fresh & fun

Last week’s color challenge was a challenge indeed! The colors were Kraft, Sage Shadow and….wait for it… ORCHID!!!! Did you hear me scream. All morning I was mulling around saying NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO in my head. But …. challenge chaser that I am, I tried it. And it didn’t turn out as horrible as I thought it would. LOL

I thought these colors would maybe look allright on a dragonfly. So I pulled out the Level 2 Hostess set Infinite Goodness. I started by stamping the branch as well as the dragonfly in Black StazOn on watercolor paper. For the branch I wet it with my Aqua Painter completely before starting to add color. That made my colors run out of the lines a bit. I am trying to grow and getting more comfortable with my coloring and thought I would try this out. I like how it came out. The colors I used were Sage Shadow, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip for the branch and Soft sky. I colored the dragonfly first lightly with Sage Shadow and then kept on adding Orchid to make it very vibrant. Next I cut it out.

I cut the branch paper down to 1 5/8″ x 2 1/8″ , taped it to an 1/8″ bigger piece of Kraft cardstock and a Chocolate Chip scallop rectangle cut with the Nestabilities dies (I am telling you, you NEED those!). You know I had to paper pierce the border, right? I added my favorite Stickles called Stardust over my berries and set them aside.

The card base is a 4 1/4″ x 8 1/2″ piece of Kraft cardstock folded in half. The next layer is a 4″ square of distressed Vanilla cardstock. It’s followed by a 1/4″ smaller piece of Sage Shadow. I stamped the leaf from Infinite Goodness in Sage Shadow all over, sponged the edges heavily and paper pierced a border around it.

The horizontal Orchid layer measures 1 1/4″ x 3 3/4″. I sponged the entire piece and wheeled the Rough Texture wheel over it. Next I distressed the edges and layered it on a 1 1/2″ x 3 3/4″ piece of Vanilla cardstock. The corner rounder was used to add the scallops on the bottom part of that layer. The top edge of the Orchid layer was paper pierced and Kraft Taffeta ribbon was tied around it.

To finish the card off with two large Jumbo Pewter Eyelets that were topped of with Clear Rhinestone brads.

Posted by beate at 8:30 am | Challenge, Stampin' Up! | Permalink

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Comments

absolutely gorgeous, I love are the sparkle! I haven’t tried the challenge yet - it scared me as well but maybe you have motivated me to take a shot at it

Posted by: Crystal Birr | March 27th, 2008 09:18

This is amazing! Stunning use of Orchid (you are a braver lady than I, lol). Love the shimmer - Stardust, huh? Hmmm…need to find that one! TFS!!

Posted by: Beth | March 27th, 2008 09:21

Oooo! Talk about inspiration. This is just lovely! I just got the Infinite Goodness set and also some orchid paper (wondered what to do with it) aaaand, also the rough texture wheel. In one fell swoop you have given me motivation to use all three at once! (But my nestabilities are still on back order, shucks.) Thank you so much for sharing. —-Sandy

Posted by: Sandy | March 27th, 2008 09:57

this is amazing!!! I am not a fan or orchid myself- but you really pulled it off!!!!

Posted by: Jamie Sears | March 27th, 2008 10:02

I totally hear ya on those color challenges that are a bit “off”. My issue is 100% with bold brights!
Your card turned out to be gorgeous. Sometimes the cards that are less easy to do are the ones that turn out the most beautiful!

Posted by: Andria | March 27th, 2008 10:14

wow, gues my monitor’s off, that old olive looks like your other fave color(NOT!) Glorious Green!! Nicely done!

Posted by: Melanie | March 27th, 2008 11:00

Love this Beate!!!What die cut machine do you use for your nestabilities…I have the big shot and can’t seem to get it to work.

Posted by: Lisa Banks | March 27th, 2008 11:15

I luv the sparkle in just the right places, such a beautiful card! The color combo just adds so much beauty to this card.

Posted by: Rita | March 27th, 2008 11:15

Yeah, that color combo sounds like it would be… interesting, but it actually looks really good together. I like how you broke it up with Vanilla.

