Top Ten - Floral #9

Botanical Name - Gladiolus

Common Name - Gladioli

Glads sometimes called Sword Lily!

When I think of Glad's I envision the photo above -

rows of tall stems of color!

From pastel to bold colors!

Usually I play with new coloring markers, brushes and inks

for awhile then I post on bouquestnw blog!

However I had to share!

I choose to color with my new

Zig Clean Clear Brushes!

What fun!

The colors of Zig Clean Clear

are exactly what they say:

Clean, Clear - Colors!

Perfect for Glads!

When a Glad opens up the ruffled edges

reminded me of the texture on

the printed paper!

In Portland Oregon there is a Italian Restaurant

that serves the best pizza!

What I looked for each time entering the restaurant was the

Glads they had in a tall vase.

I always wondered what color the Glads would be!

In my Floral Cutting Garden

I want a rainbow of colors!

Nourish - Word for 2015!

-Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Paper Source, Cranberry and Olive - Bazzill, Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor

Printed Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle - Sharon Ann Christmas Magic Collection Red Floral,

                        Authentique - Abroad Worldwide 

Ink: Archival Ink - Coffee

Stamps: Power Poppy - Glads and Gerberas

Coloring: Zig Clean Color Brushes - Wine Red, Geranium Red, Mid Green, Olive Green, Yellow, Bright Yellow

Embossing: Cricut Cuttlebug - Oxford, Cricut Cuttlebug

Embellishments: Ribbon - Offray, Pebbles Jewel Candy Dots

Tools: Fiskars Paper Cutter, Tomboy Adhesive

Top Ten - Floral #8

Botanical Name - Dahlia

Common Name - Dahlia

What is there not to love about Dahlias?

The variety of Dahlias are amazing!

42 Different Species!

Size - from 2 inches to 1 foot - a dinner plate!

Colors range from soft to bold colors!

Multi- color blends!

 Before I show you the Dahlia Card that I crafted

I want to share a coloring tip:

I had mentioned the Copic Color Hex Chart -

The chart had me stretch out of my comfort zone

and choose new colors combinations!

Be sure to look at the supply list for Copic Colors!

Two of my favorite colors for Dahlias are 

Yellow - the color of Sunshine!

Coral - gives me Happiness!

Re-purposed the Printed Paper!

The printed paper was on my blog in June 2012 - 

Summer! Spark your Creative Spirit!

Don't the small cup Dahlias remind you of Ric-Rac?

The photos were taken at the

Swan Island Dahlia Garden!

Located in Canby Oregon!

In the Willamette Valley of Oregon

Dahlias can bloom from June to October!

I can only hope my Dahlia Cutting Garden

looks as beautiful as Swan Island Gardens!  

Nourish!

 Word for 2015! -Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Paper Source, Black, Goldenrod and Coral - Bazzill

Printed Paper: Authentique Collection -Blissful "Happiness"

Ink: Adirondack - Espresso

Stamps: Flourishes - Dahlias

Colors: Copic Sketch Markers - 

Y11,Y19,Y23,Y32,Y35,R00,R83,R85,RV11,RV34,RV55,RV66,WO,W1,W3,W5,

G20,G21,G82,G94

Die Cut: Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals Large, Cuttlebug

Embellishments: American Craft Coral Ric-Rac, Doodlebug Spring Sprinkles, Uni-Ball Signo Pen - White

Tools- Fiskars Paper Cutter, Tomboy Adhesive

Now, it is Craft Coloring Time!

WOW!

Those three letters sum up the 2015 Oregon State Fair!

It took 8 months of dedicated planning for this years OSF!

Lots of long (15 hour days) hard work.

When the gates opened on the first day my magic moments began happening!

What are magic moments?

 A moment in time when you see

a Fair Guest and Volunteers - Laugh, Smile and having Crazy Fun!

Worth all the hours the team at the Fair put in!

Now what should I do with me free time?

Simple answer..

craft coloring

I have missed Coloring!

So... next week I begin a On-Line Card Class

As a treat to myself I bought a few supplies!

I am ready to Watercolor!

Derwent Inktense Colored Pencils

Gansai 36 Piece Watercolor Set

Zig Clean Color Real Brush

In the retail world the Zig Brush would be called a "hot item or best seller".

Please know that I still LOVE my Copic Markers and Distress Inks/Markers!

However, I am very excited to stretch my coloring skills with Watercolors!

In fact check back in a few days as I will blog Top Ten - Floral #8!

Nourish! Word for 2015!

-Elaine

Get Crafty at the Oregon State Fair

Just 20 days away!

August 28 - September 8

Crazy Fun Since Day One!

It is time for Paper Crafters to enter...

Cards, Scrapbook pages, Quilling and Paper Art Projects!

