An Old Friend for Freshly Made Sketches

You know I love a good sketch challenge, right?  Since the moment I saw this week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge, I have been unable to think of anything else.  I love it!  Well, I also love “found time” during the week when I’m able to craft in The Fungeon (that’s the fantastic name for my stamping basement).  What did I work on during this “found time”?  My submission for this week’s FMS challenge.  Here is my project:

Swallowtail, Banner Greetings, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, FMS124

And here’s Karren Johnson’s incredible sketch that inspired my card:Tips, Tricks and Reminders

  • Another Old Friend.  Yesterday I shared a card I made with Everything Eleanor.  As I mentioned, working with that stamp set was like visiting an old friend – it’s been a while since I had visited with her.  That encouraged me to look over the other stamp sets I hadn’t visited with in a while.  That’s when I came across the Swallowtail, that friendly, oversized monster of a butterfly.
  • Embossing on Multiple Panels.  There are three panels at the center of the FMS sketch.  I immediately knew I wanted to create one image with the three panels.  I alternated colors in the panels with the colors in the embossing powders.  The color combination came about because I was limited by the colors of embossing powder – and I couldn’t be happier.  I cropped three panels at 3-3/4″ x 1-1/4″.  With a 2-Way Glue Pen, I created a temporary adhesive on the pack of the panels and tucked them tightly together.  I stamped the Swallowtail with VersaMark and then embossed each panel individually.Swallowtail, Banner Greetings, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, FMS124
  • Added Embellishment.  When a sketch calls for a specific element, I try my best to make it happen.  This sketch has a band across its base of the sketch – I tried 100 different options to find the right one.  OK, maybe it wasn’t 100 options, but let’s just say I used a lot of ribbon and twine before falling in love with this twine from the Sweet Sorbet Accessory Kit.  I tried Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, White Twine, a Double Layer of Pool Party Seam Binding.  They were either too subtle or too overpowering.  I tried bows, knots and buttons.  In the end, I love this option – it gives texture and an added element without taking away from the butterfly image.

Stamp sets:  Swallowtail, Banner Greetings  Papers:  Basic Black, Pool Party, Whisper White  Inks:  Jet Black StazOn  Accessories:  Stampin’ Emboss Powder (Pool Party and Black), Sweet Sorbet Accessory Kit (Pool Party twine), Stampin’ Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian

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Planning for Our Chat.  I wasn’t kidding when I invited you to have a chat with me.  I would love to talk with you about all the benefits of purchasing the Starter Kit.  It’s that important to me – and I won’t lead you astray.  Email me at [email protected] if you’d like to chat.

40 Comments

  1. You are a creative genius! Love this! All the elements work together so beautifully! I could stare at it for a long time, lol.

  2. This is beautiful. I love the black, the layering and opposite colors. The twine looks great too. 🙂

  3. WOW!!! This is one of my all time favorites…love it! I love the complexity but yet it looks so simple and clean. I will have to ‘case’ this one!

  4. Love your creations, so pretty. Thank you for sharing.

  5. This card is beyond stunning. WOW! Love it!

  6. Wow! What a beautiful card … how DID you manage to emboss the image so perfectly with each section having a different embossing powder? Looks to me like you can perform embossing “magic” in the Fungeon! The twine is definitely the right choice – it is there, but does what you wanted it to do – it doesn’t distract from the image.
    You didn’t mention the sentiment banner in your description of the project, though. You tucked the sentiment banner in there such that there is that sliver of the black panel showing at the top covering the empty black space. It adds a bit more subtle “interest” as well. A REAL WINNER, Brian!

  7. Laurie Burns Gachewicz

    Yes Lucy, I couldn’t agree with you more… BEYOND STUNNING!!! I know you are referring to this particular old friend as a “monster” in the most loving of ways!!!! 😉 Brian, this may be (sigh) one of your BEST CARDS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

  8. Great card ! I think your embossing makes this Swallowtail even more stunning . The Pool Party twine was the right choice hands down . I think I will pull out my big beauty this week end and make a card or two . Plus I think I will try that sketch on a couple of cards . I really like it . Happy Friday !

