Before I share today’s project, I have two quick things to say (and if you are visiting with me, I hope you don’t mind listening):
- After lunch yesterday, I checked my emails and wondered why I’d received no comments on my sand dollar-filled card. None. That’s when I realized my post never went live. Oops! If you missed my “totally nautical” card, you can see it here.
- I want to thank Jen Mitchell on the Freshly Made Sketches team for choosing my “paint the town” project as a honorable mention in that challenge – it was a fun challenge, and I was happy to play along. I love playing with these challenge and never expect to be recognized (but it’s always nice). ♥ Thank, Jen! If you want to see my project for that challenge, click here.
The project I’m sharing with you today is inspired by this week’s Freshly Made Sketches challenge. My card underwent several iterations before I landed on the final design. As you might expect, there are many, many layers on my card – and I still think it has a clean and simple appeal. Here’s my card:
And here’s the banner for the challenge that inspired my card:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Wrapped Bouquet. I love the sophisticated mix of flowers in the in the Wrapped Bouquet bundle. I stamped the flowers in a variety of colors and on different cardstock colors, but when I heat embossed it on black, I was in love. The white embossing powder added another level of sophistication to the bouquet. Such fun! I cropped the flowers with the coordinating Wrapped Flowers Dies. Here’s a look at the Wrapped Bouquet Bundle:
Here’s a closer look at these gorgeous flowers at the center of my card: 
I framed the bouquet with layers of Basic Black and Seaside Spray cardstock and one layer of the pin-striped True Love Designer Series Paper. Here’s a look at the colors and patterns in this must-never-go-away pack of papers: 
If you would like to see more projects with this paper (I’ve used it a lot), click here. - Card Layers. While the overall design of my card is clean, there are a lot of layers on this 4-1/4″ square card. I can’t imagine anyone would want to recreate this card with all of its layers, but here’s a look at those layers, starting at the base and working my way up to the sentiment:
- Seaside Spray – 4-1/4″ x 8-1/2″ (scored at 4-1/4″)
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Basic Black – 3-3/4″ square
- Seaside Spray -3-5/8″ square
- Basic Black – cropped with the Stitched Triangles Dies
- True Love Designer Series Paper – cropped with the Layering Squares Dies and cut in half
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Seaside Spray – 2-1/4″ square
- Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Basic Black – cropped with the Wrapped Flowers Dies
- Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals
- Thick Basic White – cropped with the Classic Label Punch and snipped with paper snips
- Seaside Spray. There’s a lot of black and a lot of white on today’s card, but today’s card is all about Seaside Spray. While I warm up to many of the In Colors over time, I was immediately in love with Seaside Spray when it was introduced in 2019 – and I’ve been in love with it ever since. Basic White and Basic Black always bring out the beauty in any color, and this is no exception. If you like this mix of Basic White, Seaside Spray and Basic Black as much as I do, I hope you will save this for future reference:Â
As the 2019-2021 In Colors will soon be retiring, now is a great time to stock up on your favorites before they go bye. To see all of the 2019-2021 In Color products that are still available, click here.
Bundles: Wrapped Bouquet Bundle Stamp Sets: Wrapped Bouquet, Art Gallery Papers: True Love Designer Series Paper, Seaside Spray, Basic Black, Thick Basic White Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark Accessories: Wrapped Flowers Dies, White Stampin’ Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stitched Triangles Dies, Layering Squares Dies, Classic Label Punch, Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I hope you’ll pop over to the Freshly Made Sketches site to see the cards by the design team members and to play along with this week’s challenge.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
Butterfly Bouquet Product Collection – Available Now
Stampin’ Up is early-releasing a new bundle from the upcoming 2021 Annual Catalog – and adding in two papers that are exclusive to this promotion. You are going to want to check these out! CLICK HERE to see these products in my online store. The Butterfly Bijou 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper has sold out and discontinued, but that shouldn’t prevent you from having loads of fun with this new bundle.
Placing an order today? Of course you are! If you are placing an order for $150 or more, I want you to enjoy all of the Host Rewards you have earned. If your order is less than $150, I’d love for you please add this Host Code – SPD9XWUH – when prompted. Thank you!
This is such a wow card…love the Seaside Spray with black…gonna miss this color!
Thank you so much, Windy! I love how almost all colors pair with black, but I particularly love how it works with Seaside Spray. ♥
Drama with flowers ! Completely different lean with this stamp .
I have to agree with Windy as far as Seaside Spray as I will miss it also .
Your adding it to the black really made this card !
Thank you so much, Sonny! The black really does add a lot of drama, doesn’t it. I’m so happy you like it. Thanks!
This card STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS my friend.
You hit the WOW FACTOR out of the park……LOVE THIS CARD!!!
Awww! Thanks so much, Kadie! I appreciate that so much! I had fun with the card, and it’s always a goal of mine to stop you in your tracks. ♥
Wow! That’s it, just wow! Love it!
♥ Thank you so much, Susan! I appreciate that so, so much!
Very striking card! So sophisticated.
🙂 Thank you, Judy! I really loved playing with this new bundle. So glad you like it.
I love this card, Brian! Everything about it. I haven’t bought this stamp set, but now I’m re-thinking that decision!
♥ Thank you so much, Karen! This is the second card I’ve made with this bundle – so happy you like this card. I appreciate your comments.
You blew creativity and these products out of the water on this card!
♥ Thank you so much, Mary! There are so many more layers than I set out to create, but I had fun with it. Glad you like it. ♥
Striking! Love the contrast! So pretty.
Thank you so much! I always love black and white – that little bit of blue gave me just what I wanted to pull them together. ♥
Now why didn’t I think of using those triangle dies!?! This is amazing and oh so fabulous! All those layers are perfectly done…..and oh that blue with the b/w! Just smashing as my grandmother would say!
♥ Thank you so much for such a spirited response, Linda! I always love to hear from you, but it’s particularly special when you are THIS excited. Thanks!
Stunning. Absolutely stunning.
Thank you so much, Lynn! I had a lot of fun with all of these layers. ♥
So beautiful!!! This makes my heart go putter patter
Nothing makes me happier than to receive such a sweet comment from Jennifer Spiller. Thank you so much, my friend! ♥
The black and white combined with seaside Spray is a great combination-this card is a winner for sure.
Thank you so much, Debby! I didn’t set out to limit my project to these three colors, but I’m happy with how it turned out. Thanks!
OK, so this is spectacular and amazing and you hit it out of the park on this one and ditto to all of the above comments! Seaside Spray is going to be missed for sure! Fabulously fabulous, my friend!
You are a master of using layers for optimal effect, while still maintaining a clean look! The black and the blue are gorgeous together and I love the striped frame too. What a great way to highlight the bouquet of flowers.
You’re a great designer Brian, love how you have put these colours together a Stunning design and card.
I love the back and white with the Seaside Spray – such a fresh look! And the flowers are gorgeous! Thank you for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.
What an amazing job you did. There are so many layers and dimension. Thanks so much for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches.