It’s time for another challenge from the Watercooler gang!  This challenge is from Bev, and it’s an inspiration challenge.  These are the hardest for me, because the guidelines are blurry.  With a sketch, product, or color challenge, there aren’t as many gray areas.  You use the colors for the challenge, or the product, or create a card using the sketch.  With inspiration challenges, you go wherever your creativity takes you.  You can go with the colors, or the design or the “feel” of the inspiration.  It’s very subjective, and, for me, it’s like having a lot of craft supplies.  Sometimes I think you can be more creative if you don’t have as much.  It’s hard to “pare down” and say, “No, I’m not going to use everything in my craft room!”  (Ever had a day like that?  Whenever I get something new, I want to use it all on one project, and it’s a hot mess.)

Here’s the inspiration from Bev.

How gorgeous are these vases?  I loved the color and “texture” of them, so I could only think of one thing – Crystal Effects.  I love using Crystal Effects, but with so many fab products from Stampin’ Up!, I forget about this one.  So, I dragged out my brand new bottle, and I did this.

This is actually two challenges in one.  I used a sketch challenge from the Stampin’ Up! demonstrator forum for the layout.  Here’s the sketch, created by Amanda Corbet –

I used Vivid Vases, and colored the vases with Stampin’ Write Markers.  My original plan was to use Blendabilities, but since they can’t be ordered right now, I didn’t want to frustrate anyone.  So – markers.  I colored the vases with the lighter color first, then the darker.  Then I went back and blended with the lighter color.  I love the way it turned out!  I used Wisteria Wonder/Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo/Pink Pirouette, and Night of Navy/Marina Mist.  I know, I know.  It doesn’t look like Night of Navy.  But that’s what I used on the Irresistably Yours Designer Series Paper, so I’m sure that’s what it is, even though it looks Bermuda Bay-ish.  Trust me on this, though.  I colored the flowers with Garden Green, Wisteria Winder, Daffodil Delight and Pink Pirouette, then added some Dazzling Details to glam them up.  I realized after the first squirt that it was the bottle I had added Blushing Bride ink refill to.  But I think it looks fine, don’t you?

When I finished coloring, I covered the vases with Crystal Effects and let it dry overnight.  I have a very bad habit of checking to see if my Dazzling Details or Crystal Effects has dried – and then I leave fingerprints and DNA over everything.  So I just left this puppy alone until the next day.

Meanwhile, I sponged the dsp with Garden Green, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy and Elegant Eggplant.  Be sure to buff off the “resist” part with a paper towel to make it really pop.  To pull in a little more Garden Green, I added a scallop to the side of the image layer (mostly because that’s what the sketch called for, not because I’m a great artist and saw that it needed it).  A sentiment, a few rhinestones and some Night of Navy seam binding ribbon completed the card.

So – your turn!  Create a card using our inspiration and post it to the Watercooler Challenge blog.  Be sure to link your original image back to the blog, and follow all the other “rules,” and you could win a crafty badge to put on your blog or web site!

Thanks for stopping by Stamping with Buffy.  Have a wonderful day!

Vivid Vases Wood Stamp Set

$11.95

Crystal Effects

$6.25

Dazzling Details

$2.50

Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series Paper

$0.00

Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments

$4.95

Night Of Navy 1/2″ Seam Binding Ribbon

$6.95

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.