Each month, Shelli Gardner, Co-founder and CEO of Stampin' Up!, hosts a creative challenge on her blog. This month the challenge is to create a card that is simple yet stunning. I couldn't resist playing along this month.
I wanted to keep it simple, so I stamped the background with the upcoming Sale-A-Bration set, Fresh Vintage. (BTW...it is my very favorite!) In just a few weeks you will be able to earn this beautiful set for free with the purchase of $50 or more. I stamped the image with Island Indigo ink on Whisper White CS and trimmed it out with Island Indigo CS. I also sponged the edges with the same ink. But be extra careful because the ink is very dark. I had to sponge off onto a piece of scrap paper before sponging the edges.
I used the banner from the new set, Take it to Heart, and the sentiment if from another wonderful new set, Apothecary Art. This is what the card looked like at first. Don't get me wrong, I actually like the card just like this...it is mailable and actually very pretty, but not exactly what I would call "Stunning". It needed something more to take it over-the-top.
That is when I got the idea to add a pop of color...Poppy Parade to be exact. I used the new Blossom punch from the Occassions Mini Catalog and punched three flowers from the Pocketful of Posies DSP collection. I also punched a smaller layer with the 1-3/4" Scallop Circle and snipped between each scallop with scissors and added a top layer punched with the Boho Blossoms punch. I sponged Poppy Parade ink on the edges, curled the petals, and seperated each layer with Dimensionals. I added a few pearls for the flower center and VOILA!