  9. This is amazing! Thank you for the instructions. I couldn’t figure out how you used both colors of embossing powder. Very cool card and technique.

  10. WOW – a work of art-this is suitable for framing! Great job Brian-thanks for sharing your instructions-I might have to attempt this technique-so cool!

  11. I love this aesthetic! What a very cool idea for a challenge and you nailed it, even dusting off that huge stamp!

    You should host a Google hangout sometime to chat with folks and swap stampin’ stories!

  12. Incredible! I am not a fan of the monster Swallowtail stamp but there is absolutely no way I can’t love this card. You have made it beautiful. Great technique alternating the two embossing powders and cardstock and making them flow together as though they are one. I love it. You’ve out done yourself once again!

  13. Brilliant!

  14. Oh, how lovely!!!!! That stamp…..I’m still thinking of getting it, I know it’s BIG but it’s simply gorgeous too. I absolutely adore your card Brian, it’s amazing what you’ve created with this kind of intimidating image!!! I think that, if I don’t get this stamp, I’m going to be kicking myself later, when and if it’s gone.
    Thanks for the little nudge this morning, I’ve been getting gentle nudges right and left lately about certain SU toys that are a must have. Mary gave me one yesterday.

  15. Oh, wow!!! I could hardly stop starting at this gorgeous card, Brian! Whew, fabulous beauty with that butterfly! I’m thinking how did he do that? I looked closer and closer and said, “WOW!” Pool party is one of my favorite colors and against the black is just so beautiful with great contrast! Love the litter banner and twine, too! One of my favs…love it!!!

  16. Oops…dang misspell …I meant to spell little banner…lol!

  17. Oh WOW! Beautiful card,Brian! I love the butterfly,looks so awesome!!
    Thank you so much for joining us at FMS!!

  18. Stunning! (As usual).

  19. Fabulous! Love the technique!!!

  20. Love it. One of my favorite color combos and stamps.

  21. Brian – not much left to say after reading all the other comments. This card just blew me away. I always try to figure out how you do the things you do before reading your explanation. My thought was that you stamped and embossed the butterfly separately twice, then cut the card stock to make the pieces match. Of course what you did to assemble the pieces made a lot more sense. Oh fearless leader – you are truly amazing!

  22. Love how you embossed the panels, an idea worth copying!

  23. Just can’t go wrong with butterflies even if they are extra large.

  24. Brian, what a beautiful card. Your creativity leaves me speechless.

  25. Really stunning! And at first I thought the same thing as Grace did…. Your tips and tricks are filling up a big binder in my scraproom…. now I have to “organize” them so I can find what I am looking for LOL TFS

  26. Awesome, Brian. Love the colors and love the How-to explanation. Cant wait to try this myself! Thanks, thanks thanks!!!!

  27. Utter perfection! The embossing is super cool!

  28. Stunner! An absolute stunner!

  29. How do you do it??? Amazing eye for color and subject!! Wow

  30. you are a creative genius. I love this idea, this is such an awesome stamp

  31. Simply i love it. Superb art and simple. I love it.

  32. I read the article about you in stampin’ success and just had to check out your blog! I started my SU business for personal purchases only but am also seeing some success that I wasn’t expecting. Congratulations on finding your niche and thanks for the inspiring blog!
    Best,
    Diana

  33. Speechless….all I can squeak out is WOW!!

  34. Another brilliant creation! Wow!

  35. Brian, I love the panels with swallowtail. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks. Cindy B

  36. This is way more than just a card, Brian. It’s art. Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

  37. Gorgeous!!

  38. Hi Brian, this is an absolutely stunning card! Looks like it should be in a frame hanging on a wall. I would sure love looking at it in my office everyday! I hope to get to try your multiple panel technique soon.

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