Happy Birthday blooms

Today I am sharing a card made for a fellow stamper for her birthday.  I decided to use Perennial Birthday stamp set.  I really like how the blooms are drawn in this birthday set.  Of course, they would also pair well with just about any sentiment.

Perennial Birthday

Perennial Birthday stamp set

You can create your own blooms and pair this with the blooms already created to make beautiful backgrounds or clusters of flowers.

The Creative Way, A Product Feature

This months creative way is all about Stampin’ Blends.  I love these fabulous alcohol based markers by Stampin’ Up!  They bring the coordination of Stampin’ Up! Colors to a fun coloring medium! There are so many fun things you can do with these wonderful markers. I have enjoyed exploring all the possibilities while creating ideas for you guys.  Some have been epic fails, some have been surprise successes. But, that’s what creating is all about.  If you are not creating for the trash can, then are you really creating???  Meaning, give yourself the right to make mistakes.  Today’s card went through several generations before I got it exactly how I wanted it!

• The first thing I did was to create a pattern using the stamps from Perennial Birthday and the returned Poppy Parade
• Then using my blends and a very loose coloring and the brush tip the blooms were colored.
• The next step was to use the colorless blender and lightly make brush strokes over the coloring
• The final step, for the background was to add the little smoky slate dots with the bullet tip of the blend.

• Matching envelopes make the world a happy place .
• If you are going to use Stampin’ Blends with an envelope, be sure to use a scrap piece of whisper white between the layers so they don’t bless through

I’m sharing a few of my trash can creations that lead to this card.  I always sample on the paper I am planning on using.  Also, I test different colors to get the card just how I want it.

A lot of people love thick whisper white for Stampin’ Blends.  My preference is the regular whisper white.  I feel it is easier to get the blends to do their thing on the thinner paper.  And what is their thing??  It is a blend of color that is smooth. For this to happen the fibers have to be soaked with ink.  That’s the point real magic of using blends happen.  I highly suggest you try both regular whisper white and think whisper white. And sea which you like better to get the look you want.  I find when trying to color images on thick whisper white that the point of saturation of fibers is the same point the color bless an outside the lines.  When you use your blends it is perfectly normal to see the coloring on the backside of the paper…you actually want this!!! That means your paper fibers are soaking in the ink and the blends can do there thing!!! In the above picture you can see where the ink is showing through from a test on the other side…..here’s the second side

Remember, to create for the trash can. It is more than okay to make mistakes!  They are how we learn. And trying something different takes some guts, mistakes, and a positive attitude while figuring it out!!! So, just go for it and create!!!

Each of your comments makes me smile! Please, comment HERE.

The All New Catalog is available and ready for you to shop from.  You can shop online here

The Creative Way – A Product Highlight, Stampin’ Blends

If you would like to see more about the Stampin’ Up! Blends click here

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Enjoy your awesome day!!! I am in the middle of two art classes. I’m not really sure why I choose summer to learn new things.  What am I learning??? Well, I am taking a colored pencil coloring class with Sandy Allnock. She is awesome!!! And I’m learning so much. I hope to be sharing some things I have been working on for this class with you very soon.  And just because I though life was not busy enough, I decided to mix things up with a large piece mixed media class by Janie Oliver. Wild Awankings  has  already offered a reading assignment and a rust transferring assignment!!! This class is definitely going to take my way out of my comfort zone!!!  I hope each of you have a wonderful Summer!!! And that you fin that living creatively is your vibe!!!

Peace-