Monday, June 12, 2017

The Sweetest Peas

Sweet Peas.  Don't they smell wonderful?  They fill a room with scent and beauty.  I love them, but haven't grown them in years.  I do have some Copic colored sweet peas to share today, though.  This is Power Poppy's Sweet Pea Show digital stamp.  You can also get sweet peas in a clear stamp set at Power Poppy -- Sweet Memories.  I've had these printed up and tucked away in a box and finally brought them out to play last week.




Before printing I lightened the image and applied a softening filter.  The full image was printed up on a 4x6 sheet, but I cut it down to a square.  I mixed and matched some Power Poppy stamp sets -- Go Wild for the sentiments and Soothing Sympathy for the butterfly.

The butterfly was stamped in black directly onto the paper, then stamped again, colored, and cut out.  I sure didn't want to have to cut out those skinny legs and antennae so I cut them right off and glued the body and wings over top.




All those gray dots around the flowers are touched with a Spica clear glitter pen.  Couldn't catch the sparkle without making everything else look awful, but you can imagine.

I used many, many Copics for coloring.  They're fun, but, dang, you need a lot of them for an image like this.

  • Greens:  YG03, YG67 for leaves.  G20, G0000 for soft background shading.
  • Purples:  V0000, V01, V12, V15, V17
  • Pinks:  RV10, RV13, RV14
  • Reds:  R30, R32, R35
  • Dots:  C3
  • Butterfly:  C3, C7, E97, E08, B26

A real expert could probably get by with less.

I added the butterfly so I could play along in this month's Power & Spark Challenge at Power Poppy -- June Bug.  Cute name!  You have all of June to play along and the random prize is a $50 shopping spree.  Seriously worth the effort!




I'm also playing along in The Flower Challenge Anything Goes.  Gorgeous stuff there!




Okay, I've yakked long enough.  After a week of rain we have a week of sunshine ahead of us, so stamping will be on the back burner for a while.  I'll pop into my room now and then, but it will probably take a while to finish/photograph/blog anything.  I may surprise myself, though.  We shall see.  Have a stamp happy day!


Stamps:  Power Poppy Sweet Pea Show digital stamp set, Go Wild and Soothing Sympathy clear stamp sets  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, other white for card base, SU Cameo Coral, Graphic 45 Precious Memories designer paper, scrap SU designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Cameo Coral, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers as listed above  Accessories:  Ribbon, ribbon slide, Copic Atyou Spica clear glitter pen, corner rounder punch, Die-namics Wonky Stitched Squares

33 comments:

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

Sleepless in Sioux City allows me to be the first time ever to comment on your wonderful sweet pea card. Way to start my day with those pretty petals. You amazed me again with your coloring skills and eye for design. Enjoy the sunshine. I am positive it will inspire you to create another awesome masterpiece.

Glenda said...

I've always had a special place in my heart for sweet peas! Your coloring of these is just lovely and your card brings back many childhood memories of lazy summer days! This was a nice stroll down memory lane for me. Thank you so much for that my friend!

Ros Crawford said...

I'm drooling! What amazing colouring! Leslie this is beautiful and I can almost smell them... Such wonderful flowers! We still have wind and a bit of rain here... The great British summer Lol! Enjoy your week!

DottyA Cards & Things said...

So, so Pretty!!! Love that tip for the butterfly legs and antennae, will be differently doing that next time....But you coloring is perfect, just love how you bring things to life!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

I love sweet peas as well, and your card is amazing!! I like the sentiment and the butterfly is beautiful!! I don't blame you about cutting out those tiny legs! Enjoy your good weather!!

Yogi said...

GORGEOUS!! I too love sweat peas. Haven't grown them in my garden for several years either... Have a great day

Darlene said...

BEAUTIFUL my friend! Your coloring is just gorgeous and your design is perfect! OH and thanks for that little tip on how you did the butterfly ... so smart of you!! I always draw inspiration from you with each & every visit ... thanks!

Mildred said...

Love this card. Everything about it is perfect. And I'll use the butterfly tip next time I stamp one. Thanks, Leslie.

pam said...

Wow Leslie, I too love sweet peas, they are such a delicate beautiful flower, you sure have captured the gorgeous colours on your stunning card, perfect butterfly! shame you chopped of the legs and antennae (Only kidding) lol..perfect sentiments to finish..
Hugs Pam x

Sherri said...

Another masterpiece! You need to start coloring up things just to frame & hang as art! Your coloring is just beyond perfection. I can almost smell the flowers just from looking at them! That butterfly is just gorgeous and the perfect touch! LOVE this!!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Stunning card Leslie, I love Sweet Peas, I've never seen one in person but I'm so tempted to go and get some little plants just so I can see and smell this sweet flowers.
You captured the colors of this blooms so perfectly, that I also can almost smell them.
The idea of stamping the butterfly and fussy cut it to add to the image is awesome, I will keep this idea in mind.
Beautiful card!!
Hugs,
Maria Rodriguez.

nancy littrell said...

I keep wanting to put my nose up to your Gorgeous sweet peas to smell their amazing sweet aroma! I love your colors and dimension you achieved with all your Copics coloring and dots. Beautiful layers and accessories too. TFS Leslie. Your coloring is always so amazing! Hugs..

