Hello everyone! I've said it so many times -- you can get inspiration for your cards and projects EVERYWHERE! I was inspired for today's artwork by this beautiful top from Christopher & Banks. The beautiful colors, the images all 
blurred together and the impressionistic feel of this top all cried out to me, "create me in a card"! So I did! And here's my final result! What do you think?
Okay, I know you're all going to write and wonder how I achieved this look. So here you go -- directions and pictures! Have fun trying all this sponging and overlaying of images -- I know I did! Click on any photo to see it larger.
The colors I used are Apricot Appeal, Rose Red, Cameo Coral and Elegant Eggplant (how delicious are those?). I began with a piece of Apricot Appeal cardstock and stamped the En Francais Background in Elegant Eggplant. I then tore the cardstock down the right edge and stamped the large Rose from Fifth Avenue Floral with Rose Red Ink. I also stamped a few of the small Flower from God's Beauty using Cameo Coral Ink. Then I went crazy with sponging (it's so much fun to see the colors blend and merge right before your eyes). I sponged a lot of Rose Red over the rose image and some around the edges and then sponged on Cameo Coral and Elegant Eggplant, just trying to get the shading and blending effect that I saw in my inspiration photo.
I also sponged the same colors on my next layer of Cameo Coral. I ran a length of 1" Double Stitched Rose Red Grosgrain Ribbon at the bottom of the top layer and 
then attached the top layer to the 2nd layer with SNAIL adhesive. I wrapped the ribbon around the edges and brought them carefully up through the opening in the new Silver Jumbo Grommet (available April 1st in the Occasions Mini Catalog). You need to be careful that you don't snag the ribbon on the prongs of the Grommet. When I had the ribbon 
just the way I wanted it, I put the whole thing on Piercing Mat from the Crafter's Tool Kit to push the prongs through the layers of cardstock and ribbon. Using my Bone Folder, I folded the ends of the prongs down on the back of the card, turned the whole thing over and tied a simple overhand knot in the ribbon and then trimmed the ends.
I mounted the entire thing on an Elegant Eggplant Cardbase and attached another sponged and stamped piece of Apricot Appeal cardstock to the inside of the card. The butterfly was created using God's Beauty (a Level 1 Hostess Set), stamping it on Apricot Appeal cardstock with Black Stazon Ink. I then did the same sponging over the butterfly. I cut it out, covered the entire thing with 2-way glue and dipped it in Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. It is attached to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals!
WOW -- what a fun project this was to do. You sure get your fingers inky, but who care's! I hope you'll try this technique soon and share your results with me. I would love to see what you create!
Until next time -- Blessings, Gretchen
