Friday, July 31, 2009

Flower for a Friend

Hi, all! Happy Friday! Yesterday I helped my friend, Karen, start moving into her fabulous new house. Her stamping studio is awesome, with built-in cabinets and everything...AND, even though it's a basement--lots of windows! I can't wait to see it all finished! This whole thing is even more exciting since her family has been living in a tiny apartment for the past few months, and all her stamping stuff has been packed away. Talk about withdrawal!

Anyhoo, today's card combines a couple of challenges. The first is the current Cuttlebug Challenge: to make a gatefold card using your favorite folder (Swiss Dots, of course!) in honor of National Friendship Week. The other challenge is Stacey's brand new Curtain Call Color Challenge. You may know her from her jewelry inspiration challenges; she's changed it a bit so she can pull inspiration from anywhere...and this week she's featuring some yummy Marimekko fabrics--I love me some Marimekko!

I wanted my flower to be the focus on this card. I embossed the layers with my Houndstooth folder, then inked the edges and turned them up a bit for some dimension. You like?

Hope you've got some fun plans for the weekend. I'm having lunch with a friend today before heading back over to Karen's to start unpacking all her crafty stuff. Hoping for a low-key Saturday with the hubby, too. Have a good one!
Stamps: Best Yet (SU)
Paper: Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, PTI white
Ink: Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots & Houndstooth, Nestabilities blossoms, pearls (Jenni Bowlin), ribbon (Michaels)

65 comments:

Kelley Eubanks said...

I bet that will be fun... getting to unpack someone elses crafty stuff and see what they have. I should start a new thing of getting together with local gals and just going through each others stuff to see what they have and what I might want to add to my list of 'to buys'! I guess when women get together to craft they may already do this!?!? Maybe it won't be an original idea! :) Beautiful card... love the flower focal point!

Heather P. said...

Simply beautiful! What an elegant card!

Sarah-Jane Kalé said...

This is BEAUTIFUL. Simple, classy and BEAUTIFUL.

xx Sarah

Angie Tieman said...

Ann, this is *fabulous*!!! I love your colors and yummy flower!! Great job on the challenge!

p.s. I didn't Karen was your friend! I've been wondering what happened to her! You are so nice to help her move. Tell her I said hi!;

Anonymous said...

Wow i love this card! The big flower is fabulous.
Enjoy unpacking your friend's crafty stuff!
And have a lovely week-end!
Hugs xx
Pat

PinksyDoodles said...

Fantastic flower Ann, this card is gorgeous.
Enjoy lunch with your friend and have a great weekend.
Clare x

xiumaiyuki said...

Gorgeous flower and the sentiment is so sweet! Fabulous!!!

My Serendipity said...

Of course swiss dots :) it's my favorite too! I love the card..I am always a fan of black and white. The flower is gorgous..like the way you did it.
My DIL and I are scrapping all day Saturday! we are excited..gonna stay in our jammies..woohoo!

~*Joni said...

Oh Ann! The colors on this is so amazing! :D I love love love the work that you do. The swiss dots is probably my favorite go-to as well, it compliments your flower so perfectly! I am jealous...a basement with windows and built in cabinets? ohhhhh man....;) Enjoy your day, don't think too much about you-know-what starting up soon...

StampinCathy said...

Very pretty card. I love that flower.

Ann Kranitz said...

Gorgeousness!!!

~amy~ said...

Love the pop of the flower Ann!!!

I'm hoping to be seriously crafty this weekend!!

mckinkle said...

Oh Ann, I love this card, the colour is perfect and the texture and the flower is just gorgeous! Ive not seen this flower before but I adore it and it is now added to my wish list. Thanks Ann for your inspiration, it is such a beautiful card!
Keryn x

Susan (peebsmama) said...

Really nice flower. I like the pearl accents.

I would be so jealous of a friend's brand new craft room. But then I guess you will be invited there to play often.

Lyn S said...

Fabulous flower Ann! Gotta love that Swiss Dots folder too!

Cheryl Walker said...

Beautiful job on this Ann!! I love the flower and the colors!!!
Hugs,
Cheryl

B said...

The flower is stunning! Have fun helping Karen unpack -- and have a great weekend!

Caryl P said...

A beautiful card Ann. I love the flower, especially the pearls at the center!

Susan Raihala said...

Of course I like. What's not to like? The pearl center is particularly gorgeous!

JoLynn said...

You are a challenge goddess, my friend. Love dark blue and white together. So classic.

Elena said...

Wow! This card is fabulous! Love this gorgeous flower!

Aimes said...

Wow! So beautiful and bold - I love it! Your flower is awesome!
Hugs,
Aimes
x

Maile Belles said...

