A new Limited Edition kit has just been released by Simon Says Stamp called Fresh Air Flowers. This kit is a floral kit, available at the perfect time for Mother's Day projects, but certainly not specific for that holiday. It would work for any cards or projects if you like flowers as much as I do! I have a "one stamp, five ways" post to share with you today using the kit and focusing on the Fresh Air Flowers stamp set. Here is an image of the kit in full:
Here are my 5 plus cards and projects:
I was very excited about how this card turned out as it was the first time I tried a technique like this. My inspiration is Cindy Norberg who does the most beautiful watercolored floral cards ever. She always makes them look like they are impressionistic, so I was trying for that look. But I wanted them to look more realistic in the forefront and more "blurry" in the background like a photo taken at a low f-stop. This look is why I spent so much on my 50mm fixed lens that stops down to 1.2 haha. Ok, back to my hobby at hand - painting and card-making. I clearly miss my photography days! I die-cut a rectangle from Arches watercolor paper using the largest die in the A2 Thin Frame dies by SSS.
I started on the background area first and moved toward the bottom right corner. I applied my Karin Brushmarkers to the flat stamps in the Fresh Air Flowers stamp set for all of the flowers. For the ones in the background, I applied a light coat of water to the paper before I stamped them so they would run out of the outlines. I then applied a second coat of the marker color on the bottom part of each stamp once the paper was a bit more dry so I got a less runny image. I kept doing this as I moved down with less water on each color. I used the olive green marker directly on the paper for the stems, using just enough water around them to mix the color on the background. This really was just a practice at this technique. I plan on trying it again and again and getting better. If you want to see the expert at work, check out Cindy Norbery on IG. I used the Fancy Script Mom die in the kit with SSS Ivory cardstock so it matched the watercolor paper. I used a bright fuchsia cardstock for the card base and for the letters. I stamped a secondary sentiment using a stamp set I had in my stash with a SSS Sentiment Label Die and Intense Black Ink. I added some of the sequin mix in the kit around the sentiment.
This kit includes a lot of items tailored toward making projects in addition to cards. I was inspired by the scallop die in the kit to make some pocket tags and envelopes. All 3 of these would be perfect for a gift card and/or a small note or tag to be inserted in the pocket.
I die-cut a piece of white cardstock using the scallop edged die as well as a piece of Crafters Companion Wildflower patterned paper from the kit. I attached the paper to the cardstock so the pocket was stronger. I then attached it to a cream tag I had in my stash - it's just a standard office supply one. I stamped one of the stamps from the Fresh Air Flowers stamp set on a piece of Lawn Fawn Dolphin cardstock as I felt like it matched the kit papers well. I used the Trio 16 Pawsitively Saturated inks for the flowers and the Trio 14 for the leaves. I cut around it and attached it tucked inside the pocket and going over the circle on the tag. I tied a piece of lilac lace around the bottom of the pocket. I used the sequins in the kit mix along the edges of the scalloped border. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set on a stitched banner that I lightly watercolored to match using black ink and attached that over the bow with another sequin beside it.
I pulled out a small white envelope I had in my stash from a previous SSS kit. I realized teh rectangle frames in the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collage Layer Frames in the kit fit perfectly on the front of the envelope, so I attached it to the front of it. I stamped a flower from the stamp set using Trio 17 for the flower and Trio 14 for the leaves. I fussy cut it out and attached it inside the frame. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set on a small stitched rectangle and attached that to the bottom. I used some of the sequin mix in the kit around the flower and sentiment.
There is a small white envelope in the kit. You could cover it with paper, but I decided to take it apart and use it as a template. I traced it on a piece of the floral paper and cut it out. I folded it and attached the edge with the tape in the kit. I then stamped another one of the flowers from the stamp set using Trio 6 inks for the flowers and Trio 14 for the leaves. I cut out the flowers and attached them over the little envelope. I stamped another sentiment from the stamp set with black ink on a small rectangle and attached that to the bottom of the pocket. I added some more of the sequin mix from the kit around it.
For this card, I used the Hearts Abloom stencil in the kit with Pawsitively Saturated Inks. I used Trio 14 for the branch and some of the leaves. I used Trio 16 and Trio 12 for the flowers with Trio 3 in the center of the pink flowers. I used Trio 8 for the lighter leaves. The stencil has 4 different layers making it really easy to layer the colors. I added some shading with colored pencils when I was done with the stencils. It helps to cover any mistakes you make also and to outline your shapes so they have more distinct edges. I fussy cut around the wreath.
I used a piece of patterned paper from the 49 and Market Color Swatch Blossom paper pad (just bought it and love all these lovely pinks!) for the background die-cut with the SSS Basic Rectangle Dies. I attached the heart over the paper with foam tape beneath it. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set in the center of the heart using black ink. Of course I added some of the sequin mix in the kit all around the wreath!
This project was a little out of my comfort zone, but ended up being so cute! I took the box that is in the kit and I covered it with the Wildflower patterned papers in the kit. I opened it so it laid flat and then traced the front and the back of it. I cut the papers out and then attached them to the opened box. I had to piece the paper on the back of the box since the paper is 6x6", but it doesn't look bad at all. I then folded the box back up using the tape in the kit along the edges so it stayed in place and only opens at the top. I had a 1" circle punch that was the exact same size as the circle in the top of the box, so I cut it out with that. I then die-cut a scallop circle using the Lawn Fawn Scalloped Circle dies and used the punch to cut a circle out of it so it fit over the opening like a frame. I used one of the patterned papers for this frame as well.
I attached one of the Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collage Layer Frames over the opening which covered my less than perfect paper I had cut out for the window. I then stamped one of the flowers using Trio 16 for the flowers and Trio 14 for the leaves. I cut around it and attached it over the left side of the front of the frame. I added a big green bow to the top of the hanger portion of the box. I used some of the sequins in the kit around the flowers. I am going to put my mom's favorite candy in this box and send it to her for Mother's Day. She will probably display it in her china cabinet! And it matches her house perfectly! I think some popurri would be amazing in it too so it smelled really good!
My last card looks nothing like the kit contents! I have to get really bright now and then as you know! I die-cut a rectangle from Arches watercolor paper using the SSS Mini Slimline Rectangle Dies. I then applied Nuvo Shimmer Powder to it for grass and a sky. I attached it to an Ivory cardstock card base. I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set with black ink on a SSS Sentiment Label die and cut it off on one end.
I stamped all of the floors on the same Ivory cardstock by applying my Karin Brushmarkers to them. I applied the lightest color first and then used a damp paintbrush to move the color around. Once it was dry, I used a darker color with the next stamp and did the same until it was finished. I cut all of them out and attached them over the background with foam tape behind the top of most of the flowers. I then attached the stamped sentiment over the bottom of the card with foam tape beneath it as well. I added some of the sequin mix in the kit around the flowers.
This kit is chock full of gorgeous options to make cards and other projects. I wanted to make a big shaker card with the shaker container in the kit, but ran out of time. The papers are so gorgeous and the Fresh Air Flowers stamp set is a must-have. I love this Fresh Air Flowers Limited Edition kit and if you do too, don't wait too long as they often sell out and once they are gone, they are not restocked. Thanks so much for visiting today and have a great week friends! Suzy
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