from my ink pad to yours: Forever Blossoms

March 09, 2021

Forever Blossoms for Spring

Today I'm going to share some winter into spring colors AND give you a little more information on a ribbon technique that I introduced a few weeks ago. Then I get to send you on your way to check out whole bunch of other ribbon ideas because that is the theme for this month's:

I originally saw some fabrics with these colors together and was intrigued. So... I used them as the color challenge that I am hosting over at Splitcoaststampers this week.

They impressed me as seasonal colors that we see in nature as the Minnesota winter moves towards spring. We've been fortunate to have great weather to be getting outdoors this past week. While we are seeing hints of subtle greens as the snow disappears we still see crispy cinnamon colored scrub oak leaves on our hikes around area lakes. I really love the Cinnamon Cider color and loved the chance to use it for a spring look. Anyway, on to my first card:

I started my card by stamping the large blossom branch several times in Cinnamon Cider ink: once to be colored and die cut and more as kind of a background toile look.
As I played with these pieces I decided to color just the background of the toile piece - in Soft Sea Foam - to use as a border.
The main blossom branch includes all the challenge colors though just a bit of Mossy Meadow in the shadows on my leaves. I added a Soft Sea Foam background with my blending brush before embossing that layer with my beloved Tasteful Textile embossing folder. I confess I wasn't planning on using this but I got a little "bend" as I was experimenting with the layout and that folder covered it right up!
What do you think of my "Suspender" bow? Though I've used this several times over the years I've never had a name for it. I went to get my husband's opinion for a name and before I could mention the name I already had in mind he said "Hey, it looks like suspenders." No more discussion needed.
Suspender Bow technique:
Fold a large (34"-36") piece of ribbon or twine in half.
Holding the fold about 1 1/4" from the bottom of of your layers, wrap the rest around the card and bring it up around the bottom.
Loop the ends through the fold and tie it into a knot.
Turn your card upside down (so that your bow appears near the top instead of the bottom) and then tie a bow. Somehow this trick helps to get the ends on the bottom.
Turn your card back to the original position and adjust the "suspenders" so that they are taut and you like they way they appear on your card.
The bow usually holds firm on its own though you can put a mini glue dot under the bow to make it more secure.
As you can see below you can release the suspenders for repositioning or adjusting other elements of your design, if you wish. The bow tied over the original know will keep its shape.

Here are some photos if you would like some visual hints:

If you fasten down the bow, this suspender bow is great to use on a card that needs a closure so it's a good alternative to a belly band. Here is an example of how I've used it on a gate fold card.

This card uses the same colors as the first card with the Forever Fern Bundle.
Note the little ladybug accent!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you found something to use in your own stamping projects!

Now it's time to move on to see what Melissa Faust has in store for us.

BLOG HOP ROLL CALL:

I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

Check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link at the top of my blog. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]

I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the March host code, JZNC7WQE, I will send you a free gift. US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.

If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.

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Product List

Forever Blossoms Cling Stamp Set (English)

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

Cinnamon Cider Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Soft Sea Foam Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

Petal Pink 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Organdy Striped Ribbon

Cinnamon Cider 2020–2022 In Color Ribbon

Posted at 10:59 AM in Forever Blossoms, Forever Fern | Permalink | Comments (10)

April 20, 2020

Noble Peacock Rhinestone Trio

Do you have a cuppa something ready? I've got three cards that I've done over the past year, all featuring the elegant Nobel Peacock Rhinestones.

First let's take a look at another card I did while on the Dirty Girl Design Team last year:

Long story behind this card so skip to the next bullet point if you just want the card hints. I did this card last year when I first tried out the Noble Peacock Rhinestones. The blue butterfly is often used as a symbol for thyroid disease since your thyroid is "somewhat" shaped like a butterfly. A year ago this week I was diagnosed with Graves disease, which means that my immune system got a little carried away and caused my thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone. That, in turn, made it difficult for me to sleep etc. Luckily my health care provider caught it early. Between a little medication and some lifestyle changes, we got it turned around though it has taken the better part of the past year to get my sleep back to where it was before. That's pretty much why my blogging has been so much less regular. Anyway, that very same week I was asked to join the Dirty Dozen Design Team over on Splitcoaststampers. I'm so grateful I had that design team, along the the Splitcoaststamper Color Challenge Design team to keep me stamping when it would have been very easy to let my creativity slide.
Last June the Dirty Dozen theme called for some bling and I designed this card to meet the challenge, featuring the Noble Peacock Foil and rhinestones. Usually I design cards to be for others, but in this case the card was really for me. Today I look at it differently and, of course, think that it would be a good greeting for just about anyone in our troubled world.
Last June was the first time I did this 90 degree turn technique with the Subtle embossing folder. It shows the best when using the Foil papers, in this case Noble Peacock Foil (#149945 - I forgot this one while making the product list.) All you need to do is run your paper through your embossing tool twice, turning your paper 90 degrees in the folder before running it through the second time.
I cut the petal design out 4 times: once in each color of foil and once in white. Then I paper pieced the various colors into the white "frame".
Once I chose the sentiment I just knew I needed a blue butterfly. (The antennae were stamped with Butterfly Gala, #148580.)
I used a rhinestone in the center of each flower and also on the body of the little butterfly.

This card was done for a color challenge that I hosted a few weeks ago. It called for Pool Party + Pretty Peacock + Rococo Rose with stripes for dessert.
I mixed Pool Party refill with white craft refill and swiped the stripes with a sponge dauber.
The Pretty Peacock border is cut with the border die from the Stitched Be Mine dies.
The beautiful flowered branch is from the Forever Blossoms Bundle. I stamped the branch with Basic Gray and colored it with the color challenge Blends Combos. I cut two extra branches with the corresponding die so that branch is extra solid, almost as thick as a puzzle piece.
One more greeting that is easy to send to anyone these days along with another sprinkling of Noble Peacock Rhinestones, this time just in Pretty Peacock.

Lastly, I have my card for this week's color challenge which has us revisiting a few of last year's In-Colors: Lemon-Lime Twist + Berry Burst + Powder Pink with "thank you" for dessert.
I thought that this pretty Strawberry from Witty-cisms would work perfectly so I embossed the image in white and watercolored with my aquapainter and ink that I picked up from the covers of my ink pads. (squeezing the older style pads before opening them)
I used a couple of punches, the Scalloped Tag Topper and Detailed Trio punch to make the tag with rounded corners.
I thought a basket weave background would make the perfect setting for my strawberry.
Once again, I embellished the card with a few rhinestones, this time the Old Olive stones, which worked beautifully with the Lemon-Lime Twist. Here is a angled view which shows this a little better:

Have you tried these beautiful rhinestones yet? If not, place an April order and I will gladly send you your own package!

I so appreciate your time as you visit my blog. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.

***If you don't have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog. Clicking on any of the items in the product list below will also bring you to my shop.

Please note that as of today, Stampin' Up! continues to ship product at this time of so many shutdowns. The shipping time may be considerably longer as they make adjustments for the safety of their employees. Please allow extra time for your order to arrive. If time is of the essence, you may also take advantage of their express shipping as you place your order.

Chris

If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the April host code, TJ6Y3ZQG, I will send you a free gift (Noble Peacock Rhinestones or alternate) that

Product List