Accented Thank You - SUO Challenge #220

I am really ready for Spring.  The weather is not cooperating even trying to snow today. So with the weather being so inclement the only place I will see flowers is on my card.

The Accented Blooms stamp set was used to make this card for the SUO Challenge #220 - designers choice.

The floral images from Accented Blooms were coloured with Stampin' Blends after which the image was fussy cut and set aside.

Pool Party ink was used to stamp the sentiment, which was then punched with the Truly Tailor Punch before being adhered to the floral image in the matching shape using dimensionals.

The White  background floral image, die cut using the Springtime Impressions thinlet die was adhered to a Pool Party card base. The fussy cut floral image was adhered over this.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Accented Blooms

Inks:  Black Memento, Pool Party, Stampin' Blends (Light and Dark Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Highland Heather, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive

Papers:  Pool Party, Whisper White

Accessories:  Springtime Impressions Thinlet Die, Truly Tailor Punch, Gold Glitter embellishments, Dimensionals

Spring Time Diorama

I was challenged to make another Diorama card by a Facebook friend. In February I made my first Diorama card featuring the Big Catch stamp and it was very well  received.  The link to that post is here.

This time my card has a Spring theme. Like many, I am snow weary and yearn for warmer weather .

 I used the following stamp sets:  Abstract Impressions, Enjoy Life, and Petal Palettes.

Although this is a bulky card, it folds flat for mailing (see below).  However, an envelope will have to made using the Envelope punch board to accommodate the different envelope size.  I would recommend using a bubble envelope to mail this card.

The impetus for this card, and the colour scheme used, was a background technique I demonstrated in class on Wednesday.  This technique involved randomly applying the following colours on a piece of Whisper White card stock:  Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Highland heather, and Granny Apple Green, then spritzing the colours with water to blend them.  

I found this finished background piece lying on my desk this morning, and recalling the challenge I was given, I started making this card.

This card is by no means a 'quick' card and it did take me most of the morning to make.

The dimensions for the 3 layers to this card are as follows:

• Front:  Very Vanilla 10 1/2 by 5" scored at 2 and 8 1/2"
• Middle: Gorgeous Grape 8 1/2 by 5" scored at 1 and 7 1/2"
• Back (scene) 10 1/2 by 5" scored at 2 and 8 1/2"

Layering circle framelits were used to die cut circular apertures in the front and middle layers - a larger one in the front, and a smaller one in the middle.

Scene:

On the finished background piece, and using the stamparatus, the leaves and flowers from the Abstract Impressions stamp set were stamped across the bottom - the leaves in Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive, and the flowers in Highland Heather and Gorgeous Grape.

Then some butterflies from "Enjoy Life" were stamped randomly above the flowers using Gorgeous Grape ink.

This was added to the back layer.

Middle Layer:  Around the circular aperture yellow flowers from Petal Palette were adhered - a total of 4 stamped, coloured and die cut images.  You can see the flowers around the middle circle in the picture above. At the bottom of the circle was added the silhouette of the individual raising his hands up as well as a cyclist going by.  Both of these are from "Enjoy Life"

Front of Card:

Prior to die cutting the circle, some Garden Impressions DSP was adhered to the front. Flowers stamped, coloured and die cut using the Petal Palette stamp and die set were arranged around the circle.  Two birds were also added.

A butterfly left over from another project was added to the left side.

To finish the card, rhinestones were added to the tiny butterflies in the scene, and in the centers of the flowers and butterfly on the front.

Close up of left front

Close up of right front

Some Whisper White card stock decorated with a strip of DSP was added to the back of the card. Also added were some extra flowers that were not used to decorate the card.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Abstract Impressions, Enjoy Life, Petal Palette

Inks:  Black Memento, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Various colours of Stampin' Blends

Papers:  Very Vanilla, Gorgeous Grape, Whisper White, Garden Impressions DSP

Accessories:  Layering Circles Framelits, Springtime Garden Thinlets, Petals & More Framelits, Rhinestones, Stamparatus

Embossing with the Big Shot Embossing Mats

I love learning about ways that I can use Stampin' Up products in a different, new way.

One of the new products in the Annual Catalogue is Embossing Mats.  Okay, I didn't know what they were either, and I must admit it took me some time to figure it out.  However, using the mats to create a wonderful embossed image/background, proved to be decidedly easy.

Below is a video made by Stampin' Up explaining these mats and how to  use them.




Here's a card I made using the Embossing mats and the Springtime Impressions Thinlets.

The card base is Blueberry Bushel, layered with Whisper White embossed with the Springtime Impressions Thinlets.
Some 1/8" Blueberry Bushel Grosgrain ribbon was added along the left side, with a double bow added near the bottom.
A butterfly was die cut with the same color of card stock, and again with Vellum.  The two were adhered together at the body only, and then added to the card front.
The sentiment was stamped in the upper right using Blueberry Bushel ink.

Supplies Used:
Stamp:  Abstract Impression
Inks:  Blueberry Bushel
Papers:  Blueberry Bushel, Whisper White, Vellum
Accessories: Springtime Impression Thinlets, Embossing mats, 1/8" Blueberry Bushel Grosgrain ribbon,

Better Together Using Springtime Impression Thinlets

These thinlets that coordinate with the Abstract Impressions stamp set create a lacy pocket on the front of a card, or can be embossed to create a unique card front.

These thinlets also include a butterfly - to compensate for the retirement of the Bold Butterfly thinlets when the new Annual catalogue went live.  You'll  see the butterfly in the next post.

Starting with a top fold Whisper White base, I added a Crumb Cake layer embossed with the Subtle Texture Embossing Folder.  Don't you just love this texture?

In the lower left corner I added a delicate white floral die cut made using  the Springtime Impressions Thinlet - and a single flower at the top.

Some 1/2" white satin ribbon was added near the lower card, and the sentiment, from "Better Together" added over that with dimensionals.  Some metallic pearls were added on each side of the sentiment and randomly in the centers of some flowers.

Supplies Used:
Stamp:  Better together
Inks:  Crumb Cake
Papers:  Whisper White, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Subtle Texture Embossing Folder, Springtime Impression Thinlets, Metallic Pearls, Dimensionals, 1/2" white satin ribbon