Apr 20 2008

Iris in Pastels

Published by leslierich at 2:07 am under Cards, Flourishes

Spring Iris Apr08I had the urge to make another Siberian Iris card today, this time with the delicate, fresh colors of Spring.  This is so not what our Spring looked like today…I woke up to find the ground covered with hail, and snow falling on top of that.  It was a complete turnabout from last Saturday which reached 84° in the sun.  Needless to say I spent that day in the garden, but today was a good day to stamp.

I colored my iris with Stampin’ Up!’s soft chalks (Stampin’ Pastels), giving it just a soft blush of Ballet Blue applied with a very light touch, then shaded with Not Quite Navy.  I feel I have so much control of the color when I use chalks and, unlike other mediums, you can simply erase an area if the color turns out too dark or you’ve gone outside the lines.  I use sponge-tipped eye shadow applicators in a variety of shapes and sizes.  A blunt, rounded tip is perfect for shading around the outside of an image, and the skinny applicators that Stampin’ Up! sells are great for those narrow areas.  When you need to get really detailed, a blending pen is a good tool to use.  Here’s a selection of the applicators I use:

Sponge ApplicatorsI have lots of each type so I can avoid mixing colors too drastically on one sponge.  I can pretty effectively wipe the color off a sponge if I need to, but I’ll try to stay with similar colors.

I made this into a Mother’s Day card, using one of the appropriate sentiments that comes with the set on the inside of the card.  I love inside/outside sentiments, though, so I stamped “You are so special” from Flourishes’ Many Sentiments on the card front.  The beautiful script seems to go very nicely with the iris.

Some out of the box cutting of the iris panel allows my new Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug embossed background to show itself off.  This is a handy technique for getting a lot of different looks from a large image, especially when the cutting is so clean and easy, as with this iris.

Time for me to wrap this up and hit the hay.  Heck, some of you are probably just getting up!  Have a very pleasant Sunday!

  • Stamps:  Siberian Iris, Many Sentiments (both from Flourishes)
  • Paper:  CTMH Sunkiss Yellow, Stampin’ Up! Whisper White
  • Ink:  Chocolate Chip
  • Accessories:  Polytwill from Stampin’ Up!, Stampin’ Pastels, Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

42 Responses to “Iris in Pastels”

  1. # Diane Lapointeon 20 Apr 2008 at 5:30 am

    Oh my this is a wowzer!!!! Love the soft colors,you did an amazing job!!TFS!

  2. # Lynnon 20 Apr 2008 at 5:59 am

    This is gorgeous, so soft and pretty!

  3. # Libbyon 20 Apr 2008 at 6:11 am

    Very pretty Leslie - I’m so glad you acted on your urge to use this stamp again. :-) And interesting to learn which tools you use with your chalks - I would typically use qtips - maybe that’s why my results aren’t as nice as yours? Actually I guess it’s more a reflection on amount of talent… :-) Boy I wish I could come to Oregon and take a chalks lesson from you! :-)

  4. # Jannette Don 20 Apr 2008 at 6:16 am

    Very nice! I can’t quite get my chalks to look like that. Thanks for the inspiration!

    Jannette D.

  5. # bronihon 20 Apr 2008 at 6:49 am

    So softly beautiful and spring-like! I just love it!

  6. # Rose Annon 20 Apr 2008 at 7:07 am

    You certainly now how to work those chalks, Leslie!! Your coloring it so gorgeous and realistic on this!! I love your embossed background and pretty color too!!

  7. # Tracyon 20 Apr 2008 at 7:12 am

    I love this card Leslie. I’m going give chalks a try! :)

  8. # Carolenon 20 Apr 2008 at 7:18 am

    Beautiful job with the chalks! And, a great card.
    Thanks for sharing!

  9. # Jessica (jessrose21)on 20 Apr 2008 at 7:22 am

    This is so pretty and soft! I love how you cut out the iris; it’s a perfect image for that technique.

  10. # LeAnneon 20 Apr 2008 at 7:23 am

    Gorgeous card, thanks for the details on using pastels. I am trying to use them more often! Cutting out part of the iris makes it really stand out on this card.
    LeAnne

  11. # Pinkyon 20 Apr 2008 at 7:35 am

    This card is absolutely beautiful! I love it and I need to go back to the basics by using my chalks more. You have achieved a wonderful touch w/them. They make the iris so soft and delicate looking. Thanks for the detail on using your chalks…

    Pinky

  12. # Shelly Schmidton 20 Apr 2008 at 7:55 am

    I read your blog everyday….I guess I am a lurker- I rarely leave comments…..today, I cannot NOT leave a comment…….this is breath-taking…..Stunnung!!! I am a lover of blue…… Your work is so inspiring in general, this card is A+++++++!!!!! Thanks for sharing your talent!

  13. # diane mcveyon 20 Apr 2008 at 8:00 am

    This is just stunning! From the background to the gorgeous flower, it’s just a perfectly beautiful card! I am in awe….thanks for sharing! :D

  14. # StampMomon 20 Apr 2008 at 8:35 am

    Stunning — need to get my chalks out and play, thanks for the inspiration!

