Sunday 1 March 2015

Happiness is ...

This week seems to have passed by so very quickly and as for February - where did that month disappear to??  The year seems to be speeding by but at least it means that Spring is on the way - lots of sunshine today but it is very windy.

I started my weekend by creating a card for this week's challenge at "Less is More"  where the theme is 'This makes me happy'.  There are many things that make me happy - my family, my friends, sunshine and lots more.  However there is one other thing that makes me happy and that is having the time to craft, time to try out new techniques or revisit old ones. So this card combines my love of getting messy with inks, one of my favourite stamp sets (Uniko Studio - Gerbera) and for once mastering the 'ironing-off' embossing technique.  You can't help but be happy using these vibrant colours!

My original plan was to create a card using the Bokeh effect which seems to be 'on trend' but the image I chose was too large (and my dream was greater than my skill level).  So this is what happened:



I stamped the first gerbera and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and then coloured the whole of the panel with Dried Marigold distress ink.  Once the first layer was dry I stamped and heat embossed two more gerbera and then covered the panel with Spiced Marmalade distress ink.  When this layer was dry I stamped and heat embossed two further gerbera and then covered the panel with Ripe Persimmon distress ink.  When all was dry out I ironed off the embossing between pages of a telephone directory.  This is how the panel looked:


All I needed to do then was to decide how to use the panel - I can't tell you how long it took me to decide what to do with it!!  I think I'm happy with how it turned out!

I'm going to enter it in to the following challenges:

"Less is More" Week 213, This makes me happy
Uniko Studio Challenge 18 - Birthdays
Virginias View Challenge  #13 - All things embossed

Enjoy!

29 comments:

  1. Elaine this is jaw droppingly fantastic!
    I am swooning ... Pure talent here. Love the gerbera set anyway but how you've used it is outstanding. Wow! So thrilled to be on 2 design teams you've linked this to.
    Thanks so much for sharing.
    Sarah less is more and Uniko. Xx

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  2. Elaine, your iron-off design is simply superb!! I love the bright hues and contrast that you had achieved with this technique! So glad that you join the fun over Virginia’s View “All Things Embossed” Challenge!

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  3. Gorgeous colour you have used - really sunny looking :)

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  4. I am stunned! A truly awesomely beautiful card - love everything about it.

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  5. Fab, Fab, Fab Elaine!
    This looks terrific!
    I can see why it made you happy, it makes nme happy to look at it!
    Thanks so much
    Chrissie
    "Less is More"

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  6. This makes me happy. My favourite colour and a stunning design, what more can a girl ask for ( apart from chocolate) ;)
    Lynne xxx

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  7. ELaine, this has to be my fav card of yours! It is so stunnig and so very creative. What a way to showcase this stamp set. Love it! I could never make something so amazing. Gorgeous and super pleased you shared with us at Uniko x

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  8. Elaine your card is gorgeous! Thanks for explaining how did you achieve it, love it! And it makes me happy too!

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  9. This is incredible! I an so trying this!

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  10. Fantastic card - I love the varying shades and a great uplifting colour!

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  11. A beautiful card - thanks for explaining the technique so clearly.

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  12. so beautiful, I love how you chose to wrap the vellum around it.
    Linbyx

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  13. This is sensational, Elaine! I'd love to watch a video of this. The result is really vibrant and your design choice of the vellum was inspired so the entire work of art could be seen! You rocked this!! Hugs, Darnell

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  14. Oh, WOW!!!!!!!
    Elane this is a drop-dead gorgeous creation and it makes me happy just to see it.
    Amazing piece of art
    Thank you for joining us at Less is More
    Anne
    LIM

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  15. Elaine, I dont know how you could say you had not succeeded. This card is brilliant, eye catching, wonderful. I love every inch of it and so want to try the same. Congratulations on a beautiful catd.

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  16. AWESOME! And sooo worth the effort

    Kathyk

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  17. Gorgeous. Thanks for explaining how you developed it.

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  18. Amazingly gorgeous! Thanks for joining the Uniko Studio Challenge!

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  19. WOW! Excuse me while I pick my jaw from the floor! I am lost for words as this is just stunning. Thanks SO much for joining in on the Uniko Studio Challenge. Hugs Bev x

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  20. Stunning, Elaine ... the sense of depth you've created with your awesome sponging is awesome ... simply gorgeous! Anita :)

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  21. This is fabulous Elaine ;) Viv xx

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  22. This is stunning Elaine, love the technique and gorgeous colours you've used. Carol x

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  23. Absolutely dazzling! I love the clean, simple design and the beautiful bold colour. Thanks so much for playing along with Uniko Studio Challenge!

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  24. Absolutely stunning - what a fabulous card! Totally love it!

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  25. Congrats on winning at Uniko-we all loved your card-see blog if you want to join us as GD xx

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  26. Congrats on ur win at Uniko! I saw this card there and couldn't stop... Had to make a trip to tell u this is simply out of this world :) wowzers!!

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  27. loving this card - just bought this stamp set - amazing card/colours- congrats

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