A Get Well Bouquet

Would you like to create this? You'll find a supply list below, including a link to the stencil I used from A Colorful Life Designs . Follow the link below and use discount code ChrisFan10 to save 10% on your entire order! (Master Creator Bundles are excluded as they already have a 20% discount built in.)

I had a gorgeous stencilled background, done in three colours of DIY blue shimmer embossing paste ... and I wanted to use it in a card that would really stand out.

Card Base: 4 x 8, scored and folded at 4

Stencilled layer 4 x 4

Card face: 3.75 x 3.75

Oval cut from same stencilled piece: approx 3.25 x 2.5

an assortment of flowers and leaves

Card Face:

• I centered the stencilled oval on the card face and glued it down.

• I cut an oval border just slightly larger than the other one, and glued it in place. (Alternatively, you could cut a slightly larger solid oval and glue them together before securing them to the card face.)

• The stamp set I used includes triple layer stamping for the large blossoms, and double layer for some of the other things. I chose a very soft aqua ink for the large blossoms as I wanted a contrast to the bolder tones in the stencilling. The ink layered nicely, becoming more intense where it overlapped. However when I was finished I realized I wanted a little more contrast. I decided to go in with a marker in the same colour and highlight selectively. This helped, and when I added a subtle outline to each large blossom in the same colour, the blossoms really came into their own.

• I experimented a bit with placement, and once I had that decided I glued everything in place curving around the upper left hand corner of the oval.

• I used a watercolour-look stamp to create the base of the sentiment. I wanted to further intensify that look, so I actually gave it a light spritz of water as well. I used a paper towel to gently blot the surface, and once dry the piece was ready for a sentiment.

• I stamped in black pigment ink and then heat embossed it with clear powder to make the sentiment stand out more. Finally I used a rectangular die to cut it out.

• I cut out a piece of white card stock to a size that allowed approximately 1/16" border all the way around, and then glued the two of them together.

• I glued this to the card front on the lower right, as shown.

Assembly:

• The stencilled layer was glued onto the card base.

• The card face was glued to that, centering to allow a border all the way around.

• The card still needed something .... I experimented with various embellishments, finally deciding on pearls as I felt this piece worked better with the soft lustre they provide than the harder shine of a gem. However, I didn't want the pearls to be a distraction on the card face - to prevent that I coloured them to match the large flowers using alcohol markers.

Final Thoughts: I am so pleased with how this came out! It's a large step outside of my usual design style, and it worked. Yay!

Supplies

Stencil: Splatted Grid, A Colorful Life Designs

oval dies, Hero Arts Nesting Oval Dies, Simon Says Stamp

rectangular die, Stampin' Up!

Die Cutting Machine" Sizzix Big Shot, Amazon

anti static tool: Embossing Buddy, Stampin' Up!

black pigment ink: purchased from Stampin' Up! retired. (any black pigment ink will work for this purpose)

clear embossing powder: Wow, Simon Says Stamp

Stamps: retired, Stampin' Up!

Adhesive: Tombo Aqua, Amazon

Pearls: Stampin' Up!

Markers: Stamp n' Write, Stampin' Up!

Alcohol Markers: Stamp n' Blends, Stampin' Up!

Ink: Stampin' Up!

Card Base: Accent, 100 lb, Amazon

Card Face: Accent, 80 lb, Amazon

Thanks for popping by!

thoughts?