  15. # Linda Bullardon 20 Apr 2008 at 8:58 am

    Well, you’ve done it again with this Iris image! Beautiful work with the pastels, and thank you so much for the details about the “coloring tools” you employ for these masterpieces of yours. I especially love the effect from the out-of-the-box cutting. Linda

  16. # nancy littrellon 20 Apr 2008 at 9:55 am

    Leslie, your soft colors, beautiful chalk coloring and out of the box cutting really show off this wonderful stamp image. I love how so much of the CB background shows thru also. Such a nice simple touch with the added ribbons. What a gorgeous, gorgeous card and I got to see the main image IRL :-) Thanks again Leslie for the totally inspiring watercoloring playdate. My head is spinning with ideas. Your friend forever, Nancy

  17. # nancy littrellon 20 Apr 2008 at 9:56 am

    P.S. I got 3 really nice watercolor brushes at The Art Connection on my way home last night :-)

  18. # Sueon 20 Apr 2008 at 10:16 am

    Leslie, this is absolutely gorgeous. I often find my pastels sitting on the shelf while I use other things. Thanks for the nudge to use them again.

  19. # Barbaraon 20 Apr 2008 at 10:35 am

    this is lovely Leslie.
    Can I ask did you stamp the flower in black? I always wonder what would be the best thing to do when stamping these images

  20. # Heather Fullertonon 20 Apr 2008 at 10:35 am

    Thank so much for great explanation on the brushes you use.
    Retired Heather

  21. # Idaon 20 Apr 2008 at 12:02 pm

    This is just lovely. I love soft look that chalks add to a card and your colors are indeed refreshing.

  22. # twinkson 20 Apr 2008 at 1:30 pm

    What a beauty! I actually did take out my SU pastels after your last card with pastels and I must say that to my surprise, I enjoyed dabbling. I just adore your creations. TFS!

  23. # Conniecrafteron 20 Apr 2008 at 1:44 pm

    Absolutely Beautiful!!! Love the softness of the coloring, I have only tried Q-tips to color, I will have to give the eyeshadow brushes a try! Love the dimension you have given the flower and the lovely bg for it!

  24. # Shelly aka papermoon04on 20 Apr 2008 at 5:00 pm

    The perfect touch of spring, gorgeous Leslie!

  25. # Lisa Dolsonon 20 Apr 2008 at 9:42 pm

    Leslie, this is simply beautiful! Your composition and colors are perfect together. Thank you for showing us your pastels’ coloring tools. Have a great day!

  26. # Menda Haydenon 21 Apr 2008 at 2:30 am

    Leslie this is stunning. Love every inch of it. TFS and talking about the chalks love using mine too.

  27. # Joanneon 21 Apr 2008 at 2:35 am

    Wow - just fabulous! I love how you have coloured and cut the image, and the elegantly simple arrangement of the card.

  28. # Veltaon 21 Apr 2008 at 5:56 am

    As always…this is so beautiful…Leslie ~ You are such a talent…I love your work :)

  29. # Alison Snowon 21 Apr 2008 at 6:40 am

    WOW WOW WOW! this is one of the most beautiful flower cards I’ve seen! I love everything about it, from the CB bkgd, to the awesome colouring job with the pastels and especially the out of the box flower!

    Wonderful job, can’t wait to steal this idea!!! I think it would be a beautiful scrapbook page!!

    Alison

  30. # Alexandra Hobsonon 21 Apr 2008 at 9:57 am

    This is absolutely gorgeous!! Love it! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

  31. # jacksonbelleon 21 Apr 2008 at 3:18 pm

    This is so pretty Leslie! I love the ribbon and embossed background!

  32. # Micheleon 21 Apr 2008 at 3:27 pm

    WOW! This is gorgeous!!!

  33. # Jillon 21 Apr 2008 at 7:50 pm

    So fresh and beautiful!

  34. # rainyon 21 Apr 2008 at 11:08 pm

    This is breath-taking, Leslie. And thank you for the tutorial on the chalks. I have had the complete set of chalks from SU! for over a year and have never used them because I don’t know how! I can’t wait to give them a try now… How do you erase? If you use a blender pen does that pretty much set the color then? Sorry to bother you with questions… I’m just excited! lol

  35. # Vivon 21 Apr 2008 at 11:21 pm

    More beautiful cards to ogle since my last visit. They are wonderful Leslie and a credit to you. Viv xxx

  36. # Shel9999on 22 Apr 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Your shading is amazing!!! And I love the embossed background. Gorgeous!

  37. # Joan Jefferyon 22 Apr 2008 at 6:24 pm

    This is a gorgeous card. Fantastic. Joan

  38. # Kayon 23 Apr 2008 at 6:42 am

    I subscribe to your blog and really enjoy seeing your creations. This one inspired me to order the stamp set! Guess that’s the idea … ;) I hope I can do it justice. Thanks for all your inspiration and instructions.

  39. # trudeeon 27 Apr 2008 at 5:59 pm

    MERCY! that is stunning!!

  40. # notimetostampon 29 Apr 2008 at 11:38 am

    I started to comment here days ago and was interrupted — so, finally back at it — LOL!!! I LOVE this card — you have used such a gorgeous out of the box technique for this beautiful Iris - oh my!!! This is another one of your cards that truly makes me *sigh* as I look at it — just so, so lovely in every respect!!!

  41. # Siberian Iris « Seaside Creativityon 30 Apr 2008 at 8:06 am

    […] inked up the gorgeous image!  The inspriation came from Leslie Miller’s stunning card shown here.  I embossed the image in black on watercolor paper.  I watercolored using a set of Loew Cornell […]

  42. # Dee Jacksonon 06 May 2008 at 9:16 am

    Oh Leslie this is gorgeous!!! I’m always amazed at the flowers you color.
    Dee Jackson

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply