SPONGED MASKED GERBERA DAISY CARD

Uncolored flower

Q-tip colored flower

Hello & welcome! I've really got spring fever now & immensely enjoyed making today's card, which involves a few techniques - masking, sponged background & Q-tip coloring (seen in the second photo).

I started by creating a mask for the gerbera daisy image (TAC). To make a mask for an image, stamp the image on a piece of copy paper, then cut out right on the outer lines. Next apply Zig 2-way glue & set aside for 1 - 5 minutes to allow the glue to become tacky. (NOTE: Zig 2-Way glue is awesome - if you glue & attach immediately, it creates a permanent bond; if you glue & let it dry a few minutes, it creates a tacky, temporary bond, like a post it note!) While this was drying, I stamped the daisy image with navy ink on white CS (3 3/4" x 5") & cut dark blue CS for the matting (4" x 5 1/4").

After checking that the Zig glue was tacky, I placed the mask directly over the daisy on the white CS, ensuring the image was completely covered by the mask. I sponged a bright medium blue ink over the entire background. Next, I highlighted the daisy by sponging a pear (yellowish green) ink around the image only. Then I sponged the top & side edges with navy ink and tore the bottom edge, as seen in the photo.

At this point, I removed the mask and lightly sponged pear ink in the center of the daisy & over the leaves and stem - I know! I colored outside the lines!!! But really, it's okay here, the inside of the card says "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES!" For those of you who refuse to color outside the lines - USE A MARKER OR PENCILS TO COLOR THE LEAVES & STEM!

Okay, with this being jokingly said (smiles), we'll continue with the rest of the card! I attached the daisy image to the navy CS, stamped the phrase with Brilliance Moonlight White, and added a sheer white ribbon bow to the top. Next I attached this to a white A2 card front, and stamped "COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES" on the inside with medium blue ink. And TADA! The card shown in the first photo is done!

To achieve the look in the second photo, I used a q-tip to pick up color from a light pink dye ink pad and colored in the petals of the flower with it. To create a shadowed look on the underlying petals , I applied heavier amounts of ink to darken these petals. Other options to color in the petals are using markers or pencils. The final step was to add the glitter glue for a little extra pizazz!

And now my craft room is calling me...... I hope I've helped to inspire your creativity today! Happy creating & smiles, Laura