Friendship Blooms Card
Happy WOYWW to you, dear friends! This week, for those of you who are regular readers of my blog, we are traveling back in time… back to January, to re-visit a creative project I began at the beginning of the year.
In January, I splashed two brightly colored pieces of collage-themed Washi tape across a Kraft-colored card. I liked the vintage theme elements on the tape and thought the contrast of the colors against the Kraft background as well as the unusual placement of the tape could be an interesting way to begin a card.
And then?
I got stuck.
I truly didn’t know what to do next.
And so – I let the card sit.
Every now and then I’d return to the card – pull it out – play with a few ideas – and then put it back into my unfinished projects bag.
Nothing really took.
In the meantime… life happened.
It’s been a truly difficult year.
But here’s the thing: when adversity strikes – that’s when you have to dig deep inside – to look past the situation you’re in the midst of – to gather up every ounce of resilience you can muster – and to look forward to the hope and promise of a better tomorrow.
The last time I pulled the card out of the bag – I realized what the problem was.
I’d been thinking too small.
I’d been thinking inside the box.
I’d been letting what I saw guide my actions instead of letting my vision guide my design.
The first several times I looked at the card – I was trying to think of a way to tie the two pieces of Washi tape together on the small, pre-cut 4 x 6 kraft card.
This time – when I looked at the card – I saw elements of creativity dancing across the page – literally wanting to burst and flourish and bloom!
So – I deconstructed the card.
I cut the Kraft card into half, keeping the original for the card front for this project and saving the back for the inside of another card I’m working on.
Then – I dug into my flower tins and looked for the biggest, brightest blooms I could find and filled it with a big burst of oversized brad!
I picked out cardstock and flowers and coordinating embellishments based on the colors in the Washi tape. I wanted to create lots of luscious layers while creating this card while – at the same time – keeping the design clean and uncluttered – simple and transparent.
I chose the black lace (off-set like the Washi) and the transparencies for that reason.
Everything on the card is very symbolic.
Creating art can be so cathartic.
Creating art can be so eye-opening.
Today, Tsunami – the nibbler of all things crafty – is manning the computer! To find out why, pop by for a peek at Wordless Wednesday!
Have a wonderful week and – if you’d like to share your talent with our creative community – please join us for Inspire Me Monday!
Creative Art Challenges
Looking for a place to stretch your imagination? Check out this week’s Creative Art Challenges!
- A Girl Who Crafts – Anything Goes (July)
- Crafting From The Heart Challenge 28 – Anything Goes
- Crafty Catz 240 – Hot Summer and/or Hot Colors
- Deep Ocean Challenge Blog 82 – Lots Of Layers
- Fantastic Tuesday Challenge 45 – Anything Goes
- Imagination Crafts July Challenges – Anything Goes
- Luna Girl Moonbeams Creative Challenge – Use Your Favorite Color (Pink)
- Ooh La La Creations 161 – Vintage
- Party Time Tuesdays 182 – July Anything Goes Challenge
- Pink Saturday
- Rednesday
- Scribble And Scrap Crafts 23 – Almost Anything Goes
- Sister Act Challenge 66 – Anything Goes Card
- That Craft Place – Anything Goes
- The Shabby Tea Room 228 – Sweet Shabby (Lace & Flowers)
- Through The Craft Room Door – Anything Goes
- Sisters Of Craft – Anything Goes (July)
- Use Your Stuff Challenge 145 – Layers
- Wags ‘n Whiskers Challenge 133 –Anything Goes
- Whoopsi Daisy – Lots Of Pink Challenge
- Word Art Wednesday 142 – Anything Goes
For More Creative Inspiration
Subscribe To Create With Joy By
E-Mail, RSS, Blog Lovin, Facebook,
Google Plus, Twitter, Pinterest
Join Us For
Copyright © 2014 by Create With Joy. All Rights Reserved.
Please contact us if you see our content on another site.
Thank you for helping stop content theft!
Very pretty card. Thanks for joining us this week at Crafty Catz. Cindy-GDT
Lovely Card! I love the pictures of your cat! So cute! Thank you for participating with us over at Through the Craft Room Door, Anything Goes Challenge. Melanie, DT
Great card, love that flower! Helen 6
Beautiful card and looks like you have the same problem with your cat too taking over your play spaces 🙂 Happy WOYWW hugs Nikki #2
The cat loves the attention. Sometimes we have to wait awhile before an idea comes together
Bridget #3
I’m glad you didn’t totally give up on the card. It turned out great. #7
Gorgeous card…pretty fabulous kitty too! Thank you for joining us over at the Scribble and Scrap Challenge. Good luck.
xx
Oh what a gorgeous kitty.
