Impression Obsession: In My Garden

A new challenge is being shared today on the Impression Obsession Blog, and I hope you join the fun! The challenge is called In My Garden.

As much work as it is to put in our garden, I always look forward to being outside, tending the soil, laying out the garden beds, and watching things grow. I think having a garden is to believe in tomorrow...

Spring around here can be a bit stormy. We usually get a good storm in April that can cause damage to my young plants, so I have to be ready for it every year!

To make my card for the In My Garden challenge, I started by creating a watercolored background using Fabriano watercolor paper and various colors of blue and purple distress inks. I knew I wanted a dramatic sky, much like our spring skies can be.

To create the color wash, I smooshed several distress ink pads onto my craft sheet in somewhat-rows of color. I then misted the ink with water and pressed the front of my watercolor paper onto the misted ink. Lifting the paper from the craft sheet revealed a beautiful, graduated wash of color. Once the initial layer of ink was dry, I pressed the paper into the ink again in random places to give a nice variety of color to the paper. I dried the colors thoroughly with a heat tool.

Once my background was complete, I die cut the shapes for my scene. I added a bit of detail to the die cut pieces, and then started assembly. Once I had the tree in place, I added the fence and grass.

I placed the fence and grass on the card so that they had a nice flowing curve, providing me with lots of places to tuck stems, flowers, and bunnies!

Once the fence and grass were in place, I piled on the garden! I added shape to the 6-petal flowers by pressing them into a mouse pad with a rounded stylus. I added a bit of color to the centers with markers, followed by pretty glitter glue for sparkle. The tulips were die cut from red BoBunny polka dot paper, and the stems then colored with a dark green marker so the stems were no longer red. Markers are a quick way to alter a small die cut. As a final step, I added those sweet little bunnies to my garden. The details on the bunnies were added with markers.

I had a blast creating this card! It reminds me of so many places and people, but especially trips to the Skagit Valley in northwestern Washington to visit the amazing flower farms. If you've never been, you should make time for it. Amazing!

Find all the details on how to enter the challenge on the Impression Obsession Blog. A random challenge entry will be selected to showcase on the IO blog and you can to enter to win a $25 gift certificate to IO just by playing!

Now, get ready for a wonderful dose of inspiration and check out what the other team members created for the challenge. Have fun!!

Anna Wight (that's me!)
Daniela Dobson
Dina Kowal
Ellen Taylor
Jeanne Streiff
Jenny Gropp
Kittie Caracciolo
Laura Fulcher
Vicki Garret
Impression Obsession Blog

 

Supplies
Dies: Rabbit Set, Sm Bird Set, Leaves & Stems, Tulip Set, Tiny Flowers, Sm Grass Border, Fence Border, Bare Tree (Impression Obsession)
Paper: Fabriano 100% Cotton Cold Press Watercolor paper, Neenah, Paper Accents, BoBunny
Ink: Ranger Distress Inks in blues and purples
ShinHan Touch Twin markers

Comments

[Craftyfield]

The water colored background is fantastic and does remind me of a stormy sky with all that drama. The 3D effect of all the layers of die-cut (including that curved grass border-superb idea) is just stunning!

[Karrie Baker]

Gorgeous!

[Dan Wight]

I went to gramma's new digs today for her latest evaluation. She showed me the box of yarn balls and this card. WOW! was she impressed and it is every bit as amazing as the pictures make it out to be. And, yes I am going to frame it for her to put on the wall in her room or to display for the other residents to see! Love, Dad

[Troy Louise]

I love your watercolored background. What a lot of work putting all those little flowers on - very pretty. Thanks!

[Pattie Jns]

Beautiful water color ans well done.

[Robin Barwacz]

Wow, this is beautiful. You need to frame it...it's that good! Must have taken you hours to make but was so worth the effort.

Warming up your way? We still have snow on the ground and I think everyone here is about ready to scream from this bitter and snowy winter. Post some outdoor animal pics so we can all live vicariously and dream of warmer days and spring on the farm!

Cyber hugs...Robin

[Ellen Taylor]

Beautifully done Anna! A fantastic scene you created~Love the sky!

[Eileen L.]

Lovely garden. Love how you colored your sky looks very realistic.

[Dee in NH]

Beautiful! The sky looks so much like a real good old spring storm! I'm afraid spring is still a ways off here. sigh...

[Jessica]

Beautiful! It is often the way the spring skies look when they are bringing rain to grow these lovely flowers. TFS Jess

[carol dee]

Will Spring ever come? I am so ready to see green and flowers. Your card is stunning. The sky looks a bit stormy! The flowers are amazing. TFS.