This week’s What Will You Stamp? challenge is WWYS211 – Vibrant Vases. I love this set because it coordinates with the Vases Builder Punch. What’s more the punch also coordinates with the Varied Vases Stamp Set in 2018/2019 Annual Catalogue. So you may be surprised to find that my Design Team project doesn’t use the punch at all!

HEAT EMBOSSING

The flowers in the stamp set are so pretty and wanted to focus on those for my project. I also decided that I’d use no ink. That’s right, I planned an entire project with not an ink pad, ink refill, Stampin’ Write Marker or Stampin Blend in sight. Everything would be embossed in gold!

I always use the same process when heat embossing.

First I wipe the card with an Embossing Buddy. This removes any static and oils from the surface and ensures the embossing powder only sticks where I want it to.

Next I check that my VersaMark ink pad is not drying out. If there’s not enough VersaMark when you stamp your image, that will cause the embossing to appear rather flat as it can’t hold enough of the powder.

Then I make sure that my Heat Tool is good and hot. In fact I often start it running on 2 (high) as I begin the wiping and stamping process. That way when I bring the tool to the embossing powder it melts almost immediately and doesn’t warp the card.

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE

I began with two layers of Whisper White Card. On one I stamped a border with VersaMark ink, using the same image over again. I didn’t want it to be too rigid so some were closer together, or nearer the edge of the card. On the second layer of card I stamped the flower image just once, in the bottom left corner. Finally I stamped the flower once in the top right corner on the front of a Whisper White Medium Envelope.

With all the stamping done I then sprinkled the Versamark with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder. Then I tapped off the excess and checked each image for any stray specks. Finally, once I was happy, I melted all the embossing powder and set it aside.

Then I got to work on the ‘You are always loved’ sentiment, also from the Vibrant Vases Stamp Set. I wasn’t sure what to do here so I simply prepared a rectangle of Whisper White Card and embossed the sentiment towards the bottom. I’d decide on what else to do later.

WATERCOLOUR WITHOUT WATER

A little while ago I was experimenting with mixing colouring mediums, using Stampin’ Blends and Stampin’ Write Markers together. Today I thought I’d use Watercolor Pencils, but blending them with an aptly named Blender Pen.

On every flower I first coloured in the petals with a Melon Mambo pencil. Then when that was done I quickly went over the pencil using a Blender Pen. I wanted the petals to have a little more depth so pulled out the Rich Razzleberry Watercolor Pencil. This time though I wiped the tip of the pencil with the Blender Pen and used that to transfer the colour to my flowers. It worked like a dream, and was incredibly quick to do. Finally I used the same Blender Pen to Watercolor Pencil technique to add Old Olive pencil to the leaves.

SIMPLE ASSEMBLY

With most of the work done I used my Stampin’ Trimmer to cut and score a piece of Old Olive Card. I then folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

I wrapped some Whisper White 5/8″ Flax Ribbon around the main embossed layer and secured it on the back with Tear & Tape Adhesive. Next I fixed the layer to the front of the card base with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). Then the other embossed layer was added to the inside of the card.

That just left the sentiment.

I toyed with the idea of embossing and colouring another flower image but thought that might have been a little too much. I considered trimming the piece closer to the sentiment but actually I really liked the extra white space. Instead I decided to leave it alone and used liquid glue to mount it on a layer of Old Olive Card. This was then fixed to the front of the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

At this point I decided on little final touch was needed. A simple heart.

I didn’t have any pink hearts, but I did have a pack of clear Heart Epoxy Droplets. So I grabbed a light Rich Razzleberry Stampin’ Blends alcohol Marker and coloured over one of the large hearts. Then I added it to the sentiment and my project was complete.

WWYS211 – VIBRANT VASES

Once you’ve created your new project (it doesn’t have to be a card) upload it to our challenge gallery for everyone to see. At the end of the challenge we’ll randomly choose one person to be our weekly winner. They’ll get bragging rights and a winner’s badge for their social media. They’ll also be invited to join us as our Guest Designer two weeks later. It might even be you!

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS -Although the Vibrant Vases stamp set coordinates with the Vases Builder Punch it is NOT available with it as a bundle. The Vases Builder Punch bundle is from the 2018/2019 Annual Catalogue and is bundled with the other coordinating stamp set called Varied Vases. Buying the bundle will save you 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately so I’ve included a link just in case you want to look at this further.