Saturday 25 January 2014

Singing the Blues with my GD card for Country View Challenges

Today I am sharing with you the GD piece I have made for Country View Challenges. (CVC) Their theme for this month is Monochromatic and you still have until the end of this month to enter so do pop on over and join the fun. Their prize is a very generous craft voucher...I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I will come out of the hat one day. The challenge is sponsored by Country View crafts, a great on line shop which offers free postage on everything. I buy a lot of my craft products from them and receive amazing next day delivery.
                                    
I was thrilled just before Christmas to find that I had been chosen in the Top 3 for their recent  "Letters challenge" with my Daisy accordion card. CVC have a rather nice idea of offering their Top 3 the chance to appear in a later challenge as a Guest Designer (GD)...I think this is great as I cannot commit to regular DT work as my job has to fit into my life in some way. I really enjoy making GD cards. For CVC I decided that as my winning card was an accordion card and I really like making these, that I would make one for my GD spot. I have made monochrome cards in black/greys and sepias but I decided to do something really different and use my favourite colour...blue. Now that posed a slight problem as I wanted to use one of my oldest favourite stamps, Dandelion Clock by Lili of theValley but I have never before coloured a whole image in blue. This was also going to be a really special card as it is for my daughter's birthday in March.

I thought I would share my creative process as many of you really like my accordion cards and are probably intrigued to see how they are made.

I started off by choosing a deep blue for my my base card and cut out my 4 panels. I then made my backing papers by getting inking with my Distress inks (DI) I bought a new blue, Chipped Sapphire which is a really deep colour.

 I only had a couple of pale blues DIs so I bought a new colour ink pad, Chipped Sapphire  (from Countryview Crafts as they always have free postage and are really reasonable. I also originally bought my accordion die there which is how I found their challenge blog) . This is a really gorgeous deep blue and my fingers looked spectacular that day even after washing. My Hb asked me how I had bruised my fingers ;0)
I made 2 sheets of backing papers and after they had dried overnight I cut out the inner panels. I then got inky with some really old PSX floral stamps and some itsy bitsy tiny floral stamps from about 10 years ago. I very nearly recycled these stamps a few years ago, in fact they failed to sell on Ebay...moral of the story...hang on to ALL crafty stash as you never know when you will need it.







I also cut some of my favourite Cheery Lynn butterflies out from the same card and distressed the edges of everything with Chipped Sapphire DI






I recently won the Cheery Lynn challenge and for part of my prize I chose these amazing flowers to add to my leaf border die I already own. You can see I am rather a fan of their dies.







The next big challenge was how to colour up my sweet fairy  Dandelion Clock. I usually colour with Promarkers but I struggled with the blues so I looked at my Prismacolor pencils and found I had 3 blues and a white to use.




 Undeterred, after a few attempts I was delighted how my little fairy came out. I blended the blues with Sansodor and used the white to highlight









It was then the daunting task of fussy cutting her out as she did not fit on my panel unless I did so.
You will also see my finished butterflies in these photos.










Here goes.................the light was awful when I took this photo, she is much prettier in real life. I have never coloured hair blue...I really like it. I also added some Glamour Dust to sparkle her wings, flowers and dandelion





So with all the elements made it was time to get creative and put my design together.
Here are a few peeps...


 After lots of moving things around and changing the order here is my finished card...............
and here are close ups of the panels.  The lovely birthday sentiment is from the LOTV quotables stamps from the Pretty Vintage stamps I won last June. I use all these stamps so much.

I hope you enjoyed my little tut...this really is a sweetheart of a card for my sweetheart of a daughter.


I would like to enter my card into the following challenges;

Lili of the Valley anything goes
Natalie and Amy one for the girlies
Artistic Stamper love is in the air
Emerald Faeries things with wings
Feeling Crafty butterflies
Whimsy stamp challenge something new my new is the chipped sapphire Distress Ink and the Cheery Lynn flower die
Sparkles show us your new stash my new stash is the chipped sapphire Distress Ink pad and my Cheery Lynn blossom die
Deep Ocean birthdays
Pan Pastel UK anything goes
Crafting for all season's For the Girls
Craft Room Challenge Age of Aquarius I have used water based inky techniques to make my papers
The Cutie Pies Blue
Crafting from the heart anything goes/fancy folds
Divas by design anything goes
Winter Wonderland Butterflies
Crafty catz monchrome
Die cut Divas Make it glitter

Thanks for visiting me here and thank you to CVC for having me as your GD today. Have a lovely weekend.

Back soon,

Bye for now.

Jane x

41 comments:

  1. Another impressive card, Jane. I hope you win!
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. This is the most gorgeous card Jane beautifully designed and made with fabulous stamping. I love the blues, you have used the tones of colour perfectly. So glad to see you as a guest designer at CVC and brilliant to see you again on Thursday.
    Have a great weekend.
    hugs {brenda} x0x

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  3. Wow, what a stunning effect. Those blues are absolutely gorgeous!
    Rebecca.

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  4. Wowwzersss love your project, fabulous butterfly and blue colours are wonderfull, thank you for sharing your project with the DT from Premium Craft Brands, Hugs Terry xxx

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  5. just gorgeous Jane - love this to bits - I love this die - time for me to do another one I think! Hugs Rachel xx

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  6. Great design, Jane. Love all the incredible detail.
    Thank you for joining us at the Cutie Pie Challenge. Jane xx

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  7. Certainly is impressive - a real wowwww! love it - thanks so much for playing along at Crafting From The Heart xxx

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  8. Wow!! I do love your accordion cards Jane and this one is no exception, the blue is amazing!
    You put so much work into your cards!
    I like the idea of blue hair....... I actually have a hairdressers appointment this week! ;)
    Happy weekend my dear,
    V xxx

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  9. Lovely, lovely card again, Jane,

    I love all those shades of blue! I wish we both we'll see the skies of that color soon... And butterflies and flower too. Your talent is endless!