Online Entry Deadline: Tuesday, August 18

The Oregon State Fair is having "crazy fun" working with the

 following retail stores for you to drop - off your Paper Arts.

www.runawayart.com

www.peddlerspack.com

www.mainstreetstamp.com

www.paperparachute.com

www.seasidecreativebeginnings.com

The Retail store will mail the entry for you to the

Oregon State Fair!

Remember to enter online prior to dropping off your entry

www.oregonstatefair.org

Once you are on the OSF website:

link to Competitions 

then to Creative Living

then Paper Arts!

As a fellow Paper Crafter I am very excited to see your entires!

Also, several of the Paper Arts Retailers that are

participating as a drop-off site are providing Gift Cards

 for the crafters that are awarded a Blue Ribbon!

Thank you to all the Paper Art Crafters, Store Owners and Staff!

Now start entering!

PS - Check back for the last 3 Top-Ten Florals in September!

It is State Fair time!

Where have I been?

bouquetsnw has had over 500 hits in the past few months

and probably thinking what happened to this blog?

There has not been any coloring and I miss viewing the flowers and gardens!

Where has Elaine been?

Yes, I have been at the Oregon State Fair!

Many of you know that I have a passion for Wine Tasting

and for many years I was the director for the

 Wine Competitions at the Oregon State Fair.

Both Professional and Amateur!

Now, I have been asked back to lead different department

or should I say departments!

Creative Living, STEM + Art = STEAM and Oregon Counties!

What fun I am having...and quite the challenge!

I must confess there is one section of Creative Living I am really enjoying!

Yes, Paper Arts!

Our competition for cards, quilling, scrapbooking and paper art projects.

If you live in Oregon and would like to enter your craft at the State Fair

please view the website  oregonstatefair.org

The information will be live in a few weeks!

Also, the Competition Chair Volunteer position is still open

if any of you Paper Crafters would like to have some

Crazy Fun at the Oregon State Fair please leave a comment.

In between planning for the Oregon State Fair I have taken a
few minutes viewing my favorite blogs and found this Copic Color Hex Chart.

This Copic Color Hex Chart can be found on Sally Allnock blog:

sandyallnock.com/hexchart

I am working on coloring the hex's and 

it is a great tool to re-introduce me back to coloring!

The feelings I had last night while I was coloring 

felt exactly like my One Little Word for 2015!

Nourish!

Calming, soothing and relaxing!

Over the next few weeks I will post 
the last three florals for my Top Ten List!

Can't wait to spend my early mornings in the Craft Coloring Loft!

Word for 2015

The first part of November I was thinking about

beginning to select my One Word that will represent the

how

 what

 when

and why

for the next year 2015!

simply...the word came to me.

The word felt comfortable, calm and soothing.

Also, fun and exciting!

What is the word I have chosen?

Nourish

Nourish my soul

Nourish my diet

Nourish my exercise - walking

Nourish my creative arts

Nourish my garden

Nourish my career

Nourish my friends

Nourish my family

...Nourish myself!

For 2015 I have signed up to take the year long workshop

One Little Word

with Ali Edwards

so that I can learn how to

Nourish my One Little Word!

As I celebrate the beginning of the fifth year of the

bouquets northwest blog I hope to 

Nourish

  my passion for papercrafting with you in 2015!

(Maybe I will sneak in a little about gardening)

What is your word for 2015?

Top Ten - Floral #7

Botanical Name - Zinnia

Common Name - Little Star or Youth and Age

The colors of Zinnia's when they bloom are breathtaking!

The three names are so different for this Floral choice

that I decided to do a little research.

 Let me introduce

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Johann Gottfried Zinn

December 1727 - April 1759

Zinnia were named in honor after the German Botany Professor.

When I was choosing colors for my Zinnia I had so many choices.

The color range for Zinnia is endless!

Do you think that is why the name Little Star...

multitude of colors?

I think they should be called BIG Star!

For the choice of color and texture!

Perhaps the common name of Youth and Age

comes from Zinnia Romantic flower meaning...

Thoughtful Recollections

As I sit in my Floral Cutting Garden next year

sipping my glass of wine..

I will toast Professor Zinn

 and recollect memories

 whether little or BIG!

Of course the wine for this toast

Zinfandel!

Be Spontaneous!

- Elaine

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft - Paper Source, Plum and Orange - Bazzill

Ink: Adirondack - Espresso, Color Box Chalk - Dark Peony

Stamps: Flourishes - Zinnia, Sentiment - Flourishes- Dahlias

Colors: Copic Sketch Markers - RV17, RV19, R39, R30, R32, R35, R46, YR02, YR07, YR09, YG61, YG67, YG63, Y35, Y38

Embellishment: Kaisercraft Pearls, Wink of Stella - Clear, Uni- Ball Signo Marker Pen - White

Tools: Fiskars Paper Cutter, Tomboy Adhesive