Today’s card began as my creation for this week’s Splitcoast Color Challenge (Lavender Lace, Barely Banana, Basic Gray, Basic Black, and White). But as it progressed, I added Pretty in Pink, Crushed Curry, Rich Razzleberry, More Mustard, Dusty Durango, and Melon Mambo. So much for the color challenge! However, what I ended up with was a beautiful array of flowers cascading out from the card. Two-step stamping is a technique in which I rarely indulge, but this new set, Greenhouse Garden, may change my mind! Here is a bouquet of flowers for you:

• Prepare a standard card base from Melon Mambo. Round the corners with a Corner Rounder.
• Ink various floral background stamps from Greenhouse Garden with the following base colors and stamp onto Whisper White: Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Barely Banana, and More Mustard. Ink the detail stamps in Rich Razzleberry, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, and Dusty Durango. Stamp on the complimentary floral image, placing perfectly with the Stamp-a-ma-jig! Mat onto Lovely Lilac, followed by Basic Black. (Tip: Do add depth and dimension, some flowers were stamped directly on the Whisper White background, while other were stamped and cut out using paper snips. Stampin‘ Dimensionals make selected flowers “pop” off the page, while overlapping images onto the outer mat gives the feeling that the flowers are cascading out of the image!)
• Position and adhere to the card base.
• Ink the “hello” sentiment from Chic Boutique with Basic Black and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch with the Large Oval Punch, and layer onto a Melon Mambo Oval Scallop. (Tip: I had a scrap flower image left over from my bouquet, so I just stamped “hello” on top of it. I love the coordinated look.) Pop onto the card with Stampin‘ Dimensionals.
• Add a snippet of Basic Black 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon which has been run through a Ribbon Slide from Hodgepodge Hardware.
• As a finishing touch, add Micro Beads to the center of selected flowers!

Once again, I started with a challenge for inspiration and made it my own! The flowers are absolutely fun to make. This was a stamp set that I almost did not purchase because I am really not a floral person. However, I thought that I really should have at least one nice floral set. I am so glad that I bought it. I can see me inking it up quite often during the upcoming year.

Remember, your comments and emails are important to me. Stop in and say “Hello” or let me know what you think of today’s card! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden (113824), Chic Boutique (113744)
Paper: Melon Mambo (115320), Basic Black (102851), Whisper White (100730), Lovely Lilac (100427)
Inks: Lavender Lace (101305), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Pretty in Pink (101301), Melon Mambo (115656), Barely Banana (101170), Crushed Curry (115659), More Mustard (103162), Dusty Durango (115654), Basic Black (101179)
Tools: Large Oval Punch (107305), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Corner Rounder (109047), Paper Snips (103579)
Embellishments: Basic Black 1/4” Grosgrain Ribbon (109027), Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (111325), Micro Beads (104266)
Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multi Purpose Adhesive (110755)

• Prepare a standard card base from Sage Shadow card stock.
• Layer with the “Gray Small Dot” selection from the Chic Nouveau Designer Series Paper collection.
• Mat the “Sage Shadow Flowers and Flourishes” selection from Chic Nouveau onto Sage Shadow.
• Ink the “Eiffel Tower” with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto Whisper White. Mat onto Sage Shadow. Outline the tower with Sahara Sand Stampin‘ Write Marker. Color as illustrated with Bordering Blue and Crushed Curry Stampin‘ Write Markers.
• Prepare the horizontal strip from Textured Basic Gray card stock and mat onto Sage Shadow. Adhere all of the elements as illustrated in the photograph. Finish with a snippet of Sage Shadow 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon.
• Ink the “Merci” sentiment with Sage Shadow and stamp onto Whisper White. Frame with a Raised Dots Oval Label Holder from the Silver Hodgepodge Hardware Collection. Attach to the card base.
• Voila!

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• Prepare a standard card base from Old Olive, scored at the top.
• Layer with a “Rich Razzleberry Floral” selection from Cottage Walls Designer Series Paper to which a snippet of Old Olive 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon has been added.
• Prepare the horizontal strip from Orchid Opulence matted with Old Olive, and adhere to the card base.
• Prepare the vertical block from the “Orchid Opulence Geometric Floral” pattern, and mat with Old Olive. Adhere to the card base.
• Ink the “Dress Form” image from Chic Boutique with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto Whisper White. Color the stand and fringe using Brocade Blue, Rich Razzleberry, and Crushed Curry Stampin’ Write Markers. Use the Sahara Sand marker to shade one side of the stand. Since I did not have an Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker, I used my Stampin’ Pastels and Blender Pens to shade the dress. I then covered it with Tombow Adhesive, and added Micro Beads. Mat with Orchid Opulence and adhere to the card base as illustrated in the photograph.
• Ink the “Flourish” stamp with Jet Black StazOn and stamp onto Whisper White. Color with the Sahara Sand and Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Write Markers. Once again, I used my Stampin’ Pastels and Blender Pen in place of the Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker. (I am definitely going to have to order one of these!)
• Ink the “Merci” stamp with Rich Razzleberry and stamp into the middle of the flourish. For perfect placement, use your Stamp-a-ma-jig. Cut out using Paper Snips, and mat onto Old Olive. Once again, trim using Paper Snips. Position and pop onto the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• For a final “chic” touch, add two Filigree Brads with Pink Circle Fire Brads in their centers.

The colors and sketch used for this card were perfect compliments to this set. Plus, with the beading technique, it was a fun card to create. Isn’t it great when a plan comes together? Remember, your comments and emails are important to me. Stop in and say “Hello” or let me know what you think of today’s card! Until next time…

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!

Stamp Set: Chic Boutique (113744)
Designer Series Paper: Cottage Wall (115671)
Card Stock: Orchid Opulence (100969), Old Olive (100702), Whisper White (100730)
Ink: Jet Black StazOn (101406), Rich Razzleberry (115658)
Embellishments: Old Olive ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon (111368), Filigree Brads (112577), Circle Fire Brads (109110), Micro Beads (104266)
Other: Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker (105105), Brocade Blue Stampin’ Write Marker (100064), In-Color Stampin’ Write Markers (116329), Stampin’ Pastels (105542), Blender Pens (102845), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive (110755)