It's Day 2 of Sneaky Peek Week and it's Wednesday, which means it's time for the COLOR THROWDOWN. Ordinarily, I'd say that was the happiest of coincidences, but when I sat down to work this week's color combo with the Sneaky Peek Set of the Day... conundrum! I'll show you what I mean.
Today's Color Throwdown Hostess is the oh-so-eminent KRISTIN EBERLINE, stamp and digi-paper designer extraordinaire. Kristin's come up a berry-licious color combo, having gotten the idea from looking at a beautiful photo of a bowl of strawberries. Ready to see what she's throwing down? Here goes...
Looks good enough to eat, doesn't it? So, what's my problem, you're asking. Well, first let me show you the FABULOUS new image I'm supposed to work with and give you a look-see at today:
It's called BEARING FLOWERS; isn't PJ with that yummy sunflower the most delightful thing you've ever seen?! A beautiful color combo with an adorable image - again, so what's my problem? Well, when I think of bears and sunflowers, I think of green and yellow, and maybe brown and blue, too. Not pink and red and black and sage. I just couldn't see how the marriage of these two gorgeous things wouldn't produce an ugly offspring. I even lamented (okay, whined) as much to my Color Throwdown girls.
Then, Kisa Peters came to my rescue! "What about cherry cobbler sunflowers?" she asked, with an attached photo that looked a little something like this:
The hallelujah chorus instantly started playing on my mental soundtrack!
Come to find out, there are quite a few varieties of red sunflowers, the most popular being Moulin Rouge, Prado Red, and Velvet Queen. Learn something new every day, don't you?! In fact, they can't be too terribly unusual, as they made it on to these stamps issued by the Canadian postal service: (By the way, has that Canadian postal strike ended yet? Please tell me yes, as I'm waiting on a very IMPORTANT bundle of stamps from a Canadian stamp company. Not to mention the fact that some of my favorite stamp companies and stampers are Canadian and a postal strike has GOT to be making them cray-cray.)
If you've sat through all this chatter, surely you're ready to see what I've come up with, right? Here it is:
Do you likey? I have to say, I was very happy with how it turned out. Who woulda thunk?! See that field of sunflowers PJ is standing in front of? That was created using the brand new ROSETTE SUNFLOWER CutUps die. I have to say, I like it flat every bit as much as it all done up fancy, rosette-style. A die that can give you multiple looks for a single outlay of dough-re-mi = a bargain!
I happened to run across some sage thread in my baggie of thread spools inherited from my mom. I haven't ever actually bought thread in my life - I just use whatever is in the big baggie she gave me. Finding sage thread is a score, though!
PJ's glittery flower was created via Martha Stewart Crafts' Garnet glitter.
Oooh! Here's a good tip for you Copic users. Thanks to a very generous Mother's Day present from my guys, I have all but a few of the Copic Sketch markers. And you know what? There isn't a match for Sage Shadow in the lot! I was able to come up with a perfect match, though, by first coloring with BG72 Ice Ocean, then layering G20 Wax White on top. I did the same layering of colors with my Copic Airbrush system and aircompressor to create the background color for the sentiment tag.
For links to my fabulous fellow Cat Pack-ers who are also giving Sneaky Peeks of BEARING FLOWERS today, visit Alma's blog. All of the details regarding this week's Color Throwdown can be found on the Color Throwdown Challenge blog.
Be sure to visit my Color Throwdown homegirls to see what they've come up with this week's challenge and leave 'em some love:
- Kristin Eberline
- Broni Holcombe
- Barbara Anders
- Danielle Kennedy
- Laura Pryor
- and June Guestie, Betty Wright
Wanna play along with us? Of course you do! Just use CTD147 when uploading to a public gallery and add your creation to the Color Throwdown blog using the linky tool.
Supplies used:
Stamps: Bearing Flowers by The Cat's Pajamas; Paper: Sage Shadow, Basic Black (SU!), Prism - Blush Red Dark, pink gingham from A Muse | Studio, Copic X-Press Blending Paper; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Rosette Sunflower and Grass CutUps dies, Cherry Divine Twine (The Cat's Pajamas), Copic Markers & Airbrush System, sage sewing machine thread, Nestabilities Double-Ended Tag trio, Garnet glitter by Martha Stewart Crafts, redline circles, tape, and foam boosters from Jody Morrow's Sticky Stuff Store.
This is gorgeous Carole!! I love that you made the sunflowers red - it was meant to be!! And no (grumble, grumble) the postal strike is still not over. Hoping by the end of the week or early next. And yes, definitely cray - cray not to mention downright grumpy! I have packages in the mail too! Hugs PPL!
Posted by: Kerry J. | June 22, 2011 at 06:31 AM
I LOVE this card Carole! Everything about it is wonderful and that glittery flower is so fab! Going Cray-Cray over the CP lock out is putting it mildly!!! Let's hope that it all ends tomorrow. Enjoy your day!
Hugs
Karen
Posted by: Karen | June 22, 2011 at 07:43 AM
Love this, Carole! Perfect way to pull off these colors!
Posted by: Barbara | June 22, 2011 at 08:13 AM
I love the row of red sunflowers in the background. Striking colors.
Posted by: Nancy Thomas | June 22, 2011 at 08:23 AM
Gorgeous sunflowers! Love how you created sage shadow with your copics, very clever lady! Adorable card!
Posted by: Danielle | June 22, 2011 at 08:31 AM
ACK! Holy cannoli Carole! I FLIPPIN' LOVE this! The red sunflowers ROCK and I love the garden you created with them! You TCP girls are a bunch of enablers...add this to my list of MUST have new TCP swank!!!
Posted by: Jodi | June 22, 2011 at 09:07 AM
Hey!! I made cherry cobler sunflowers too;) Must be the Canadian in me!!! Funny you mentioned the postage stamp! And yes, we have no mail....hopefully something happens soon! I got my Verve, YNS, and PTI packages the day before the mail freeze!!!!
Posted by: Jenny Peterson | June 22, 2011 at 09:42 AM
I never knew about red sunflowers so consider me newly educated! Talk about a gorgeous showstopper!
Love the garden you created for PJ along with that glittery sunflower he is holding!
Linda
Posted by: Linda | June 22, 2011 at 10:00 AM
I just gasped when I saw this card. Just so wonderful. Sunflowers are not just yellow. I see tons of these sunflowers growing wild along the road and they are just huge. And leave it to PJ to find the only one that sparkles.
Posted by: alma de la rosa | June 22, 2011 at 11:35 AM
May I just say this is CUTE!!!!!
I did not know there were "Red" Sunflowers either so now I've learned something as well.
Posted by: Ida P. Krause | June 22, 2011 at 01:13 PM
MMMMM, I just lovey this card!!! The row of red beauties is just perfect!! Way to go Carole!! :)
Posted by: Julie L Masse | June 22, 2011 at 01:39 PM
Cute, cute!! Love the row of flowers!
Posted by: Melody Rupple | June 22, 2011 at 02:55 PM
just amazing!! love love your garden of gorgeous red sunflowers!
Posted by: gabbe | June 22, 2011 at 04:21 PM
LOVE.love.love those red sunflowers, my dear, as well as that 'mossy' grass! You da color master-ess, my dear!
Posted by: Amy Rohl | June 22, 2011 at 08:41 PM
How fun! I've never seen red sunflowers! Love them and your great card too!
Posted by: Leigh OBrien | June 22, 2011 at 09:04 PM
Carole, this is brilliant! I love your field of flowers!
Posted by: Laura Pryor | June 23, 2011 at 06:34 AM
Oh Carole, this is just gorgeous! I had no idea there was such a thing as red sunflowers! They are just gorgeous! Fabulous card girl!
Posted by: Julie Dinn | June 23, 2011 at 08:24 AM
Sorry to report that the strike isn't over yet. Last week, the postal service was slowed down - this week, they're on lock-down, so nothing is shipping! It is starting to get aggravating...
On a more positive note, that card you did is SOO adorable! I love how you created the row of sunflowers and added PJ at the front! (And I had no idea red sunflowers even existed before you mentioned it! Who knew...)
TFS!
Cindy
Posted by: Cindy Major | June 23, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Thanks for the lesson. I didn't know those existed. :)
Pretty card! Love the rich colors.
Posted by: Jody Morrow | June 23, 2011 at 04:47 PM
Yep...still in the strike. I really miss mail :(
But I LOVE your red sunflowers! GORjus! So pretty all the way around.
And thanks too Carole for supporting Terry's ride. You are a gem. He leaves tomorrow!
Posted by: ChristineCreations | June 23, 2011 at 05:21 PM
This turned our fabulous, Carole! LOOOOVE those red sunflowers!
Posted by: Tammy Hershberger | June 24, 2011 at 09:22 AM
Adorable and fabulous, Carole! Great design and detailing! Love the touch of sparkle!
Posted by: Betty | June 25, 2011 at 09:44 PM
This is completely cute and fabulous!!
Posted by: Jessie/knightrone | June 26, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Well, I must say I'm glad Kisa introduced us to the very beautiful, red sunflower! I love that the college student in you couldn't resist doing a little added research so that you could share the Canadian stamps :] LOL Apparently we're behind the red sunflower curve here! Your card is pretty and fun! Your stitching is stunning as usual, and what a find in the sage thread!! Those die cut blooms are the perfect complement to your bear :] Oh, and how perfect is the sage color you created with your airbrush system?! I don't think you could've gotten closer if you had used the SU Sage Shadow ink! Bravo.
Posted by: Kristin Eberline | June 27, 2011 at 09:19 PM
Love it,Carole!!
Posted by: Ana | June 27, 2011 at 11:20 PM
What a fabulous card, Carole!! I love your red sunflowers and the layout is just perfect!!!
Posted by: Broni | June 28, 2011 at 07:27 AM
Absolutely adorable! I LOVE that bear and the sunflower die!
Posted by: Michele Boyer | June 28, 2011 at 01:44 PM