Monday, October 28, 2013

Happy birthday, Christine!



IT'S A SURPRISE PARTY!!! Grab a handful of confetti, a bright balloon and come along for a fun birthday blog hop to celebrate a special birthday for our dear friend, Christine Okken!  One thing about birthdays is that you always hope to spend time with those you care about, and that's why we're here!  At Flourishes, we're just one big family... so we just wanted to celebrate a wonderful day with one of our loved ones. Even though we're a day early, we'd like to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE!

Join along with members of the Flourishes family today and share some fabulous birthday inspirations, many happy celebratory birthday wishes and maybe even a slice of cyber cake. Here's a handful of confetti for you, Christine! Hope you enjoy your surprise, and your special day.


I had so much fun making the elements of this card! The dragonfly is a clear acrylic piece that I colored with alcohol markers. My card also fits today's challenge for Hope You Can Cling To over at Splitcoaststampers, and the dragonfly can be removed to hang in a window or used as an ornament. I really hope it will bring a smile to someone facing hard times!

Here are a few pictures I took during the process... this is a really fun technique that works on acetate as well. Maybe this can be our Create With Me Monday - this was my scheduled week, and we left me on the calendar so Christine wouldn't suspect anything... heheeee!

 I stamped the Siberian Iris image on a scrap piece of cardstock and taped my acrylic piece over it with some washi tape...


...then just began coloring in the image as if I were coloring on the paper. It helps to work quickly and in small sections, since the ink dries fairly quickly, and also because subsequent layers of color will affect the color that's already dried.



I started with my lightest color, then added shading by stippling in darker colors. When I was done with the coloring, I filled in the rest of the shape with circular strokes, and sketched in the outline with a fine black marker. And here's the completed piece on my card! I love how it turned out. The sentiment I used is from the Magnolias set.




In honor of Christine's birthday celebration, we're giving away a special birthday present or two of our own!  Hidden among the Design Team's blogs today is a Mystery Blogger. Comment on her blog and you could be chosen as one of our birthday prize winners! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

As well as one lucky commenter, we're having a birthday challenge too!

THE OFFICIAL RULES:
  • Simply create a NEW birthday themed card or project.
  • Entries need to be in by Friday November 1st at 6 PM EST.
  • Those entries using Flourishes stamps will be counted for 2 prize ballots!
  • You must link your creation in our InLinkz Widget to be counted. You'll find it on the Flourishes Blog!
  • You must have a link to our challenge in your blog post or gallery post.  Please feel free to use our Birthday Graphic too!
  • If you upload to SCS please use the keyword FLLCWISH
  • We'll announce the winners on the Flourishes blog on Saturday November 2nd, so check back then to find out if you are a winner!
Don't forget to leave some love for our fabulous designers today for a chance to win...

Aleksandra Mihelič
Allison Cope
Cheryl Lea
Cindy Lawrence
Deborah Anton
Dina Kowal
Heather Jensen
Jenny Gropp
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Maki Jones
Meredith MacRitchie
Naomi Gong
Stacy Morgan
Silke Ledlow
Tosha Leyendekker

......and remember to stop by Christine's blog, HERE, and send her some birthday wishes too!
Thanks for stopping by!

P.S.  These are the Touch Twin Markers that I used:

32 comments:

  1. How cleaver!! This is really pretty and great idea to use the flower over the acrylic!

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  2. My oh my...so beautiful! Can't wait to try this technique.

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  3. Oh my goodness this is a WONDERFUL idea. I love your card, love the technique and love your dragonfly. TFS.
    Crafty hugs,
    D~
    DesignsByDragonfly.blogspot

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  4. Wow! What an awesome and creative card/gift! Love this idea.

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  5. THUD! That is gorgeous and so clever! Well Done! TFS!!!

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  6. Dina, I just knew when I clicked on your link that I would be treated to a stunning piece of art. What a beautiful card for Christine. Love this technique and love what you did with it.

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  7. What a cool technique! I love the dragonfly on the white on white card. Really pops!

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  8. So vivid and unique. Love your take on this!

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  9. Donna Whitten10/28/2013 12:04 PM

    Your card is awesome, I love it.

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  10. WOWZERS! This is absolutely Gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  11. Dina - this is amazing! I absolutely love the hidden iris in the butterfly. The colouring is so gorgeous and vivid! Thank you for such an awesome birthday surprise…I had no idea! Big hugs to you!

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  12. Just beautiful! Love the way you did the dragonfly and love the bling!

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  13. DINA!!!!!! So, am I missing something here???? IS THIS A "SUN CATCHER?" I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!! What a LOVELY IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christine will LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to hang this in her window where she stamps!!!!!!!!!!!:) BEAUTIFUL IDEA!!!!! The stamp you used looks NOTHING like it!!!!!!!! SOOOOO CREATIVE!!!!!!!!! :)

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  14. WOW! I knew you would have something really neat and artistic to share. I love the purple and blue hues. :)

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  15. Very clever how you colored this!

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  16. *GASP* Dina, I just knew you would make something breathtaking!!! Oh My Word, this is just spectacular!!!

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  17. Your card is beautiful and that dragonfly is spectacular! WOW! Love the sentiment and that pretty ribbon and bow. Gorgeous.

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  18. You've outdone yourself again. The dragonfly is darling. Love how you coloured a flower into the dragonfly. Great results Dina.

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  19. Fabulous. I am sure someone will love this. I can imagine it with sun shining through on maybe a hospital window. Thanks for sharing the how to.

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  20. Oh...Dina...you are so artistic and out of the box!!! I love this idea and card...just brilliant!

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  21. Dina, this is such a beautiful card. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the dragonfly and your technique for coloring it. I wouldn't have thought of using a floral image. Way cool!!! I am going to have to get me some of those alcohol markers and try this technique. Thank you for sharing!!!

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  22. Wow!! This is so cool Dina!! I love how it turned out and the vibrant colors just pop against all the white.

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  23. Wow!!!! Stunning!!!! Nope, we did not use the same process! I can't wait to try again with a bigger piece of acetate and give your technique a try!

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  24. Very cool and super vibrant colors Dina! SHe will love it.

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  25. How beautiful and creative! I love that card and gift in one, so clever!

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  26. WOW!!! This is so pretty...have to give this a try for sure!!

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  27. Absolutely stunning. What a wonderful technique and the bright inks looks so beautiful against the white.

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  28. Oooo . . . isn't that fun! What a neat idea AND it can be used, too! Thanks for showing how you did it; it looks really cool.

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  29. Wow! This is gorgeous! :) Nancee

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  30. Wow - such a cool technique - will definitely have to try this one out :-) Gorgeous card.

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  31. Beautiful!!! What a creative idea. What a lovely result!!
    <3 J

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  32. Beautiful and creative. Love the colors:)

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