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Coffee Talk

Hi friends!  Happy Wednesday!  I'm back from vacation and have already hit the studio with a little color throwdown for my stint as Guest Designer over on the Color Throwdown blog!  I hope you'll play along with us this week!

Our hostess this week is the fabulously creative master of color herself, Carole Burrage.  And the color palette she's throwing down is a real mild one...

I just love this sentiment... life happens over coffee.  For many years, Mark and I have periodically gone out to a coffee shop just to talk and plan and dream.  I think it started early in our marriage when we were struggling financially just to make ends meet.  We'd always pick a place that had rich surroundings, filled with fine art and good coffee... a place that made us feel successful and then we'd talk and dream and plan about the future.  The things we wanted to do, what our dream house would be like, the places we wanted to travel, the places we wanted our careers to go.  I look back at all of those talks and I see so much goodness and hope that came out of our little coffee talks.  They're like little seeds we planted that are now starting to bear fruit.  During some of those first sessions I don't think I could have even dreamed up where we are today.  Life is far from perfect, but we are blessed beyond measure and I feel so lucky that we can continue to dream up new directions we'd like our paths to go.  Sort of reminds me of a quote I came across recently...

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you have now was once among the things you only hoped for." - Epicurus

The Making Of:
Since I hadn't stamped in a while, I just let the card take itself wherever it wanted to go while I played with whatever tickled my fancy.  The layout is a slight variation on Amy's Viva la Verve! September Week 2 sketch.  I just skewed the panels a bit, but all the major elements are there.  The mug from Better With You is paper pieced with coordinating designer papers and I popped up a heart die cut from the From the Heart die set.  The tags use the Tiny Sweet Scallop Tag dies and are stamped with the java text background.  For the sentiment circle, I lightly stamped the coffee stain stamp in Antique Linen in the background then, inked up the sentiment with two inks and stamped.

Okay, I've probably rambled on long enough for today.  Head on over to the Color Throwdown Blog where you can read up on the challenge details. Then be sure to check out the blogs of the CTD Design Team to see their colorful creations for this week:


Enabler's List:
Stamps:  Better With You (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Journey (Authentique), Lime Twist Fly a Kite (My Mind's Eye), Newsprint, Basic Black (SU!)
Ink: Jet Black & Vermillion Archival, Antique Linen Distress (Ranger)
Accessories:  Tiny Sweet Scallop Die Set, From the Heart Die Set (A Cut Above by VERVE), Classic Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Mat stack & paper piercer, Cherry Cobbler seam binding (SU!), lace trim (Webster's Pages), licorice divine twine (TCP), flatback black pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), Tiny Attacher (Tim Holtz), crystal effects, zip dry paper glue, dimensionals

20 comments

Amber Hight said...

Wow. I'm speechless! This is over the top GORGEOUSNESS, Julee! You totally rocked that color challenge, I have to try it! Love this card:)

Kathy the Teawife said...

Awwwww . . . your coffee talk story is so sweet! What a lovely thing to share. But your card is INCREDIBLE! What an inspiration you always are. I have to go tell my stamping buddies to come look at your card.

renee said...

i love to read your stories...so much insight and growth...your art shows this growth...thanks for sharing. always a pleasure.

Sue said...

Your cards are always so awesome!

Susi said...

Wow! What a beautiful colour combo. Love every pop of colour on the neutrals, and that blue ribbon/lace is GORGEOUS!

scrappingnana said...

Another beautiful creation. Love the color combo. TFS

Michelle said...

Pretty card. I love the ribbon treatment and I would totally buy that cute cup.

Wanda Cullen said...

These colors had me stumped, but you have really rocked the combo! Love this card and the coffee shop story that "blends" with it! Welcome back from vacation!

Laurie Schmidlin said...

DUDE!!!! This is so funky and cool! You not only are the twine/ribbon whisperer, but I here now dub you the patterned paper whisperer as well!! You rock my friend!!

Ravengirl said...

This looks amazing! I love how the black accents really make this pop!

Marisa said...

Yeah, you're back, and with a bang :) This is one strong colour combo and you have made it shine. Great card with amazing details. Loooove the quote (Plain Jane in it's future? LOL!). Keep on dreaming and planning :)

dpkennedy said...

I just loved your post today...it made me smile! And that quote is fantastic! I need to hang that on the wall! Your card is wonderful. I love the warmth and richness of it (much like the coffee!) and that ribbon treatment is great! Thanks for sharing this beautiful creation!

Maureen said...

oh, wow! Julee!! So happy to have you back at it in the studio and I trust you had a restful vacation :) What a gorgeous creation to treat us with today :) I agree, Life happens over coffee (and wine in some cases!! lol). The dh loves to either take me out for coffee or bring it to me after class sometimes :) Starbucks will always be special to us as that's where we met :) Love your quote and hope it becomes a stamp or another fabulous words of wisdom set :) Hugs and welcome home!!

Barbara said...

Absolutely gorgeous, Julee!! Fabulous design!

Charmaine (CharmWarm) said...

Welcome back, Julee! HOpe you had a wonderful vacation! This card is AWESOME! Oh my, how I LOVE the colors! This card is so striking!

Jennipher said...

You simply rock Julee!

carole (TruCarMa) said...

Beyond beautiful, Julee! And I agree - it IS a mild one! Everyone else has been complaining... but when I see that, I know I've done my job as a CHALLENGE hostess! ;) Your card makes me swoon, and I felt like I was right there with you and Mark in the coffee shop (that's what great writing does, you know). And I am beyond moved by that quote... so, so true! xo to you, sweet friend!

Carrie said...

this card is so awesome!!!!

Broni said...

What a fabulous card, Julee!!! You totally rocked these colors. And your sketch is awesome too!

Marlena M. said...

I love all the fun papers you pulled into this project. Stunning! ;)