Monday, May 23, 2011

BBTB2 Florals Embellished Flying Bird Challenge


Happy Monday, everyone! I'm pretty excited today because it was my turn to pick the challenge for BBTB2. While browsing through the manual of Florals Embellished, I fell in love with the beautiful birds, particularly the flying one on page 61. I immediately knew the "theme" for my card but it took me awhile to pull it all together. There are two different ways to cut the bird on Florals Embellished, the layers, or the silhouette. I chose the silhouette, but had a hard time choosing colors so I cut it several times in varying shades of blue and mixed and matched until I got a combo I liked. The dark body and outline are actually the negative cuts from that color but I likes the extra white border that gave me against the darker shadow. Now I've got lots more bird cuts that I can combine for other projects. The banner, from Happy Hauntings, had the word "caution" cut out of it, so I hid the contours and spelled out "dreams" using the font from Cindy Loo. I ended up cutting it 3 times (once with the letters, once in solid blue and once in solid white) and gluing the light blue behind the "dreams" layer and trimming the edges off to make it more dimensional. Because everything was pretty clean, I was afraid to ink it up, but I did use my Copics color CO to shadow the banner cuts slightly around the edges (although it doesn't show in the pix.

For the base, I welded two of the "doilies" from Cindy Loo and the shadow of the bird and shadow of the banner from Happy Hauntings. The shadow of the doily had different shaped scallops, so I had to hide all of the contours on the back of the card to get a solid scalloped square that matched the front.

Yeah, this turned out to be another fat one, alright. It started growing when I decided to give the wings multiple layers to simulate flight. There are 3 white layers to the bird, but they are all glued together at the body.

Two of the layers are glued together at the tail and lower wing and popped from the third and all 3 layers are separated on the top wing. The light blue embossed areas of the wings are glued near the body and popped near the edge for further dimension. I did the same for the shadows of the banner, popping all three layers through the center, but gluing two of the layers together at the ends to make it look more curved.


Notice when the card is open, the front is flush because I welded it all together, instead of just popping the elements on top. That way you don't see all the "mechanics". It also makes for a much sturdier base for all the dimension. Inside is the first verse of the poem "Dreams" by Langston Hughes, which is the inspiration for this piece. In case you can't read it, is says:



Hold fast to dreams


For if dreams die


Life is a broken-winged bird


That cannot fly.



It reminds me that no matter how great the obstacles may be, it's our dreams that keep us alive. I intend to keep dreaming and believing, until they come true. xxD

33 comments:

  1. Oh my oh my, ...this is just absolutely wonderful.
    Every little detail is fabby, and I love the sentiment, front and inside. As always, you shine.
    Hugs
    Carole

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  2. This is the most beautiful bird cut ever. Your card is amazing and the white and blue are so crisp and clean. I humbly apologize for not using the proper cut for my project this week. I didn't get the Florals Embellished cartridge until after I'd used another cartridge and had my project done. I feel really bad about that even though I know it's not a neccessity.

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  3. Wow!! This is pretty!!! Love the blues!!

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  4. what was that sound?... oh yeah MY jaw hitting my desk! donna this is a stunner. you never cease to amaze me chickie :) this was a fun challenge, wish i had the cart, that is one pretty bird. :)

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  5. OMG beautiful card, Donna! Just beautiful!

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  6. Oh wow this really is a beauty, I wish I could understand how you made the design (arranging layers etc).
    Kim xXx

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  7. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Well, you've really outdone yourself with this one, Donna! Just when I think I've seen the best, you come up with one better! The verse is so perfect for the images. I so love this card!

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  8. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL card!!! :-)

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  9. Oh Donna, it's beautiful.. and can I ask what cart. the banner came from... just gorgeous... hugs

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  10. Wowza - it's gorgeous!!

    sorry I haven't been around lately...took some time away from bloggy land to visit with my daughter. :)

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  11. Gorgeous project, Donna! Great choice for the challenge. :)

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  12. This is a beautiful card! The sentiment inside...very true!
    have a wonderful day!

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  13. You are certainly the queen of layers. That is very much a compliment. This card is awesome through and through! Love the layers -- of course!

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  14. Look at all these lovely creations I've missed while trying to figure out all my techno probs! I love this card and all it's layering...you made a great choice!

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  15. This is gorgeous! Love the blue and white colors! Amazing layers!

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  16. WOw!!! this is just STUNNING!!! My creative Diva!! I love to layer and add depth, with the embossing just a perfect creation :)

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  17. Oh you are so clever Donna...this is just magic...dont have this cart.now my neice has left America its much more difficult to get the new carts except on e bay.....so guess what!!!!!love what you have acheived with the colours hugs Margaret

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  18. This is just fabulous. I love the colors you used. and that poem is just perfect.

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  19. I am so behind, but I say this and had to stop and comment. SHOCKINGLY BEAUTIFUL Donna. I am in love with it--every part including the sentiment. I could look at it for hours :) So sorry I didn't participate for your challenge--I wanted to do this one SO bad.....

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  20. Wow!! This one looks like it took you days and days to make, Donna! Absolutely stunning!!! Your work continuously blows me away!
    hugs, Sharon

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  21. Amazing......

    Thanks for the information,
    Cindy :)

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  22. OMGosh, Donna! This is absolutely stunning! I love the layers and the monochromatic colors. WOW!

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  23. Wowza. Talk about perfection. Lots of work went into this beauty. TFS how you did it.

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  24. LOVE IT!!!! This is the first of your work that I have seen and this is so great......Thanks for the inspiration. I will be checking out this blog for sure... Thanks Lanagrams

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  25. This, my dear, is just fabulously amazing. I was WOW-ed as soon as I saw the cover - but being you, you took it even further. Can I be you when I grow up??

    love ya,
    Susan

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  26. This card is absolutely beautiful. What a creative job you have done.

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  27. Stunning! I love all the different shades of blue you used as well as the texture embossing.

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  28. Amazing card is all I can say! This is absolutely beautiful!! Love the bllue and white.

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  29. Oooooh SO pretty! Love the shades of blue and white and all the layers. The inside is as pretty as the outside.

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  30. Beautiful !!! Love all the layers...the colors and the sentiment is perfect for this card !
    xoxo Joy

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  31. My word. Another master piece from the oh so talented miss Donna. I really love the color combo you used. That banner is just gorgeous. Now I have to get that cart for it. Great font too. I specially love the end of your post and obstacles. You are so right!!!!

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Thanks for making my day!