Hello.

I’m sitting here typing, wondering who is going to be reading this – where you are, what your weather is like, what you’re doing while you read. Do you, like me, have a hot drink, because it makes life feel more cosy? We have a forecast of ‘drenching rain’ today. The monsoon is almost upon us! Coming from Australia, I can never have enough rain. It always makes my heart soar, so I’m tapping the keys with a happy heart.

I have a pair of cards to share with you today, that have as their starting point a die set from Paper Rose Studio called Little Vases. I cut these from Neenah Solar White cardstock and blended some inks onto them, in a range of blues/greens ( Speckled Egg, Faded Jeans, and Iced Spruce) and browns(Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Frayed Burlap). I love the way the ink pools in the cracks when you cut first and ink blend second.

I also used the Wildflowers stamps and matching dies from Paper Rose, stamping with the same colors of ink. It always comes out darker when stamping compared to blending, so that gave me some variation, while keeping the same colour palette. Once I had a bunch of vases and wildflowers, I worked on how I would arrange them on the card. I often have an idea before I start a card, but not this time.

This first card uses the Victorian Window die as a backdrop. These windows actually open, but I’ve glued them down for this card. I placed one of the vases behind the window and one in front so that it looks like there are flowers both inside and out.

The second card uses the Striped Diamond 3D embossing folder. This folder asks impossible things of the paper, as the design is so intricate, so I have a couple of tips for using it and not tearing the paper. Firstly, I used a thinner paper than usual. Secondly, I started with a cutting machine sandwich that put no pressure at all on the paper, and slowly added cardstock shims, one by one until it ‘bit’ just a little. I absolutely love the geometric design.

The sentiments are both from the Lotus Bouquet stamp set. I use the flowers on this set all the time, but I reach for the sentiments even more often, I think. I love it when a stamp is useful in two ways. These cards have so much in common, and yet are quite different. I wonder which one you prefer?

That’s all for today. I hope that you are enjoying your day. Until next time, stay safe my friends.

Blessings,

Donna

These are the supplies I used. You can click on the link to shop. Where available, I have used affiliate links, which means that I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. I’ve tried to link to companies in different countries, so you can save on postage costs. Thank you so much for your support.

My Sweet Petunia MISTI Shop at: SBC | SSS	Versafine Onyx Black ink Shop at: SBC | SSS	Distress Ink Antique Linen Shop at: SBC | SSS	Distress Oxide Speckled Egg Shop at: SBC | SSS
Distress oxide Faded Jeans Shop at: SBC | SSS	Distress Oxide Iced Spruce Shop at: SBC | SSS	Distress Oxide Antique Linen Shop at: SBC | SSS	Distress Oxide Vintage Photo Shop at: SBC | SSS
Distress Oxide Frayed Burlap Shop at: SBC | SSS	Paper Rose Wildflowers stamp Shop at: PRS | SBC | SSS	Paper Rose Lotus Bouquet stamp Shop at: PRS | SBC | SSS	Paper Rose Wildflowers die Shop at: PRS | SBC | SSS
Paper Rose Victorian Window Shop at: PRS | SBC	Paper Rose Little Vases Shop at: PRS | SSS	Neenah Solar White 80lb card Shop at: SSS	Neenah Solar White 110lb card Shop at: SSS