Best of Flowers

I had a work-free day on Monday thanks to Presidents Day, and I spent it reading, playing games on my Kindle and, of course, card-making. I actually had one of the best stamping days I've had in quite a while. I had a goal in mind -- I wanted to make a card using each of the images in the Best of Flowers set -- but I didn't worry about using the newest products or the latest trends or techniques. I just plugged along making cards that were "me." And I was really pleased with the results.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Best of Flowers, Yippee-Skippee!
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Gumball Green Core-dinations cardstock; Designer Series Paper (DSP) Patterns Stack - Brights
Ink: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green
Accessories: Deco Labels Framelits dies, Neutrals Candy Dots, rhinestones, Gumball Green stitched satin ribbon, Dimensionals

For this happy card, I used Daffodil Delight and Gumball Green markers to make the two-color flower image. The narrow stems were a little tricky to work with, but I found that using the thinner tip of the marker worked well. I cut out the image with one of the Deco Labels Framelits dies, stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray and then matted it with another Deco Label shape. I adhered a piece of Daffodil Delight DSP to the bottom two-thirds of the card base, added a strip of ribbon along the top and adhered the focal image over the ribbon with Dimensionals. A few rhinestones and Candy Dots finish off the card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Best of Flowers
Cardstock: Basic Black, Whisper White, Poppy Parade, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango
Ink: Jet Black StazOn, Poppy Parade, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Decorative Dots embossing folder, 1-1/4" scallop circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, Blender Pen, white baker's twine, gold card, Dimensionals

I love these bright colors, which make me momentarily forget all the cold, snow and ice outside. To make the flowers I used a Blender Pen to apply the initial layer of color. For each color, I opened the ink pad, scribbled a bit of color from the coordinating marker on the inside of the lid and picked up the color with a Blender Pen. I then used the marker to color on the flower and add some darker accents.

I punched out the flowers with a scallop circle punch and adhered them to coordinated circles of cardstock with Dimensionals. Then I punched three of the same size circles in the card front and glued the colored circles to the inside of the card.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up!):
Stamps: Best of Flowers, Stipple Hydrangea
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Almost Amethyst, Vintage Violet
Ink: Almost Amethyst, Vintage Violet, Old Olive
Accessories: Chevron embossing folder, stitched Vintage Violet ribbon, pearls, corner rounder, Dimensionals

For this card I combined the hydrangea image from the Best of Flowers set -- the smaller image stamped on the background -- with the original version of the image from several years ago -- the large focal image. I also stamped the smaller image inside the card with the sentiment.

To make the color variation in the flowers, I first inked the stamp with Almost Amethyst ink. Then I lightly touched the Vintage Violet ink pad to the stamp in a few random places.

I cut out the flower by hand and used Dimensionals to adhere it to the Chevron-embossed panel.

Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Best of Flowers, Simply Sketched
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar
Ink: Bordering Blue, Baked Brown Sugar (pad and marker)
Accessories: Vintage Trinkets, Victoria crochet trim, Mocha pearls (Close to My Heart), color spritzer tool, Dimensionals

I went for a vintage style with this card by stamping the bouquet image repeatedly on the background panel so it created the look of toile. I also spritzed the background with a touch of Baked Brown Sugar and sponged the edges with Bordering Blue. I embellished the card with a touch of crochet trim, a button-shaped brad and three pearls.

I'm putting together a collection of birthday cards to give to my grandma, and I'm planning to add these to the bunch. I can't wait to give them to her!




Thanks for stopping by!