“Star” and Stripes at the OCC

The Our Creative Corner challenge is always one of my favorites, so it was with anticipation that I checked out their new challenge today. It sounded simple…”Stars and Stripes”…until to my dismay I realized that my stash of “star stamps” and “star punches” was non-existent. However, stars are relatively easy to draw, so I surged ahead. I selected this wonderful paper from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper for my stripes, and decided to ink up my Wings of Friendship Hostess Level 2 stamp set for the first time. A liberal application of “bling” and a smidge of ink distressing complete the look. And, lest I forget, a lone star graces the upper corner! Enjoy this bling-laden card!

• Prepare a standard card base from Rose Red card stock.
• Using Stampin’ Write Markers, ink up the “Bird and Flowers” image from Wings of Friendship. (I used Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Bermuda Bay, and Sahara Sand.) Stamp onto Whisper White. Round the right hand corners with the Corner Rounder, and punch the left side with the Spiral Punch. Distress the edges with a Sponge Dauber and Sahara Sand. “Spritz” using the Color Spritzer and the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker. Mat onto Bermuda Bay, and round the two right hand corners. (Stampin’ Schach Tip: Outlining the swirls with Sahara Sand gives the appearance of “instant watercoloring”!)
• Ink the “Swirls” stamp from Wings of Friendship with Always Artichoke and position into the upper right-hand corner. (Stampin’ Schach Tip: Use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement!)
• Mat a strip of textured Sahara Sand card stock onto Rose Red. Add an Eyelet Border which has been distressed with Soft Suede. Add a snippet of Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. Adhere to the “Stripes” pattern from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper and layer onto the card base.
• Stamp the “Flower” and “Bird” images onto Whisper White a second time and snip out with Paper Snips.
• Distress the edges of the Bird with Sahara Sand and a Sponge Dauber. Add a Clear Rhinestone Brad for the eye. Coat the wing with Tombow Adhesive and “bling it up” with the Silver Bead Duo. (Stampin’ Schach Tip: Add the large beads first, and then fill-in the remaining spaces with the smaller microbeads!) Pop on top of the first bird with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Add a Clear Rhinestone Brad to the center of the Flower. Run a bead of Tombow Adhesive around the edges of the flower, and add Silver Microbeads. Pop on top of the first flower with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Snip out a Star from Rose Red. Add Tombow Adhesive to the edges and adhere Silver Microbeads. Pop on top of the corner swirl with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
• Using the Photo Corner Punch and Sahara Sand textured card stock, punch two Photo Corners. Distress with Soft Suede. Add Clear Rhinestone Brads for “bling”. Adhere to the right-hand corners of the card as illustrated in the photograph.

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Stamp Set: Wings of Friendship (114308—Hostess Level 2)
Ink: Always Artichoke (105219), Sahara Sand (105208), Soft Suede (115657), Stampin’ Write Markers: Bermuda Bay (116329—In-Colors Set of 6), Rose Red (100063), Always Artichoke (105113), Sahara Sand (105105)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (100730), Rose Red (102544), Bermuda Bay (115317), Sahara Sand textured (108693—Neutral assorted)
Tools: Photo Corners Punch (109042), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Spiral Punch (108341), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Silver Bead Duo (110733), Bermuda Bay 5/8” Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115610)