Well.......If you look REALLY close you'll see the image is a little crooked - kinda like going downhill.! Not much, but a little. Now, on to the gnats..........I stamped the image in VersaMark and then used black embossing powder and heat set it. You can really get a good black image with this stuff, however....it gets EVERYWHERE!!! I hate the stuff (but use it anyway). To get it off the places where it's not suppose to be, I shake the card stock, blow on it, and even get a very small paint brush and try to get rid of it. Before I heat embossed it, I really thought I'd taken care of all those little specks - not even! So, I stuck the tiny butterflies over some of them but you still may see a few strays - just think of them as gnats hovering around the flowers! LOL
I'll enter this in the challenge at The Perfect Sentiment (Clean and Simple Sympathy)
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend and thanks for stopping by...................
Lynn
Those gnats are quite invisible, Lynn or maybe I need glasses... lol.
ReplyDeleteVery lovely image - I must do some heat embossing. Haven't done it in a while now. Thanks for the inspiration. The background is so soft - perfect sympathy card.
Love,
Monica
Oooh lynn this is just stunning! Love the beautiful inking and the embossing....such a gorgeous image too! Beautiful work :)
ReplyDeleteLove your story and such a beautiful card. Love how you did the background and the butterflies are perfect.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a very pretty card, and no one will notice the gnats lol. Unless you have a friend who is inclined to get out a magnifying glass lol. Do you use an embossing bag...not sure what they really called but they a little cloth bag with powder in. I think talc in a bag made from a bit of 'tights' would work the same. You rub it all over your card before you stamp - come to me, it's an anti static bag lol. Love the background btw. Hugs lin
ReplyDeleteYou're too funny! I love you card, just beautiful! Since I think everyone struggles trying to get rid of the fly-away specs before heating, I think you've developed a new key phrase for the problem!
ReplyDeletei don't see any crooked and i don't see any gnats...i do see a beautiful card though...your sponging is wonderful...p.s. i can never get all the powder off either
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous Lynn! I find sympathy cards so difficult to do because I know it is not a happy time when they are given but it's a life fact. It truly is pretty though and honestly, it doesn't look 'downhill'.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful card Lynn, for a sad occasion.
ReplyDeleteKevin xx
Oh my Lynn, you do make me giggle with your comments you know...lol I love this card, don't see the gnats, but then they're well hidden aren't they? I have never ever embossed and really admire those who do this type of stamping. hugs Sharon x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card Lynn and I am with you on the embossing powders. I never quite seem to get rid of all the flecks. Your camouflage with the butterflies worked wonderful.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful card- love the rectangle with color and then the pretty image- love everything...gnats and all!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous card - gnats and all! The background is so beautiful and peaceful, perfect for a sympathy card. Love your design layout.
ReplyDeleteLynn, this is just gorgeous! I love those beautiful sponged colors in the background, and it does not look crooked to me at all! I love everything about it!
ReplyDeleteYou could enter this into the PSC44 to make a CAS sympathy card :
http://perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.com/2012/08/psc44-clean-and-simple-sympathy.html
LOL Lynn you do make me smile when I come and visit. Love the description about the embossing powder :) A stunning card as always. What I do before I emboss is get an old nylon sock and fill with talcum powder and tie it tight then lighly dust over your card you are going to emboss and this should prevent the powder sticking to the card. There will be a few stray bits but these should come away easily with a brush.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Linda xxxx
Oh, gnats! lol Love the card, Lynn. Do you use an Embossing Buddy on the card surface before you stamp the image? I find it's the best investment I ever made and practically eliminates all 'gnats' every single time.
ReplyDeleteLynn, Love the card and the image is lovely.I know what you mean about that black EP I think I have used black embossing powder once,Because of that reason...
ReplyDeleteYou did an awesome job on this card. Love your embossing-makes it so sharp!
ReplyDeleteThe sentiment is also really nice.
Thanks for playing @ The Perfect Sentiments
You are just too funny :) I think it looks fine, I don't see that it is crooked at all. I think it is so pretty with the background and the image in black with that perfect bow.
ReplyDeleteI love the sponged colours - so soft & lovely for a sympathy card. And, I totally hear you on using black EP - I hate the stuff, curse it every time, but it DOES make for a nice solid image....what's a crafty gal to do? lol
ReplyDeleteHow pretty! I would have never noticed the gnats! When I try it, I end up with huge flies everywhere!
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful Lynn, can't tell it is going down hill. :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about black embossing powder, you think you got every thing and the moment you heat it, all these little black spots show up :)
Lynn this is just gorgeous! Love the inking and embossed image (the gnats are invisible at least in the photo!). Thanks for joining us this week at The Perfect Sentiment!
ReplyDeleteIt's perfection in my book, Lynn! What a beautiful sympathy design!
ReplyDeleteThis is simply lovely! Beautiful colors!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful background, Lynn! This is one of my favorite stamps. I have the same problem with embossing powder, but gnats are a good explanation! There's always gnats in the summertime.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one with "crooked eyes" lol! I love that you have gnats! I think it turned out just lovely!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Chriss
You are too funny Lynn!! Your card is SO very beautiful and only you can see the gnats :)
ReplyDeleteNice one Lynn - there are some days that a card just doesn't go right, but it is not that obvious to me :-)
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
I have the similar problem with my black powder too, but I can't see your gnats! I love the card and the beautiful background! U r funny :)
ReplyDeleteThose pesky gnats! Do you use an embossing buddy? I keep thinking I need one but not sure if they make a difference with gnats. I've tried using dryer sheets prior to stamping - but still have gnats.
ReplyDeleteGNATS...I'm still laughing out loud.
Too funny Lynn! :) I LOVE this card! Your background is awesome!
ReplyDeleteTammy x
That's why I love this craft, Lynn, cause you can cover up little oops's with a butterfly, snowflake, bird, or any other little punched detail....your card is gorgeous and I can't even see the *gnats*!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a Beautiful Sympathy Card Lynn! I can't seem to find any of the gnats you are talking about, lol Maybe I need glasses too, oh wit, I have them on already, lol maybe I need to adjust my prescription, lol 8-) All I see is a Beautiful card! 8-) Really Soft and Lovely..
ReplyDeleteHugs
Shannon
LOL! You just never know what you'll read when you visit Lynn!! LOVE the post title!!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I'm not seeing those pesky gnats on your gorgeous card! Maybe they flew away! I love the shaded background and the butterflies are a wonderful embellishment, no matter the purpose!