, popped up a few of the flowers, outlining the outside for the drop shadow effect with the grey tone Copic markers.

Heres a close up... (don't look too close!)

So, I guess you could say today's post was all about being inspired... by beautiful flowers found in nature's living color and by the talent of a fellow stamper who really has perfected a vibrant and intriguing technique! Sigh. That's what it's all about! ;-)

REMEMBER: if you like what you see in Flourishes' June release and are thinking about the new release bundle, it expires at the end of today! Meaning, the clock is ticking for you to get all four new stamp sets at 10% off! Just click HERE to check it out!

Now, hop on over and see what the DT cooked up on this Flourishes Friday Free-for-all. I know you won't be disappointed!

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan

See you back here soon!


Stamp Set: Humming Along
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Copics: Sweet Pea, Poppy, Green Grass, Cool Neutrals, Sky and Evergreen Collections
Paper: Flourishes
Classic White, Green at Heart Basic Grey and 7 Gypsies Victorian
Extras: Spellbinders Nestabilities dies in Oval and Scalloped Oval, White
Inkssentials gel pen

12 comments:

Glenda said...

Hmm, new technique to me! Love the way you used it on your card. I think it just makes your card look so real! Great job!

Cindy Lawrence said...

Wow..Wow...WOW! Absolutely GORGEOUS, girl! Your coloring is just breath-taking!

Robin Kirkpatrick said...

Really stunning, Julie. I love how you popped up the blooms and that hummingbird is just gorgeous.

Dawn B. said...

This is amazing.. I LOVE YOUR COLORING.. Great job Julie..This is a card I wouldn't want to give away.

Emily Keaton said...

I just LOVE this gorgeous hummingbird card. What you've done here is amazing. Beautiful coloring and super choice of DP. I love this!!

Yogi said...

very very pretty. I like the mottled look of the background, and some of the buds in the pic are green... so yours is just a few days prior them turning color BIG GRIN

Stacy Morgan said...

Julie this is gorgeous! I think you did the drop down just perfect, love your coloring. Simply gorgeous!

ChristineCreations said...

Holy COW girl! This is gorgeous! I'm so going to have to check out that technique. Beautifully done!

Love that picture from Marcy too - amazing to me how she takes whats in front of her in nature and puts such accuracy and realism in her drawings.

Leslie Miller said...

This is beautiful, Julie! It really looks like you popped up the whole thing. I love it! I also admire Mary's work. Now I'll have to run off and check out her poppies. Thanks for the link and the inspiration!

Linda Carson said...

Picture PERFECT.....

marilynwillauer said...

Beautiful card!!! You are so creative, thanks for sharing!

Pat's little corner of the world said...

OH my I do love this card..Everything about...I'll be back to see what else you come up with...
GREAT WORK.