Saturday, September 20, 2014

For a Friend

Hello!  I hope you are enjoying your weekend!  It is beginning to feel  a little like fall here in the south--finally!  We usually keep our humid conditions until October, but it is cooler today.

I made this card especially  for a well-loved artist out there in blog land.  I have chosen to use a technique I know she enjoys and employs quite often in her wonderful work.  I have also chosen to add a crow or a few, because they are one of her favorite birds.  She has been a terrific inspiration to me and others alike, so I wanted to send her a card to honor her.  Shhh!  Can you guess who it is?  Here's my card, and it's in the mail already.


I was trying to get a photo in the sun to show the metallic flecks of copper of the leaves, but the sun wasn't  cooperating!


I stamped a Stampin' Up tree image in Archival Ink, used the water coloring technique as described below, stamped the crows by Hampton Art and Tim Holtz, and sentiment by Stampin' Up also in Archival, and then heat embossed the "leaves".  I distressed the panel's edges and adhered it to the card blank.  I purposely did not ink the edges, because I wanted to really focus on the colors of the focal image.

There's a fun challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Rock the Techniques with some really great inspiration from the design team. They want to see what we've got! Hop on over and check out all the great techniques and make sure to link up your entry. My technique used is to swipe some Distress Ink onto my craft mat and then swish and smoosh my paper through the puddle, drying with each pass.  I also use my mini Distress Inks in the same way on my craft mat, and use my waterbrush to add details.  I have also used a dry brush technique to add "grass".  Another of my favorite techniques is an old one--using heat embossing.  I used orange and copper embossing powders, Versamark Ink and a stamp from Stampin' Up to make "leaves".

Another blog challenge with some fantastic inspiration is Inspiration Emporium's Inspiration Journal Fall Is In the Air. If it's a part of your fall, then it's a part of theirs!  They have a generous $50 gift certificate to Inspiration Emporium's on-line store to give away to the winner of this challenge. I think my fall scene is reminiscent of an early fall day in the country.

Eileen Hull's Art With Heart Challenge Fall Back wants to see how we'll interpret fall in her challenge.

The Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog September Challenge "Autumn Colours" says we can interpret their theme any way as long as it has a stamp on it.

I would also like to join in with"Trees With Autumn Colors" Challenge #82 at Fashionable Stamping Challenges.

Claudia has some awesome photography on Our Creative Corner September Challenge Autumnal Image Inspiration to inspire our artwork. I was inspired mostly by the colors-orange, greens, blue-grays, pinkish-purple, and the black of the berries and by the texture of the grasses. Please see the photo collage below.

Thank you for your visit.  I appreciate all your kind comments!  Please let me know if you know who I made this card for!

(images and collage: Claudia Neubacher)

21 comments:

  1. what a beautiful scenery you created and lovely card. I am sure she is going to love it. Thanks for playing along with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne! I appreciate your sweet comment!

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  2. So happy to see what my photo collage inspired you to create! The card is absolutely fantastic with the fab "stained" texture and the crows! Whoever gets it is definitely in for a treat!

    Thank you so much for sharing your lovely creation with us at Our Creative Corner!

    Claudia x

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    1. Thank you, Claudia, what a nice comment!

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    2. Hi Claudia... and of COURSE Sara... I am the lucky person who received this WONDERFUL FALL CARD... it is so very more in real life than the picture ever thought of being... it is DELIGHTFULLY FALL... I LOVE it.. and to think it came from an inspiration that you Claudia gave... that I followed and now received back a wonderful gift from Sara from these photos... what you give out.. you truly do receive back... thank you both for all the love and inspirations YOU have given... Love to you both... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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  3. Hi Sara, I have so very much enjoyed looking at your gorgeous creations and I really love this one and the previous with that beautiful background piece. I am going to have to purchase Tim's Volume 3 as I have to know how you created the background. This one I really love as I adore trees and the colours and techniques you have used to create the sky and grass - well I just love it!
    Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving me such a lovely comment too Karen x

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    1. Karen,
      Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving your very nice comment! I really appreciate your kind words! Sara Emily

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  4. Wow Sara!! This is breathtaking! It reminds me of one of those paintings - hanging in a gallery - underneath the glass - behind the rope - between the lasers - guarded by the guys...you know the kind I'm talking about! A true work of art, for sure! big hugs :)

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    1. Oh, Pamellia, you are so funny, and sweet, too! Thanks for making my day!

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  5. What a beautiful scene you have created Sara. I love how you've used the colours from Claudia's photographs. Someone lucky will receive this little beauty!
    Thanks so much for joining us at Our Creative Corner for Claudia's challenge. Julia x

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    1. Thank you, Julia! Those were some beautiful photos and very inspirational!

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  6. Sara... this is truly as I stated above a wonderful card... I will cherish for a long long time... as it came with much meaning from you... with the crow story... the story you related, is the reason I have to do all these crow related things... as I am working thru bad issues with crows too... Thanks again... I have a red face issue... all my e-mails were deleted last night... I can't answer yours... everything is gone... it was my fault, basically.... anyway... please write back... thanks... Love, Light and Peace...Bonnie

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    1. Bonnie, I'm so glad you liked it! It was fun to create something with someone in mind. You've heard from me, hopefully, by now!

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  7. Gorgeous scene!! Thank you for playing along with us at Artistic stamper this month.

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  8. Stunning card, I adore the scene you have set and the little crow is a lovely touch. I am sure this will be cherished . Thanks so much for joining in the Eileen Hull Art with Heart Challenge. Tracy x

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  9. A wonderful Autumn card, love the inky background for you little scene.
    Thanks for sharing with us at FSC
    Avril

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  10. What a beautiful scene you have created, love the water colour effect. Thanks for joining us at FSC.
    Love
    Amanda x

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  11. Thank you for your comment, Amanda!

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  12. This is really gorgeous, I love the scene and your stamping!!! Congrats for your FSC price! :D Crafty hugs, Coco x

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Thank you for leaving your comments...they mean so much to me.