SSS Wednesday Challenge Entry: Picket Fence Products
Good day, fellow crafters. I am delighted to share my entry for this week's Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with you. The challenge theme is to create a design using products from Picket Fence. I am excited to rise to this challenge and showcase my creation, I feel that this is pretty much the best card I have made to date. I hope you find it enjoyable.
As you may recall from the title and introduction, the current challenge from Simon Says Stamp (SSS) requires the use of products from Picket Fence Studio (PFS) to create a unique design. After carefully perusing my crafting supplies, I settled on featuring the PFS A Wreath for All Seasons (F-159) stamp as my focal piece. I was drawn to this stamp's intricate design, which strongly resembles the patterns found in mandala artwork. As you may know, mandala patterns are renowned for their calming effects on the mind and body, and many people use them as a tool for stress relief and relaxation. The act of coloring or creating mandalas can even be a meditative experience that helps to focus the mind and reduce anxiety which is right up my alley.
To start creating this card, I carefully selected a piece of high-quality white watercolor paper as my canvas. I then applied VersaMark embossing ink onto the stamp and pressed it firmly onto the paper to transfer the design. After that, I sprinkled a generous amount of WOW! Opaque Bright White (WL01R) embossing powder over the inked image, tapping off the excess before heat-setting the powder to create a resist for the next step.
With the embossed image acting as a guide, it was time to add a splash of color to the card. To achieve the desired effect, I chose to use Ranger's Distress Oxide inks, which are known for their vibrant pigments and blendability. Starting from the center of the flower and working my way outwards, I carefully blended the ink in rainbow order to create a mesmerizing gradient effect. The ink blending technique allowed me to seamlessly transition from one color to the next, creating a stunning visual effect that draws the eye through the image. Once this was completed I used my microfiber cloth to wipe away any excess ink that had been left on the card, which in turn easily wiped off the resist. Now the next part is pretty much my favorite thing to do with my cards and if you have read any of my previous posts you know what that is - - - Watercoloring!!!!
Yes, that’s right, water coloring is once again coming into play. I really love the look and feel that it gives a piece of art so I try to use it often. In this case, I took each of the same colors as before and gave them a smush onto my glass mat then sprayed them with a mist of water to use as my coloring medium. I then misted the paper so that the inks would flow and proceeded to highlight each of the colors with the watered-down inks. This turned out fabulously and gave the card a more painted look. I then set it aside to dry.
While that was occurring, I moved on to preparing the card base. I selected a pre-cut White card base and a Blue cardstock that complemented the colors used in the design. To create a professional-looking background, I carefully cut the cardstock to nearly match the dimensions of the front of the card and then adhered them together to create a seamless and elegant look that would perfectly showcase my intricate design.
With the background now completely dry, I eagerly moved on to the next step in the creative process. To enhance the overall appearance of the card and add an extra layer of texture, I decided to incorporate a product that I absolutely adore: Gina K Glitz Glitter Gel. This fantastic product is a versatile and high-quality glitter gel that can add an amazing amount of sparkle and shine to any project. It comes in a wide range of colors, I used Irredesient (18154), and was incredibly easy use. I was thrilled with the results, as the glitter gel added just the right amount of shimmer and sparkle to the design, catching the light beautifully and creating a truly stunning effect. While the lighting in my studio doesn't quite do it justice, the first gallery image perfectly showcases the effect that the glitter gel has on the overall appearance of the card. I couldn't be happier with the final product
The last steps were to stamp on the sentiment, which came from the PFS Graceful Koi stamp set (A-157), stamped in Black and to adhere the background to the card base.
Creating this card was an enjoyable and rewarding experience. From carefully selecting the materials to incorporating various techniques, every step of the process allowed me to unleash my creativity and bring my vision to life. The use of premium-quality watercolor paper, embossing powder, and ink blending techniques helped to create a mesmerizing mandala-inspired design, while the addition of Gina K Glitz Glitter Gel added an extra layer of shine and sparkle that truly brought the card to life. Overall, this card is a testament to the power of creativity and a wonderful example of the beauty that can be achieved through the use of high-quality materials and expert techniques.
