The Papertrey Ink Anniversary festivities continue! Today Nichole has some fun announcements on her blog. She's also debuting the release of dies to coordinate with the entire Year of Flowers series! Yay! The dies open a whole new world with these sets. I for one, am hesitant to fussy cut them...they're just so detailed! I know lots of you were lobbying for these, so it's exciting to see that happen.
Nichole challenged each of the team to choose our favorite Year of Flowers set and create a project with it. I chose to use the Violets set. I also snuck in a little Lily of the Valley.
I couldn't resist pulling out the Violet set again -- Violets are always special to me. My grandma's name is Violet, as well as my daughter's middle name (after her great-grandma). My grandma is one of my favorite people -- she's such an example of grace and strong faith...so even the sentiment included in this set is perfect!
I really wanted to try to create a realistic look with the violets. They are so light and airy looking in real life. To try to duplicate that, I diecut them from vellem, stamped the image and heat embossed with white powder. I then took a q-tip and some Winter Wisteria and Royal Velvet inks and blending the ink until I has happy with the color. Then I took a purple pen and added some "veins" in the center.
I added a few small flowers from the Embroidered Blooms set to the background. I just love the way the dies made it possible to overlap and layer my flowers. This card would have taken me much, much longer if I would have had to cut them all by hand! I'm so spoiled. :-)
Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you're finding some time to play along with the fun challenges Nichole is posting each day on her blog. Today's challenge is to pull out YOUR favorite Year of Flowers set and create a project with it, then link it up on the appropriate post on Nichole's blog. Have fun!
((GASP))...the Violets are my favorite YOTF set and these are amazing, Betsy! Love the little lily die cuts tucked in there!
Posted by: Kelly Schirmer | February 08, 2013 at 06:19 AM
Absolutely lovely, Betsy. I also really like the violets, as they remind me of my Grandma who always has a number of them around the house. Love it!
Posted by: Donna M. | February 08, 2013 at 06:29 AM
Absolutely STUNNING!!!
Posted by: Roxann | February 08, 2013 at 06:31 AM
Stunning- love the vellum coloured violets that 's such a great idea. You are amazing.
Posted by: Victoria h | February 08, 2013 at 06:35 AM
Absolutely gorgeous!!! Thank you for all the inspiration!! You are absolutely amazing!
Posted by: Kristii | February 08, 2013 at 06:55 AM
Betsy, you make the most amazing cards with PTI stamps! I love them! These dies are so in my cart on the 15th and um... will be case-ing your cards someday ;) happy weekend!
Posted by: Lilian | February 08, 2013 at 07:05 AM
Spectacular!
Posted by: Anne G | February 08, 2013 at 07:14 AM
Oh my WOW! Those flowers are just gorgeous!!
Posted by: Dee in NH | February 08, 2013 at 07:16 AM
LOVE IT!!!
So GORGEOUS and sweet!
Posted by: Holly Saveur | February 08, 2013 at 07:29 AM
I want to try vellum. And how sweet to have the Lily of the Valley also. Very beautiful layering.
Posted by: Deb H | February 08, 2013 at 07:30 AM
Beautiful card. Your grandma is going to love it.
Posted by: Debbie B | February 08, 2013 at 07:31 AM
This card is beautiful. Did you color on the front of back of the vellum? Did you use anything to set the color?
Posted by: Chris K | February 08, 2013 at 07:34 AM
Thank you PTI for listening to your customers! These dies have been a dream of mine ever since the YOF series. Violets, and Rose and Lilies, oh my!
Posted by: StephH | February 08, 2013 at 07:35 AM
How lovely is this? Betsy we crown you queen of cards! Your vellum flowers, make me swoon!
Posted by: Nancy Penir | February 08, 2013 at 07:35 AM
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE this card Betsy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PERFECT COLORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (AND one of MY FAVORITE flowers too! :) A flower that means "faithful!" )
Posted by: Becky Green | February 08, 2013 at 07:35 AM
Amazing card! The flowers look so real!
Posted by: Kristie | February 08, 2013 at 07:39 AM
This was the first PTI set I bought - love your card, Betsy!
Posted by: Lin | February 08, 2013 at 07:52 AM
Stunning card! Absolutely love it.
Posted by: Jeannie L | February 08, 2013 at 08:06 AM
A real show-stopper, love the way you colored the violets too. Such a nice way to think of your grandma and your daughter!
Posted by: Nancy Lempinen | February 08, 2013 at 08:17 AM
OMGoodness, Betsy, this is just so gorgeous! I love the look you achieved with the vellum and love the new dies.
Posted by: Cindy H. | February 08, 2013 at 08:46 AM
Absolutely gorgeous! Purple is my favorite color! I love the sentiment, too.
Posted by: Melissa S. | February 08, 2013 at 09:01 AM
Oh my, this is lovely! Just gorgeous!
Posted by: Luanne Ford | February 08, 2013 at 09:34 AM
This is so gorgeous, Betsy!
Posted by: Leigh Penner | February 08, 2013 at 10:02 AM
Breathtakingly beautiful! Just lovely!
Posted by: Mackie | February 08, 2013 at 10:13 AM
SO soft and feminie!
Posted by: Laura Jane | February 08, 2013 at 10:20 AM
Over in the U.K. these are pansies - not violets at all, at all.
But whatever they are they are beautiful....the colouring is just lovely and the card is a little beauty with it's Lily of the Valley die cut. Love it.
Posted by: Joyce | February 08, 2013 at 11:01 AM
I think of this flower as a pansy or an African Violet - they are so similar. This is one of my ALL TIME favorite sets and your card is is absolutely stunning. I can't wait to try this on vellum - so soft and beautiful. The new dies are such a bonus - can't tell you how many violets I have cut out!
Posted by: Donna K | February 08, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Your card is so very pretty! It just screams spring.
Posted by: Brandy | February 08, 2013 at 11:47 AM
This is just lovely. They are so light and airy and your coloring is perfect. Violets are special to me too. Thank you for your fabulous work!!
Posted by: Nora | February 08, 2013 at 11:56 AM
Love your card. The purple on vellum is stunning. Your cards are always amazing.
Posted by: Maryse N | February 08, 2013 at 11:56 AM
The use of vellum makes the most beautiful flower.
Posted by: Janice Williams | February 08, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Gosh, this is so GORGEOUS!!! Love the vellum.
Posted by: Elizabeth S. | February 08, 2013 at 12:39 PM
So beautiful, Betsy and so brave to heat emboss on vellum! What a touching and appropriate tribute to the wonderful women in your family. They are truly the cornerstones of our lives.
Posted by: Lisa Harris | February 08, 2013 at 01:07 PM
Just so lovely...perfect.
Posted by: conil | February 08, 2013 at 02:33 PM
I LOVE this card!!!And this is one of my all time favorite sets too!! My Grandma had Violets all along her windowsill when I was growing up! She loved them, and I now keep them to remind me of her!! Thank you for sharing this!!
Posted by: Heather Beck | February 08, 2013 at 02:33 PM
This is hands down one of the most gorgeous cards that I have seen! Perfect coloring!
Linda
Posted by: Linda Nicholson | February 08, 2013 at 02:39 PM
Beautiful, Betsy! Always love what you create.....
Posted by: Kris | February 08, 2013 at 03:23 PM
Stunning, Betsy! So, so beautiful!
Posted by: Sharon D | February 08, 2013 at 03:44 PM
Vraiment très beau !!! j'aime beaucoup ta carte
bizzz
Posted by: peg | February 08, 2013 at 03:56 PM
Oh my-these are so lovely.Violets are big favorite of mine also.A line from an old cw song-violets and daffodils.Used them for my wedding.
Posted by: Beth W | February 08, 2013 at 04:55 PM
I my gosh...I knew that had to be velum!!! Absolutely stunning, Betsy!!!
Posted by: Geri | February 08, 2013 at 05:08 PM
What a beautiful card! Thanks for sharing it with us. Any chance this might be made a "Make It Monday" project?
Posted by: Sue L | February 08, 2013 at 06:36 PM
Absolutely breathtaking! My Mom grew violets and your card invokes really sweet memories! I know I am going to LOVE working with the new dies - so many possibilities! Thanks for providing us with awesome inspiration!
Posted by: Jann Gray | February 08, 2013 at 10:34 PM
This card is absolutely stunning. Thanks so much for sharing.
Posted by: Carrie C | February 08, 2013 at 11:35 PM
Betsy these are just gorgeous! Love the vellum idea for the flowers and can't wait to try it once I get the dies! :) I am spoiled too! LOL!
Posted by: Jill Norwood | February 09, 2013 at 12:20 AM
Wow, such a beautiful card! I never would have thought to use vellum. I look forward to the first violets of spring every year. (I also love pansies...I think violets and pansies are related) Corrine Ann
Posted by: www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawl1Aq1M-YlmT8xpJc-c29bZEDiFGvRa-kQ | February 09, 2013 at 08:05 PM
Those violets are so beautiful!! I would LOVE if you made a MIM video where you show us how you colored them.:)
Posted by: Susan | February 10, 2013 at 03:45 PM
I use an airbrush to get this same effect. Not the copies airbrush, I use a real airbrush. You can use any ink refills using jus a drop or two. India inks are my favorite airbrush medium. India inks are so vibrant. If I use distress ink, I add 3 drops of distilled water to each drop. Multiple passes with the airbrush allows unlimited shading. It's quick and easy.
Posted by: Ann | May 11, 2013 at 02:34 AM