Pick of the Week

 It's my turn to share my Pick of the Week on The House That Stamps Built blog.  Today, I have a nice, simple, elegant card using two stamps and two ink pads.  I almost always start my cards with a sketch and this card definitely began this way.  As soon as I saw this sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch, I knew I had to use it and I knew it would be perfect for the image "Flowers" from the Contain Yourself Series.

I started out by stamping my image with Versamark ink and heat embossing it with white embossing powder.  Then I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die.  I then use a blending brush to blend on some pale blue ink around the image.  The white embossing really pops!

It looks really pretty this way, but I wanted to take it up a notch, so I used two light blue markers to add some shading to the flower petals.  The markers are relatively the same color as the ink I used for the blending, so they add a really subtle shading.    But I think it helps the image pop even more.

To finish, I stamped "Happy Anniversary" on a die cut label using the same blue ink I used for the blending.  I made the slots in the label using an old-fashioned punch that you have to hit with a hammer.  So glad I saw it in my tool container or else I would have had to cut slits with a craft knife (and that wouldn't have been fun!).  I slipped in a piece of ribbon from my bits and pieces stash that was a very close match to the ink.  I love using ribbon this way (sort of like a border) as it adds a lot of visual interest and texture without adding bulk.  Satin ribbon like this also adds an elegant touch as do the pearls that I used to finish off the card.  I mounted the entire panel on a white card base.

And there you have it, an elegant anniversary card using one two stamps, two ink pads, two dies and two markers.  Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Stamps: Repeat Impressions "Flowers" and "Happy Anniversary"

Dies: MFT "Blueprints 13" stitched rectangle and "Designer Label STAX"

Challenges:

As You Like It--favorite way to use ribbon (I love ribbon, though I have not been using it much of late, and one of my favorite ways is to use it as a border of sorts.  Just a strip across the card; it adds a lot of interest and texture, but no bulk.)

Cardz TV #122--anything goes

Crafter's Cafe #250--anything goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--stamp it

Cards Galore #74--anything goes

Aud Sentiments #259--anything goes

Crafty Creations #412--anything goes

Cute Card #650--anything goes

CAS(E) This Sketch #388--sketch

Krafty Chicks #523--stamp act

Your Next Stamp #147--keeping it clean