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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

One Layer Christmas challenge.....

Hello everyone: Well, just recently I've been making a lot of CAS cards, at first it was a bit hard to get used to leaving a lot of white space on them but, the more I made them, the more I'm  loving this style.
This time around, I'm participating in the One Layer Christmas Card challenge but without the "twist", which is "Mistletoe". Here is my card.
Ok, my card was totally inspired by THIS amazing card by the incredibly talented MARIKA RAHTU, she just blows me away with her coloring techniques and style, so this is my humble attempt at CASEing her Christmas card.
I had to improvise since I do not have the paper she used (which I plan to order ASAP!!!!!), instead of the Memento Desert Sand ink and the Brilliance Moonlight Bright, I used Stazon Dove Gray ink and my white Prismacolor pencil. The first attempt at making this card was bad, this card stock is NOT for water colors so, as soon as I applied the water, it seep through the other side, I really tried to make it work but with no luck so, I stamped the image again, which by the way is from a lovely and sadly retired SU set called "Beauty of the Season", and started coloring it with my dark brown Prismacolor pencil and a paper stump dipped very, very lightly in baby oil. The white around the image was done with SU white craft ink. The white highlights are done with the white Prismacolor pencil.  Here is a close up of this image.
To add a bit of shading I lightly went over the edges of the Holly leaves and the Chickadee with my SU Early Espresso marker. The sentiment comes with the set and it's heat embossed in white.
I hope you like this card and I hope you go visit Marika's blog, Me and Minime Crafting, so you can see why I find her style so inspiring.
Thank you so much for visiting, till next time, Happy Stamping.
Hugs from Maria.

18 comments:

Sonny said...

Beautiful and elegant ! I bet yours is just as pretty as Marika`s!!
Love this image .

Patti Willey said...

Wow! Blown away at the Sepia tones here such a vintage feel this shading and highlights are incredible! What attention you pour into the details like adding a marker for more depth! Put my name on this one before Sonny gets it lol!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thanks Sonny, Marika's card was my inspiration.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

You bet, my friend!! The dark card stock really helps show the highlights.

Bobbi Miller said...

Maria, you have me shaking my head, and wondering just when I can grow up to be like you. Outstanding! So many coloring mediums, and I am not familiar with all of them, but your card is just stunning. It takes my breath away. Challenge huh? You know how I feel about those; I am totally not good enough... But I will continue to drool over yours..

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Bobbi, I've discovered that I had some buried or hidden abilities I didn't know I had and that I haven't used yet. I would have not realize this until I took a chance. I guess I'm a late bloomer, just like with my racing experiences, I was able to do things in the sport of Triathlon I absolutely NEVER, EVER thought I could do. You never know what you can do until you try so, please do not sell yourself short, give some of this challenges a try, it's fun, all of the designer team member of this blogs are super supportive and they will encourage you to keep participating. My dear friend Sonny Peterson, whom I met through Brian King, suggested for me to get a blog, then she started telling me to participate in challenges and I'm so very grateful for that. I've met the best people on this craft through it and I love it.
I really hope you give challenges a try, you'll be surprised at how much fun this is, just remember, this is just for the thrill and fun of it.
Thank you again for visiting.
Hugs.

Mary Fish said...

Extraordinarily beautiful. One of my favorite Maria cards of all time!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Mary, I loved giving this a try, I really liked the way it turned out.

Darnell said...

I agree with you about Marika! She should be painting on canvas and selling her work in galleries! But as far as cards go, Maria, this one is worthy of framing, too! You did Marika proud! I love the way you have shaded in these monochrome tones to really make your mistletoe bird sing!! Hugs, Darnell

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Darnell, it was fun to give this technique a try. Marika is such an incredible artist, her work and style truly inspires me.

Kim M said...

A lovely CASE of Marika's card! Her work is fabulous isn't it? Your card turned out wonderful. Thanks for joining us over at OLCCC! :-)

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Kim, Marika is indeed amazing. It was fun to create this card and to share it with you over at OLCCC.

Bonnie said...

Marika is very talented, but she doesn't have anything on you, Maria! This is stunning!

Susan Joyce said...

Lovely case of Maria's card, we all need to start somewhere and give the little challenges in our lives a go otherwise we would stop learning. Well done! Thanks for sharing at OLCCC.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Bonnie, she is indeed amazing, I just love everything she does.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Susan, Marika's work is so beautiful and this particular Christmas card she did really inspired me to give this technique a try.

Lee-Anne said...

What a wonderful case...absolutely gorgeous card! So happy you could join us at the OLCCC!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Lee-Anne, it was fun to play along with OLCCC, can't wait for the next challenge.