Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Purple Zinnias


     Oh boy was this card a challenge.  I find beautiful floral element cards to be so difficult cause you don't want to ruin the pretty image with a ugly background.  I have admired Flourishes Stamps for a long time, but have been a bit intimidated by them.  I was lucky enough to be able to purchase a few of the sets Beate Johns was selling (still totally depressed that she's giving up stamping).  This image and sentiment are from the Zinnias set.
     I wish I had the design know how of my buddy Katie Sims who is on the Flourishes team.  She and a couple of my other bloggie friends are so talented at putting the elaborate decorative Spellbinder dies to use on their cards.
     I told Katie I was going to try to sneak in the time to make a card for the current Pantone color challenge at Flourishes and since I've been stuck inside for a couple of days with crazy Winter Storm Leon I managed to put this together.  I wish it were a little more fancy, but I'm pretty happy with it.
     Speaking of Leon, here's what my yard looked like this morning.


     Now remember, I live on the Gulf Coast, like twenty miles inland from the beach so this is something we just don't see here.  In fact I think it's been 17 years since we had enough snow to actually stick and accumulate.  This is not snow.  We never got the fluffy stuff.  It's all sleet.  Pretty much everything has shut down for the past two days and will probably remain that way tomorrow since temps aren't going to get high enough to really get rid of the sleet.  It's most probably going to refreeze on the roads and we coastians just do not know how to drive in those conditions.
     And how about these ice daggers!  I hope no little birdies land on my air conditioning unit.  They might get speared when these let go.


     Besides the Flourishes challenge, Id like to enter my card in the following challenges also:

Vintage Stamping Challenge--lavender and lace
Addicted to Stamps--flowers
Amusing Challenge--anything goes

     Hope you're all staying safe and warm.  I see some of my Canadian friends are about to get hit again.  Sending big warm hugs!

Supplies:
Paper--My Mind's Eye "So Sophie", Georgia Pacific, Copic XPress-it Blending card
Stamps--Flourishes "Zinnias"
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Tools:  Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles, MFT Die-namics Mini Tab, Martha Stewart and Marvy Uchida butterfly punches, Cuttlebug, The Paper Studio A2 Stripes embossing folder
Miscellaneous:  The Paper Studio and Recollections pearls, Martha Stewart ribbon, Crafter's Square trim, Yellow Stickles

23 comments:

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Well I think you've done a fantastic job of colouring up these beauties. I love purple and that lovely ribbon and lace trim match beautifully.
We've had nothing but rain here in England for what seems like forever, thankful that we haven't had any snow where I live yet.
Lorraine

Sue said...

Your card is stunning Tracy. I love the image, your beautiful colouring has really done it justice. I love the papers and gorgeous detailing too.
Take care, I hope your weather improves soon.
hugs Sue xx

Nancy said...

I'm really sorry, Sweetie...but I have to say it...WOOHOO for snow!! lol
Now, about your card...it's GORGEOUS!! I mean it is REALLY pretty as only a fabulous floral card can be! I love it! :o)

KimCreate said...

Squeeeeeeel! When you said you bought some Flourishes stamps, I couldn't wait to see what you created! Your card is super pretty! I love the white embossed panel at the bottom with the pretty lace and ribbon! The zinnia is colored nicely too.

CaroleAnn said...

Tracy
You nailed it! This is a perfect card. I like the background you chose and how you made your image 3D! Just beautiful but I am not liking all that sleet for you!!! This is so scary this weather!! Stay warm and safe. Hugs

Cheryl said...

OMGosh! How could you ever be intimidated by Flourishes floral stamps...this is GORGEOUS! Your coloring on that image is nothing short of amazing! Thanks so much for joining us in this week's Timeless Tuesday Challenge!

Anonymous said...

Ooooooh!!! Pretty florals!! :)) I love the butterfly accents w: the pearls !!! Makes it look really elegant!!

The weather is terrible!! :(
I can't stand snow in the south -- & we had a snow day today -- :(
Stay warm !!! Xo

Katie Sims said...

Oh my gosh.....I absolutely LOVE your coloring of those zinnias! Your card is gorgeous...you have the perfect papers and there has never been a more perfectly tied bow! I knew you would do great things with these stamps and you most certainly did! Seriously, is there anything that you can't do? LOL! Thanks so much for the shout out and kind words too! Hugs to ya, GF and keep warm with that blizzard you got goin' on down there! Believe me....we feel your pain!

Ros Crawford said...

Oh you did a fantastic job with this ... it's beautiful!! I can't believe that Beate is giving up stamping too! She was so inspirationally with her work ... It's as hard to believe as your weather!! Wow!

Pauline said...

Wow, Tracy this is beautiful. Love the purple tones, and all your embellishments. Keep warm, hopefully the ice will melt soon. Yes us Canadians here in Ontario are heading for another blast this weekend- yuk!
Stay safe - hugs,

Geri said...

CRAZY that our winter made it all the way down to you guys!!! Your card is beautiful! Love how all that white space really showcases your image! Gorgeous!!!

TLady said...

THIS is a WINNER to me!!!!!!!!!!!!:) WHAT A FABULOUS JOB you've done on this!!!!!!!!!!:) TOTALLY GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!:) STAY WARM!!!! This winter can't last forever!!!!!!!!!:) SPRING is on it's way!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)((((WARM HUGS!!!!!!!))))

heidy said...

This is one pretty card Tracy,so beautiful and love the pictures!!
XXX Heidy

Pam said...

Beautiful card, Tracy! I love your sweet image. You always do fabulous work.

Allison Cope said...

Oh Tracy... you did a fabulous job with your stamp. Your card is beautifully layered too! Stay warm! Thanks for joining our "Timeless Tuesday Challenge" over at Flourishes!

ChristineCreations said...

Beautifully done Tracy! Gorgeous use of purple and lovely colouring on the zinnias!

Ivonne said...

Gorgeous card Tracy. Love how you colored the beautiful flowers. The card layout is perfect to showcase the pretty image. Love it! Stay warm my friend! Hugs, Ivonne

Mary J said...

OMG, thank goodness it's not that cold here in the UK! Just wet, damp, dreary....

Love your very beautiful card honey - beautifully coloured as always!

Unknown said...

Oh my, that's a pretty and wonderfully coloured bloom Tracy, such a lovely card! Gosh, those are major ice daggers hanging from the roof, be careful! We've had a lovely sun today, spring was in the air, although it was really cold, a truly wonderful winter day (today, that is, lol!) Hugs, Ira
Ira’s Crea Corner

Mau xx said...

What a Gorgeous card Tracy, your colouring is beautiful, such pretty background too.
Wow! certainly got some mighty icicles there.
Hugs Mau xx

Dawn @ LilyPinkScraps said...

Very pretty -purplelicious in fact! Love the elegance of this card and such beautiful colouring of those gorgeous blooms :)

Audrey Pettit said...

I love your elegant card! I think you did an amazing job with that gorgeous floral image, my friend! Love the sweet pearl butterflies. The sentiment tab on the side is fabulous, too.
And I know how it is with snow where you're not prepared for snow. We didn't get much more than you...but it was the pretty fluffy stuff. Even so, our schools were shut down from Tuesday-Friday! ;)

Heidi said...

Your card is gorgeous!
Pretty design:)
We finally got alot of snow at my place. And I loved it.
But then the rain came...
Hugs, Heidi:)