Beautiful card! Love the embossing on the white! :) The flower is fabulous, love the pearls in the center. Congrats to your friend on a move to the new house!

Regan said...

ahhh so purdy Ann

Sheri Gilson said...

Very Pretty Ann!! The flower is fabulous. Great job!!

Anonymous said...

this card is beautful! I love the color of the flower and all the texture

Randee E said...

This is just fabuloso!! I love the color for the flower and how it definitely is the focal point:0) So pretty!

Leah said...

So pretty! Love that color combo, one of my all time favs:)

bsgstamps4fun: Barb Gault said...

Gorgeous! The Not Quite Navy flower is gorgeous, love it on the white!

Karen said...

So beautiful! I love all the texture, your colors, and especially those sweet little pearls in your custom flowers center!! I'm kind of hoping for the same thing for Saturday....hope yours works out the way you want it! :>

jem (jane elizabeth middleton) said...

glad you liked my card yours are fabulous. janex

Stacey Schafer said...

What a gorgeous interpretation of the Curtain Call! Love the bursting flower in the center of the textured dots. Thanks so much for playing along it Act 1, Ann!

AUsome mom said...

Love this flower! It just adds so much dimension. Loving the gate fold card too:) I'm sure your friend loved having you help out yesterday. It's so much easier when you have some help! Have a great weekend!!

Vicki said...

Ann, this is stunning! Wonderful color! Have a blessed weekend!

Cassie said...

what a gorgeous flower!! thanks for joining at CBC!
http://www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

So gorgeous Ann!! What a super sweet flower!! Gorgeous blog too!! :) HUGS

Pat (mspfd) said...

Simply beautiful!

Unknown said...

Stunning card.

Michelle said...

oh ann!
this card is gorgeous and elegant and ideal for this week CB challenge!

TFS! and Thanks for playing along this week at the cuttlebug challenge blog!
michelle.
http://www.cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/

Marie Bingaman said...

Hello Ann! I love that HUGE flower! What a great color it is too! Hvae a great day and weekend!

Rochelle said...

Very nice! I love the simplicity of it, yet it is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

I `Love` your beautiful card Ann... The flower is `gorgeous`
Thanks for joining in with the Cuttlebug Challenges..:)
`Enjoy` the rest of your weekend.
Terrie
http//cuttlebug.blospot.com/

Denise Marzec said...

Oh that's PRETTY! I love the classy look of navy and white. :)

Courtney Baker said...

Hey girl- I got my goodies in the mail! Thank you so much! I love it. It totally made my day!

Kerri said...

I love that big bloom, and Swiss Dots is definitely my favorite too! Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment : )

Winter said...

Oh, I love it! That flower is too cute and the colors are perfect!

Mandy Schneider 97 said...

very cool idea! great colors..love it! TFS!
Mandy

LeAnne said...

OOOh, love this, Ann! I thought that color combo was so yummy!

Ali Manning said...

Gorgeous card, Ann. You did a fantastic job with that flower!

Cindy Lee said...

Ann oh Ann! This card is fabulous! Love the big flower! You are just so good with flowers!

Jacquel said...

Awesome card Ann....love all the texture and the flowers!!

Lynne in NI said...

I like very much! Gorgeous flower and I love all the embossing

Nancy L. said...

really cute!

Unknown said...

Me like!! lots and lots and lots!

(-: Heidi

TannyP said...

GORGEOUS!

Shantaie said...

Fab card, Im jealous that your friend gets a new stamp room, but happy you get to enjoy it too!!
Thanks for playing along at cuttlebug challenge blog!

kathy s said...

what a friend - shifting house is such a chore- that's why I refuse to do it- I'll help others but wont do it myself- but wish I had a propper set up for my craft area like your friend Karen

June Houck said...

This card is fabulous...especially the flower! Brilliant making it the center of focus. Thanks for playing along with us.

June Houck
Proud DT member @ Cuttlebug Challenge blog
http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com/

Gina Lindsay said...

This is so pretty!

Becky Carafa said...

What a fab flower!

BLJ Graves Studio said...

Very pretty! Love the flower.

Unknown said...

WOWie!! You made this flower?? Girl, it looks like something you would buy at the store...LOVE it!! I think you should do a tutorial!!
Thanks for playing with us at Cuttlebug Challenge!!
**Jackie**
http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com

Stamp and Smile said...

WOW'za! Your pearls in the flower center are just the perfect touch and so is your soft ribbon! Great works of ART!!

Kathi said...

Stunning!!!

That flower is gorgeous. I love that color.

Deanna said...

Stunning! Holy crap you get a lot of comments! tee hee