Textured Friends & Flowers

There were a couple of stamp sets in the Occasions Catalogue that I loved at first sight and thought "I MUST get that" but then, for some reason, I haven't used!  I think, once they were in my hand, I was having trouble visualising how I would use them.

So, I decided that today was the day that I had to overcome this mental block, no matter what!

Timeless Textures combined with a flower from Friends and Flowers.  The leaf is from the Botanical Blooms bundle.

While making this card, I had an interesting experience with colours.  The finished card is Cherry Cobbler and Blushing Bride, however .....  

.... it didn't start out that way!

The inside of the card

I stamped the floral images from Friends and Flowers onto Blushing Bride cardstock with Rich Razzleberry ink! I punched out the petals with the Festive Flower Builder punch and then blended over the stamping with some Blushing Bride ink to soften the look a little.

How it looks propped up on display. Greeting from Wetlands stamp set

A bit too much dimension for the postal system!

Having curled the petals slightly and assembled the flower, I then decided to give it some strength (and I didn't mind about the shine) by painting the flower with some Crystal Effects and then went away to have some coffee while it dried.

When I returned - my Rich Razzleberry flower had transformed into Cherry Cobbler!

From now on I should be able to use Friends and Flowers and Timeless Textures as much as they deserve - because they're both beautiful and versatile sets!

However, I have created another little challenge for myself!

I was so concentrated on the creation that I didn't think about the practicalities!

I think this will have to be a hand-delivered card rather than one that goes through the mail system!

I can't go without acknowledging a very talented lady whose beautiful card gave me inspiration.  Her card is here.  Thank you Marika Rahtu.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Crazy Crafters Blog Hop September 2015 - Holiday Catalogue - Poinsettia

Welcome to the Crazy Crafters Blog Hop for September!  

You may be just starting the blog hop here at my blog or may have come from the person before me in the list below.  If you get off track at any time, the full line-up below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all the projects.  At the moment you are visiting Stephanie Fischer, The Crafty Thinker.  

This month we are excited to showcase some of the fantastic new products in the Holiday Catalogue - what a feast!  

Where has the time gone?!!  The year is disappearing so quickly and many of us are already well into the joyous swing of Christmas/Seasonal Card  production!  I love this time of year.  Christmas cards seem to not only condone but encourage the use of bling, glitter and glitz and I can be as over the top as I like!

Easel Card featuring a poinsettia created with
the the Reason for the Season Bundle

Having said that, the card I've chosen to include in this blog hop is really quite restrained (for me!) and I decided not to use traditional Christmas colours - I think I haven't quite reached the red and green stage of the year yet! 

 For some reason, I'm making a lot of easel cards these days.  Maybe because they look quite impressive even though they're so quick and easy to make!

I made the card in Tip Top Taupe and added a panel of Early Espresso followed by a panel of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper.  

I stamped and punched two poinsettias using the Reason for the Season Bundle (a 15% saving as well as everything I need to make a beautiful flower!) and then intermingled the parts - one I stamped with Early Espresso on Tip Top Taupe card

Dimensionals add enough height to
keep the card propped open. 

 and the other I heat embossed with Gold onto Early Espresso Card.  I put a Metal Rimmed Pearl in the centre for a little more restrained bling. 

The sentiments are from Versatile Christmas - heat embossed in Gold onto Tip Top Taupe card and die cut with the Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits.

I "prettied-up" the strip of glimmer paper on the inside by trimming the ends with the smallest of the Deco Labels Collection Framelits.

Alternative colours for the card

Then I used the other poinsettia to make a second, similar card.

Afterwards I wished I'd mixed up the petals even a little bit more.

I hope you've enjoyed these cards, I would really welcome your comments.

Thanks for taking part in our blog hop, there are so many amazing ideas and so much inspiration that you don't want to miss.  Remember that currently you are my blog - Stephanie Fischer - so check the blog hop line up list to see who is next in line in the list and click on their name as you don't want to miss out on seeing any of the blogs and the amazing inspiration they contain.

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog