"One Stamp, Five Ways" - SSS Wild Beauty

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Today's "one stamp, five ways" post uses one of the two new floral sets by Yoonsun Hur. This one is called Wild Beauty and I certainly had a fun time making things that were as wild and beautiful as possible! I think I've actually made my favorite card ever with this set, but it will be for you to decide which one I think that is! Here is the stamp set:

Because I love to watercolor, flowers are my favorite type of stamp - they just go so well with the sheerness of watercolor paint. I love that this set has both flat stamps and outlines for the flowers. I also like that it has so many leaf choices and lots of long type plants. What I found challenging about the set is the salutations are so small. Don't get me wrong - I love little words like this for some uses, but they are tough to use as the main greeting on a card. I challenged myself to stay with just this set for most of my cards attempting to draw attention to the smaller salutations through my design. So let's get started with my usual - six cards today! ha (yep, every single time)

This card is a little crazy - very bright with LOTS of details. The details might be long on this one! The background for this shaker card is made with watercolor paper that I first die-cut into a rectangle using the 4x5.25" one from MFT Blueprints 13. I then painted it with watercolors in a wash starting with pinks at the top and moving through the colors of the rainbow to get to blue at the bottom. I wanted it to have all the colors I used in the flowers in it. I then stamped the little "happy birthday" stamp in similar rainbow colors all the way down the card. To line the words up (because I'm a perfectionist), I measured and drew pencil lines every 1/8" first. I wanted the letters to be light so they were subtle, so I usually stamped them on scratch paper first. Next, I die-cut a circle out of the top center of this piece.

Next, I stamped the base stamps of the flowers with distress inks - usually pressing them into two different colors (one on one end, another on the other end or a light color on the entire image and then the darker color on just the edges). I tried not to add color to the entire stamp base. I then immediately watercolored the distress ink to mix the colors around. When dry, I then stamped the outline stamps over the bases also using Distress Inks. I love how distress inks allow you to stamp and paint together. All the ink colors I used are linked at the bottom. After they were all done I cut around them and attached them to the card base outlining the circle. I attached a transparency over the opening and adding foam tape to the back of the card. I poured some Pretty Pink Posh 4mm clear sequins inside the opening, covered the opening with white cardstock, and attached all of that to a turquoise card base. I LOVE these sequins and they also come in two other sizes. They are the top thing on my shopping list. I use them constantly! 

 

I used my go to technique for this card - it's a must for florals! I stamped all of the images using Distress Inks on watercolor paper. I enjoy doing this technique because I love puzzles and making stamps all fit together to cover a paper is kind of like a puzzle for me! After they were all stamped, I painted them in with watercolors. I die-cut this piece with the rectangle from MFT Blueprints 13.

It was really hard for me not to paint around the flowers, but I left it white this time. I accidentally forgot to paint in one of the flowers - can you find it? I attached this painted piece to a blue card base. I watercolored a long stitched banner from MFT Blueprints 2 and attached that to the bottom of the card. I stamped Hello Gorgeous on a small banner (have no idea where I got this little die from but it worked really well with these small words0. I added some PPP 6mm sequins along the banner to give the card some texture/dimension (because I'm big on that as you know!)

I try to find unique ways to use stamp sets when I do these posts, so for this card, I wanted to challenge myself to use only 1 of the flower stamps. To start, I die-cut watercolor paper using the SSS Frames die set. I also die cut a set out of black cardstock for the black frame. I took the inside piece of watercolor paper out of the frame to use for the floral piece. I also die-cut the large word FAITH (a new die by SSS that was part of their My Favorite release) out of both white and black cardstock.

I stamped the out line stamp for the largest flower multiple times on the watercolor piece with Versamark ink. I embossed the flowers with white embossing powder. I then painted the piece using Daniel Smith watercolors. I need to brag about these colors as they are just SO gorgeous. I used three colors that are all part of their Duochrome line and these have incredible sheen. They are very rich colors, sheer and so glittery. I applied a lot of water to each flower and then I dabbed Iridescent Electric Blue paint in the center of the flower and let it expand out. I then applied Duochrome Aquamarine paint to the outside of the flowers so it blended the end of the leaves with the blue. While the paint was all still wet, I used Pearlescent Shimmer between each flower letting all the colors blend together. You have to see this in person to appreciate how gorgeous these paints are! After this piece was dry, I attached it to a white card base, added the black frame around it, attached the black faith and then the white faith over it so it looks like a shadow. I stamped "you are so special" as a sub-title on a small banner and put that under faith. I added some 4mm PPP clear sequins around the word to draw attention to it. I think pushing myself to use just one of the flowers paid off here - what do you think?!?!?!

I die-cut a stitched rectangle from the MFT Blueprints 13 set out of Ranger Watercolor Paper (not my favorite watercolor paper quality wise, but the only one that is PURE white so I use it when I am doing simple watercoloring). I then die-cut an MFT rounded rectangle die out of the center of the rectangle. I painted this piece around the edges with turquoise watercolor. If you wet the entire piece liberally (this watercolor paper IS very thick, so it holds up to a lot of water) and then apply the paint just to the edges, it seeps outward giving you a nice blended edge. I attached this piece to a pink card base and attached another of the stitched rounded rectangles out of white cardstock to the center. 

