STRAWBERRY BASKET

In a card for my January Stamp-In Workshop, I wanted to do something I don't do nearly often enough.That is, mixing patterns. In this case two contrasting patterns of Designer Series Paper. 

Stampin' Up! makes it super easy to mix patterns because each of the papers in their DSP packs coordinate so well with each other. So you really can't go wrong. 

My focal point, the berry basket, comes from a set, Basket of Wishes, that could be found on page 49 of the now expired Holiday Catalog. I love the images and sentiments in this set so much, I really hope that Stampin' Up! decides to bring it back in their new big catalog in June!

I had yet to give my new Watercolor Pencils (page 24 in the Occasions Catalog) a try. I thought this image would be the perfect one to give them a whirl. 

Well, I must admit that my first attempt with the Watercolor Pencils was not just too successful. After working on the strawberries in the basket, in fact, I gave up. On a separate scrap of Whisper White, I stamped the strawberries again, and colored them in with Stampin' Write Markers. I then fussy cut the berries and adhered them over my failure. I colored the basket itself with the Colored Pencils. 

So, my conclusion about the Colored Pencils at this point? The jury was still out. 

Since then I have used the Pencils several times with other images and on watercolor paper with an Aqua Painter. I LOVE THEM! I now hope that Stampin' Up! comes out with more colors than the initial 13 they have released. Fingers crossed . . .

The luscious embossed background is created with a new embossing folder, Falling Petals, on page 51 of the Occasions Catalog. I know they call them "falling petals", but I also think they look like "falling hearts". 

The card has SOME dimension, not a lot. It could be used for a Valentine, an anniversary card, a love note to your special someone, or just to let anyone know that you care and are thinking about them.

Like to try one of your own? Here's how!

SUPPLIES:

Basket of Wishes stamp set

Bloomin' Love stamp set

Blushing Bride cardstock

Whisper White cardstock

Real Red cardstock

Two coordinating DSP patterns of your choice

Red Foil Cardstock

Watercolor Pencils (page 24, Occasions Catalog)

Basic Black Archival Ink

Aqua Painter

Big Shot

Falling Petals Embossing Folder (page 51, Occasions Catalog)

Stitched Framelits

1/4" Circle Punch

Stampin' Dimensionals

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of Whisper White cardstock in half, creasing well with a bone folder.

Run a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Blushing Bride cardstock through the Big Shot inside the Falling Petals Embossing Folder. Adhere this piece to the card base.

Notch one end of each of two strips of Designer Series Paper that measure 2" x 4 1/2" and 1 1/2" x 

3 3/4". Adhere these two pieces over the embossed layer, the larger one first, about 1/2" from the left edge and 3/8" down from the top edge. Layer the smaller piece on over that down about 1/4" from the top of the larger piece and about 1/2" from the right edge.

In Black ink, stamp first the strawberry basket and then lining the strawberries perched on the top. 

In my sample, I first scribbled Bermuda Bay Watercolor Pencil onto the basket part. Using an Aqua Painter, blend the pencil until you are happy. If you wish to darken up the shaded areas, add a bit of Bermuda Bay Stampin' Write Marker to those areas. I did not like the way the strawberries looked when I colored them with the Watercolor Pencils so in my sample, they are colored with Stampin' Write Markers. Use whichever method you wish on the strawberries.

Using the proper sized Framelit, cut out the Strawberry Basket. Adhere this circle to a Stitched Shape Circle cut with the largest die from Real Red cardstock. Use a couple Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the circles to the card front so that they are a bit raised from the center point.

In Real Red ink, stamp selected sentiment onto a 1/2" x 2" scrap of Whisper White, notching the right end. Adhere a scrap piece of red foil cardstock that measures 1/2" x 1" to the back of the white piece, letting about 1/4" of the red stick beyond the white. Notch this end to match the white notching. Simply adhere the left portion of the sentiment to the lower right half of the popped-up circles.

With the 1/4" Circle Punch, punch three circles from the Red Foil Paper. Adhere them to the upper left corer of the larger DSP piece to balance the card.

Berry

Smiles.