Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Night Blooming Iris

Hi everyone! Did you see the new videos Gina posted on stampTV? She showed some great ways to use bleach in your paper crafting. She also posted a new technique challenge to use one of the techniques she showed in the videos. You could be the random winner of a GKD stamp set, just by playing along, so check it out!

I was inspired to pull out my bleach to add some accents to the card I made this morning. I used one of the stamp sets from the stampTV Floral Frenzy kit, called Elegant Flowers, for the main focal image.

Here are a few of the details from making this card...

To start, I stamped my image on Pure Luxury white cardstock, using black Stazon in. Then I colored the flowers with Lulu Lavender, Grape Jelly and Sweet Plum Memento markers. I am loving these markers for when I emboss with clear, because the color really stays put when I go over it with my Versa Mark pen. Sorry about the poor photo quality on this one. I didn't realize it was out of focus.

For the leaves and stems I used New Sprout, Pear Tart and Bamboo Leaves. I also used New Sprout to add a little green around the bottom of the image to "ground" it just a bit.

Next I went over the whole image with Versa Mark, then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then I sponged around the image with So Saffron, Almost Amethyst and Lavender Lace.

On a piece of Almost Amethyst cardstock, I sponged Lavender Lace and Perfect Plum around the edges.

Then I stamped the branches from Tropical Flowers, using Lavender Lace and Perfect Plum.

To add some hightlights in the background, I put a little bleach on a paper towel, then touched a blending stump to it, then dotted it around on my cardstock. I re-dipped after dotting 5 or 6 times. I could have dipped my stump directly into bleach, instead of using a paper towel, but I wanted to control the amount of bleach on my blending stump. A little bleach goes a long way.

Then I just layered my image panels with some Pure Luxury Black Onyx cardstock and Lavender Lace cardstock.

Thanks so much for visiting. I hope you have a wonderful day!

25 comments:

Sue said...

WOW i luv your card it is sooo beautiful, gorgeous stamp, coloured perfect, thanks for all the info how you created it, sue.x

Julia Aston said...

Love your bleaching technique to just make some subtle dots - very effective Theresa! Your sponged shading is super!

Anonymous said...

Another brilliant tutorial, and beautiful card. Love this technique. I will have to try it this weekend! Can't wait to get my Lavendar Lace ink pad I have ordered - your colors are SO pretty!

Jacki Marie said...

wow, I'm speechless! This card is beautiful!

craftimamma said...

This card is absolutely perfect Theresa. You have the colours spot on.

Love the tutorial too.

Lesley Xx

Anonymous said...

This is a lovely card Theresa, the delicate touch with the bleach is perfect and the irises, stunning.

Sandy Knecht said...

Your card is beautiful!

Tracey said...

Gorgeous Theresa! Love the purple! xx

Anonymous said...

Lovely! I love the yellow glow behind the irises! So pretty!

Selma said...

Theresa this is such a beautiful card. Thanks for showing us how you did it. I have one question. Do you have a blending stump that you use only with bleach? Selma

Julie S. said...

Love this, and had to comment to tell you so. Is that gel pen highlighting the leaves on the Tropical Flowers branches? Or is it bleach? Inquiring minds want to know!

Anonymous said...

WOW... verrrrrry pretty.. I love the allusion of dimension!

Kristine said...

GORGEOUS!! Love everything. What a neat technique with the bleaching dots! Seems like years since I tried bleaching. You definately have a certain elegant style. Love all the sponging for that soft "glow" that you always do--it's fabulous!☺

Norine said...

this is just gorgeous love all your cards so pretty
Hugs
Norine

lisa808 said...

Another beauty!

Chelsea said...

that is such a lovely card!! The colors are beautiful!

Deb Neerman said...

WoWzA, this is gorgeous!

Must find the bleach and try something 'bleachy.' Not like I ever do laundry anymore but I should have some around somewhere.

6 wacky women said...

Absolutley gorgeous card, Theresa.
The colors are stunning and I love the bleach effect.

Karen x

Cat Tidwell said...

Oh I believe you could just pick up a piece of sidewalk chalk and color good with it!! WOW! awesome Theresa! LOVE those 'fireflies', at least that is what they remind me of!

Anonymous said...

Lovely Card & a very nice tutorial too! Thanks for sharing. =)

Moia said...

Hello I was recommended your blog from a friend. Love your fantastic tutorials. Here I will spend some hours. Thank you so much for the inspiration. Love from Ann-Margret, Norway

Becky said...

WoW.. I just did an iris, wish I came by here first :). This is gorgeous and the tutorial is just what I needed :)

Elena said...

Wow! Your coloring is gorgeous! And it doesn't matter what you use!
Love bleached dots!
Thank you for the tutorial, Theresa!
You maybe tired to listen it al over and over - but I love your SPONGING!

Lee said...

You are DA BOMB!!!! That Iris serioulsy looks like it is glowing on a midnight eve!!!!!

Shirley said...

Those colors are stunning and your background is so lovely with the Irises.