Wednesday 26 May 2021

Dragonfly Garden

I recently had a little splurge on some Stamping Up goodies, and one item was the really pretty 'Dragonfly Garden Bundle' of stamps and co-ordinating dies. I knew exactly who I first wanted to use the set for - a very special friend who loves 'flying and fluttering' pretty insect as well as the colour pink:

Here's the result:


I used:

- 5.5" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening

- piece of smooth white card onto which i stamped the wild flower image using a Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

- selected the pink papers from an Echo Park paper pad called 'Be Mine' so I could select the right shade of pink for the image colouring

- coloured the wild flowers image using Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils

- stamped the dragonfly onto more smooth white card using a Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad

- coloured the dragonfly image using Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils, including the silver one in the set

- then went over the wings using a clear Wink of Stella brush pen for some gentle sparkle 

- punched out the dragonfly using the co-ordinating punch, punched two more dragonflies from plain white card and layered the three together using a glue pen

- trimmed the plain deep pink and the script papers then glued the plain pink layer onto the card front

- punched one long edge of the image panel using an ancient Fiskars punch - as close as I could to making the punched out pattern  equidistant at the top and bottom.

- then trimmed the panel to sit properly aligned on the pink script panel and also trimmed the plain left edge. That panel trimming process was possibly the most fiddly part and I've since wondered if I should have created the blank panel first and then done the stamping and colouring as my heart was in my mouth lest I spoiled it!

- glued the image panel onto the pink script panel then added the result to the card front

- next I used a much loved Stamping Up wood mounted stamp to stamp the sentiment, die cut it using a die from the Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangle A2 set of dies

- backed the sentiment with a trimmed snippet of left-over deep pink paper and glued it in place onto the card front

- added the dragonfly to the card front using little pieces of thin sticky pad, stood back and went 'Hmmmm' - I didn't particularly like the stark white border around the 'critter' so I went around the edge using a silver Wink of Stella brush 

- by this point I was now going 'Hmmmm' over the white area at the top left of the panel - it seemed to make the right hand bottom of the card look too heavy - so I added three sequins in a similar blue to the dragonfly (using Glossy Accents) onto the 'white space', which just pulled the whole card together, IMHO.

- stamped a sentiment onto an insert and added to the card - finished!

The sequins are from Little Things from Lucy's cards and the mix is called 'Bubblegum'. In the USA, Simon Says Stamp carries stocks of Lucy's 'little things'. They don't have her UK full range - but I bet you'd easily find enough to spend your pennies on!

Am entering this card into Darnell's NBUS #26 Challenge - HERE.

I used loads more pencils (for blending, especially on the dragonfly) than those in the photo - but didn't want them to overpower the card itself in the photo. Sigh, but I couldn't pick up the subtle glimmer of the dragonfly, still getting to grips with the new camera.



27 comments:

  1. So pretty.
    www.rsrue.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fabulous card Di - so very pretty - I have my SU Dragonfly set with dies - they are so much fun to use. Have a great week - Cheers Maurs xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. Absolutely gorgeous - I'm a dragonfly lover too and you've really done this beautiful insect proud.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Di this is a gorgeous birthday card. I just love it. Take care. Hugs Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  5. A really pretty card and brilliant explanation as always. I've been eying up this set in the catalogue (dangerous book to read!!!) but have resisted … so far.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Di this is such a pretty card l like dragonflies so beautifully coloured love the floral panel too x

    ReplyDelete
  7. So pretty!! I agree, the blue sequins pull it all together and finish the card off perfectly!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Even more beautiful in real life. I love it. Thankyou my lovely friend. You know what is being picked up within the next hr.!! Hugs Me.
    P.s. I can see the card winking at me..

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is such a pretty card Di and love the pink script paper coordinating perfectly with the beautifully coloured flowers and dragonfly, and finished with the die cut picot edge to the mat and the sentiment plate, and sequins which are great finishing touches. x

    ReplyDelete
  10. wow! this just took my breath away it is so very pretty. Love the colour palette you used.
    L x

    ReplyDelete
  11. This is a really pretty card Di anda lovely design.There is nothing I do not like about it...beautiful! x

    ReplyDelete
  12. So beautifully done, Di! Gorgeous coloring on the dragonfly.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such a gorgeous card Di, I love the pink, the flowers and the dragonfly. OK I LOVE everything.
    Faith x

    ReplyDelete
  14. So pretty. Love the staging too xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh, I like this...a wonderful butterfly and I so love anything pink!

    ReplyDelete
  16. A lovely design Di, so pretty x

    ReplyDelete
  17. AMAZING!! Such fabulous card!! Love so very much the design with that scallop panel on the pink script, the soft sweet colours and that big dragonfly flying on the flowers!!! Very well done!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is sooo pretty Di. Really good layout xxx

    ReplyDelete
  19. A beautiful card Di and love the design and colours. Hugs, Carol S.xx

    ReplyDelete
  20. Exquisite Di - love the stamps you have used .
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

    ReplyDelete
  21. I adore the flowers in this set Di but have managed to resist so far!! Your layers are very clever - there's loads of detail but plenty of room to breathe. Just gorgeous! Vicky xx

    ReplyDelete
  22. Absolutely beautiful card, Di. I love the design and your colour choice. xx

    ReplyDelete
  23. That is just beautiful Di, love the colours, the staging and photo are very professional xxx

    ReplyDelete
  24. Absolutely stunning card - gorgeous colours. Your friend must have loved it! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  25. Beautiful! Very pretty layout, and all those beautiful colors -- the dragonfly is just a perfect addition to this card, Di

    ReplyDelete
  26. HI my sweet friend!! Saw this at the NBUS challenge and HAD to come buy and check it out in person!! It is scrumptious!! I love the design, the colors, the coloring - the whole thing!! Your work is beautful :) Hugs, Christi

    ReplyDelete
  27. This is so feminine and pretty, Di! I love the ethereal beauty of dragonflies so I can just imagine the shimmer and sheen. And I love the wonderful composition of your design with the text background, beautiful scalloped flower and sediment panels and perfect matting! A stunner! Thank you for sharing again with everyone at NBUS! Hugs, Darnell

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much if you take the time to comment!

This is a public blog. Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog or entering a piece of artwork into a linky do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog and in so doing have published their own personal details and consented to my use of that personal information should they be selected as a winner or to accredit work.