The Joy of Sets Design Challenge 7 (Letter W) - Wild about Flowers

Goodness, we’ve already got to the 7^th challenge, time is flying by. If you haven't already looked, I suggest clicking on the link to take a peek at the fabulous designs on the Joy Of Sets Challenge Blog. 

I was in the craft room about to reach over for the Wild about Flowers stamp set when my notifications pinged to let me know that for this challenge we would be using a set with the letter “W” in the title. The timing was impeccable; I couldn’t have made it up!

After so much rain, it certainly shows what a difference a bit of sun makes, today's colours are much lighter and brighter than in previous days where black seemed to play a prominent part.

Pear Pizzazz

Calypso Coral

So Saffron

Soft Sky

Whisper White

First of all I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock a ¼” smaller than the folded base card which is also white. As you can see, I masked the edges of the piece of card with scrap paper, torn edges towards the centre to give a soft edge. I also used a circle to mask what would be the sun. Using a dauber, I sponged Soft Sky onto the card working from the edges inwards so the ink didn’t get behind my mask. I then used Pear Pizzazz to create the ground, again working in from the edges and using more torn paper to create “edges” to look like the ground was uneven. Once I was happy with that, I took the circle away and used the paper the circle was cut from so I could colour the sun without the ink merging with the sky.

When I was happy with the background effect, I removed the side masks so that my focal image could fall over the edge of the sponged area. I left the masks top and bottom though. Calypso Coral for the flower heads added a bit of zing.

I used dimensionals to mount this panel onto the base card. The sentiment was stamped in Smoky Slate (black would have been too harsh) and using the smallest oval from the Stitched Shape thinlits die cut it out before adhering with dimensionals once again.

I hope you like this card as much as I do. It's one that came out exactly as planned, I love white on white and simple designs. I'm now off to see what other stamp sets I can use in this way!

The Joy of Sets Design Challenge 5 (Letter J) - Jar of Love meets Tranquil Tulips

Hello, goodness what a palaver this fortnights challenge turned out to be! There are very few Stampin' Up stamp sets that have a "J" in the title. Luckily I have Jar of Love - one of my favourites so I hope it won't be retired next time around.

If you've seen any of my recent posts, you'll know that I took delivery of quite a large (for me) SU order. I've challenged myself to use all the sets I bought as quickly as I can. I also have been very conscious that I hadn't used any of the new In Colours yet. So what better time than for the JoS challenge to use a new stamp set and colour? Here's introducing Tranquil Tulips and Fresh Fig with, of course, Jar of Love. I hope you like my choice.

This is a hostess stamp set you can get by holding an SU party. Contact your local demonstrator to arrange a suitable time and date, invite friends, add cake and you have yourself a fun crafty event.

Fresh Fig

Old Olive

Whisper White

I stamped the jar on Whisper White using Smoky Slate and then added "water" in the form of Pool Party stamped off for a paler shade. A couple of tulip heads, stems and leaves were stamped onto scrap paper and fussy cut before adding to the card with dimensionals to give a raised effect from the jar. I like to think maybe someone was arranging a bunch of flowers before being distracted mid way through. A small gold bow was tied around the 2 stems too for a hint of bling.

Three tulips were stamped directly onto the main card - this is a 2 stage stamp - along with a few leaves. It probably took me longer to decide on the leaf placement than anything else. Oh to be decisive... I did a little watercolouring to ground the jar and added 3 of the White Perfect Accents that I coloured with a Promarker. I haven't added a sentiment yet but I think when I do it will be inside the card. I hope you like it.

The Joy of Sets Design Challenge 4 (Letter B) - Birthday Blooms

Hello, this week our challenge is to use a stamp set with the letter B in the title. Once again I went for Birthday Blooms. The other week I mentioned I had several ideas for this stamp set? Well this is the 2nd design I came up with that day based on the same theme.

One of my favourite stamp set

I chose to make a card to fit a DL envelope so although A4 cardstock is just short of 30cm in length, I cut across at 20cm and scored at 10cm. The remaining piece, once trimmed at the side was perfect for my top layer. I do so hate waste. Between the base card and top layer, I added Blushing Bride so that it created a narrow border.

Blushing Bride

Pear Pizzazz

Whisper White

Once again I used the Scalloped Tag Topper punch to create a cute tag in both vellum and Whisper White cardstock. This is a really card to make, I think less is more in this case but it does require careful measurement as there is nowhere to hide mistakes. Each of the 3 flowers line up in a row so to ensure they were level I brought out my trusty stamping press. 

The flowers stamped on card were water coloured loosely, going over the lines of the image. For the flower on vellum I chose to use ink and blender pens to colour in from the back as it had been heat embossed.

Did you know that you can colour the White Perfect Accents using Promarkers? Although I don't have that many I managed to find a reasonably good match for Blushing Bride as you can see in the picture. These 3 Perfect Accents balanced out the sentiment, stamped directly in the top left corner. I also wrapped some silver Metallic Thread round my fingers in a figure of eight before adding behind the tag.