Thursday 2 April 2015

The Light It Up Blue For Autism Awareness Blog Hop - Love You To Pieces

Hello and welcome to a special blog post today! I am taking part in a huge blog hop to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day, so thank you for joining me. You can read all about the blog hop and find the links for all the amazing artwork here on Veronica Fletcher Zalis' blog. If you would like to find out more about Autism I recommend checking out the websites for The National Autistic Society (in the UK) or Autism Speaks (in the USA).


I also have a very sweet friend whose eldest son is Autistic, so I am delighted to participate in this event to help raise awareness. For those that are interested, my friend Galina writes very eloquently about the subject on her blog Chez Maximka (where you can also find some lovely recipes).

I can also highly recommend My Son's Not Rainman, an amusing blog written by the comedian John Williams, who is a single parent to "The Boy" - who also happens to have autism. John is also writing a book (also called My Son's Not Rainman) about life with his son. My Son’s Not Rainman will be published by Michael O’Mara Books in 2015 (it will be dedicated to the memory of Connor Sparrowhawk and a percentage from each book sold will go to Express CIC.). I am very much looking forward to reading this later this year.

Anyway, on to the artwork! Here is my "blue" card, which was a total labour of love since it took me well over twelve hours to make! I am thrilled with how it turned out though! Please click on the photos for a clearer view. 


Yesterday my new Distress inks arrived, just in time for me to have a play use them on my card for this blog hop! 


For my main focal point I chose to stamp this gorgeous image, Norma J. Burnell's Mid Summer Dragonflies, available from Sweet Pea Stamps. I used VersaFine Onyx Black ink to capture all the fine details and to enable me to watercolour the image with Distress Markers, without them bleeding. I also used Strathmore Bristol Smooth paper, which I cut with a Lawn Fawn stitched rectangle die.


I also decided to stamp and colour some extra dragonflies and flowers so that I could layer them up for more dimension. I highlighted the dragonflies wings with my clear Wink of Stella brush pen - you can just make out the lovely shimmer if you click on the photo to enlarge it.


The photo below shows the selection of Distress Markers that I used to watercolour the stamped images. Previously I have used a clear acrylic block to scribble the ink onto before picking it up with a damp brush. However I recently saw a video on Kristina Werner's blog where she had laminated some white card to use as a palette for watercolour markers, so I thought I'd try it out. I'm glad that I did and I have to say that it's so much better than using a clear block as you can actually see what the colours will look like against the white background.


Below is a close up of the stamped panel after it had been decoupaged with clear foam pads. The background panel was sprayed with blue and silver glimmer mists, then repeatedly stamped (using Memento Teal Zeal ink) with some tiny hearts from the "You're my Fave Valentine" stamp set by Studio Calico. It's lovely and shimmery in real life! I tied a double bow with some Hug Snug "Elegant Peacock" seam binding and added a tiny silver dragonfly brad - so cute!


For the sentiment I die cut the word "Love" (by Papertrey ink) six times out of white card and stuck them all together for added dimension. I coloured the edges of the word with my new Mermaid Lagoon Distress marker and covered the top with some blue holographic foil - it's so pretty and shiny! (Now you know why my husband calls me a magpie - LOL)! I used three puzzle pieces from a blank white jigsaw and coloured then with Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and an ink blending tool. Then I used my Mermaid Lagoon Distress Marker to selectively ink up some of the letters from the sentiments in the Waltzingmouse stamps "Nutcracker Sweet" stamp set so that I could stamp the rest of the sentiment onto the puzzle pieces. I thought that this was appropriate since jigsaw puzzle pieces regularly appear as a logo on many of the Autism websites.

Finally I die cut some leaves using a Crealies leaf die set (CL CS 12) and added some details with Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint Distress Markers. I added some tiny forget-me-not type sweetheart blossoms (from Wild Orchid Crafts) and added the arrangement to the corner of the card with some clear foam pads.


Thank you so much for reading this long post! Don't forget to leave a comment on as many of the blog hop posts as you can, as there are a whole load of fabby prizes to be won from the following kind sponsors! 


I had so much fun taking part today! Huge thanks to Tenia Renee Nelson and Veronica Fletcher Zalis for organising it all!

Lynn 

43 comments:

  1. Wow!! What a GORGEOUS card, dearie!! Thanks so much for participating in this AWESOME hop!! You ROCK!!

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  2. Wow, you really made a beautiful card! Love the stamped image and how you 3D'd the butterflies and flowers! Your colouring is fabulous! Wonderful card for the hop!

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  3. Thank you for your kind words, Lynn! That's a gorgeous card, love the colours and the slogan is perfect.

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  4. Just.... wow. Lynn, you are an amazing artist! This card totally speaks my heart. I just discovered Sweet Pea stamps and I am totally in love with their images. Also - HOW did you get that bow tied so beautifully?!?! I am always bow-befuddled.

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  5. Totally gorgeous and full of lovely detail and sparkle, it really is an amazing card and the words are so appropriate )

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  6. Adorable card! Very feminine and pretty.

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  7. I love your beautiful card, the image of the girl is gorgeous and I love all the dimension you added to her hair and the butterflies! Awesome card for an Awesome cause! Thanks for supporting Autism Awareness!!

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  8. Beautiful card, so love the distress colours. I am in the North West too!

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  9. I really like the depth your created in your card. Great work!

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  10. What a beautiful masterpiece you have created. Your coloring is stunning. Thanks for sharing your amazing work of art with us.

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  11. Wow! What cool card! Great tips!

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  12. Wow this is gorgeous! GREAT job!!! Thank you for joining the hop ♥

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  13. Your work is absolutely amazing...your card for today's hop is beyond gorgeous.

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  14. Oh this is so pretty and your new toys look like fun. LIUB!

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  15. Great card! Your card is so beautiful! The coloring is perfect. Thanks for participating!

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  16. What a gorgeous image!! I love tole layers and your coloring is fab!!

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  17. Perfect timing for your new blue schtuff to arrive!!! Love your card and the fun puzzle pieces too!

    ♥ Sue Kment

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  18. Lynn - a labor of love indeed!! A gorgeous, magnificently done labor!! Your coloring,l your details, your beautiful blue bow all just make this a card that shines and just screams LOVE!!! Thank you for participating and supporting this hop!! I hope you have an EXTRA SPECIAL DAY!!!

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  19. Lynn....thanks for the tips how to use that distress pen/marker...its great idea and I really love your 3D flower on that lovely lady Image
    the colors are adorable and your bow oh wooooww I love it much soperfect Lynn..
    please explain how you made your bow Lynn..
    AWESOME POST for the HOP
    hugs,
    Monika
    (I love and proud to join this hop and hope you like to hop back to my card it is #155)

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  20. I was delighted to find this blog hop in aid of Autism as our 8yo son has low spectrum autism. He is a wonderful boy, much loved by many. Your card is beautiful and thank you for the autism links!! Thank you to all the sponsors for supporting this cause.

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  21. Beautiful card! gorgeous image and colors are perfect!
    Kisses;)

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  22. Gorgeous! I love all those pieces you layered on & on & on some more :-)

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  23. BEAUTIFUL card, Lynn ~ amazing work of art.

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  24. Wow! This card has a lot of work but it worths!! It is fantastic!

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  25. Simply stunning! Such a beautiful design. Thanks for the tip about using the laminated white card. Very clever idea. xx

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  26. What a work you put into your great card ! The colouring is amazing !
    Thank you for sharing and explaining !
    Happy Easter !

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  27. Wow, the coloring is just exquisite and the card is beautiful! The puzzle pieces and all the little embellishments make this fabulous!

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  28. What a beautiful card! The coloring and dimension are phenomenal! HUGS! :) Mynn xx

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  29. Love how you worked the puzzle pieces into the background. I am in awe of cardmakers that use the person image...I have never been able to.

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  30. So pretty. My son's not rain man either... I have two autistic children. Thank you for supporting this cause.

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  31. Fabulous card!!! Love all the dimensions!!!

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  32. Such a beautiful card! I really like how you added the dimension -- I'm surprised all the work that went into this ONLY took 12 hours!

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  33. I like the softness of this and also the dimension. This is adorable.

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  34. Beautiful creative card.

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  35. Beautiful. I like the dimension of use of puzzle pieces for the sentiment.

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  36. Wow.....love the dimension you added by layering the different elements. Just gorgeous!!!
    Thanks for participating in this important hop!!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  37. Beautiful card, so much extra dimension...must have taken you ages to snip all those pieces out!!! Thanks for the two links, I'll have to check out those blogs too :)
    Jenny x

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  38. Oh em gee Lynn! This is absolutely freaking STUNNING! So much texture & dimension and just incredibly beautiful. I love it! Thanks so much for joining in this blog hop that is making my heart sing :)

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  39. I love this magnificent creation to pieces! It is quite obvious this was a labor of love and every exquisite detail is pure perfection! A true masterpiece and a breathtaking work of heart!! Thank you so very much for playing along in the LIUB blog hop and for helping to spread this message of love and support for all those living with ASD. I also thank you for introducing us to Ms. Galina's blog and for sharing details about the book by John Williams. I very much look forward to visiting the blog and to reading the book. Hope you have an amazing day! ♥

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Thank you for leaving a comment - I love to read them all!