Asian Elegance

Artfully Asian is a set that's been on my wish list for a long time! I finally got it a week or so ago, and promptly made this card. I just hadn't found the time to upload it till now! It's a beautiful set, so fun for colouring - I know I'll be using it often. Here's the step by step:

• Cover a Mellow Moss card with Designer Series Paper from the Brocade Backgrounds pack. This is one of my favourite paper packs from the new catalogue, the designs are gorgeous!
• Stamp the Cherry Blossom image on Very Vanilla twice using Basic Gray ink. Basic Gray is the new black! For cards with a softer focus like this one, Basic Gray is perfect - it's waterproof too, so perfect for colouring.
• Colour the image. I used Watercolour Wonder Crayons (Rich Regals) and a blender pen. I love our blender pens, they give you the control of a marker with whatever colouring medium you use.
• Distress the edges of your cherry blossom image. I used the distressing tool from the Cutter Kit, another new purchase. It's so fast and easy, and much safer than using scissors. Layer onto a piece of Rose Red card, also distressed. Add two Rose Red brads in the top corner.
• Stamp the leaf image on Very Vanilla using Mellow Moss ink. I inked my stamp, then stamped off once onto scrap paper before stamping to get that soft effect. Stamp randomly, making sure to go over the edges for a true random effect.
• Scallop the edge of this layer using the Corner Rounder punch. I used the now retired larger punch we had in last year's catalogue, but the new smaller one will work perfectly.
• Using the 1/16" Handheld punch, punch inside each scallop for ever more detail.
• Layer a Mellow Moss piece scalloped in the same way behind this layer, attaching with snail. Layer another strip at the top and distress both this and the Vanilla layer.
• Tie a piece of Mellow Moss Taffeta around this layer. Add three Rose Red brads at either side then attach to your card base using dimensionals.
• Attach your main image also using dimensionals. I used two dimensionals layered on top of each other in the top corners of the image, just to accommodate the leafy layer which was already popped up.

This was a really simple card to put together, and I just love how the colours look together. I've left the front free of a sentiment and will stamp one on the inside when I use this card - it would be perfect for any number of occasions.

Have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday,
Sarah

Stampin' Supplies:
Artfully Asian stamp set.
Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla and Rose Red card stock. Brocade Backgrounds paper.
Basic Gray and Mellow Moss ink.
Rose Red (Rich Regals) brads.
1/16" Handheld punch.
Corner Rounder punch.
Cutter Kit.
Watercolour Wonder Crayons - Rich Regals.
Blender pen.
Mellow Moss Taffeta ribbon.
Stampin' Dimensionals.
SNAIL adhesive.
All supplies available from Stampin' Up!