Bloom With Hope

This is a beautiful set, with sketched flowers and sayings appropriate for both happy and sad occasions.  We never want to make sympathy cards, but when you need one, you want to make sure it is extra special.

Being a hostess set, Bloom With Hope is retiring at the end of this catalog year, and is only available to stampers who host a workshop which generates Stampin' Rewards.  Individual orders qualify as well.  Other retiring products are available on sale now, while supplies last.  Check them out here.

Using Basic Gray for the matting gives a softer look to the card.

Using Stazon black ink, stamp the flower first.  Use a sticky-note mask to cover it, and stamp the branch with the berries twice: once high, once low.  Stamp the plants high enough to leave room for the sentiment below, or low enough to place the sentiment above.


Having so many layers, (the insides are also double-matted with Gray and White or Black and White,) this card has a very nice feel to it.  There is something to be said for simple designs, but adding layers gives a feeling of luxury to a card.  If you don't want to add more colors, then tone-on-tone, or even white-on-white matting looks very
 elegant.

 







Supplies List:
Card stock:
Wisteria Wonder,
Basic Gray or
Basic Black,
Whisper White

Designer Series Paper:
Subtles Color Stack
(Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz*)

Stamps:
Bloom With Hope
Papillon Potpourri

Ink:
Stazon,
Stampin' Write Markers
(I used Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder, Basic Gray, and several different shades of pink.)

Accessories:
Bitty Butterfly Punch
Snail Tape,
Pearl Jewels
Acrylic Blocks


*The current color stack pattern designs are a little different than those shown here; just pick your two favorite patterns!
 

Inspiration and Perspiration

Having found another great deal in the Clearance Rack, namely the gorgeous Lost Lagoon 3/8" taffeta ribbon at 60% off, I went searching for some ideas for a card to use it on.  This lovely card by Penny Allen really caught my eye.







I was tempted to go into my "vintage" (read: "retired") paper stash to pair the Lost Lagoon with a lovely, soft green called Mellow Moss, (another great find on the Clearance Rack, years ago,) but decided to stay monochrome instead, just adding a little Night of Navy trim for a tiny bit of accent.

***UPDATE*** since posting this card, the Gifts of Kindness stamp set has peen put on the retired list. It is guaranteed only til May 26th, and then available as supplies last only til June 2nd.

Supplies:
Card Stock:  Lost Lagoon, Night of Navy, Whisper White
DSP Color Stack:  In Colors 2024-16, Lost Lagoon
Stamp Sets:  Gifts of Kindness, Papillon Potpourri
Punches:  Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly, Word Window
Ribbon:  Lost Lagoon 3/8" taffeta
Embellishment:  Pearl Jewels
And Don't Forget:  Snail Tape, Glue Dots & Dimensionals (for sticking on the butterflies, and making their wings "fly") and if you're getting clear mount stamps for the first time, you'll need the acrylic blocks.