It's Tuesday and time for a new challenge over at CAS Colours & Sketches. This week's challenge is a sketch challenge and I designed the following sketch for us to work with:
Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch when making your card. There are so many ways you can use a simple vertical panel; for my card today I decided to use the 'Amaryllis Abloom' stamp set, one of two host sets in the current mini catalogue, and use the vertical element to showcase a fabulous amaryllis bloom - take a look:
Here's the low-down on today's card:
The 'Amaryllis Bloom' stamp set is a stamp set that is exclusively available to purchase using hostess rewards when you either host a Stampin' Up! party or place an order of £150 or more. It can be found on page 78 of the mini catalogue, along with the 'Seasons of Fun' stamp set, and is only available for the duration of this catalogue sales period, i.e. until 3rd January. The flowers in the 'Amaryllis Abloom' stamp set comprise a soft, almost watercoloured stamp element and a line drawn flower with leaves. It's not a two-step step stamp, in as much as the softer stamps don't fit the line drawn image to 'colour' it; each of the elements is a standalone. I decided to use the softer stamps from the bottom of my card upwards, and stamped both flowers and leaves, some of them stamped off directly onto my card base. I then stamped the lined image in Versamark onto vellum and heat embossed it with black embossing powder, then coloured the image on the reverse using my Stampin' Blends then fussy cut this piece and added this to the centre of my floral display. I heat embossed my sentiment, from the same set, and added a few clear sequins to complete my card.
Whilst my flower follows the contours of the vertical panel of the sketch, I stamped it directly onto my white card base and it extends beyond them; I used a double scored line to add additional detail without detracting from the flower - you can see them slightly better on the angled shot below:
This is quite an unusual style of card for me, but I quite like it - the vellum flower is so shiny in real life.
I have a real soft spot for amaryllis, especially at this time of year. My grandfather was an amazing gardener and he had a wonderful collection of amaryllis. I loved finding new varieties in unusual colours to gift him at Christmas time as he was always thrilled to have a new addition to his collection. My personal favourite is still a traditional bold red one though - whilst my grandfather is long gone, every time I see one of these flowers they bring back wonderful memories of him.
I am also linking today's card up over at The Flower Challenge where they are asking for 'flowers with leaves' and at Global Design Project where the theme is 'Christmas'.
Here is the visual summary of the key products used on today's project for you to pin for easy reference:
You can see all of my 'How To' summaries on my 'How To - Tips and Techniques' Pinterest board in case you've missed any.
Enjoy your day and I'll be back tomorrow with another project. Until then, happy stampin'!
Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: