Spring has sprung!

This is my first blog and I am newly "converted" to using Stampin' Up products. I only wish I had come across them earlier as they are such good quality and design and the coordinated colours make it so much easier to achieve good results.

What makes a good card? Well I prefer simplicity, good colour combinations and balance.  I definitely prefer the "less is more" style.

So my first card using SU products is simplicity itself and requires very little to achieve it. 

Petite Petals is a fabulous kit to start with when combined with its matching punch. Both modern and pretty, it looks good in any colour and it's well worth experimenting  to see how versatile it is. Very good value too, and a set you will go back to again and again.

The design really requires no step by step instructions - it is so simple. Using two toning colours - Blushing Bride and Calypso Coral - I printed 6 or 7 copies of all the various flower designs. It is so simple to punch these out using the corresponding punch; simply turn it upside down, centre the print, and punch! You soon have a satisfyingly large 'heap' of flowers.

I started playing around with these, arranging them into clusters of blossom - perhaps inspired by the cherry blossom that was flowering outside my window when I was working on it.

I had already prepared a base card using Whisper White and Blushing Bride card stock and stamped a greeting using a stamp from the Endless Birthday Wishes stamp set and the stronger colour ink pad . This is a great set as it can be customised to suit the purpose. I'm still not the best stamper in the world but I'm getting better!

Once I was happy with the arrangement of flowers, I glued them down. I always like to let the image overlap the boundary when possible as I think it looks as if the design is bursting forth! 

I highlighted a few flowers by using foam Stampin' Dimensionals to raise them above the drift of flowers and a tiny rhinestone, and added a single bloom  with another rhinestone jewel under the greeting to balance the card. 

Couldn't be easier, doesn't require a mountain of supplies and very suitable for newbies.

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Using the same technique, I went on to make a small  card using Smokey Slate and Tip Top Taupe inks with discs of silver foil card and Whisper White.  By just changing the colour, this card would be perfect for a wedding present thank you card. 

Thank you for stopping by: if you have any questions please contact me or if you would like to order any Stampin' Up products please visit my online shop which is open 24/7. 

My next blog will have more simple cards using this technique.