Fading Flowers

Autumn is such a lovely time of the year...the crisp temperatures, glorious colors, and fading foliage! The seasonal changes often bring to mind Isaiah 40:8...

My design for today features Stamp Simply's Clear "Thank You for Caring Coneflower" and Stamp Simply's Coneflower Steel Dies. 

My coneflower today is colored to represent a fading "Black Eyed Susan," blending into the dried grasses and flowers in the fields.

The image is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa Ink, then Copic Sketch Marker colored. The comes the die cut-- it's very easy to line up the steel die that matches the bloom, and gives such a nicely finished edge.

The kraft cardstock background is stamped with a bloom from Kaisercraft's Botanica Clear stamp set using Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Oxide ink. I sprayed the stamped panel with water to oxidize the ink into a faded looking backdrop. A spattering of watered down Dina Wakely Media Gesso adds a bit of white.

A panel of burlap is then layered on with a bit of TomBow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, then tied with a bow of May Art's 3/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon. The bloom is mounted onto the top of the burlap with Thermoweb 3D Foam Strip pieces.

The inner Bible verse is stamped with the Memento Rich Cocoa ink, then die cut with a JustRite's A2 Stitched Banners and Rectangles die.

I must tell you...I used Tim Holtz Tonic Stamp Platform for this card, and I just LOVE it! It enables you to stamp the image more than once, so that you are able to get a crisp, clear image or sentiment. Fabulous--I have often had to restamp because of not applying enough pressure--this platform makes it possible to restamp in the EXACT same spot. Check it out! I can see wonderful double stamped projects coming from this as well!

All linked products are from The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.