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Stained Blossom

Happy Friday, friends!  I'm so excited for the weekend!  More so than normal because tomorrow starts the first day of 9 days of vacation for me!  Hooray!  I need some time to recharge my batteries and let my wrist heal up, so Mark and I are taking a week off from work to just chill out and do some things on our very neglected "honey do" lists. That means that if you email Verve or me personally, I won't be responding until the week of May 23.  My fabulous assistant, Katrina, will still be here shipping orders so the only thing that will really be affected by my absence is email responses.  Oh, how fabulous to finally be able to say that!  How I've longed for the day I'd be able to take vacation and not have a mountain of work piled up when I return!



Okay, on with the eye candy!   Today I've got another mixed-media type of card to share with you.  I used the Text Objects set and the flowers from Hope Blooms in the background.  I've been thinking about blossoming this week, and found this definition of blossom that I really loved...  a period or condition of maximum development.  Sounds good, huh?  I'm so ready to do a little maximum developing, and I wanted to make a little card for myself to remember the definition.  So I found some free vintage clip art from Far Far Hill that matched my new blog design and I added the definition and printed onto ultra premium matte photo paper.  I've attached it here.  If you want to use it, link me up, I'd love to see what you make!

I love the Gandhi quote in Text Objects, "Where there is love there is life."  It just speaks to me of making sure to guard the things you love, because they are the things that make life truly vibrant.  I know a lot of gals in the same boat as me - their hobby is their business, and it's sooooooo important to guard the passion that made you love your hobby enough to turn it into a business in the first place!  Not only by making time to work on the projects YOU want to make, but also in respecting yourself enough to say no when faced with commitments that will overextend you and slowly rob you of the joy of creating.  My new plan is to set aside a few minutes every day for learning.... researching art I'm interested in, watching tutorials, trying new techniques and exploring my creative side.  Even if they're just baby steps, they're forward motion and that my friends, is a GOOD thing!

The Making Of:
I started with a square of kraft, which I brushed Gesso on to prepare it for paints and inks.  I did the same thing with an ivory time card.  I stamped the background from Text Objects in coffee archival ink, then added some paints and distress inks and then stamped some flowers from Hope Blooms and the life phrase in pink.  I used mainly distress stains on the kraft background and added a paper doily, then some pink glass glitter and some wrinkled ribbon to finish it off.

Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Hope Blooms, Text Objects (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Kraft, Early Espresso (SU!), Ultra Premium Presentation Paper Matte (Epson), time card, paper doily (Scarlet Lime)
Ink: Coffee Archival, Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, Antique Linen and Vintage Photo Distress Stains (Ranger), Lipstick Glimmer Glam (Tattered Angels)
Accessories:  Gesso (Pro Art), shabby wrinkled ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique on Etsy), Pink Glass Glitter (Melissa Frances), Paper crimper (Marvy Uchida), Distrezz-it-all (Zutter), pink distress crackle paint (Ranger)

17 comments

Alma de la Rosa said...

Just beautiful, Julee.

Keva said...

Wow, love that definition. It's very true.

Your card is beautiful. I love the colors and textures. Please do enjoy your vacation!!

Niki Estes said...

Julee, this is absolutely stunning! Wow! Hope you enjoy your vacation!

Unknown said...

This is absolutely breath taking! I'm so glad to here that you are going to be able to take a vacation :)

I hate to bother you with a technical question, but if you have time, I'd love to know how you adhere your glass glitter.

Julee (Vervegirl) said...

Hi Toni... for this card I just applied a thin line of Stickles around the panel and dusted the glass glitter over it. There was still a little wet glue from adhering my doily (white glue with a little water added to it), so some of the glass glitter attached to the doily as well. A happy little accident. :)

Wanda Cullen said...

Wow, you are absolutely rockin' this mixed media style! This is stunning! Hope you and Mark have a productive and enjoyable vacation!

Luanne said...

So happy you can get away. Rest and relax! Enjoy your time with your husband! Your card is gorgeous and we will miss your postings, but being refreshed and well is the most important job for you! Have a fabulous vacation!

P said...

Have a wonderful break! Too much of even a good thing can be, well, too much! Hope you get some great 'chillax' time with your hubby!

TerryAnn said...

You inspire me in so many ways! I so look forward to each and every card you make, your many creative ideas and so much more. It amazes me that the beauty just keeps coming and coming :) Hope you have a super blessed time with your husband and look forward to your coming back!

Marisa said...

So glad to hear you are taking a break :) Also glad to hear you are feeding your passion! Baby steps are good and well done on the re-prioritizing to keep the juices flowing and the joy running deep within :) Lovely card and rose image! Enjoy your time away and with Mark (((hugs))).

Amy Sheffer said...

Breathtaking card! You already seem like a seasoned pro with the mixed media! Enjoy your break, Julee -- you deserve it! Big hugs!

Vickie Z said...

WOW!! Beyond beautiful!! Really enjoyed watching the tut on making your own corrugated cardboard.... lots of ideas from that!! Enjoy your break, relax, and take time for you and Mr. Mark (of course)!! Plant some flowers... at least, they always make me happy!!

Linda said...

Have a wonderful break Julee....enjoy some time to yourself, doing the things you want to do!

SAMARA said...

Hi Julee: This is so soft and beautiful...reminds me of a beautiful flowing piece of satin in the wind! I love how you treat bows and ribbon. I am really glad you are 1) taking holiday but 2) giving your body a rest. It is so hard to do this (trust me I know) but you have obviously hit the "smart" button and are doing so to avert further problems. It will sound crazy Julee, but try going off dairy for a few days and see if you the tendonitis is any better. Sometimes the components of the dairy leach and the toxins affect these areas. I've worked with that when mine gets bad. I wish you lots of healing and LOVE for your week and will send your vewy vewy sore tendons the BIG prayers. Hugs, Samara xox

Teresa Kline said...

this is stunning Julee....your talent is over the top fabulous....make the most of your time away, you so deserve a break girl....{{{hugs}}

enjoy *~*

Debbie Carriere said...

Julee, this is just beautiful!! Love everything you have incorporated & love that you take the time to let us all know the details :) Enjoy your vacation - hope you two get lots done & have some fun together, too!!

carole (TruCarMa) said...

Gorgeous, Julee! And I LOVE that definition of 'blossom'. Like you, I'm a word girl, and that really speaks to me. Fun fact to know and tell: when I was first pregnant with Truman (now 14.5 years old... EEK!), before I knew what gender he was, I considered the name 'Blossom' if it was a girl. My husband nixed that, so we moved on to my second choice: Willow. I always loved that lyric from Paul McCartney & Wings' 'With a Little Luck' -- "the willow turns his back on inclement weather/and if he can do it, we can do it, just me and you."

Okay. Now this is turning into one long ramble! Have a fabulous, much-deserved break, beloved Julee! :)