Zendoodle Flowers

Here's a quick change of pace from all the Christmas cards I've been making - a spring criss-cross card featuring the Zendoodle Flowers stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.

I used a couple different techniques on this card - stamping with Staz-On on Cloud Nine velvet glitter.  (See the technique here in the SNS Tips and Techniques section) and watercoloring on velvet glitter (the SNS Tips and Techniques tutorial can be found here).  After stamping the image with black Staz-On, I used Distress Markers and my water brush to color the sky.  One of the cool things I discovered is that if you make a little boo-boo, just re-wet it and blot it dry with a paper towel  (very helpful when the color went outside of where I wanted it to go).  For the rest of the image, I colored it directly with Distress Markers as I wanted these colors to be bolder and more vivid.  I also found that if I blotted a small section right after coloring, it fades that little area, giving a nice blending effect.

Here's a closer view of the insert for the criss cross card.  I wish the camera captured how shimmery and glittery this is in person - it's pretty amazing.  I wish SNS sold the Cloud Nine velvet glitter in a huge tub size, as it's SO versatile.  Another thing I love about all the velvet glitters is that they don't come off when you rub your finger across it.  (We received a store bought Christmas card that had lots of glitter on it and my hubby kept pointing out all the glitter specs I had - all night long :-)  It was everywhere.)

Since the inside of the card is so glittery, I had to bling up the outside a bit.  Raspberry Soda glitter, Luau Green velvet glitter and two sizes of Tear-ific tape (1/4" and 1/2") to the rescue.   Lay down the tape and add the glitter.  Be sure to burnish it well with your finger or a bone folder.   Now you've got lots of sparkle and bling exactly where you want it - all over your card (and not all over you).