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Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Day 1: Majestic Peony and Happy Fall

Good morning and welcome to our September inspiration hop! As usual, Gina is giving away a $50 gift certificate to one lucky commenter! Thank you in advance for your comments as you hop along, and best of luck in winning the GC! You should be coming from Rema's blog.


First up, we have Majestic Peony. So many ways to color and use these huge flowers! On this first one, I used GKD Skeleton Leaves Amalgam ink to stamp the image on watercolor paper and colored them with Watercolor pans and water brush. Cardstock is Pure Luxury Black Onyx and Kraft and greeting is Jet Black Amalgam stamped 3 times with the MISTI so it's nice and crisp.




 This next card was inspired by my friend who had an unexpected pregnancy at 40, and is in love with her new little man, but still struggling with the big change of having a newborn. She told me she heard an analogy this week, about when "transplanted" to a new pot, the plant and roots go into shock for a short time, until the roots spread and go deeper, and then the plant can really grow.  This sentiment was perfect to encourage her to stay the course, blooming into something richer and more beautiful as her life and family has been enlarged. I did a spotlight technique and colored just the new part with bold alcohol markers. I tore the edge where the image overlaps to represented the uprootedness from the former life.  Cardstock is Warm Glow and White. Ink is GKD Amalgam Jet Black.


  For the last sample with this set, I did just a bit of coloring with two alcohol markers to really pop with the red greeting.  The gray shadows really emphasize the form and just one flower draws you in.  Sometimes simple is best! The absence of blending really creates a beautiful contrast. Cardstock is GKD White and Tomato Soup.





Next we are showcasing Happy Fall.  I did some stenciling (from the new Autumn Splendor kit) with GKD Tangerine Twist and a Life Changing Blending Brush for some pops to swirling leaves before stamping the old leaf in the same ink plus GKD Dark Truffle Amalgam.  I did an ombre effect with the two inks on the greeting and then traced I with a white gel pen.  I added some white dashed paths for the leaves for movement and popped one up for more dimension. Cardstock is GKD White and Kraft.

Next, I wanted to use the bold banner in the set a different way.  Trim off the hanging V and turn it into a pocket!  GKD Blue Denim ink tapped lightly onto the image allows for some texture from the surface to the pad, just like jeans! I used Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, and Tangerine Twist for the leaves. Cardstock is White, Blue Denim and Tomato Soup.
For the last card, I stamped Emily's beautiful greeting onto my boards from Perfect Pallets and cut them apart to split up the sentiment for something more unexpected. Stamp the greeting again over Red Velvet cardstock an cut out a little heart, then line it up over the first sentiment. Cardstock is Black Onyx, Kraft, and White. 






Next on the hop is Sheri's blog.

Just arriving? Start at Gina's.




Thank you for visiting today! Which card is your favorite? 
Tell me below!
Come back tomorrow for ideas for the new Autumn Splendor kit!

64 comments:

  1. omg, that first one so rocks mel! LOVE them all that one is my fav though!

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  2. Your cards are beautiful as always, you have that certain knack to achieve the best of a stamp!💜🤗

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  3. Always inspired by your creativity. Beautiful cards.

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  4. Awesome release, your work is beautiful!!
    Love your friend’s analogy.... God bless her family!!

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  5. Each of your cards is wonderful! I enjoyed seeing them all and congrats to your friend. What a wonderful blessing she received!

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  6. Wow - I love all of your cards, but that first one is stunning (my favourite)! I love the soft pink.

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  7. Your no line watercolor is breath taking. I really need to do this technique

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  8. Thank you for sharing your talents. Although I do not watercolor (very well), I enjoy seeing your talents. My favorite card was the one done solely in red and grey. Lovely. Mostly, though I enjoyed your sharing of the story about your friend. What a wonderful anaolgy.

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  9. I love the friends card, so nicely done.

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  10. I absolutely love the majestic peony. I think it is my favorite from this release but then again, fall has such beautiful colors also!

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  11. All your cards are beautiful and I love the analogy of your first card, but my fave is the last card where you used the planks.

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  12. Love all your cards but the 1st one blows me away! You never cease to amaze me. Thanks so much for sharing your talent. Any hints on a new Stately Flowers?

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  13. Gorgeous cards Melanie, I love the first one but I think the second one is my favorite it's so very special not only because of the story behind it but also the way it's designed.
    Thank you so much for sharing your awesome inspiration.

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  14. Love all of your cards! The second one is amazing! Thanks for sharing!!!

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  15. Love the variety of your cards! Super idea to make a pocket.

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  16. Your cards are beautiful. My favorite is the first one using the Majestic Peony set. The coloring is exquisite -- looks like it should be hanging in a museum.

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  17. I'm always excited to land on your site Melanie and as usual, you didn't disappoint! These are so different and soooooo stunning!

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  18. Melanie what unique ideas you have with these cards-love them! Love the stamped boards and the jean pocket and that Tangerine ink!! I'm a sucker for watercolored images-yours are so realistic I can almost smell them-thanks for the inspiration!

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  19. Very beautiful cards. Thank you for inspiration

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  20. I loved the card you made in honor of your friend. I had my first child at 37 and my second at 39, so I understand what she is going through! Your card what so thoughtful and lovely. Love your denim pocket, too!!!!

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  21. The card for your friend is so sweet. I know she will love it. I sure do. The water colored peony color is so soft. I love this card. And the way you made the denim pocket was brilliant.

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  22. I love all your cards Melanie. The 3 you did of the Peony are lovely. The one you did for your friend is so sweet.

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  23. Such wonderful cards and such a creative thought process for your friends card. I love it!

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  24. Love the uprootedness card and meaning!

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  25. Beautiful cards, great variety! The partly colored image with the torn edge is so creative

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  26. GORGEOUS cards! I love the fall colored ones!

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  27. I live the red flower card! So simple but so very elegant.

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  28. Beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing.

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  29. Gorgeous cards. Your coloring is wonderful.

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  30. Such wonderful cards. Love your colors...
    Thanks so much for sharing.

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  31. I wish I could watercolor like that!

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  32. The red Peony card is stunning. All so pretty.

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  33. Beautiful cards. The oversized floral is amazing

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  34. Wow, love your cards as usual, but that first one with the pink flowers is just so soft and pretty! Just lovely!

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  35. Beautiful! Your cards are amazing!

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  36. Beautiful cards. I especially love the card you made for your friend.

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  37. Love, love, love the large flower watercolored. It is just stunning. I also love the fall cards and how you stamped the large greeting on the perfect pallets.

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  38. Melanie - your cards are all so pretty. Love the sentiment paired with the Perfect Pallets background. What a wonderfully thoughtful card you made for your friend. The leaves paired with the Mandala stencil is perfect and your no line watercoloring on your first card is stunning. Inspired indeed!

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  39. So many amazing cards! Turning the banner into a pocket was genius, and combining the large sentiment with the palette stamp was a perfect combination. Thanks so much for all of the inspiration!

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  40. Love all the beautiful cards , especially the one with just the red (Tomato Soup) and white. Very pretty.

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  41. So much creativity here! Well done!
    stamping sue
    http://stampingsueinconnecticut.blogspot.com/

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  42. Your cards a really pretty. I love the spotlight and, of course, the planks. Gorgeous!

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  43. Your cards are gorgeous! I love the watercoloring on the first one. :)

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  44. Love your cards!! The first one is so unique and so pretty!

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  45. All gorgeous! Especially love the peony with the gray shadows.

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  46. So many beautiful cards you are sharing! I love the watercoloring on your first card. Wow!

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  47. Your cards are so unique and awesome! :)

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  48. stunning samples - congrats to your friend on her new little man - he is sure to bring her joy

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  49. These creations using the new sets are so inspiring and I love all of them.

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  50. Wonderful use of the new sets in making such gorgeous cards. Thanks for sharing.

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  51. You always give me great ideas. Love your cards

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  52. I love all of your cards, especially the one for your friend. The torn cardstock is genius to represent the transplanting to a new 'pot'.

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  53. Gorgeous and creative cards! Thank you for always being inspiring!

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  54. Oh my goodness, what stunning and festive card designs. Simply amazing!

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  55. Your cards are gorgeous! :) I really love the no line coloring on the first card.

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  56. Beautiful cards! So much inspiration! Especially love the first peony card and your beautiful coloring!

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  57. The shading on that first peony is
    fabulous. Love the pocket full
    of leaves. fun idea. Great cards.
    thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  58. Awesome GKD release! Gorgeous creations, I especially love your Bloom with Grace card and the story behind it!

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  59. The peony is so gorgeous...I didn't think that I would like it; but, seeing your Cards; I Love It!!!

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Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)