Separated Roses {Beautiful Blossoms}

Happy Mid April to you! Have roses begun blooming for you yet? Ours bloom from late autumn through spring, when the air is less humid and the heat is not too harsh.

 It's time for a new Challenge at Beautiful Blossoms.  A fun "mood-board-inspired" monthly challenge which features Flowers as the main focus.  The Mood Board is a starting point, and your artwork is where your imagination takes you! You do not have to follow the theme of the Mood Board, but you do need to use it as inspiration. Details are on the blog. Hope to see you there!

My "mosaic rose" was inspired by:

1. the colors blue and  lilac-lavender, with a tad of green
2. the baskets (which are used to "separate things". In this case, it is my separated rose image. 
3. The antique plates and crock, remind me of "antiquities" or the vintage, botanical style of drawing in this image
4. the mosaic quality of the mood board is reminiscent of the "mosaic rose".

Stamped with Memento Sweet Plum ink, this 4.25" x 4.25" rose mosaic has been layered with various shades of lavender, lilac, blues and soft jade Copic Markers over a period of a few days, to give the alcohol inks time to blend more deeply into the very thick Neenah Card Stock. It's a little like a stained glass composition in that regard.

Isn't this the perfect sentiment for these roses? Here in Florida, unless you have one of the indigenous "seven sisters" rose bushes, roses are very difficult to grow. Kindness helps us all grow as individuals, both when we dish it out, and when we receive it. I'm fortunate to be friends with lots of Kindly People, many of them are reading this post right now. THANK YOU!

Recently, I've been making more "simple" easel cards because they are fun to receive, and fold flat for mailing. It's always been rewarding to play with "old stash". This Magenta Stamp was purchased long ago, with my Mother-in-Law at a sweet little store called Tamp-A-Stamp (you guessed it! In Tampa, Florida) back in 1999! It had never seen ink before!

I have fallen in love all over again with this Four Panel Rose!

Looking forward to seeing your floral masterpiece at at Beautiful Blossoms Challenge!

We are "Partnering" with Double Trouble Challenge (April 15-27)

Products: Stamps: Magenta 09156Q, The Cottage Stamper "Every Act 4687, Inks: Memento Sweet Plum & Distress Milled Lavender, Copic Markers, Martha Stewart Scalloped Scallops punch, Spellbinders Grand Scallop Squares.

I would like to play in the following challenges please:

1. Outlawz Twisted Thursday AG with theme COLOR IT (colored with Memento Sweet Plum & Distress Milled Lavender, Copic Markers 5/4 (1 of 5 allowed entries)
2. *NEW* Creative Inspiration Challenges #1 AG (1st of 2 entries) 4/30
3. Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge #4 AG (entry 1 of 3) 5/12
4. NBUS #49 Magenta Mosaic Rose stamp never used since 1999. E10 comment on 3 entries
5. Triple B Challenge  (April 2) Blooms 4/30 (first of 3 possible entries) inspired by the blue background in the bottom left of the inspiration board.
6. The Paper Funday Challenge #52 AG with Flower Power 5/1 (first of 6 possible entries)
7. Friendship Challenge #86 "Let flowers do the talking" 4/30 (first of 2 possible entries)
8. My Time To Craft Challenge #505 Easter Flowers or Spring Flowers 4/20
9. Retro Rubber #204 Spring Scenes (This Magenta Stamp was purchased long ago, with my Mother-in-Law at a sweet little store called Tamp-A-Stamp (you guessed it! In Tampa, Florida) back in 1999! It had never seen ink before!) 4/22
10. Double Trouble Challenge #136 Celebrate a Special Lady 4/27 (1st of 4 possible entries)

Stamping Hugs,

Horsing Around in Nature - Inspiration Station Challenge

With a big smile, waving "Hello" to everyone! I hope you are doing well. 

It's time for a new challenge at:

Inspiration Station

This wonderful OLD Horse Image was stomping the shelves, begging to be used. It's at least 20 years old and never before used! This Magenta wood mount stamp is 4.25" by 5.5" so I placed it rubber side up, inked it thoroughly, and applied the card stock gently on top, rubbing it thoroughly with my fingers to create a complete image. Magenta's wood blocks are unusually thick, and I've found this is the best way to achieve a great inking the first time around.

The current inspiration board is:

I immediately accepted Mother Nature's invitation to ESCAPE into herself, and all that she has to offer. The path to embracing Nature (and all Creation) is to love all  her creatures and wilderness offerings. 

What does the photo inspire YOU to do?

After stamping with rich Acorn VFC ink, these horses were heat embossed with clear detail EP. Assorted DI inks (listed below) colored the image, with a few highlights done in watercolor pencils.

The edges were "distressed" with Versafine ink and heat set with a pretty, semi-transparent sage-mica powder. Up close, the edges are quite iridescent. 

Today's cameras are great, in that they capture the smallest of details, but they are also unforgiving because they can see colors, shades and intensities that our human eyes don't see in real life.

Copper Mirror CS was used in the frame with a strip of green vellum behind.

Thanks for popping by today!

Products: Stamps: Magenta 13116S horses, Hero Arts CL342 Just a Note, Papers: Pine, Green Vellum, Copper Mirror, River Rock, White, Inks: Distress in Old Paper, Rustic Wilderness, Crushed Olive, Stormy sky; Sentiment in Pinecone Brown VFC, Edges in Versamark for Sage Mica EP; image in Acorn Brown VersaFine Clair for detail clear EP; Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils; Memento Desert Sand Ink, Dies: SB Grand Labels Twenty-Three, IO Small Grass 178C

Challenges I would like to play in please!

1. 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #54 AG with Animals 09/25 (sep post)

2. NBUS #30 Anything never before used 10/1 (RW)

3. World Wide Open DT Challenge #8 AG DT 09/15 (sep post)

4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2135 AG 09/13 (sep post)

5. Simon Says Stamp It (9/6) Must ink stamp 9/13 (sep post)

 

Stamping hugs,