Fabulous Florets!

For today's post, I wanted to share a card by Ellie Martin – a member of my Stampin' Up! group called "Expressions of the Heart".  Isn't this stunning?!  This was one of the demonstratrations at my Taste of Convention Expo in September.  Click HERE to view my calendar for upcoming events!

 Supplies:

• Brayer            
• So saffron stamp pad
• Fabulous Florets stamp set  
• Pumpkin pie stamp pad
• Rhinestones basic jewels
• Old olive stamp pad
• Heat tool       
• Black StazOn stamp pad
• Clear embossing powder
• VersaMark
• Basic black ribbon     
• Stampin’ dimensionals
• Post-it note for sun mask

Cardstock:

• Basic black – Cut one 5-1/2 x 8-1/2, score and fold for card base.  Cut one 3-7/8 x 5-1/8.
• Old olive – Cut one 4-1/16 x 5-1/4.
• Whisper white – Cut one 3-5/8 x 4-15/16.  Cut one 4-3/4 x 3-1/2.  Cut one 5-1/4 x 4 for inside of card.
• Basic black scraps for embossing florets.

Step by Step:

1.  Brayer background on whisper white paper (4-3/4 x 3-1/2):   Start with So Saffron as your base layer:  You just want to cover the whole paper with the So Saffron – first roll off the paper, then roll over the paper to cover completely with the So Saffron.  Re-ink and go over it a second time.   Note, this bottom layer may not be completely smooth, but will not affect the end result in this project. 
2. Cut a 1” circle mask from a post-it note to create a sun mask, making sure that you are on the sticky part of the note so that it will stick to your paper.  Apply to the top of your paper where you wish to have your sun.  Then brayer your second layer of color with pumpkin pie:  Start at the top of the paper with the sun mask, first roll off the paper (to not get a hard line on your paper) moving onto the paper and rolling down to get a nice feathering effect.  You will roll over the sun mask and roll about three-quarters of the way down the paper.  On your very last roll with the pumpkin pie, go all the way down the paper just to give a hint of color on the end. 
3.  Turn paper to opposite end and ink just one-third to one-half of the brayer with old olive ink and apply the ink on the bottom one-third of the paper, blending into the other colors.
4.  Stamp the floral image from the Fabulous Florets stamp set onto the finished background paper in black StazOn ink 3 times.
5. Attach finished card to whisper white 3-5/8 x 4-15/16 mat.  Attach to black 3-7/8 x 5-1/8 mat.  Attach to old olive 4-1/6 x 5-1/4 mat.
6. On basic black scraps, stamp just the floral image of the fabulous floret image in VersaMark ink and emboss using clear embossing powder and heating tool (3 times).  Cut out and attach on top of stamped image of card using stampin’ dimensional on card.
7. Cut 2-1/2” piece of basic black ribbon, cut an arrow design on one end.  Attach to the back of the old olive and wrap around to the front and attach to the front using Tombo or your adhesive of choice. 
8. Add rhinestones to each floret and one to the ribbon. 
9. Attach old olive to the basic black card base.
10. Attach 5-1/4 x 4 whisper white to inside of card.  Stamp desired greeting.
11. Finished!!

Wouldn't it be nice to get your favorite Stampin' Up! merchandise at a discount?!  Last chance on the $25 Starter Kit!!!  Click HERE to get yours now!  Offer expires at 11:50 p.m. MT today – Monday, October 21st!!