Potted Geraniums...

Happy Sunday!!  I hope you all are having a wonderful Mother's Day!  We've had a pretty quiet day here.  My daughter and I are trying to recover from yet another cold!  I don't think we've ever been as sick as we have this past four months...but I think it has to do with our very crazy weather (warm then cold then warm then cold again).  My DH did get me that Copic Airbrush kit..and I'm anxious to try it out!  He is also going to fix dinner..YAY!!

While my little guy was sleeping, I slipped away to my stamp room.  I've had this gorgeous Geranium stamp (from Northwoods) for a while now, and I really wanted to stamp my Mother-in Law a card with it!  My husband's parents still live in Switzerland...and one thing I always look forward to seeing during our visits over there, is the many, many geraniums!!  I have no idea what their National flower is, but it should be the geranium!  :-)  They have them in window boxes (you almost can't find a house without these displayed on their windows), in planters, & in gardens.  My Mother-in-Law is no exception...she has a beautiful collection of these wonderful flowers!

I embossed the stamp using Smoky Gray Versafine ink and Clear Detail embossing powder.  I then colored it in using my Copic markers.  After it was colored, I inked up my Linen (Stampin' Up!) background stamp with Sahara Sand ink and stamped it over my colored image.

I mounted the flower image on to Cameo Coral and Close to Cocoa cardstock and then layered it on to some Memory Box patterned paper (from their Flirt Collection).

The Merci sentiment is from Inque Boutique's French Fancy set.  I stamped the Merci onto Shimmery White cardstock and punched it out using my small oval punch.

Here's a close-up picture to show the sparkle I added to the bow.  Using my Sakura Stardust pen, I highlighted parts of the bow.  It tends to go on kind of strong (at leas for my taste), so after I apply it to my stamped image I take my finger and blot it just a little.  This not only softens the shine, it also blends it with my image better.

I've had many emails asking me how I shade/sponge my cards.  When I was making this card, I took a few pictures to show you.

There are two different ways I like to sponge/shade.  The first way is to "rub" in a circular motion (I usually use a lighter shade for this - here I am using Creamy Caramel ink).

I love the look this gives my stamped images...darker on the edges and fades slightly towards the middle. 

As you can see from the graph paper, I always start on my scrap paper and work in.  This gives me more control over how much ink saturation there is.  (As I mentioned above, I rub in a circular motion).

The second way I shade my edges is to sponge the edges directly.  I hold my paper at an angle (as seen in the photo) and gently "swipe" the sponge across the edge of the cardstock.  I tend to use a bit darker ink for this (here I am using Close to Cocoa ink).

Here is what it looks like when it is finished.  I really like the look of shading...and use it on a lot of my cards.  It adds warmth and depth...and usually helps my focal images pop out a bit.

The stamps, Memory Box paper, Versafine ink, Clear embossing powder are all available from Stamper's Dream store.

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Recipe   Stamps: Geranium Pot (Northwoods), Linen background stamp (Stampin' Up!), French Fancy (Inque Boutique)   Paper: Shimmery White c.s., Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Memory Box patterned paper (Flirt Collection)   Ink: Versafine Smoky Gray, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel   Other: Clear Detail e.p., Copic markers, Small oval punch, Corner rounder, Dew Drops, Sakura Stardust pen

Comments

[pesc]

Nice card! Happy mother's day to you!

[Amanda]

This is absolutely gorgeous! I love geraniums and have quite a few myself. How do you adhere your dew drops?
Thanks for a great blog!! I check it everyday!
Amanda
stitchnaway@carolina.rr.com

[Heather Fullerton]

Beautiful card. I love the way the corners are not all the same...great texture. I also love the bottom. Thanks for sharing and enjoy your airbrush kit.
Retired Heather

[Laurie H]

This geranium stamp is gorgeous and you did a beautiful job with it. Your card is beautiful and sure to be a hit with your Mother-in-law.

[Melissa]

So lovely!

Many Blessings,
M.

[judy Anderson]

Oh Laurie this is fantastic. Wow that red reallu pops

[Gabriela]

Gorgeous card - superb coloring, outstanding photography! Thank you so much!
Hang in there and feel better.

[Joanne Telle]

Thank you for sharing your shade/sponge technique. I've been watching for it. You do fabulous work!

[Amy Johnson]

Such a beautiful card. just love it.

[marisa]

Lovely card. Geraniums are wonderful with all the colours they come in and are very hardy too - always plant a bunch in my garden for colour.

I just loved Switzerland when I travelled Europe and you are absolutely right about how many geraniums they have in their window boxes. I have quite a few pictures of streets we walked that were bursting with colour due to the window boxes. Thanks for sharing.

[Dee]

Absolutely Gorgeous Card!!
I too, Love Geraniums.
So beautifully colored...
nicely shaded. I love the
RED flowers..card..dew drops :)
Thanks for sharing.

*So sorry to hear that you are
still fighting,another cold.
The weather has been so crazy..
no wonder so many people are having
colds...and allergies.
Take care...
Dee

[flossie]

Beautiful, love this card and your coloring is fantstic, hope everyone is feeling better soon.

[Lisa H]

I love geraniums, too! This card is beautiful... as always! Thanks for the idea about stamping over the colored image with the linen background stamp. I'll have to try that.

[Conniecrafter]

so very pretty, love the dew drops going down the side too, thank you so much for the tips on shading!

[Rose Ann]

This is so beautiful, Laurie!! Your coloring looks so wonderful, and thanks for all of the details!! I hope you and your daughter are feeling better soon!! Hugs!!

[Debbie Scheunemann]

Beautiful card. I think I need to go check out Northwoods stamps now.

[Travelingmama@pobox.com]

Really, this is just absolutely gorgeous! I love how you embossed it then colored in the image. So great!

[Sharon in NE]

You do such incredible work.

[Debbie Olson]

Totally gorgeous, Laurie! I love geraniums too. They remind me of a sweet, hard-working grandma of a flower!