Delightful Dahlias

Where does the time go?? I see that the last time I posted was March 6 :(

I had been working on projects for my stamp group that I could not show you at that time and then I got sick with a cold that kept me down for over a week. Finally, I am feeling like myself again and can get back to working in my craft room!

One of the projects that I couldn't show you before were some thank you cards for my stamping group. I gave my MISTI quite the workout in creating them!

The card design is cased from demo Elizabeth Holloway. She has a video on her blog to show how she creates the card. I did mine slightly differently.

I decided to use the Note Cards that Stampin' Up! sells because I wanted a smaller size so that I could use the Mini Treat Bag as an envelope for the cards.

Secondly, I opted for Watercolor Paper instead of Whisper White because it showcased the technique better. I also opted to fill my Stampin' Spritzer with rubbing alcohol instead of water so that the cards dried quicker.

To begin with, I used my MISTI tool to stamp a dahlia (from the gorgeous Regarding Dahlias stamp set) on each watercolor matte using Versamark. I made sure to stamp on the smooth side of the paper so that my stamps would look and stamp better. I then heat embossed each matte using White Embossing Powder.

Back to the MISTI to stamp a second dahlia on each matte; I heat embossed each matte as before.

Next, I filled my Stampin' Spritzer 3/4 full with rubbing alcohol and added about 14 drops of Coastal Cabana Ink Refill. I shook the spritzer to mix the color evenly.

I placed one of the watercolor mattes in my spray booth (a large box from a pair of boots) that helps to keep the spray from going everywhere in my craft room!

I held my spray about 5 inches from the card and spritzed a few times to get some light coverage on the card. As I sprayed, the flowers were revealed. I repeated the process with each watercolor matte.

Because I was using rubbing alcohol, the cards dried fairly quickly but I sped up the process a bit by using my Heat Tool.

I then used a Sponge Dauber with Coastal Cabana and rubbed in a circular motion out from each flower's centre to add a bit more color to the flowers. They contrasted nicely with the spritzed background.

I replaced the watercolor matte in my MISTI and arranged the Thank You sentiment on the lid. I stamped it with Smoky Slate, two times, re-inking the stamp each time. Only using the MISTI could I stamp the sentiment twice in exactly the same spot! I stamped twice because the watercolor paper tends to absorb the ink and I wanted the sentiment to be a bit darker without resorting to a darker ink. The Smoky Slate looks lovely with the Coastal Cabana.

After stamping each matte, I then adhered each to a Coastal Cabana matte using Fuse Fast. I wrapped each matte with Basic Gray Baker's Twine.

Finally, I adhered each matte to the note card.

What do you think? I love how they turned out!

I hope you'll try this technique and then drop me a link to show me YOUR creations!

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Irresistible Petals, Bold and Bright!

A bitterly cold, cold day today. If the wind hadn't been blowing so hard from the north, it would not have been so bad but if you were caught out in the open, it was UGLY!

A simple little card for you today, in a long and narrow format. The card base was cut from Whisper White to make a 8 1/2 x 3 1/2" card.

I cut a strip of the striped pattern from the Irresistibly Yours Papers, available for free with a $60 order during Sale-a-Bration.

I used Post-Its to mask off each stripe as I worked, using Sponge Daubers, to ink up the stripes in Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay. I used Fuse Fast to attach the strip to the bottom of the card front.

The Best Year Ever Accessory Pack supplied Crushed Curry ribbon that I adhered across the top of the striped paper strip.

To match the stripes, I stamped three flowers on Whisper White using the Petal Potpourri stamp set. I punched them out with the coordinating Flower Medallion Punch.

I used Blendabilities markers to color white buttons from the Neutrals Designer Buttons to act as centres for the flowers. They were adhered with a glue dot and the flowers were popped up with Dimensionals on the card front.

The sentiment was stamped on Whisper White using the Regarding Dahlias stamp set. It was punched out with the 1" Square Punch and then popped up with Dimensionals on a Basic Black punch from the Postage Stamp Punch.

To complete the card, the sentiment was adhered to the card front using a Dimensional.

I used bright, happy colors to brighten my day and distract me from the cold outside. I hope this card brightens your day as well!

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