SHIMMERY BLENDED BLOOM

As you already know -- and the catalog hasn't even gone into effect yet! -- I'm in love with the new stamp from Stampin' Up! called Blended Bloom.

In my previous post, I use the stamped image in my favorite way: fussy cutting and in layers.

B U T . . . 

Do you remember from a few years ago the beautiful set, Fifth Avenue Floral? And how it was the perfect set for everyone to jump on the "floating reinkers" technique bandwagon? Well, I discovered that Blended Bloom is a perfect updated version for this same technique:

What do you think? Mmmm. 

And, by using the Stampin' Up! Shimmery White paper to create the flower, you can actually SEE the shimmers:

In creating my gatefold card, I wanted some texture on the two panels. I didn't want anything too uniform in design, just a bit of random texture. I decided . . . 

Just to hearken back to the very popular original set used for the technique, I used the Fifth Avenue Floral embossing folder. It gave just the right amount of flow without being too rigid. I also gently sponged color across the raised portions of the embossing to highlight it a bit more.

In adding a center to my flower, I originally made one from a traditional yellow. I embossed the flower center in white, then carefully cut it out. When I placed it onto the flower, it seemed weak and insipid. I actually hated it. 

I wanted something with a bit more zip, more power, more PERSONALITY. I finally hit upon an old piece of Bravo Burgundy. It turned out to be the perfect choice.

For any of you who have made gatefold cards, you are keenly aware that they don't really cooperate all that well in posing for a photograph. Those gates flop open, and you can't get the full effect of the whole card. At least, that's the way I feel.

So, by using a bit of removable adhesive, I was able to keep the gates closed long enough to get a pretty good picture of the card front:

Shimmery

Smiles.