Sunday, February 6, 2011

Boysenberry Beauty

The release week challenge over at Flourishes is a winter thaw photo-inspiration challenge. Well we all need a thaw because BRRRRRrrr... I just bought the Berries set from Flourishes, and although I know that these are supposed to be raspberries, I like boysenberries better. Go figure.

Most people are only familiar with Boysenberries from IHOP syrup (IMO the best of the flavored syrups at IHOP). I like Boysenberry jelly though too. YUM. Boysenberries are real. They are a cross between a blackberry, raspberry and a loganberry. Now here is the weird part. Loganberries are crosses between raspberries and blackberries... So wouldn't a Boysenberry be a loganberry????? And something I did not know, is that they have almost twice the anti-oxidants as blueberries. WOW.

I am not really sure if I got the color quite right. I tried really hard. I figure these are not quite ripe Boysenberries.  I think that I got a little closer to the berries on the front of Knott's Berry Farm Amusement Park Gates, than actual ripe ones. :-)

I colored these a little differently than I usually do, in that I didn't blend quite as much. I started off with a base coat of V12. I added shading with V15 and a little V17. I tried to add more of the darker shading toward the bottom of the berries. However, since each drupelet (and yes that is a word - I was trying to figure out what to call each little section and that is the actual word - who knew?!), can have multiple colors, I tried to shade those as well.

Once I was done with the shading, I did one SLIGHT blend with the V12. Then I went back. Boysenberries have a reddish tint in addition to the purple. So in certain areas (darker primarily and some of the lighter drupelets), I added RV17 to it and blended SOME of it with the V12, but not all.

The Leaves and Stems are G21, 24, 28, and the flowers have a touch of Y0000 along the petals, and Y11 in the center.

To finish off the card I found a background paper of this purpley boysenberry color, and used the Lacy Square Nestie to cut it out. Through some weird twist of fate, I had a purple ribbon that matches almost perfectly.  The Nestie is popped up off of the white background. I am not sure if you can see it here, but the white is spritzed with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist to give it a crystally sparkly look.  I added the crystals as an embellishment around the edge.

Since this also meets the criteria for the Copic Creations Challenge of Cool Colors, I am also entering it in that challenge.

Hope you all liked your tutorial on Boysenberries. LOL. Now I am hungry and going to go find something to eat.  Hope to see you again soon.

Photobucket

10 comments:

  1. Alaine,
    You make me laugh - I agree a boysenberry seems like it should be a loganberry. I've had rasberries, but never boysenberries or loganberries. Your card is so beautiful - and your coloring just makes me drool! P.S. Thanks for the lessons on the berries!! Hope you had a good week-end.

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  2. Absolutely fabulous!! I saw this on Flourishes TT Challenge for the Winter Thaw, and I LOVE IT!!! Fantastic coloring, I am completely jealous! :)

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  3. This is absolutely gorgeous! I love the color of those berries, and they are colored perfectly! The pearl frame is stunning! Thanks for playing the Winter Thaw Challenge with Flourishes!

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  4. Fabulous!!! Your white framing is gorgeous and I like how you framed these yummy berries! Beautiful card. Thanks for playing in Flourishes Winter Thaw Challenge.

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  5. Alaine your coloring is beautiful.. Great job..Thanks for joining us at Flourishes.

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  6. Well, now, I didn't know all that, but I have to agree - a boysenberry is a loganberry. What else could it be? Boysenberry pie is just about my favorite, maybe next to strawberry rhubarb. I'm hungry! Alaine, your card is just GORGEOUS! I'm always extremely impressed when I visit. I can't help but notice how that little pearl cluster in the ribbon resembles a berry, too. It's the little things. But a huge thing is your incredible coloring! Wow!

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  7. Alaine, that is one stunning card. Your coloring looks wonderful and the rhinestone border really makes it shine!
    Hugs and smiles

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  8. Oh I love the variation in your purples in your coloring Alaine! It gives the berries such life! This is a beautiful card. Such pretty details too!

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  9. Gorgeous coloring! They look awesome to me ;) Thanks for joining the Copic Creations Challenge!

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  10. Oh my goodness Alaine... your coloring on this is to die for! My mouth actually watered because these beautiful berries looked too real!!!! ;-)

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