Summer Geraniums

     I have to admit that geraniums are one of my favorite flowers to grow.  They're so easy and can be grown from a simple cutting.  Where I live, they grow and blossom nearly year 'round.  I was delighted to be able to use both the "Geranium Pot" and the "Greek Window" images from Ike's Art in our newest Ike's World challenge which begins today.  We have a delightful optional photo inspiration for you.

  Isn't that a gorgeous Greek scene?   I turned it into this:

I based this design on the sketch at Sweet Sketch Weds.

but I made everything more vertical because that better fit

the shapes of my window image and the

embossed brick background pieces.

     I started by printing out one window image and three geranium pot images, two the same size and one slightly smaller.  I colored the geranium pots and the window with my ProMarkers, then fussy cut everything.  It took some time to cut out the geraniums but it was worth it when I stacked them all together on dimensional dots for a fabulous 3D effect.

     Next, I took two scraps of CS, one gray and one deep burgundy, and ran them through my "Brick Wall" embossing folder.  I layered those together for the background, then added the image pieces and the printed sentiment.

     For the final embellishment, I added a hand tied bow with a glittered flower.  The design has lots of dimension but is still fairly simple and will mail easily.

     Challenges:
Aud Sentiments
Classic DT Open
Crafting by Designs
Crafting with an Attitude
Crafty Gals Corner
Inspiration Destination
Penny's Paper-Crafty
Southern Girls
Word Art Weds.

    I hope you're going to come and play along with us this fortnight.  Let your imagination run with whatever inspires you from that photo or just play using the "Anything Goes" theme which is there every time.  Don't forget that Ike always offers a freebie image which you can find on the challenge post and use if you wish.  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie

Outlawz Progressive Challenge for August

     I've been pretty faithful about playing in the monthly progressive challenge at The Outlawz since it started nearly 2 years ago and this month we get to use an image called "August" by Andrea Norris at Sheepski Designs.  I have to tell you that every time I look at this image, it brings back memories of my Grammy's summer garden.  She loved Freesias, Fiddlenecks, and Bleeding Hearts.  Seeing any of those flowers always reminds me of early childhood and summer days spent in her garden.

     I wanted to do something CAS but with a fancy die cut frame so I'm not sure this really is a CAS design but it certainly isn't over-the-top with embellies and froo-froo.

     I colored the image with my ProMarkers and had to do a little finagling with the frame die.  It's by Cheery Lynn but it's a rectangular die and the image is square.  I cut the frame from white CS and then cut a piece out of each side to make it into a square.  I added the flowers at the point on each side where the top and bottom halves of the frame meet.

     I colored the frame with watercolors, trying for an ombre effect but I couldn't get the top part of the frame pale enough so I'm not sure it really worked.  IRL, it's still very lovely and there is a delightful mix of purple shades.

     The background is completely glittered and I also glittered the little punched butterfly on the right hand side.  I added the bow at the bottom because it needed something to draw the eye down and anchor it.

     Challenges:
Colour Crazy Craft
Crafting with Friends
Cut It Up
Fussy and Fancy
Outlawz CAS
Pile It On
Polkadoodles
Quick Quotes
Scrapper's Delights

    Whether it qualifies as CAS or not, I'm very happy with this card.  :-D  Happy Stamping.  NanaConnie 

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