Sending Lots of Hugs

Hi Everyone! Today I'm sharing with you how I created this card for an Instagram hop. The prompt was "I Love..." 

It's been awhile since I've been able to play around with my supplies. I love to watercolor, so I decided to experiment with some IndigoBlu Luscious Pigment Powders and Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers. Fun fact: I only have 3 Zigs. About a year ago I bought 3 individual ones in primary colors to see if I liked them before investing in a bunch. I figured if I had primary colors, I could just mix them to create other colors. It's also a good exercise in using a limited palette. This was my first time using all 3 since purchasing them.

I started off by stamping the Unity Stamp Co. Newsprint Floral Greetings in VersaMark embossing ink onto watercolor paper. I used clear embossing powder to set the image. Then I wet the entire panel with water. I dropped in some Luscious Pigment Powder in Chocolate Cherries around the panel. I let the powder flow around. 

After I was satisfied with the coverage, I dried the panel with my heat gun. Next I used a Zig marker in Wine Red to add a deeper color on the flowers. I used a mix of Lemon Yellow and Cornflower Blue for the leaves. Sometimes I colored directly onto the image and other times I mixed on a palette and picked up the color to paint.

For some more color variation and shine, I used a pigment powder in Grungy Gold for the leaves. I also sprinkled on a bit of Gold Cast all over the panel. After heat setting, I cut the image with the largest of the Pinkfresh Studio Stitched Scallop Rectangle die. I used the same die to cut out a gold frame. I adhered the outside gold frame of the die cut around the watercolored panel. Then, I adhered the frame and image onto a white A2 top fold base. The center image is slightly inset as the frames are doubled up.

For the sentiment, I stamped one of the greetings from the Newsprint Floral Greetings set onto adhesive backed vellum. I used white pigment ink as my original plan was to heat emboss in white. However, as I was stamping, I decided to bring out the gold instead so I heat embossed with Brutus Monroe Gilded Sparkle. I fussy cut around the sentiment and peeled off the backing to place it into the center of my card.

To finish the card, I added matte gold pearl stickers from Honey Bee Stamps.

I hope you enjoy my card! What are some things you love?

Supplies:

• Unity Stamp Company Newsprint Floral Greetings
• IndigoBlu Luscious Pigment Powders in Chocolate Cherries, Grungy Gold, Gold Cast
• Kuretake Zig Clean Color ReaL Brush Markers in Wine Red, Lemon Yellow, Cornflower Blue
• Pinkfresh Studio Stitched Scallop Rectangle dies
• Brutus Monroe Gilded Sparkle embossing powder
• VersaMark embossing ink
• Scrapbook.com vellum
• Scarpbook.com 4" Double Sided Adhesive roll
• Honey Bee Stamps Pearl Stickers