Before I share information about the featured card, please let me give you a little background. It will make sense in a minute (or two)!
Last month, my mom had two cataract surgeries – one on each eye. When we got to the hospital at a very early time for the first surgery, neither of us really knew how much time the procedure would take. As an obsessed stamper (you can identify, right?), I brought a few pre-stamped images and my Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Pencils to use while I waited. Now, confession time – I did not use a current SU! stamp set. The stamps I used are from a retired hostess set that focused on nature. A good friend of mine and fellow stamper gave me the set. But, I digress…
First, and most important, my mom’s surgeries went very well. In fact, after both surgeries were completed and the healing of both eyes was underway, she was able to read without glasses. For years, she has worn a prism on one lens after a nasty fall.
Second, and not as important, I thoroughly enjoyed coloring as I waited for the surgeries to be completed. It was very relaxing and productive. In fact, a few of the other folks who were in the waiting area asked what I was doing. It was fun to share stamping and coloring with them.
If you haven’t added the SU! Watercolor Pencils to your stash, what are you waiting for? They are really easy to use and add so much depth to your projects. Just add layers as you work the colors of the image. I actually “googled” a few photos on my phone to get examples of the colors for blue birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The card I am sharing today highlights a great blue bird stamp.
After I had the coloring finished, I needed to figure out how to add the image to a card and create a fun background that complemented the stamping. The new Lovely Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder did the trick! It is absolutely amazing.
I also decided to use my new favorite color, Grapefruit Grove, to the background. Grapefruit Grove is one of the new In-Colors and is really pretty, especially in-person. I cut a piece of Grapefruit Grove cardstock to 3 3/4″ x 5″ and used the Lovely Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to add the embossed pattern. Rather than use the embossed side for my card, I turned the paper to the de-embossed (not sure that’s a word – but, you know what I mean) and used Grapefruit Grove ink to stamp over the de-embossed area. I used the largest solid image from the Love What You Do stamp set. I overlapped the stamped images in some places to get an interesting background. Okay – another confession – I used a stamp from the retired Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to add lines horizontally and vertically in Grapefruit Grove ink. The result is a really vibrant, almost fabric feel for the background.
One of my absolute favorite retiring stamp sets is Teeny Tiny Wishes. I was thrilled to see that SU! has a new stamp set called Itty Bitty Greetings. It is full of wonderful sentiments and various fonts. I’ve already used it several times of different types of cards. Guaranteed – It will be on your “have-to-have” list. The “Happy Anniversary” stamp is from the new Itty Bitty Greetings set. I stamped it using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and my Stamparatus.
To finish the card, I used Mint Macaron cardstock to frame the blue bird image and also the Grapefruit Grove background. Circle dies from the Stitched Shapes framelits collection are perfect for the blue bird image and Mint Macaron background. A piece of gold twine from a Paper Pumpkin kit added the final touch for the focal point image. The Mint Macaron piece behind the Grapefruit Grove piece is 4″ x 5 1/8″. A piece of Basic Black card stock, cut to 4 1/8″ x 5 1/4″, is layered behind the Mint Macaron piece. A card base from Thick Whisper White card stock finishes the card.
I hope you try this technique. You’ll find stamping on the de-embossed side to be very pretty. Also, if you combine ink and card stock from the same color, I really think you’ll love the effect.
Below are some of the products that I used to create the featured card. If you click on any picture, you’ll go to my on-line store. Remember – Items from the new catalog won’t be available until June 1st, the day of the new catalog launch.
Happy Stamping and Coloring!
Laurie