I stamped several of the flower and leaf stamps on Neenah white cardstock in 110 lbs (my favorite for Copic coloring). I used MFT Natural ink as I wanted them to not have edges (no line stamping). I colored them all in with my Copic markers and then decided they didn't look good without edges. Seems I do that a lot! So then I drew lines around the stamps with a fine tip black marker. I actually like this look better than the stamp being stamped in black as it looks more doodled, but it definitely adds another step to the process! I cut all of these out and attached them to the center piece in a floral arrangement. I stamped Happy Birthday on a small MFT tag die and tied that to the bottom of the card with twine. 

Now the purpose of having base stamps and outlines stamps is to do two step stamping. One fits over the other and they should be stamped with two colors of ink right? But because I love to paint so much, I don't use the inside of the stamped image very often. But THIS card uses the stamps the way they were designed to be used - two step stamping! I started with Neenah white cardstock and I stamped a few of the flowers. I would ink the base stamp with ink, stamp on scrap paper, then stamp them. Then I would use the same color in full strength for the outline of the stamped image. This makes sure they match perfectly, but the outlines show up! I created masks for these flowers with masking paper and masked off many of them as I added the leaves and other flowers. This gives the appearance of some flowers being behind other flowers. 

I stamped the designs in two corners and then cut my paper into a stitched rectangle from MFT Blueprints 13 again. It's my go to size for all these cards! I die cut a rounded rectangle from the MFT Rounded Rectangle dies (I am certainly getting my money's worth on this set!) from watercolor paper and painted it yellow. I die-cut two X's and two O's out of white cardstock and used those for the title. I used an older alphabet die set from MFT. I have so many MFT dies from when I was on their DT a couple years ago that I still use all the time, but some aren't even for sale anymore! Under the XOXO I wrapped some twine around the card three times (slit the side of the card on the card base) and tied a bow. I stamped the sentiment as a sub title on a small rounded die from MFT Blueprints xxx. All of the inks I used on this card are by Simon Says Stamp and Lawn Fawn and they are linked at the bottom of this post.

I created another flower bouquet on this card. I first die cut a stitched rectangle (yep, MFT blueprints 13 again) and watercolored it with some red paint. To get this type of look, wet the entire piece first and then add the paint here and there and let it spread around. I then die-cut a stitched oval from the SSS Stitched Oval dies and watercolored that with some yellows and corals.

I stamped all of the flowers on Neenah White Cardstock using MFT Natural Ink for no-line stamping. I colored them with Copic markers and then I doodled around the edges again. You could get this same look by just stamping them in black ink and coloring them in. I arranged them on top of the oval and left some room on the bottom. I then added a watercolored banner on the bottom and stamped the sentiment on it with black ink. I added sequins to each side of the banner. I attached all to a pink card base. 

And that's it folks! I really hate the word folks by the way. Just for the record. Thank you for visiting!!! Now can you guess which one of these cards blew ME away and was put into my favorite card ever category?!?!?! I might have given it away during the post... Have a great weekend all my blog reading friends! Suzy

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Comments

[G Evert]

Hahaha...thinking the Faith one your favorite...gorgeous... But also love the one right before, those colors call out to me. Going to have to do the no line stamping 😊

[Jeanne]

I surely do wish I had your "vision" when it comes to card making. I guess this is what makes you the artist! :) Seriously, each one of these cards is an absolute work of art. I adore the shaker card because it is just so fun. The time it must have taken to color and cut those flowers and then add that subtle happy birthday in the background. Amazing. I adore your random stamping cards. I like that you said it's like a puzzle getting them to fit. I can see that. And the colors! Woweee! I have a feeling the "Faith" one is your favorite. It's absolutely stunning and a little bit different from your other cards. I can just imagine how shimmery it is. I like the crispness of the next card and use of the stamps in the corners on the 5th one and the corals on the final one. There is something to admire in each card you create. Seriously makes me look at my stamps a bit differently after reading one of your posts. Thank you SO much for all the hard work and the joy you share! :)

[Jennifer Hovermale]

Beautiful cards!! Thank you for sharing all of these ideas using this stamp set!!

[LC]

I certainly couldn't pick a favorite out of this gorgeous set of cards! I love how vibrant and crisp the colors are. The techniques and designs are perfectly combined to create beautiful works of art! You are a true artist!

[Yoonsun Hur]

OH. MY. GOODNESS!!!!! I'm speechless. I'm so happy, I don't know what to say... Suzy, you hit it out of the park!!!

[Carol L]

Once again these cards are awesome! I like the look of the no-line stamping. Haven't tried that but I will one of these days. Honestly can't pick a favorite - I like them all!!! Thanks for sharing your talent!