~ Beauty and Blessings ~

There are very few things more beautiful than a vibrant sunset.  The colors of nature are spectacular...  from the sunrise over the ocean to the color variations in each and every flower...  the creation is a reflection of the Creator.  Today's card reflect the two things that remind me of our Creator each and every day.  I am constantly reminded of His love and mercies at the close of each day.  And I am reminded of his care and provisions when I see a flower. 

Layer by Layer -
1.  Black Card stock 4.25 x 11 inches, scored and folded at 5.5 inches
2.  Orange Card Stock cut and embossed with Sunburst Background Die
3.  Black Card Stock cut and embossed with Pierced Circles Die (image mat)
4.  White Card Stock - image stamped with black ink from ODBD's July release, BON VOYAGE
5.  Distress Inks on image - Salty Ocean (with White Gel Pen for waves); Worn Lipstick; Spiced
     Marmalade; Squeezed Lemonade (Circles Die) mask used to create setting sun
6.  Blossom - white card stock colored with Distress Ink Tattered Rose and Mustand Seed; ODBD's
     July release HIBISCUS DIE
7.  Ferns - Black Card Stock - ODBD's July Release - FERNS DIE

And now for my second card also featuring a few items from July's ODBD release...

  Layer by Layer -
1.  White Card Stock Base layer 5.5 x 8.5 inches, scored and folded at 4.25 inches
2.  Orange DP 5.5 x 4.25 inches ODBD's Birthday Brights Paper Pad
3.  Plaid DP from ODBD's Birthday Brights Paper Pad cut and embossed with Pierced Rectangles 
     Die
4.  White CS ODBD's Beautiful Borders Die
5.  Yellow DP ODBD's Birthday Brights Paper Pad die cut with Double Stitched Pennant Flags Die
6.  Pale blue DP ODBD's Birthday Brights Paper Pad die cut with Ovals Die; white sentiment panel
     Ornate Ovals Die; sentiment from ODBD July release Aloha; Ranger Archival Ink Garden Patina
7.  White Card Stock - blossoms - distress ink - Tangelo, Angel Pink; ODBD July Dies - Frangipani Die
8.  Leaves (dark green DP) - Frangipani Die; Boho Bolds Paper Pad

The July release items  you see today...

Thank you for visiting!  Until next time, Blessings!

Flourish

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope my American friends had a happy and safe 4th of July!  It seems after the 4th our minds turn inevitably to school shopping and the end of summer.  So today, I thought I would take a few moments to place myself on a imaginary beach somewhere with a beautiful tropical sunset.  And Our Daily Bread Designs' Bon Voyage stamp set seemed to lend itself quite well to this task.  With a bit of rich inks and a bit of shading...  a tropical sunset was born... and I didn't have to take a jet plane to see it!

I started out with a black card stock base (5.5 x 4.25 inches when folded).  I added a slightly smaller rich pink mat before my final black CS mat layer (created with ODBD's Pierced Rectangles Die.  My main panel started with plain white card stock.  I layered on several different shades of distress ink until I reached the desired sunset effect.  I then stamped the palm tree image on with a vibrant black ink.  While creating my image layer, I chose a bit of of white scrap and inked it up with purple and pink distress ink to mimic the sky.  I knew I would position my sentiment in that area and wanted the background to look similar.  I chose to cut/emboss it with a die from the Pennant Flags and matted it with black CS using the Double Stitched Pennant Flags.  I created my Frangipani spray with white card stock, inking the die cuts before shaping.  The leaves are from the NEW Ferns Die and Tropical Leaves Die.  I have shared the ink colors below for those that like the shades I used.  The blossom itself was made with the NEW Frangipani Die.

So here are the July release items you see used today...

and a few old favorites...

and here's some specifics on the coloring...

Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Distress Inks - Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Worn Lipstick & Dusty Concord - Sky
Distress Inks - Mowed Lawn - Ferns
Distress Ink - Peeled Paint - Tropical Leaves
Distress Ink - Frangipani - Work Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade

Thanks again and have a wonderful day!