Violets

      A couple of challenges (not new, but new to me) have encouraged me to look through my stash of paper crafting 'stuff' and start using things I've been hoarding (why did I buy it if I'm never going to use it?) or have nearly forgotten I had.  So, this card is made completely with things in my stash - stamps, inks, papers, CS, EP, ribbon ...  Yes, I guess I do hoard!  :-) 

     I started with a sketch from Pixie Cottage. 

     Then, I dug through my rubber stamps (yep, not a digi in sight today) and found an old favorite, these violets from Hampton Art Stamps.  Shopping Our Stash has a challenge to use "Vellum, or Violets, or Violin".  Obviously, I chose violets -- the flowers, not the color. 

     I can't figure out why the card photographed so "purple" when it really is mostly blues.  Not that I'd really care, since purple is my favorite color, but I used colors from a challenge at Top Tip Tuesday, of Blue, Brown, and Green.  I stamped the violets three times (one full and two partial) with Staz-on Timber Brown ink, then colored the full center image with Copic markers, adding a touch of green to the stems so that I'd have the challenge colors.  Oh, my, I used a new G17 Copic marker that I just got yesterday! lol   I added a little white to the centers of the flowers with a Souffle pen. 

     I made my own matching background dp by using a very simple, heat embossing technique.  Here's my tip (necessary for playing the Top Tip challenge):  use smooth white CS or paper (not textured!) and stamp the image with clear embossing ink.  Heat emboss it using clear EP.  When cool, swipe an ink pad across the paper and the embossed images will pop out. 

     That's what I did, using the same violets stamp.  I used blue ink on mine, then cut the dp to the shapes and sizes I wanted for the background pieces.  Each piece is matted with dark blue CS, including the focal image.   The tall background piece is wrapped with sheer blue ribbon and I also made a bow from it for an embellishment.  I layered on each piece according to the sketch.

     Clear It Out Tuesday has a 'Summer' theme for their challenge and, of course, they always want us to use things from our stash.  I think lovely woodland violets are definitely a summer item.  I've never seen them in the fall or winter!  Use it Tuesday also wants us to use things from our stash, this week being two 'hoarded' items.  In my case, it's the dark blue CS I used for matting and the sheer blue ribbon.  Both of those are a particular dark blue which I have trouble finding so I tend to hoard it for fear I'll run out.  LOL  If I never use it, I'll never run out!  I'll also never get to enjoy it on projects I've completed!  Sigh.

     Cooking It Up with Katie wants to see our New, Favorite, Old Thing -- meaning we are to use something old, something new, and a favorite technique.  My old is nearly everything on the card, the new is the green ink from the Copic marker, and the technique is the clear heat embossing to make the background dp.

     I love this card!  I may have to make it over again actually using purple and violet colors because I have a dear friend who has a birthday coming up later this month, and she is a lover of purple, too.  This would make such a fabulous card for her! 

     OK, this is running really long so Happy Stamping to you and stop by again, won't you?   NanaConnie