Lynette said...

Oh Leslie - this is amazingly beautiful!! Your sweat peas are gorgeous!! I love the die-cut panel, the way you did the sentiment, and the pretty butterfly.

Pauline said...

Absolutely STUNNING! Beautiful colouring Leslie, you have such a talent for colouring your flowers. Always the right amount of shading where the shading needs to be- I still struggle with this.Love your layout, the spica dots and the silver heart is a nice touch. I'm with you on how you did the butterfly, those legs are too finicky! We are in a heat warning here - yesterday, today and tomorrow. Temps up in upper 90's - way too hot for me, the humidity is a killer. Suppose to cool down tuesday night, at least some of the humidity is suppose to leave us. Enjoy your week of sunshine. And thanks for sharing such a beautiful card, big sigh! :)

Julie Koerber said...

Oh. My. Gosh Leslie!!! I gasped when I saw this card. How do you so artfully and expertly color like that girl? Your sweet peas just have this feel of floating in air -- so light and breezy! They are so realistic appearing that I can almost smell these little blossoms sweet fragrance! On a side note, your name came up a lot this weekend -- know you are sorely missed among all of us "Bloomies!!!" Hope all is well you sweet lady! :-)

Linda Carson said...

Wow Leslie! My jaw is sore from dropping on my laptop! This no-line beauty is exquisite! Each stroke was laid down to perfection! The beauty continues by the design and papers! Truly striking! Enjoy the sunshine!

CherylQuilts said...

WOW! Leslie, this is absolutely and completely gorgeous! Your sweet peas are the most stunning I've seen colored, and I love the vibrant colors you've used. What a beautiful compliment with the blue DP and how you did the "out-of-the-box" technique for the butterfly! LOVE...sigh! Hugs! xoxo

Lisa Lara said...

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat! Those flowers and butterfly are coming to life on your card Leslie. Stunning coloring my friend. Breathtaking.

KimCreate said...

Leslie, this card is so pretty! AND so are that last 4 cards you made. I gotta get over here more often! Love the hairball/kitty one.

Stacy Morgan said...

Gorgeous... OH Leslie these sweet peas look wonderful! I like the different colors and the stitched edge is darling.

Conniecrafter said...

Outstanding, this is just gorgeous, your coloring is outstanding of everything, love the detail in that butterfly, pretty way to do the sentiment too! I just love your sweet heart to go with your ribbon!! Enjoy that sunshine, you never know how long it will last, we have been extremely Hot and Humid, not a great combination

laurie said...

So pretty! Your coloring just beings them to life. I LOVE sweet peas! My dad used to grow them and how I loved to go pick some for a vase on out table. Thanks for reminding me of those memories!

Hannelie said...

Yes, they smell like heaven ! And they take me back to my mother's garden!
Your coloring is out of this world amazing!

SewPaperPaint said...

I love this to bits! The coloring is spot on and so so beautiful. I like this kind of images where the petals are clearly defined and not too bunchy. So much more fun to color. This is amazing and inspired me so much. I'm off to check out the image. TFS! Hugs, Autumn

SewPaperPaint said...

Now that I've seen the image, I have to say I just love how you cropped it! Brilliant and another reason this is so versatile. WOW! :)

ChristineCreations said...

Your no line colouring is amazing here Leslie! So soft and life like. You really did such a beautiful job on this one. And those sweet background pointilism dots really make a difference too. Thanks for joining us sweet lady!

Diane said...

So very pretty...soft dreamy and downright beautiful...I 'can' almost smell them! Hmmm I think I have a sweet peas stamps from somewhere, you have me thinking (scarey isn't it..lol)...another beautiful card!!!

Aileen said...

What an absolutely stunning creation, I was expecting to read that you had printed up a pre coloured creation. Your colouring is wonderful as is your design and finishing touch with the butterfly. The colours chosen are amazing and no one could have done a bette job. Be very proud. Thank you so much for joining us at The Flower Challenge Aileen DT

Cara said...

This is just stunning and beautifully coloured. Thanks for joining us at The Flower Challenge. Cara DT x

Karen Dunbrook said...

love these stunning flowers Leslie
Thanks so much for playing along with The Flower Challenge.
Karen

Donna Ellis said...

Leslie, I am sighing in deep contentment, and thinking how much light must be in your soul for your fingers to accomplish such magic with the colors of these flowers and butterfly. You CAPTIVATE with the light in your creations. I've never smelled sweet peas before, because they do not grow here. But I enjoy the scent of our regular peas when Jack grows them in our winter garden - does that count? Your card is lovely, and I especially enjoy the 2 sentiments featured perpendicularly on your card. Thanks for bringing loveliness and light to my world this morning! xx

Robyn Oliver said...

So So Pretty Leslie, I just love your card and your colouring is to die for - beautiful

Susie said...

Gorgeous! Sweet peas have a special place in my heart for they remind me of my youngest sister, who passed away in 2007. She always planted sweet peas - something our mother taught her at a very young age. She loved creating the string frame for the sweet peas to grow on and each year her efforts paid off. Sweet smelling and lovely in their almost transparent beauty. You captured them beautifully!