Cheers

As so often is the case, one of our merry band of stampers does more than stamping:  Barb is also a passionate quilter.  So I had fun putting this quilting themed card together for her . . .

The really fun part about making this card was using the Life Changing Brushes and getting an effortless, perfect blend on the leaf.  Just look at that lovely thing:  no line of demarcation to be found anywhere!   Blending remained a very iffy skill for me, but no more, thanks to those brushes. 

The craft world got hold of these things and markets them for $50 for a set of ten in varied sizes.  But Double Trouble Scrapbooking  HERE sells the exact same set for $20.

  

These were originally designed as cosmetic brushes and are unbelievably soft - they actually put velvet to shame.  Best of all, you need only one set:  the color comes off in seconds when swirled a couple of times on a paper towel, so changing colors is no problem at all.  These now live in a mug on my desk and I cannot imagine stamping without them . . . life changing for sure!

The plaid background seems to set off the quilted leaf very well, while a narrow stitched strip below continues the hand-sewn look.  I double-stacked the framing blocks for a little dimension and added some domed drops for texture.  Those wonderful drops always help to unify the focal point with the background and I use them time and again for that purpose.

Cardstock:   Papers by Catherine White, Strathmore #90 Watercolor

                     paper

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up Pin Dot Plaid

Inks:             Vivid Lavender. Plum, Purple, Olive

Dies:            Gina Marie Leaf Quilt, Goodculler “Stitched Rectangles”,

                      La La Land Stitched Ribbon, Cheery Lynn Cheers                      

Doo Dads:    Lowe’s Granite Crystals, Adirondack Acrylics Lettuce