Stamping 411 - Saturday Sketch Challenge #10!

Hi everyone! It's Saturday morning and time for another sketch challenge from Stamping 411. It's our 10th week in "operation" and I am so happy and proud to be part of this amazing design team. Not only are these ladies fabulous stampers, they are my friends and that makes it all the better!

Today's sketch is one of my favorites so far. It had so many possibilities for me that I really didn't know where to start. So after a very funny phone conversation with Selene, one of the other operators, I finally settled on using the Bloomin' Beautiful stamp set for my main image.

My card base is a piece of Soft Suede cardstock cut from a full sheet of 8 1/2" x 11". I cut it at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and folded it to make my final card size of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2".

The next layer is a piece of Naturals White cardstock, cut at 4" x 5 1/4". I used my Tres Chic background stamp (one of my all time favs!) and inked it with Soft Suede. I've found that the best way to ink one of these large stamps is to lay the stamp on it's back on your Grid Paper. Then, if you don't own a brayer - or like me, are too lazy to get up and walk across the room to get yours - take your ink pad and 'smoosh' it onto the surface of the stamp. Yes, 'smoosh' can be a technical term! :) Keep smooshing until the stamp is covered and then place your cardstock onto the area of the stamp you want the image transferred from. (Quick tip - I usually fold my Grid Paper over top and then rub across the top of the paper to "stamp" my cardstock that is sandwiched there. It keeps your fingers from getting inky.)

So, once my background was stamped, I used my Stampin' Sponge and inked the edges of this layer with Soft Suede to give it a bit of texture and depth. This also added to the vintage look I was aiming for here.

Next, I took a piece of the new Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper - love this paper! - and cut it out with the Circle Scallop Die and my Big Shot. THEN, I ran it through my Big Shot again but this time with the Finial Press Embossing Folder. That gave the paper a gorgeous raised texture and then I sanded it a bit with my Sanding Block to reveal some of the white core underneath just the raised parts. Lastly, I again turned to my Stampin' Sponge and added some more Soft Suede ink to the edges and across the surface.

This layer was adhered to the background layer with some SNAIL adhesive and then I used my Paper Trimmer to trim off the edges. A little more ink was added to the trimmed areas.

For my focal point image, I used the single rose from Bloomin' Beautiful and stamped it in Basic Brown ink on a piece of Naturals White cardstock cut at 2" x 3". This was layered onto a piece of Soft Suede cut at 2 1/4" x 3 1/4". To color my image, I used my Aqua Painters and some re-inkers in Rose Red and Old Olive.

(Quick tip - I put the ink into an old brad or button case, I like the kind that have 4 sections and that way, if there is any left over, I can just cap the case and save it for next time.)

Just a little drop of each was more than enough to color this image, in fact, I could have done 5 or 6 of these with just that little ink. My trick to watercoloring this way is to color in the shaded areas on the stamp first because they are supposed to be darker. Then as my brush loses ink, I color in the open areas of the image going back to my ink spot for little dabs as needed. Believe me, I am NOT a very good watercolor stamper, but this technique works really well for me and no one ever says it's ugly!

So, once that was colored, I dabbed a bit of Soft Suede ink around the edges again and adhered it to the Soft Suede piece. A Stampin' Dimensional was added to each corner underneath, so it would pop up above the ribbon accent I was going to use. For that, I simply took a 7" length of Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain and adhered one end underneath the background layer on the right. I threaded a piece of Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware to the left end and snipped off the end in a flag. To adhere it to the card front, I attached a Stampin' Dimensional under the hodgepodge piece and stuck it down.

I honestly have to say that this is one of my favorite creations in a while. It turned out exactly how I pictured it in my mind, once I chose the stamp, and I love everything about it! I hope you do too! Let me know what you think and be sure to stop by the Stamping 411 blog and see the gorgeous creations the other operators have designed. I know you'll be inspired to play along with us this week. Be sure to upload your card to Mr. Linky before Wednesday night so you'll be eligible for the prize we are giving away this week! You only have to play to win!

Happy Saturday everyone!

~~Robin