    Wishing you a lovely weekend, dear friend!

    Yours,
    Mia

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  10. Hi Lovely Jane, Love your Blue card and the little fairy. What an excellent snipping job, very tedious, great tiny scissors though. YOur cards are so involved and gorgeous!!! No blue skies here, just gray and cold.
    Brrrrrrrrrrr, xoRobin
    Happy weekend dear friend🎈🎈

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  11. hi Jane, stunning creation, beautiful design and fabulous details.
    Thank you for sharing at Craft-Room Challenge;-))m

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  12. Jane your card is stunning, so much work has clearly gone into and I love all your embellishments. Thank for your joining us at Crafting from the Heart.

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  13. Amazing card! Love the shape, so unusual, and the blues look great altogether! Great tutorial too. Thank you for joining the Crafting From The Heart challenge, hope to see you again soon.

    Victoria DT

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  14. A beautiful card. Blue is my favourite colour and I love how you made it look so dream like-beautiful

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  15. Wonderful shades of blue, lovely design. Thanks so much for joining us over at Emerald Faeries Challenge Blog, good luck and hope to see you next time
    ~ Denise DT ~

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  16. A totally awesome card, wonderful stamping and use of your DI's. Thanks for joining in with us at Sparkles Monthly. Caz

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  17. Happy Sunday, Jane! I love your card! It is so bluetiful! Blue is my favourite colour! Great design and I like every little cute detail! My other blog has now very blue look www.trikimia.com
    Have a lovely day! x Teje

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  18. gorgeous and love your butterfly thank you for joining us at the Winter Wonderland
    Hugs Kate
    ps I have some new release candy if you are interested :)

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  19. I love that card! All the best people are born in March :P Lx

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  20. Saw this beauty over at CVC - amazing card, and it's lovely to see how it all came together. Thanks so much for playing along with us at The Artistic Stamper.
    Alison x

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  21. Totally Awesome Thanks For Sharing At Divas And Crafty Catz

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  22. Stunning! absolutely gorgeous I'm lost for words. Thank you for sharing with us at Craft-Room Challenge XOXO Zoe

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  23. Wow, this is amazing, all that work.... but worth the effort, well done on your GDT post.
    Thank you for joining in our challenge (Feeling Crafty) good luck x

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  24. Wow stunning, love it and all your details, thanks for joining us at Divas By Design this week. Jac x

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  25. Absolutely amazing project Jane, I can't really call it just a card! I also can't believe you fussy cut that LOTV image either! You're my hero, lol! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Sparkles this month.

    Hugs
    Brenda
    Sparkles DT

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  26. Oh wow that is just stunning!!!

    Amazing construction and fabulous cutting out with the fairy!

    Thanks for joining in with us at The Cutie Pies this time.

    Sarah

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  27. Your art work always impresses me. The receiver of your cards can't help but be happy to have the card. It's a gift in itself.Happy Sunday, from Oregon, where it's nice and sunny, 50 degrees. Warmer on the coast, which is amazing this time of year and 50 degrees on Mt Hood where it should be snowing. Oh well, I must put out my bulbs soon since they are starting to sprout in the bags. (tulips and crocus). What town are you closest to? Just out of curiosity since we lived in Felixstowe and were based at RAF Woodbridge and Bentwaters years ago. Hugs!

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  28. So pretty! I especially like the way it opens up -- but I really, really like seeing Daisy's smiles in your last post. I'm still smiling with her :D

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  29. I love the colour blue, and your card looks amazing! The accordion style is so clever, and you used lots of interesting little details. Well done on cutting out the little fairy so neatly too :)
    Wishing you blue skies this week!
    Helen xx

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  30. Such a beautiful card Jane..a true work of art...your dear daughter will treasure it..x
    Hope you're having a great week!
    Susan x

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  31. Fab card ! Thank you for joining in the Artistic Stamper challenge :)

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  32. Wow, this is stunning and a fabulous design! Thanks for joining us at Divas by Design.
    Hugs, Janine xx

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  33. I am blown away!!! Love this project. The blues are so pretty and the fancy fold look fantastic!

    Thank you for playing with us at Crafty Catz this week. Good luck!
    Nick

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  34. What an incredibly beautiful monochromatic card Jane!
    Truly magical with all that blue!!
    Thank You~

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  35. Hi Jane, Such a beautiful card. Lovely for M's birthday. You and I must be on the same wavelength. I've been making things with vintage blue glass lately.

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful cards.
    Anne xx
    PlumCreek22

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  36. A beautiful project Jane, love all the details
    Thank you for joining the Winter Wonderland 'Butterflies' challenge and good luck x Susan x

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  37. wow, this is stunning! Love your card and it's so awesome you are giving us a tutorial!
    Thank you for joining us over at Crafting For All Seasons, good luck and hope to see you again.

    Hugs,
    Milnie DT

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  38. This is stunning Jane, you can tell you like your accordion die and you're right, she does look fabulous is blue!

    Thanks for joining our Lili of the Valley 'Anything Goes' challenge!

    Good Luck!

    Hugs

    Erica x

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  39. A stunning accordion card Jane :-) I love those deep blues and the stamps, you have used make this a very special card for your daughter. A treasure for sure :-)
    Thank you for sharing with us at Craft Room Challenge this fortnight.
    Hugs
    Annie x

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  40. Beautiful in blue. Love all the panels and the blues are fab.

    So glad to see you at Die Cut Divas.

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  41. This Card is awesome. Love the Blue Effect.
    Thank you for this Tutorial.
    Thank you for joining us at Crafting for all Seasons.
    Hugs Elfie

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Jane x