Hello.

I’m sitting here typing, wondering who is going to be reading this – where you are, what your weather is like, what you’re doing while you read. Do you, like me, have a hot drink, because it makes life feel more cosy? We have a forecast of ‘drenching rain’ today. The monsoon is almost upon us! Coming from Australia, I can never have enough rain. It always makes my heart soar, so I’m tapping the keys with a happy heart.

I have a pair of cards to share with you today, that have as their starting point a die set from Paper Rose Studio called Little Vases. I cut these from Neenah Solar White cardstock and blended some inks onto them, in a range of blues/greens ( Speckled Egg, Faded Jeans, and Iced Spruce) and browns(Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap). I love the way the ink pools in the cracks when you cut first and ink blend second.

I also used the Wildflowers stamps and matching dies from Paper Rose, stamping with the same colors of ink. It always comes out darker when stamping compared to blending, so that gave me some variation, while keeping the same colour palette. Once I had a bunch of vases and wildflowers, I worked on how I would arrange them on the card. I often have an idea before I start a card, but not this time.

This first card uses the Victorian Window die as a backdrop. These windows actually open, but I’ve glued them down for this card. I placed one of the vases behind the window and one in front so that it looks like there are flowers both inside and out.

The second card uses the Striped Diamond 3D embossing folder. This folder asks impossible things of the paper, as the design is so intricate, so I have a couple of tips for using it and not tearing the paper. Firstly, I used a thinner paper than usual. Secondly, I started with a cutting machine sandwich that put no pressure at all on the paper, and slowly added cardstock shims, one by one until it ‘bit’ just a little. I absolutely love the geometric design.

The sentiments are both from the Lotus Bouquet stamp set. I use the flowers on this set all the time, but I reach for the sentiments even more often, I think. I love it when a stamp is useful in two ways. These cards have so much in common, and yet are quite different. I wonder which one you prefer?

That’s all for today. I hope that you are enjoying your day. Until next time, stay safe my friends.

Blessings,