Hello friends! It's good to have you stop by on a chilly winter day. It's Sunday afternoon as I write this and we've had thunder and lightning and hail these last two days. Barely a break in the weather. It's a good time to play in my room and keep Sophie quiet after her spay surgery. As if. Try to stop a 7 month old Golden Retriever in the midst of a sudden burst of parkour zoomies. I do my best, sigh.
I felt like coloring something springy, so I pulled out a not-yet-used Penny Black stamp from last spring. I know! How could I let this pretty thing sit? My NBUS baskets are full of dreams and aspirations. Well, here at last Spring Emerges... on paper if not outside my window.
I could probably make a lot more cards if I invested less time in the design. This was so easy -- just color an image and plunk it on a card. Maybe it's not quite that simple, but almost, and I love the look of it. I stamped on Fabriano Extra White 140 lb hot press watercolor paper and colored with Tombow markers and minimal use of my homemade blender -- found recipe online, mixed it up and filled a blank Copic. After coloring I put the image panel back into the die and sponged the corners. Just keeping it very clean and simple. There is more info in the recipe at the end.
I'm going to link up to four challenges:
Four Seasons Spring -- See their beautiful mood board below. I love it all, but that little cup of daffodils is so cute!
NBUS Challenge #60 -- New Penny Black stamps
Triple B (Birds, blooms, or butterflies) -- I have blooms today.
That's a lot challenges for me, but I like to play and support them when I have a chance. Thanks everyone! Have a beautiful day!
Oh my goodness is this ever beautiful, Leslie! We took a long walk this afternoon, it was 60 today! The bulbs are sprouting in the neighborhood, but no blooms yet. Thanks so very much for this marvelous glimpse of what is yet to come!
ReplyDeleteSo, so simply beautiful, Leslie!! Amazing.
ReplyDeleteso nice to have a touch of spring, expecially when it was sleeting today :)
ReplyDeleteBeautifully coloured ♥
Oh this is so lovely Leslie. So pretty and springy. I also think your sentiment placement is cool. I love that tabbed look. I might have to "borrow it"!
ReplyDeleteWow! Gorgeous design Leslie. And beautiful colouring, as always. This is so lovely and is sure to have the recipient smiling. xx
ReplyDeleteSpring is coming here as the daffodils are in bloom in my yard! I see a clump of tulips up and promising to pop soon and the trees are budding in my yard! Robins are everywhere so I know it is just around the corner. Temps are in the 70's today and it just makes my heart sing! Your card is gorgeous and I love how youy did the corners. Your coloring always is just perfection my friend!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card.
ReplyDeleteYour spring card has me yearning for warmer weather and any signs of spring popping up from the ground. Thanks for the beautiful reminder that spring truly is on its way.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure all easy cards come out this beautiful though! It is so lovely and makes me long for Spring. March can be a nasty month, but as my Mother used to say....In like a lion, out like a lamb--one can hope! Parkour Zoomies--I know it well! lol
ReplyDeleteloverly!! Simple is good... We got about 10# of snow and we're still in very very cold weather. Should go to the plus side by Friday. Will be glad when spring will arrive. Have a great day
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty. I love flowers and coloring them up. Also looking forward to spring. Our temps have been slowly warming up after a last-season dip. I hope that Sophie is feeling better after her surgery.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful card and Spring flower stamp-beautifully coloured.We have had a love sunny day here today but still quite cool.
ReplyDeleteCarol x
CAS and absolutely BEAUTIFUL Leslie! The colors totally POP and really do say SPRING!! I love how white your water color cs is and will have to check that out...most water color papers are more of an off white/cream colored and that drives me nuts!! Thanks for the tip!! Hugs. :0)
ReplyDeleteGood Luck keeping Sophie quiet, I remember those times. It doesn't help when the weather doesn't cooperate with the timing of their surgery.
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous blooms with beautiful coloring, I like the texture of your framing along with the sentiment on the side, perfect and doesn't take away from your lovely flowers!
What a delight to find you right next to me as I posted at PBSC, Leslie! This card is breathtakingly gorgeous! We have daffodils blooming everywhere now. Your color choices seen the breathe spring! Sending happy thoughts right back to you! And Sophie. I also love that tab!
ReplyDeleteOh how beautiful this is Leslie - there's something so pure about spring flowers and I love the way you sponged the corners for a little extra colour. We have loads of bulbs out now but we are struggling for sunshine.
ReplyDeleteBless little Sophie! It is so hard for them to just rest up isn't it. My suggestions are: doggy puzzle games; a bone; hiding a treat in layers of newspaper and playing 'pass the parcel'; a filled kong; letting her smell a toy then hiding it for her to find, or the easier version is to hide small treats and let her find them. Best of all - impulse control training! You can find lots of examples on YouTube. You probably know all this as you are an experienced dog owner but just in case...! Send ear scritches from me :) Vicky x
Leslie, you've captured CAS in a most wonderful way! I LOve the way you colored your blooms, and they are extra beautiful framed like this - simplicity at its finest and with a touch of texture in your card base! Perfection!
ReplyDelete=]
Before I forget, Leslie, I have to say how much I love that sediment treatment! It's a great way to add one without disturbing a beautifully-colored floral scene like this one! I love how fresh and CASlicious it is! Thank you for inspiring everyone to use their NBUS! I'm also pinning this to my I.D.E.A.S. board for color inspiration. Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteIsn't that little tab on the side so sweetly adorable? I love your beautiful shading and highlighting, Leslie. It's a wonderful Spring time card. Your weather sounds icky! Poor little Sophie doesn't know what happened, but she'll want to be up and at em too soon! She really is a doll, but then, look who is raising her to be the sweetest of pals! hugs, de
ReplyDeleteYour spring flowers are such a welcome sight, Leslie. I love your CAS design, and your coloring is stellar. Thanks so much for playing with us at the Four Seasons Challenge.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Leslie! I love your pretty coloring and that rectangle die sets it all off beautifully with the inked corners! Now I need to go hunt for that rectangle die! lol
ReplyDeleteAw, this warms my heart after a blistery winter blizzard yesterday! Everything you do is a work of art. Love your color combos too! Spring love to you! xxx
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful spring garden, Leslie! Your coloring is awesome with so much depth in those flowers! Dreary weather is the perfect time to craft. I hope Sophie heals well despite her puppy antics.
ReplyDeleteSo delighted to see your beautiful spring bouquet! As always love your gorgeous colouring, lovely shading and overall gorgeous card! Love the sentiment up along the side, nice effect! Can't wait until Spring. Although I did notice my Flowering Onion plants have sprouted through the ground. Thanks for sharing your card Leslie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy Spring card! Love your coloring! Hope Sophie is doing well! She'll be up and running soon!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful 'touch of Spring' with the pretty florals and the mix of spring colors. Some of my daffodils are blooming in the woods, my tulips are popping up, all my daffodils have buds and my forget me nots are blooming as well, everything is about 2 months early here, even my lilacs have huge buds and they shouldn't appear until May, this tricky weather scares me for all my blooms!!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. I spend so long deciding what to do that my time runs out. this is just perfect though, so time well spent. It is just beautiful xx
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful ... fantastic art.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Anke
Absolutely STUNNING spring time card! Your image is beautiful and you're coloring of it is amazing! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Four Seasons and Triple B challenges! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
ReplyDeleteDarlene
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Co-Owner … Can You Handle the Pressure, Double D, Four Seasons, Peace On Earth, Stencil Fun, Simply Clean & Simple, Two Old Bats, Triple B, Word Power
This is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt just a darling card. So fresh and spring like.
ReplyDeleteThis is stunning. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing art and talent with us at The Four Seasons Challenge Blog. We always enjoy your art and hope to see you there again soon.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there's a FUN (and very short) Blog Hop at Really Reasonable Ribbon taking place now and you can WIN some great prizes.
www.reasonableribbon.blogspot.com
Another FUN challenge with awesome prizes and I'd love to have you join the fun. You can find it here:
www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com
I wish I could 'plunk' a card together like this! It's beautiful and I love the delicate shading on the corners too. I love it when a card gels so quickly. I'm such a slow stamper so I am amazed when one does come together like that!!!💕 Thanks for sharing with us at Penny Black Saturday Challenge! 💕 Sue Kment
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card Leslie - hope it doesn't take you another year to ink up that stamp again!
ReplyDeleteThanks for playing at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge!
Helen x