I’m sorry you’ve experienced such a tough year, and relieved that you can use crafting to give you a break. The symbolism of course is personal for you and so it works perfectly …
Hi Joy happy WOYWW… oh I do that too, also pre made bits heaped together waiting for the final inspiration….your card looks great. Cheers and have a great week RobynO#22
I so agree with you about thinking outside the box. Love how you used the washi colours to create this design.
Thanks for sharing
Bishopsmate #50
You never know what might happen when you set your creativity free!
lovely card.
thanks for the visit!
Robyn 9
Your card is beautiful. I don’t think I’ve seen washi tape that wide. The bloom definitely does bring it all together.
Happy WOYWW
Peace, Kay (65)
Beautiful card — I like the contrast of the black with your bright pinks. Thanks for playing in my Fav Color challenge at LunagirlMoonbeams.com! I hope you’ll keep playing! (PS – beautiful kitty too!)
Lovely. Well done. Good thinking – sometimes it’s fun to think “outside the box”!!
There seem to be an incredible number of highly computer literate cats about today….
Take care. God bless.
Margaret #10
Gorgeous card! I love how it turned out and the long involved creative process it took to get there. I really like it when people finish old projects that got cast aside. It gives me hope that some of my things will get finished someday too! Judy #71
Very pretty card! Perfect for a good friend!
Thank you for sharing your talent with us at Crafty Catz this week. Good luck!
Nick
Love this card all the colours look so good
agirlwhocrafts
What a pretty little card! Thank you for playing with us at The Shabby Tea Room!
How satisfying to complete a creation that has been waiting for inspiration to strike since January! Super layout and card
Thanks so much for joining us at Ooh La La
Anne
OLL Designer
just lovely! and such a sweet kitty too! thanks for playing along with us at lunagirl moonbeams! xo
I love the fact you just let this only for a few months. I do that all the time (thought it was just me) When you revisit a stuck project with fresh eyes sometimes it can all fall into place – like it did here with this lovely card.
Happy Pink Sat!! Love your “helpers”……glad you were able to get through the rough times in your life…we’ve had them here, too, and I totally “get” what you were talking about!!
dana
I send you gentle hugs across the miles. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop xo
This is SO pretty! Thanks for sharing with us, and please stop by again soon. Have a blesse week.
Karen
Word Art Wednesday
Gorgeous! Love your color choices 🙂
I can relate to your creativity block & thinking too hard about something, instead of just letting creativity flow! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I love the finished card with the flower. Very pretty!
Lovely layers! Great work!
Thanks for joining us at Stick It Down!
Super card I really need to try crafting with Washi Tape, fabulous pictures of your cats also, thank you for playing along with us at Imagination Crafts this month, best of luck xxx
Lovely card! Thanks for joining us at Crafting From The Heart! Angie-DT
http://angiescraftblog.blogspot.com/
Lovely colour combination
Thank you for entering in the Sisters of Craft challenge – Pixie (DT member)
Thank you so much for entering into the sisters of craft challenge and good luck. Tina DT x
Awesome flower – fabulous make! Love the colours! Thanks for joining us at Imagination Crafts this month. Hugs rachel x
Lovely card and great insight into your creative process Thanks for joining us at Ooh La La Creations Alli x
Wow gorgeous card, the flowers is mega awesome. Thank you for joining us at That Craft Place Challenge Blog 🙂 Kezzy xxx
This is a gorgeous card. Thanks for sharing
It may have taken a while but great result-love the big flower and black lace-beautiful cat–thank you for joining us at Artistic Inspirations
Carol DT x
Thanks so much for joining us this week at Artistic Inspirations for your favorite of 2014! Love when a great plan comes together even when it takes a while.
Beautiful card. Thanks for joining us at Clear it Out!!! I hope you get to join us again for our next challenge. Agnieszka DT
I love your cats 🙂
Thank you for loving my cats!
I love Clear It Out and will definitely be back for 2015!
Please share your creativity with us at Inspire Me Monday! 🙂
Ramona, I love this! So pretty. I’ve been thinking about trying card making but I haven’t yet.
Thank you so much for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month sweet friend.
Thanks Paula – I highly encourage you to give card making a try!
When you do please share your creations with us! 🙂