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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

STEPPING OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE

I entered this card in 2 challenges Theres Magic In The Air and Digital TuesdayChallenge.
The only way to grow is to learn new things. And with the internet and all of your wonderful blogs there is no shortage of things to learn! I know it's hard to sometimes step outside of our comfort zone, but we have to if we want to keep our designs fresh. I have been doing a lot of that lately. So this week I am really taking a leap! I am going to actually "enter" a challenge, first time, don't laugh. I've done contests, but never challenges. I have to say I admire all of you who do this on a daily basis. I visit your blogs and see that you make such beautiful cards and sometimes enter them into 3, 4, or 5 challenges!
Now if that's not scary enough, I am also going to do my very first digital image! Actually it's not that scary, thanks to Nina at There's Magic in the Air. She is offering some free digital images, but she has also offered a wonderful tutorial "What is a digital image and how do I use it". Thank you Nina, I've read tutorials on other sites and just reading them left me feeling confused and believing I needed some fancy programs to print one. She explains it so clearly you just have to try it!
This challenge on her beautiful Deco Flower image calls for you to heat or dry emboss something on the card along with her free image. This is a 5 x 7 card, I used my Spellbinders Labels 8 Nestabilities, to cut and dry emboss. I colored the flower with Marvy Embossing markers, and used Stampin Up Glassy glaze embossing powder. Since I took Nina's suggestion to make a few images on the same page, I cut part of the flower out after I heat embossed it, and laid it over the original image. I also heat embossed the flower on the original image, on the opposite petals, so the colors look shaded but they aren't. I used the new Souffle 3D opaque ink for the leaves, along with a green marker. The beads were stitched together but I had to cut them up and place them on the stem 1 by 1. I added the ribbon and hid the rough ends by making slits and tucking it to the inside of the card. Thank you Nina for offering the instructions and the free image, I don't think I would have tried this if I had to buy one, but now that I see how easy it is, I will probably buy some in the future. One thing I did discover, is that I need some better coloring tools! Well, thanks for looking. ~Diane

14 comments:

  1. Diane! First of all thank you for such a wonderful write up in your posting! ((blushing)) how awesome for you to be soo kind in your words regarding me! Honestly, thank you. Second, hats off to you for taking that plunge outside your comfort zone and what a beautiful card as a reward, let alone the good feeling of acheiving the end result! Not nearly as scarey as you thought, a? "O) I love that you 3-D'ed the main flower and love the gold beads you added to the stem and above the flower! Your card is very elegant! I hope you will be back again next week, maybe you can be brave and combine a few challenges now! lol... Thanks for discovering us and big thanks for playing along this week over at TMITA!

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  2. Wow! Gorgeous card! Such beautiful detail! Good luck with the challenge!

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  3. Elegant -- simply elegant! Beautiful work with lots of details!

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  4. Diane,

    Congrats on your first challenge entry. Be careful...it can become addictive. :~) Love the digital image you used, very nice and the way you colored it makes it pop right off the white background. A real attention getter.

    Smiles!
    Gwen

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  5. Awesome card! So elegant! Good luck!

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  6. I love digital images and this one is really great. Your card came out wonderful. It never gave one little hint that you moved out of your comfort zone.
    Love the beads....
    Carole DCRU DT

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  7. Diane, fab, fab, fab. No one would ever know you had not been doing this forever. It is wonderful. Sandi

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  8. Well done, since this card is really beautiful, I believe we will see more of you! Love that and your card is lovely! Thanks for joining us at TMITA this week! Hugs Nilla

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  9. Hi Dianne!
    I love your challenge. it's a pleasure to look at all your cards.
    Hugs Marion

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  10. This is simply awesome! The coloring and the colors and embellishments are all wonderful! Best, Curt

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  11. Beautiful clean and simple card! That's a fab image. Thanks for visiting us at DTC!

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  12. How wonderful that you have now joined us in the challenges I think you are going to really enjoy yourself and your card is beautiful simple and elegant I love it thank you for joining us at Digital Tuesday.

    Hugs
    Lorraine x

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  13. Simply Stunning Diane!
    You did a great job!
    I'm so glad you could play along with us at the Digital Tuesday Challenge! Blessings, Maria

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  14. It was very interesting for me to read the blog. Thanx for it. I like such themes and anything connected to them. I would like to read more soon.

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