Recently Pinterest sent me an image of a card that Laura Bassen created for Simon Says Stamp (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/153826143511387914/). I loved this card, in fact I had saved it previously, but this time I decided to let me my inspiration for a card. Laura's card used blues and green, I decided to use yellow, orange and red.
I first cut down a quarter sheet of Canson XL 140# Cold Press Watercolor Paper using a My Favorite Things A2 Stitched Rectangle. I then used an anti-static tool to removed static and oils from the paper and then stamped My Favorite Things Birthday Background with VersaMark Ink and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I then took a large paint brush and added water where I wanted the color on my background. I used Distress Inks and first smooched them onto my work space, but I wasn't getting the vibrancy that I wanted, to I took the mini in cubes and smooshed them directly to the watercolor paper and then added more water to have them move and blend. I love the way the background stamp is revealed when the color is added.
I decided to pair background with a die cut sentiment from Simon Says Stamp. I cut the sentiment three times from black cardstock and adhered them together using Elmer's Craft Bond Spray Adhesive. I thought the black sentiment would really standout against the watercolor background, but it has really fine lines and got lost on the busy background. Fortunately, this sentiment comes with a shadow die and I decided to cut it from vellum, which still lets the lovely background shine through, but mutes it just enough that the sentiment stands out as well. I decided to add a secondary sentiment strip above the die cut and stamped it on a scrap of black cardstock with VersaMark Ink and heat embossed it white. It was adhered above the die cut sentiment with a thin strip of Simon Says Stamp Big Mama Foam Tape that has a lower loft.
I also decided to pull out Simon Says Stamp Balloon Bouquet and cut two single balloons from black cardstock and adhered them to the right of the sentiment. All in all I really liked the results.
PRODUCTS USED: · Simon Says Stamp Best Day Ever
· Simon Says Stamp Balloon Bouquet
· CZ Designs Stop Drop Party
· My Favorite Things Happy Birthday Background
· Distress Inks: Scattered Straw, Carved Pumpkin, Abandoned Coral, Barn Door
· VersaMark Ink
· Hero Arts Ultra Fine Clear Embossing Powder
· Gina K. Designs Detail White Embossing Powder
· Darice Foam Strips
· Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
· My Favorite Things A2 Stitched Rectangle
· Neenah Classic Crest 80# Solar White Cardstock
· Gina K. Designs 120# White Cardstock
· Simon Says Stamp Black Cardstock
· Canson XL 140# Cold Press Watercolor Paper
· Simon Says Stamp Big Mama Foam Tape