A Thank You

This is my last post for the Dies R Us Design Team - it's been a fabulous experience and I will miss working with their wonderful products {especially since the store has expanded to carry papers, washi tape, adhesives, and SO much more}.  This card was made as a Thank You to all my teamies at Dies R Us, especially the wonderfully understanding Darlene, who is the fantastic Design Team Coordinator.  I struggled with publishing my posts due to internet gremlins and Darlene sorted each one for me.  It's with many warm memories, and some laughter, that I say goodbye, and thank you, to this exceptional team.

What I Used to Make this Card:
Sparkle Lilac Card Base
Creative Expressions/Sue Wilson Floret Circle Stamp, #UMS689
Creative Expressions/Sue Wilson Melbourne Dies, #CED8105
Lawn Fawn Thank You Border Die, #LF1055
Watercolor Paper
Simon Says Stamp White Detail Embossing Powder
Embossing Ink
Oxide Inks {various from sets 1 & 2}
Distress Sprayer
Small Heart Punch
White Card
Oxide Ink Left Over Paper {stash}
Dimensional Dots

The first step to making this card was stamping the floret stamp by Sue Wilson.  I used embossing ink and embossed the design with detailed white embossing powder on watercolor paper.  I actually made two of these floral circles; the first one I used Clean Color markers but I just didn't like the way it came out and decided I wanted to use muted colors instead of the bright markers.  No problem, the creation is in my stash waiting to adorn the perfect card.  I was fortunate to catch a special order of the Sue Wilson "To Die For" stamps and I urge you to sign up for the Dies R Us news so you can catch the next time they get in a special order {they get cool stuff in a limited amount all the time!}

Once the circle was embossed, I used Oxide inks to get the coloring I wanted.  I worked on the colors for about two days; spritzing, then drying, mopping with paper towel {a great way to mute the colors, and at times you can almost erase them.  I also use the paper towel to absorb the excess ink that flows to the bottom of project, just touch the towel to the ink puddle and it's gone!}, reinking, and starting the whole process over again.  I had a very clear picture in my mind of how I wanted this card to look; needless to say, I didn't write down the Oxide colors I used, as I basically just kept throwing more ink on, taking ink off, and generally fooling with the colors until I got the look I wanted.  Once the image was thoroughly dry, I cut it out using the matching dies.  I had originally cut the center of the circle out, back on that "first draft" I did but, as you can see, this time I left the middle intact. 

The next step was to cut the sentiment out of white card three times.  I had also experimented with this; cutting and stacking the sentiment about twelve times but eventually the cuts didn't line up straight {absolutely nothing to do with me} and I decided that three was enough.  I stacked and glued them together, letting them dry overnight.

Picking out the pink for the heart

The lilac card base has a slight sheen to it and I know I got it in one of the My Monthly Hero kits from Hero Arts.  I'm almost certain it was the kit from January and the paper is the Stardream Kunzite Cardstock.  It is luscious in real life and I like how the Stardream stock is heavy enough for a card base yet it is still fine to use as a layering paper.  I adhered my floral circle, then the sentiment to the card.  It was then I decided it need a bit more of something so I looked through my scraps from previous Oxide projects and found a lovely pink, on which I used a small heart punch.  I used dimensional dots to adhere the little heart to the middle of the card and I was done.

Another look - The base card shows its shimmer!

It's been a pleasure to bring you my creations using Dies R Us products and I hope you have enjoyed the journey as much as I have.  Thanks so much for stopping by! Christi

Don't forget to join in on all the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  

There's  a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month

 and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to 

the Dies R Us Store.  For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us 

links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE
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FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my "Thank You" Card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Easter Inspired {mood board below}

atoz Scrapbooking - M - Anything Goes 

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies - M - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Easter/Spring Inspiration {mood board below}

Lawn Fawnatics - #24, Fun With Dies (entry #2)

The Flower Challenge - M - #18, Anything Goes

Papercraft Challenges - M - #18, Sentiment as Focus

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge