Today I'm joining my creative friends at Ellen Hutson to celebrate her HUGE March release of Essentials by Ellen product with a blog hop and giveaway. This release is the largest she has done since I first joined her team, and there is a LOT to love in it.
I fell in love with the Succulent Sentiments Stamp set as soon as I saw it. Not only do I love the style of the handwritten greetings, but I especially loved the sentiment that I used on today's card. I don't know about you, but I relate to it so well. I have a few girlfriends who don't live near me, and I appreciate how our friendships have lasted beyond the distance and that we always pick up right where we left off each time we see each other. Friends like that are invaluable. So it was a no brainer that I would use the sentiment on one of my projects.
It's been a while since I've broken out my Pinkfresh watercolors and I decided to use them to spotlight the different parts of the image. I mixed the Key Line and Emerald City in order to make the perfect green and the Bubblegum for the vase. First, I watercolored both circles. Allowing the first colour to dry before adding the second (otherwise the colours would run into each other). After both colours were dry I stamped the image using Ranger's archival ink. I then die cut the rectangle. Doing it in this order (watercolour, stamp, then cut) allowed me to line everything up perfectly. Sometimes if you cut first, then stamp, if your stamp is a bit off center or tilted, you are a bit out of luck. Doing it in this way allows you to perfectly center your stamped image when you cut it out. So, now you have a die cut piece, the last touch is to add the "to low maintenance..." greeting at the bottom of the die cut.
To prep the card, cut an A2 piece of Peony cardstock. Using Versamark and the Painted Stripes stamp set, stamp the diagonal stripes along the left side of the card front. I stamped it 3 times (using the MISTI) in order to get the depth of colour I wanted. Glue this pink cardstock onto the front of a card.
Finally, add 3D dimensional foam to the back of the die cut and place it on the card front, and you're done!
SUPPLY LIST:
Stamps: Modern Succulents, Succulent Sentiments, and Painted Stripes by Ellen Hutson
Die Cut: A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1 by My Favorite Things
Ink: Jet Black Archival ink by Ranger, VersaMark by Tsukineko
Cardstock: Peony by Hero Arts
Watercolors: Bubblegum, Key Lime and Emerald City all by Pinkfresh
Other: Watercolour brushes, Die Cutting machine
And, with today's hop, Ellen is offering some super fun prizes!!! One random & lucky commenter will win $25 to the EH shop and one will win the whole March Essentials by Ellen release!!! To enter for a chance to win, make sure to leave comments at each stop along the hop! Comment before Thursday, March 12th at 11:59pm PST. Winners will be notified by email.
Your next stop on the hop is the blog of ARDYTH, go check it out!
Hop order:
Carissa
Brandi
Kelly
Laurel
Emily Midgett
Sandy
Adelina
Carolyn <------- YOU ARE HERE
Ardyth
Emily Mydlowski
Elena
Ashlea
Lisa
Michele
Caly
Therese
Jessica
Carly
Julie
