Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The Beauty in Neutrals

The Flourish challenge for Bring Back Beautiful is Neutral Beauty. I love working in neutrals because the shading and highlights are the focal points.  I had sitting in my scrap pile a stamped map background (Cornish Heritage Farms) in a lovely soft gray. As soon as I saw the challenge I pulled it out.

 
I decided to pull out my flowers from Hero Arts to layer them over the map background. This also applies for the Hero Arts Challenge this month which includes layering of stamped images. 
I stamped the flowers first using the Ranger Archival black ink.  I then colored them using a variety of watercolor pencils (black, brown, gray, and sepia). I highlighted with the white gel pen at the end to bring back touches of white. 

After I finished the flowers I really wanted to make the center pop, I decided to draw a box around the image using the same shades of watercolor pencils and add a touch of the aqua brush to soften the effect. I finished off with the bees (Cornish Heritage Farms) and the sentiment from Stampscapes. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

21 comments:

  1. This is lovely, just showing that neutral can be so effective. I love the background, and the bees are great. Judith xx

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  2. I love neutral shades and your card is stunning. I love the way you have made it pop from the page and the background is fabulous. Feel like crFting now I have seen this, dam ironing calling my name too, decisions decisions LOL. Tracy Evans x

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  3. Definitely colours in my comfort zone Sue, but you make them so interesting. I love all the stamps you have used on this card and the drawn box really makes the fabulous flowers stand out. Lovely bee image too.

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  4. Beautiful blog banner!!
    Love the neutrals on your card and once again love the sentiments you give each of your creations!

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  5. gorgeous layered stamping, I love the soft neutrals. A very calming feel to your card!

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  6. How very unique! I would never have thought to put flowers over a map! And Sue, I love your new header - you're ready for spring!

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  7. What a great card. That box to frame the image is an idea I must imitate and i adore bees. A lovely card, thank you for sharing.

    Love your new blog header by the way! That sentiment is so true.

    Elaine

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  8. I'm lovin your new header, Suzz! And what a pretty card! I can see why you love neutrals. . .you make them shine! This card is beautiful!

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  9. Beautiful! The flowers look lovely stamped over the map background, wonderful distressed look! Love your newly stamped banner too!

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  10. Wow, this is gorgeous! Your coloring is amazing, so beautiful in every detail!

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  11. You have some of the best floral stamps.. this is beautiful right down to those cute little bees..

    Hope you are having a great day!

    Hugs, Linda

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  12. Love the flowers on this card Suzz and your new banner. It looks like something you have designed, did you?
    Val x

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  13. This is beautiful Suzanne. You could have entered this in the Neutral challenge for Flourishes BBB. :)
    LOVE your new blog header.
    Hugs~

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  14. love love the understated neutrals you used, Sue! gorgeous card!

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  15. stunning ~ Love the neutral colours.

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  16. Another gorgeous card Suzanne! Love the way you colored those flowers and bees! So creative!

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  17. Love your colored flowers and that background...wow! Gorgeous card!

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  18. Absolutely Beautiful!! What a fabulous design and showcases just how beautiful Neutral can be!!! Thanks for playing the Bring Back Beautiful challenge!!!

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  19. Wow! Your neutrals are so stunning!

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