Posted by: Erica B. | March 27th, 2008 12:24

I love this!!! I totally love the greens and yep, the purple - LOL!!! Great job on the challenge as I know it pained you to have to touch that orchid, teehee!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

Posted by: Alexandra Hobson | March 27th, 2008 12:27

Orchid does have its place, and you have made it work beautifully! It is enhanced by the olive. Love the sparkle!
Hugs, Deb

Posted by: Deborah Golan | March 27th, 2008 12:42

It’s the must!!! Beautiful colors! My mother would like to receive one like this!!

Kissses!
=**

Posted by: Edys | March 27th, 2008 12:43

Orchid makes me cringe too!! You’ve done a great job though!!! Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Glenda | March 27th, 2008 12:46

This is very pretty. You did very good for the challenge.

Posted by: Karen Sutton (SCS name linneahay) | March 27th, 2008 12:46

I’m kicking myself in the bum after seeing this card as I just placed an order and chose Spring Solitude instead of Infinite Goodness! It gets worse…at the last minute, I crossed water color paper off of my list and said, “Aww…I’ll get it next time…”. Curses! Foiled again by the talented Beate!!! LOL! Lovely card. (am I the only one that likes orchid??)

Posted by: Brandi | March 27th, 2008 13:09

Wow! Only you could make Orchid Opulence look tasteful!

Posted by: Bagpuss | March 27th, 2008 13:32

amazing….. I could not even think about a card with this combination…but you managed and as usuall so well !! Great card !!

Posted by: antje | March 27th, 2008 13:37

Great! Du hast das beste aus dieser Farbkombi herausgeholt!!! i love the Lo, the image and the color. TFS Have a nice day…By from (SPRING)Germany

Posted by: Silli | March 27th, 2008 13:49

you were very brave and it is gorgeous!!!
chelle

Posted by: Painter Girl | March 27th, 2008 15:21

Beate - your card looks fabulous!!! I don’t understand why you don’t like Orchid Opulence - he,he,he!!! It’s one of my fav’s…
Btw love the sparkles too!!!

Posted by: Silke Ledlow | March 27th, 2008 15:55

very nice card with beautiful crystals.

Posted by: angelique | March 27th, 2008 16:09

I know how you feel about purple. . .but this card does not show it! LOL It’s gorgeous!

Posted by: Charmaine | March 27th, 2008 16:11

Oh my gosh! Can you say BEAUTIFUL??!! Love the sparkle too! You did a fab job with your least favourite colour!! WTG! I tried to order some Nesties today from a lady here in the city but she is out of stock and waiting on a shipment…can’t wait til she gets them! I NEED those as you say

Posted by: Dawn E. | March 27th, 2008 16:15

Oooohhh, I love this. I just love anything sparkly!

Posted by: Michelle Nadraszky | March 27th, 2008 16:18

simply AMAZING! I love it. TFS.

Posted by: Juanita | March 27th, 2008 16:23

I love how you pulled these colors together so beautifully !! Way to go

Posted by: Corinne (aka Roxy) | March 27th, 2008 16:57

I’m impressed–those weren’t the easiest colors to work with! I didn’t have time to try it, but I don’t think I would have been able to come up with something this pretty! I really love the subtle shimmer and sparkle.

Posted by: Karen | March 27th, 2008 17:19

Beate, this is beautiful!!! I love the sparkle. Joan

Posted by: Joan Jeffery | March 27th, 2008 18:25

Oh, yay, purple…your favorite!!! I bet you made more than one card for this challenge, didn’t ya?! Seriously, it’s beautiful!!

Posted by: Angie Tieman | March 27th, 2008 19:30

Oh wait, what’s that?? Beate actually thought purple isn’t as horrible as she’d imagined? Does this mean she might actually like it a little tiny bit??? LOL…

I think it turned out fabulous!

Posted by: Heather P. | March 27th, 2008 19:56

It’s so beautiful, Beate!! I love the sparkle too!!

Posted by: Rose Ann | March 27th, 2008 21:26

that turned out beautiful!
Richelle

Posted by: Richelle | March 27th, 2008 22:19

You sure took that challenge on!!! WOW! I still can’t believe you made purple look so good!

Posted by: Maren | March 28th, 2008 01:32

Gorgeous card-love the sparkle the Stickles give. tfs

Bev J.

Posted by: Bev J. | March 28th, 2008 11:54

Very pretty! The colors look great! Nice layout too!