Heart Blossoms

Happy Valentine's Day, Studio Visitors!


Here's a fun card that would work as a valentine for someone special or as a card for any special occasion!



I took the bird image from Fun & Fast Notes and inked it with black Stazon ink. Since I knew I'd be placing a paper heart on the stem instead of the blossom, I inked everything *except* the blossom. That technique sounds like a good post of its own (stay tuned)!



Next, I used my Blender Pen and Classic ink pads to watercolor the birds and their stems. For the middle bird, I used a scrap of sueded card stock (but used the smooth side). I just stamped it with the bird, cut it out with my Paper Snips (which make precision cutting like this a breeze), and used a Stampin' Dimensional to pop it up. I did the same thing with a teensy piece of Summer Sun for its beak.
For the hearts, I used my Big Shot and the Hearts and Brackets Bigz die. For some reason, I've never purchased a heart punch, so that was my only option. ;) I was still able to use scraps, which has been a recent mission of mine...
I finished it off with the Scallop Edge punch and a length of White Satin Ribbon tied in a knot. I also stamped the sentiment (a freebie choice from my Sale-A-Bration order!) in Bravo Burgundy at the bottom. For the first time, Stampin' Up! is offering items from the Idea Book and Catalog as freebies in addition to the limited edition Sale-A-Bration items. You & Moi had been a set on my wish list and now it's mine... for free!

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Fun & Fast Notes, You & Moi (SAB freebie)

Papers: Ruby Red, Apricot Appeal, Mellow Moss, Bravo Burgundy, Summer Sun and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Black Stazon, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss and Ruby Red Classics

Accessories: Big Shot, Hearts and Brackets Bigz die, Scallop Edge Punch, White Satin Ribbon, Blender Pen, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thank you for your visit! Hope you have a great day!

Medallion as Sunflower

"Every friend is to the other a sun, and a sunflower also. He attracts and follows." Jean Paul Richter, Humorist and Novelist

One of the challenges this week at 365 Cards is to include a sunflower. I only have one stamp that includes a sunflower, but I thought I'd see what else I could come up with. One of my favorite new stamps from the 2009-10 Idea Book and Catalog (aka, "The New One") is Medallion. It's one of those stamps that, at first blush, seemed pretty limited in its potential. The more I play with it, though, the more I find I can do with it…

--First, ink the entire stamp surface with Summer Sun Classic Ink. Use a Stampin' Sponge to add Ruby Red Classic Ink to the "middle" and Chocolate Chip Classic Ink in the very center. The sponges allow the ink to be more gradual and less precise, much like the coloring of the sunflower's petals. Give the entire stamp surface a few good huffs (heavy-breathing on the stamp) and stamp on a piece of Very Vanilla card stock.

--To add the effect of sunflower seeds, I placed a layer of Sticky Strip on the center of the sunflower and pressed it into the container of Microbeads.

--I used the Distressing Tool from the Cutter Kit to rough up the edges of the Very Vanilla card stock. Adhere it to a piece of Basic Black card stock (which has been cut just wide enough to allow for the Natural Hemp Twine).

--Wrap enough Natural Hemp Twine to go around the Basic Black piece three times and knot. Adhere this to the half sheet of Elegant Eggplant card stock, which has been folded in half.

--The sentiment is made with the "for you" stamp from the Fresh Cuts set. Ink it first in Ruby Red Classic Ink and then in the Chocolate Chip Classic Ink to mirror the colors of the sunflower. Stamp on Very Vanilla card stock. Use the 1-inch Circle Punch to punch it out.
**Studio Suggestion: Stamp the image first and then punch it out. It's easier to flip the punch upside-down to view your card stock and punch out the precise image, rather than trying to line up and stamp the image on your punched piece.**

--Use the Stampin' Sponge and Summer Sun Classic Ink to add a bit of color around the circle. Punch a circle of Basic Black card stock using the 1 ¼-inch Circle Punch. Punch a piece of Ruby Red card stock using the Designer Label Punch and assemble the three pieces.

--To add interest to the inside of the card, I used the remaining bit of card stock with the stamped sunflower as the writing surface.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Medallion and Fresh Cuts

Inks: Summer Sun, Ruby Red, and Chocolate Chip Classic Inks

Papers: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Ruby Red and Elegant Eggplant card stocks

Accessories: Sticky Strip, Microbeads, Designer Label, 1-inch and 1 1/4-inch Punches, Stampin' Sponges, Natural Hemp Twine and Distressing Tool.

What a fun challenge! Thanks so much for your visit! Hope you're having a lovely summer!