Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Fern-ish


Clean. Crisp. Soothing.
I would love to decorate like this someday-when the boys have grown out of their bull in a china shop phase and I have time to dust. Oh wait, I don't think that will ever happen, not at my house and not with my boys...


I fell in love with this fern-ish picture found on Pinterest and decided on another go for Virginia's Stamp Your Hero Heart Out Challenge. (This time I followed the rules and used a Hero Arts Stamp!) I'm really drawn to the water smash background technique and you'll see it in a couple more of my cards, probably sooner than later.

I've extended my own Grab Bag Giveaway! Been super busy lately and haven't had the chance to gather things for the winner, so head over to this post if you haven't already and enter!
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35 comments:

  1. KellyJune 14, 2011 at 9:44 PM

    not in my house either with my two rowdy boys, oiy. Very "clean" card and the ferns are perfect with the sentiment.

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  2. UnknownJune 14, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    This is gorgeous Karen! I love the background and the stitching at the bottom is a nice touch!

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  3. TigriswillreignJune 14, 2011 at 9:50 PM

    I love how ragged you get your edges! What's your secret?

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  4. LaurelJune 14, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Gorgeous!

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  5. ChristinaJune 14, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    So clean and fresh, Karen. I love the soft, inked background and subtle lines of stitching!

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  6. Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin)June 14, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    The distressed edges are great and the water smash technique is just beginning for a tutorial, perhaps your first May Arts post?

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  7. Virginia L.June 14, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    Aw.. I LOVE LOVE this subtle beauty, Karen! The colors ARE utterly refreshing! I adore how this photo inspired you (I should do this more often--note to myself)! Thanks so much for entering Stamp Your Hero HeART Out Challenge! Good luck!

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  8. ~Tammy~June 14, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    I dream of those wonderful elegant things too, and my boy equals about 6 rowdy ones...your take on the inspiration is just wonderful and soothing! A much needed calm to my storm right now. Hope all is well.

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  9. Amanda WinkelmanJune 14, 2011 at 11:20 PM

    Karen- What a lovely, fresh looking card! I love the distressed look to the edges! I love to know that there are others out there like me, who have decorating dreams but live in a reality of boys!!! My motto is: I can't have nice things!

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  10. Sharli SchaitbergerJune 14, 2011 at 11:21 PM

    Hi Karen,
    The colors are truly calming and soothing. That technique is one I need to try - the result you've achieved is just amazing. Beautiful card!
    Hugs!

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  11. LynnJune 15, 2011 at 5:27 AM

    Love the cool colors. We've been talking about getting new family room furniture...but my mom clearly said to me, "The boys are still too young." Hah...so much for wishful thinking!

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  12. Handmade Creations by StephanieJune 15, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Gorgeous!!!Love the colors!!!

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  13. farmhouse-storyJune 15, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    your ragged edges, and stitching work beautifully with your soft pretty bkgd, karen! (my husband is 47 and is still a bull:)

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  14. Jen W.June 15, 2011 at 7:24 AM

    Gorgeous! Love all the details - the inked background, the wavy stitching and the distressed edges.
    And I'm with you on wishing I could decorate like that but with my wild dogs running around it will remain a dream for now! :)

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  15. Heather InnusaJune 15, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! Absolutely beautiful!!! The colors are so wonderful & the stitching is such a lovely touch. Also, looking at this post, I see yesterdays peeking through - I SO love that bag! Those lil elephants make me very happy!

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  16. Sharon in ArizonaJune 15, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    Hi Karen - This is a very beautiful card!! I love the simplicity of it and yes, it is very soothing. Is there a tutorial for this background technique? Would love to try it. Thanks: smarch@wildblue.net
    Have a great week - Hugs, Sharon :o)

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  17. LindsayJune 15, 2011 at 10:38 AM

    LOL! I seriously couldn't agree more with bulls in a china shop! I have two boys as well, one who is 3 and the other is 30! I can't seem to keep up either. Your card is so lovely Karen! I love how you've interpreted the colors.

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  18. JennyJune 15, 2011 at 3:10 PM

    Yep I'm more in agreement with the dusting remark never mind the children ! =D
    Beautiful card Karen, I love the distressed edges and the sewn base line.
    Jenny x

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  19. DanaJune 15, 2011 at 7:15 PM

    Think positive! Of course it will happen! A superbly simple display that is mimicked perfectly in that beautiful card.

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  20. artfuldelightJune 15, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    I know exactly what you mean about wanting to decorate. One day I will be able to have furniture and nice things. Now we have the absolute bare necessaties. No end tables, no coffee table, no night stands. We eat off plastic plates and drink from plastic cups. Nobody's room has furniture except beds and ours has a couple desks too. LOL! Some day!!! :-) Anywho your card is so beautiful, the colors are fabulous and that sentiment is perfect. I think "sympathy" type cards are tough, at least for me. That sentiment says it just the right way. :-)

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  21. Emily LeiphartJune 15, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    HAHA, loved your story 'cause that's totally me and my experience. ;) The sponged background is so gorgeous and I love the stitching and distressed edges.

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  22. BabyBokChoyJune 15, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    What is "to dust?" lol.
    Love that fernish photo and your card is ferntastic! oy, that was a stretch of a pun, lol.

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  23. alexandra s.m.June 16, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    How beautiful! love the ethereal effect karen ;-)

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  24. yyamJune 16, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    Love the dreamy effect Karen!!! :)

    You could have really high displays...lol

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  25. Leigh Ann BairdJune 16, 2011 at 8:53 AM

    It is very soothing and uses my favorite colors. Beautiful!

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  26. Amy KollingJune 16, 2011 at 11:12 AM

    Gosh Karen you captured the colors beautifully! I think I may need to know how to do that background! It's so pretty!

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  27. TrinhJune 16, 2011 at 8:37 PM

    Your card is like a breath of fresh air, Karen!

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  28. Alice June 16, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    sigh... that background is so pretty and fresh. such a wonderful card to look at in a hot day! love it, Karen!

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  29. MikJune 16, 2011 at 9:45 PM

    The background on you card is really neat!!

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  30. jenJune 16, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    I'm with everyone else- show us how to do that background- it is lovely!! :D

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  31. ~amy~June 18, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    lovely....really great take on the inspiration pic!

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  32. CherylJune 20, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    Beautiful card! I love the soft colors.

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  33. suzARTeJune 21, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    Karen, this has to be one of my favourite cards of yours. I love the colours and the earthy look, just beautiful

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  34. Virginia L.June 23, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    Congrats on the Hero Arts Tweet! LOVE this card (still)!!

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  35. DorothyJune 23, 2011 at 2:16 PM

    Very cool ... and serene!

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