A Walk In My Garden

Had something for a while which really appealed to you when you bought it but then it never really fitted in with anything you do.  This is the case with this card - I bought the .svg cutting file for the card shape last year because I just fell in love with it - so unusual, but I have never really had just the right digi to use with it until last week when I got this beautiful digi from Nicecrane Designs called 'Doll From Japan 2' by Ignacio - just perfect I think <g>

For this card I cut the card shape with my die cutter on plain blue card then sprayed with my Promarkers (a mixture of blues and mauves).  I did modify the cut file as the digi was hidden behind the front bar, so that was cut away. Next I squirted on some Shimmer Mist in blue and purple.  I only wanted a textured background, nothing to fussy as this would distract from the card shape and digi but just adding the sprayed colour was not quite enough, it looked flat.  Light bulb moment - skeleton leaves.  I sprayed the skeleton leaves with the same ProMarker colours I used for the background (and the Japanese Lady) and stuck them along the top of the card.  Next I printed the digi twice so I could separate the lady from her parasol allowing me to create two layers, which once coloured, were reassembled with foam tape for dimension.  The two layer digi was then attached to the card with a double thickness of foam tape to give a further 3D effect to this card.  Out with my compressor again and the ProMarker air brush attachment to colour the flowers, again using the same colours as the background.  I cut the sentiment out of vinyl and stuck on the card - the sentiment is the Kanji symbol for Love.  My every trusted gold paint pen was used for the gold accents.

I was going to publish this card yesterday but ran out of steam so this morning set about the task.  After looking at the card again I really felt it needed more attention.  I don't like cards which you have to write on the back of and this card was one of those, so I decided to create it into a front card overlay by sticking it to another card blank which I made in matching card.  Next I added some butterflies, there was too much dimension stuff going on at the bottom of the card and I needed to carry that around a bit to create balance.  OK so more butterflies on the bottom too but with the one on the top right corner and a couple behind the flowers and fence it worked a treat.  I added pearls to the fence and in between the flowers too - a bit of elegance never goes amiss.  Finally, for a bit of fun I added a colour co-ordinating bee with acetate wings, I wanted it to be one of those things you only see when you look at the card closely.  Right now onto the photos as I am sure I have bored you more than enough <g>

Close up of butterfly

Close-up of bee

Card with front used as overlay and insert created.  Also shows dimension of the card which I love.

Ingredients:-

• Blue card from Craft Creations
• Digi - 'Doll From Japan 2' from Nicecrane Designs
• Card shape cutting file - RCARR_444BendyCard from CraftsUPrint
• Dies - Cherry Lyn Mimi Butterflies and Elizabeth Craft Designs Bees
• ProMarkers - Prussian, Denim Blue, Pastel Blue, Orchid, Bluebell, Ivory, Almond, Vanilla and Blender
• Liquid Pearls - lilac and pale blue
• Flowers, pearls, vinyl etc. from my stash

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:-

• Passion For Promarkers - Use Your Favourite Colour Combo (my favourite colour combo is blues and purples) (Aug 28)
• Craft Room Challenge - Something New (Sept 4)- Digi is new
• Creative Craft Challenge - Not Square (Sept 4)
• LEJ Designs - Nature Inspired (Aug 27)
• Try It On Tuesday - Make a Scene (Aug 27)
• Card Crafters Circle - #88 Winged Things (Aug 24)
• Stamping For The Weekend - Butterflies (Aug 31)
• Totally PaperCrafts - Favourite Colour (Aug 24) - Purple